Overview
AvantLink provides an automated product datafeed process for merchants using the AvantLink Affiliate Marketing app on Shopify. This feature enables product level reporting and the ability to implement product level item based commission. The product data is also leveraged by several ad tools utilized by affiliates. Merchants have the option to participate in the automated product datafeed processing or opt-out if they prefer to use custom return logic. Please refer to All About Datafeeds if using custom logic to see the requirements.
Minimum Requirement for Products to be Imported into AvantLink
AvantLink receives data for products that meet these minimum requirements:
- Must be "Active" in Shopify. AvantLink will not receive products with either 'archived' or 'draft' status. AvanLink will receive data for products that have a quantity of zero as long as they are Active.
- Must be "Published" in Shopify. AvantLink will not receive products that are not published to a sales channel in Shopify.
- Must have a SKU in Shopify. AvantLink will not receive products that do not have a SKU associated to them.
- Must have an image in Shopify. AvantLink requires images for products as the image is used in product ad tools that affiliates utilize.
Shopify Product Datafeed Logic
While some product attributes in Shopify are optional for creating a product, these same attributes are mandatory in AvantLink for including the product in the datafeed." To assist Shopify merchants in providing a comprehensive datafeed, AvantLink has implemented logic to fulfill these requirements on the merchants behalf. Some product attributes are not required in Shopify or AvantLink, however they can be used by affiliates. AvantLink will import this data when it is available.
The AvantLink datafeed mapping is as follows:
| Shopify Product Field Name | AvantLink Datafeed Name |
AvantLink Mapping Notes |
| SKU | Variants XML | AvantLink only imports products that have a SKU in Shopify. The SKU in Shopify will be displayed within the AvantLink Datafeed "Variants XML" column. |
| Handle | SKU | The handle is automatically generated by Shopify and used in the buy URL. It’s not configurable or displayed in Shopify. AvantLink uses the handle to uniquely identify a product and group its variants under one identifier. |
| Vendor | Brand Name | Required in Shopify. AvantLink will use that value. |
| Title | Product Name | Required in Shopify. AvantLink will use that value. |
| Description | Long Description | If Description is blank in Shopify, AvantLink will insert the Shopify Product Title. |
| Description | Short Description | If Description is blank in Shopify, AvantLink will insert the Shopify Product Title. AvantLink truncates the Shopify Description if over 140 characters. |
| Product Type | Department | If Product Type is blank in Shopify, AvantLink will insert "General" for the Department. |
| Media | Image URL | AvantLink only imports products that have an image. |
| Tags | Keywords | AvantLink will import if used in Shopify. |
| Price | Sale Price | Required in Shopify. AvantLink will always use that value. |
| Compare-at price | Retail Price | AvantLink will import if used in Shopify. |
| Barcode | UPC | AvantLink will import if used in Shopify. |