Catalog API: Introducing Beso!

Hey Publishers,

 

As many of you know, Shopzilla, Inc. manages a growing family of properties. As a publisher, you are likely familiar with Bizrate.com, our primary shopping search engine intended to help shoppers find what they are looking for at the best value. Through the Shopzilla Publisher Program Catalog API, advanced publishers have had dynamic access to the comprehensive inventory allowing this experience on Bizrate.

 

We are now excited to announce a version of our Catalog API offering access to content specific to one of our newest properties, Beso.com.  Beso is a lifestyle website providing users the ability to shop all of their favorite stores and brands, all in one place. Beso features a limited taxonomy, and curated set of stores and brands.

 

 

 

Why would you want to take advantage of this?

You would want to take advantage of the Beso version of the Catalog API if you are looking to provide your users with a style-based experience focused in soft goods categories. Because we carefully curate our Beso experience, the search results will differ from those you would retrieve from the Bizrate version of the Catalog API. For instance, a search on Beso for "black leather jacket" returns very different results than the same search on Bizrate. You would want to stick with the Bizrate version of the Catalog API if you would prefer to provide a general or comparison shopping experience, or one focused in hard goods categories.

 

How do you take advantage of this?

To get started, access our Catalog API Interactive Documentation. In order to access this documentation, you will need to log in with your Catalog API Key & Publisher ID.  Once logged in, you'll be able to access documentation specific to the Beso version of the Catalog API through the "US Beso API" link in the upper righthand corner. 

 

For those unfamiliar with our Catalog API, this product provides advanced publishers with intuitive access to our inventory of cataloged products and merchant offers through a query-based web service accepting various parameters, allowing publishers to filter based on their website’s shopping content needs. Based on these publisher-supplied parameters, customized shopping content is returned within an XML response, JSON response available April 2011. Not an advanced publisher? Check out Beso Widgets!

 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions.

  

The Shopzilla Publisher Team

 

Comments

[Designer Handbags]

Hello...
I have place this widget on a single page, how this API exactly works???

And how do I get earnings from this widget?

[Shopzilla Publisher Team]

Hey there,

Both PublisherID and API Key are optional in actually building a Beso widget, but they are necessary if you would like to be paid for traffic generated by these widgets, or if you would like to integrate with our full Catalog API.

Your Publisher ID is the ID you are assigned when you register for the Shopzilla Publisher Program. Once logged into the Publisher Portal, you can find your ID in the upper-right corner.

The API Key is a key we generate on our side- let us know you are interested in either creating a Beso widget or integrating with our full Catalog API, and we will get your access going. We do use some discretion in granting access to our full Catalog API. To apply, go to the 'API & Data Feeds' tab in the Publisher Portal.

Thanks!
The Shopzilla Publisher Team

[Option Tips]

hey,
great post !!!
can you tell me what is that catalog API Key and publisher ID?
Option Tips

[Shopzilla Publisher Team]

Hey Karen,

Glad you're excited about the Beso API! Unfortunately, the Beso API will be restricted in the same way that the Bizrate API is in that certain merchants do not participate in our affiliate program as revenue-generating merchants. That being said, you are free to display content from these "non-revenue" merchants to offer a richer experience on your own site...and we certainly hope that the great traffic you are able to send will entice them to eventually participate in our affiliate program!

Thanks for the support,
The Shopzilla Publisher Team

[Karen]

This is GREAT! Shopzilla's publisher program kicks that "other" program's behind - what we be even greater is if stores like Bloomingdale's, Macys and Dillards will now be paying publishers who use the Beso API Because as of now they don't pay shopzilla publishers. Any chance of that?