Hello I am making an affiliate website for a certain ecommerce company. The company provides product_feeds of its products, the product feeds (csv files) also includes links to product images hosted on the companies website. Question: Can I directly show those images on my affiliate website ? Or should I first download those images on my server, and then link from there ? There are about half a million images. I asked them directly , but they said they don't provide technical help..
As you say: There are about half a million images. Its better to show images by image link from there server. Why make extra load to your server and waisting time to uploading theme.
My only concern is that they might object later to me using their bandwidth, in directly showing images from their server.. Otherwise yes I agree.
Just to confirm, most advertisers allow hotlinking. Especially when they have that many images. They know affiliates take the risk on the front-end to drive visits/sales that may/may-not convert. The least they can do is reduce the cost of doing business with them. When in doubt, just scan through the T&C.
TBH, I never risk it. Overall on all of my websites I have probably more than 250,000 images, all self-hosted. Although external hosting has it's benefits, to me it also makes you look cheap and if the external host changes image urls or takes down images your website will be messed up.