What Are List Feed Programs?
A list feed is a file of your inventory that you make available to aggregators so that they can display your products on their sites. You pay to be where the customers are going to search for a specific product.
How your business might benefit
You don’t have to be the “one stop” shopping mall on the Web. You can sell your unique product instead of diluting your business. Instead of the sale being completed on the list feed site, it is completed on your Website.
Something to keep in mind...
You are listed with all your competitors. Also, you have to comply with the aggregator’s product listing format and rules. These vary according to aggregator, so listing on multiple sites can be frustrating.
Procedure
1. Figure the cost of participation on a list feed site (e.g. PriceSCAN.com, BizRate.com, AltaVista.com, etc.) and see what method would work for you
- Click through rate
- Pay on Performance
- Commission on sale
2. Learn about the effort needed on your part to comply with their system
- Larger sites are more willing to work with whatever data you send them
3. Research how much traffic the list feed site gets
- A lot of traffic with high conversion is best
4. Ask for a trial period of 30 days to test their site before being locked into a contract
What Are Universal Shopping Carts?
Universal shopping carts are an extension of aggregator (list feed) sites. The customer collects all the products he wants into his universal shopping cart on that site and makes the purchase on that site. You fulfill the order when notified of a sale.
How your business might benefit
A universal shopping cart is a way for small or new businesses to access customers that they would otherwise not have access to.
Some things to remember...
- You are listed with your competitors
- Sale is not completed on your site, but on the universal shopping cart
- Any Credit fraud charges are your responsibility and you are responsible for denying the order.
