Re: FN-FORUM: How does moneysupermarket and other similar sites work?

date posted 14th June 2007 12:47

On 14 Jun 2007 11:43:25 -0000, Duncan Glendinning
[EMAIL REMOVED] wrote:
> I would be interested to understand the system behind it, if anyone
> can shed any light on that?

I have a bit of a pessimistic view on it. Personally, i think (well, i
know) that every link of that site and similar sites, are just
affliate links. The only difference with the big players like
moneysupermarket is that they have a direct relationship with the
providers rather than going through an affiliate network.

The providors just give the same data directly to moneysupermarket
that they give to the affiliate networks (and other private partners)
and then the moneysupermark site displays the offers. Cheap flight
sites work the same way with the airlines.

The only (afaik) site that doesnt do this, is Froogle (sorry, "Google
Product Search"), but in that case, the companies themselves have to
enter their data into google's product database. This is why its more
popular with smaller businesses, then google just slaps some ads on
there for revenue and everyones happy.

Thats my understanding of it, there my be inaccuracies there but for
the most part im pretty sure im bang on.

HTH
Tam