feedcommerce: an introduction

Online retailers have vast silos of product information in their websites that could be used to increase sales and revenue if distributed to consumers via the many feed based channels that now exist on the internet. feedcommerce embraces this intent by enabling distribution of product information directly to consumers via feeds and widgets. Through feedcommerce retailers make their product information available to publishers via the RSS and Atom feed publication and syndication standards. Publishers then present the product data to consumers via rich user interfaces like widgets, allowing consumers to filter the data to their interests.

Fred Wilson, a leading VC blogger, initially described feed commerce as:

...feed commerce is when I subscribe to a feed of items that are of interest to me. I have subscribed to feeds of iTunes music for several years. I get the top 10 new releases, top 10 albums, top 10 songs, etc delivered to me via a feed. If I want to buy any of them, I click on the link. I have never understood why more retailers don't do this. I want to get my concert tickets this way. I want to get promotions and offers this way. I want my feed reader to be my offer inbox...

Fred Wilson

Retailers, publishers and consumers

feedcommerce allows retailers to open their product information to all of the current and future Web platforms that reach consumers - such as social networks, blogs, start pages, mobile services and search services. Today these platforms are driving retail distribution and consumption to the edges of the network. feedcommerce creates the opportunity for publishers and consumers to generate revenue by endorsing retailers through the distribution of feed driven widgets.

Sophisticated feedcommerce platforms allow publishers to track consumer interactions with their widgets enabling revenue sharing models such as Cost Per Action (CPA).