How do I use Merchant Data Feeds?

Discussion in 'Products & Tools' started by grhawkins, Aug 6, 2009.

  1. #1
    I was wondering if anyone could explain or guide me through on how to capitalize on the use of data feeds, how to upload them to a server, and make it so all products on a website get updated?

    I'm currently looking at Commission Junction's merchants and found a merchant I'd like to set up a website with all of their products, but don't want to manually input each product (there's thousands of products), description, picture, price, etc. I know how to download the data feed, but don't know how to actually use my shared server from HostGator to upload that data feed and get it to add/update everything to a site. Do I have to get a site coded specifically to be able to integrate these data feeds?

    Another option I'm looking at is using Doba.com for dropshipping. They provide a data export tool that gives you product data as well.

    Does the type of the exported data feed, for example: comma separated format, tab separated format, thrive format, magniphy format, matter? And how do I know which format to use?

    What I'm trying to get at is that I hardly know anything about servers, setting up databases, using MySQL or whatever, coding php and whatnot to fetch these datafeeds to update a site...a lot of it is gibberish to me.

    I know this is more for an advanced and knowledgeable individual, but if large retail stores can do it, I'm sure I could eventually figure it out. I'm sorry if this is a noobish question, it just seems that everything I read is very vague and for an individual looking to do this for the first time I get quite confused and overwhelmed.

    I greatly appreciate the help, time, and information anyone can provide me on this topic. Thank you in advanced.
     
    grhawkins, Aug 6, 2009 IP