What is parsing and how do parsers work in arbitrage?
Parsing is the process of automatically collecting and structuring information from open sources. When working with large amounts of data regularly, this tool significantly saves time and automates routine tasks. Here are some common use cases where parsing is essential:
- Automatically filling product cards on online platforms;
- Detecting pages with errors, duplicates, or incorrect descriptions;
- Price monitoring and market trend analysis;
- Collecting text content from various sources for further translation;
- Analyzing messages, hashtags, and comments to better understand the target audience;
- Processing data on transactions, costs, and profitability;
- Checking code for issues affecting website or application performance;
- Gathering keyword data and identifying search ranking leaders.
Since the data is collected from open sources, parsing is a legal method of data collection. However, copyright issues may arise if the collected information is used improperly. For example, a content owner may take legal action if their content is copied and published without permission.
Parsers are specialized programs that automatically collect the necessary data. They can be in the form of web platforms, chatbots, or browser extensions and can be tailored for various purposes, from marketplaces to financial analytics. These tools can be either free or paid, giving users flexibility based on their needs.
Parsers can collect a wide range of data, including:
- Product prices and specifications;
- Product descriptions, texts, names, and images;
- Audience insights and keyword data;
- Information on the number of backlinks;
- News and search engine results.
The Role of Parsing in Arbitrage and SEO
Arbitrage specialists and SEO professionals actively use parsing to optimize their work. In arbitrage, parsers help collect creatives, work with anti-detection tools, and analyze competitors' data automatically. In SEO, this method allows experts to study keywords, meta tags, and descriptions, improving website rankings and attracting organic traffic.
Many websites implement protection mechanisms against scraping, such as CAPTCHA, IP blocking, and request limits. To bypass these restrictions, professionals use mobile proxies, like KeyProxy, which ensure reliable and anonymous data collection. High-quality proxies help avoid blocks and maintain parser stability.
Parsing is also widely used for populating review platforms or building Private Blog Networks (PBNs), allowing users to collect and integrate large datasets into their projects automatically.
Popular Parsers
Contact Data Parsers:
- Hunter
- Snov.io
- Lusha
- VoilaNorbert
SEO Data Parsers:
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- Moz
- Serpstat
- Majestic
Marketplace and E-commerce Parsers:
- Octoparse
- ParseHub
- Apify
- Keepa
- Helium 10
Website Parsers:
- Import.io
- Diffbot
- Content Grabber
- WebHarvy
Target Audience Data Parsers:
- Phantombuster
- Audiense
- BuzzSumo
- Mention
How the Parsing Process Works
The operation of a parser involves several key steps:
- Personalization:
The user specifies the types of data to collect and selects the sources for analysis. - Scanning:
The parser browses the specified links and extracts the required elements using XPath queries. - Data Collection and Analysis:
The extracted data is structured according to predefined parameters. - Reporting:
The final report can be saved as a file or uploaded directly to a database.
It's important to note that parsers may encounter security mechanisms like CAPTCHA and IP blocking. To bypass these obstacles, proxy servers, such as KeyProxy, are used, ensuring safe and stable data collection without the risk of getting blocked.
Why Parsing is Important
Automated data collection and analysis through parsing significantly accelerate tasks that require processing large amounts of information. For SEO professionals and arbitrage specialists, this means moving from tedious manual work to executing tasks with just a few clicks.
Ultimately, the automation of parsing has become an essential tool for every digital marketer. However, successful parsing is impossible without reliable connectivity. Using mobile proxies like KeyProxy helps avoid blocks while ensuring high-speed and stable parser performance.