LinkShare Web Services Explained
LinkShare offers several web service API’s for more technically savvy publishers and web developers. Our web services enable partners to get data from the LinkShare system over the web, without logging in to the Publisher Dashboard. The web services return information formatted in XML. Technically savvy Publishers use the XML results to integrate LinkShare tracking links into their websites. Here’s a brief overview of LinkShare web services:
Merchandiser Query Tool
The Merchandiser Query Tool uses a REST-based web service which allows you to do a full-text search for products in an advertiser’s Merchandiser product feed. It’s only available for advertisers that offer Merchandiser.
Automated LinkGenerator
This is a REST-based web service used to get a tracking link to any page on an advertiser’s site. It is only available from advertisers that offer the LinkBuilder feature on their links menu. Automated LinkGenerator provides the same functionality as LinkBuilder – it allows a publisher to browse an advertiser site for a particular product page and get a tracking link. But with Automated LinkGenerator you don’t have to log in to the Publisher Dashboard.
Link Locator 2.0
Link Locator is used to get advertiser information and creative, like banners and text links. With the advertiser information feed you can get information such as advertiser name, category, offer name, and commission details, and use this to create and update a database. With the advertiser creative feed you can download various kinds of links directly for advertisers you’re partnered with. If you are using Link Locator 1.0, we recommend you switch to Link Locator 2.0 – here are the guidelines.
Targeted Merchandiser API
The Targeted Merchandiser API enables custom ad units to be created that automatically populate with products optimised for pages on your site. Optimisation is based on keywords found on the webpage and the likelihood of success for an advertiser’s products. A REST-based query is used to request the data. An advertiser needs to be specifically enabled for this API.
You can find all of the documentation for these API’s in our Developer Centre, and your Web Services token here. Your token is required when using our web services, and used for authentication.
Web services are especially useful for technically savvy programmers who’d like to integrate LinkShare tracking links directly into their websites. For example, social shopping sites have been especially effective in allowing their users to customise their pages and profiles, then integrating tracking links on-the-fly.
Ian Rosenwach, Product Manager
