Affiliate datafeeds explained

An affiliate datafeed is a file of a merchant’s products (names, prices, links, images and identifiers) that affiliates use to build product pages and price comparisons automatically.

Common formats

Format Typical source
CSV / TSV Most network exports (CJ, Awin, AvantLink, Impact)
XML Merchant feeds, Rakuten, older network formats
Google Shopping XML/TSV Merchants’ own Merchant Center feeds

Large feeds are often gzip or zip compressed.

Key fields

Product ID/SKU, name, affiliate (deep) link, price, sale price, image, brand, MPN, UPC/GTIN, availability, category.

Practical tips

  • Update daily: prices and stock change constantly.
  • Filter to the categories you need; full catalogs can have millions of rows.
  • Match by identifiers, not titles.
  • Respect network rules on caching, image use and price display.

Frequently asked questions

Are datafeeds free?

Yes for approved affiliates: merchants provide them so you can promote their products.

Keep reading