http://www.programmableweb.com/news...ern-day-affiliate-marketing/how-to/2015/11/23 With APIs, the publisher has these advantages: Real-time data that is current, accurate and the best the supplying-merchant has to offer; Pre-formatted links, pre-loaded with the publisher ID, ensuring the publisher gets credit for redirecting shoppers to the merchant; Response data in conventional XML or JSON formats so the publisher can integrate the content as they choose. APIs are available with the affiliate networks as well as with some programs that work directly with merchants. Of course, use of an API with an affiliate program brings with it the publisher's share of work. The publisher has the tasks of registering with the API program, obtaining needed API security credentials, and the coding to call the API; a skill that not-all content publishers are ready for. There are many API industry proponents that want to steer API evolution towards developer-free implementations and the affiliate marketing space will be a prime candidate for that kind of progress.
