Linkshare Affiliate Resource Center

Link Locator Direct

Link Locator Direct is an XML data feed that provides affiliates with the ability to access updated promotions and products from merchant partners without having to create links manually by logging into the LinkShare Interface.

There are three different feeds:

  • Home Links - Links to merchants' default landing page
  • Text Links - Links to merchants' Link Locator-categorized text link creative
  • Banner Link s - Links to merchants' Link Locator-categorized banner creative

Advantages of Link Locator Direct

  • Automated access to the most updated creative for your merchant partners.
  • Provide visitors to your website with the most current creative and coupons.
  • Supported by wide range of commonly used development platforms.

How Link Locator Direct Works
Merchants categorize their text and banner creative in one of the six standard Link Locator categories:

  • Best Converting
  • Logos
  • Free Shipping
  • Promotion/General
  • Coupons
  • Hot Products

The Link Locator Direct feed pulls the creative assigned to you based on your request. The feed you download gives you all the information you need with respect to the creative and the LinkShare tracking URLs containing your affiliate ID. The feed is updated with creative on a continuous basis and any new creative the merchant adds will be available to download in about an hour.

Link Locator Direct Product Information
The system allows each of the feeds to be specifically filtered based on these three types of queries:

  • GetMerchantLinks - Query for the links for a specific merchant based on the Merchant ID - MID.
  • GetNetworkLinks - Query for the links for all merchants in a given Network based on the Network ID - NID
  • GetAllLinks - Query for the Links for all merchants in all Networks.

How do I get Access to Link Locator Direct?
The Link Locator Direct feed is accessible to all affiliates. To access the Link Locator Direct feed, affiliates need to build a web services application. Affiliates are required to use their LinkShare login username, password and affiliate ID to access the feed. To obtain the Link Locator Direct Implementation Guidelines and your LinkShare affiliate ID, please email linklocatordirect@linkshare.com and include your username that you use to access your LinkShare Affiliate Program.