6 Best Practices in Product Data Syndication [2024]

Product data syndication can be a powerful tool for optimizing product content distribution. However, to ensure successful data syndication, it is important to follow best practices.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best practices for successful data syndication.

1. Choose the right syndication partner

Choosing the right syndication partner is critical to the success of product data syndication. Look for partners who have experience in your industry and have a good reputation. We also recommend checking their portfolio, blog, and frequency of product updates. Additionally, you should discover if the partner has a strong network of pre-set connections and can distribute your product content to a wide audience in a few clicks.

Main Criteria for Evaluation

• Compatibility: Ensure the partner’s system is compatible with your existing data management infrastructure. This minimizes integration challenges and streamlines the data flow.
• Customization: Check if the partner allows for customization of product information to suit different platforms and market requirements. The ability to tailor content can significantly enhance its relevance and impact.
• Support and Communication: Evaluate the level of support and communication provided by the partner. Responsive customer support can be crucial for resolving issues quickly and maintaining smooth operations.
• Reliability: Assess the partner’s reliability and track record. Look for reviews or case studies that highlight their performance and reliability in handling product data.

2. Validate your product data

Before syndicating your product data, it is significant to review it to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date. Product data validation will help avoid any errors or inconsistencies that could negatively impact your brand. You can use tools such as product data quality management to validate your data.

💡Note: If you opt for a full-fledged PIM system rather than just a product data syndication or product data validation platform, you’ll have all the tools included.

3. Use a standardized format

Using a standardized format for your product data can help ensure it is easily understood by your syndication provider. It can also help simplify the syndication process and reduce the risk of errors. Some popular standardized formats for data syndication include CSV, XLS, and JSON.

4. Customize Content for Each Sales Channel

When syndicating your product content, it’s important to customize it for each platform. This helps ensure that your content resonates with your target audience. Tailoring your product descriptions, images, and metadata to suit the specific requirements of each channel can significantly improve engagement and conversion rates. Additionally, keeping track of platform updates and adapting your content accordingly ensures continued compliance and visibility.

💡Example: You might need a longer product description for Amazon compared to eBay, or you may need to use JPG images for Bol.com, while Walmart requires PNG format.

5. Monitor your performance

Monitoring your performance is critical to the success of product data syndication. Regularly tracking key metrics can help you identify any issues or opportunities for improvement. This proactive approach ensures that your product data remains accurate and up-to-date.

💡Note: Utilizing software tools such as Digital Shelf Analytics or general analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Tableau, or Power BI can provide in-depth insights and real-time data analysis.

6. Evaluate your syndication partners

Regularly evaluating the performance of your product data syndication partners is crucial for maintaining effective and efficient syndication processes.

Key Metrics to Consider

• Data Accuracy: Assess the accuracy of the product information distributed by your syndication partners. Ensure there are minimal discrepancies between the data you provide and what appears on different platforms.
• Speed of Updates: Measure how quickly updates to your product data are reflected on various platforms. Fast, timely updates are essential for maintaining current and accurate product listings.
• Reach and Engagement: Evaluate how well your product data syndication partners help increase your product’s reach and engagement. Look at metrics such as impressions, clicks, and conversion rates across different channels.
• Error Rate: Monitor the frequency and type of errors that occur in the syndication process. A low error rate indicates a reliable partner, while frequent errors suggest the need for improvement or a potential change in partners.

Following these best practices can help ensure the success of your data syndication efforts. By choosing the right partner, validating your product data, and monitoring the performance, you can simplify product content distribution and improve the visibility and reach of your brand.

Gepard Product Data Syndication Solution

Gepard PIM is a product content syndication example, that provides an end-to-end product content syndication, meaning that all would be set up and run automatically on behalf of the merchant. Also, our customers get full support:

• the product would be adjusted to the necessary format (whereas product content would be provided by our catalog provider partners Icecat);
• mapped with the help of AI mapping to meet each of the sales channels’ requirements;
• and pushed to any amount of sales touchpoints required. Besides, we are all flexible.

Now, there are some challenging questions: would you like to have some extra time to evolve your business instead of managing product data manually?

Come on by and say hi to the Gepard syndication solution. Get in touch with us and share your product data management challenges and needs. We’re here to assist you in overcoming them.