Parsing

What is parsing?
Why is parsing needed?
How does parsing work?
Legality of parsing
Advantages of parsing
Types of parsing
Parsing tools

What is parsing?

Parsing is an automated process that allows for the collection and systematization of data from the internet. This task is performed using special programs called parsers. They extract information from various websites according to pre-established criteria.

Why is parsing needed?

Parsing has many applications in the fields of business and marketing. Here are some key areas:

Competitor analysis: Using a parser, you can collect data on what products and prices your competitors are offering.
SEO promotion: Parsing helps in forming a semantic core, identifying errors on the site, and analyzing search results.
Launching advertising: Gathering information about the target audience and potential advertising platforms.
Website content: Parsing allows for quick collection of information for websites that require a large volume of data, for example, translating information from foreign resources.
Content analysis: Collecting data on posts, comments, and hashtags for a better understanding of audience needs.
Cross-analytics: Integrating a parser with advertising platforms for automatic accounting of budgets and results.

How does parsing work?

The parsing process can be divided into three main stages:

You specify the search conditions for the necessary information in the program.
The parser scans the code of the target websites and looks for data that matches the specified criteria.
The collected data is presented in the form of a report or compiled into a table for further analysis.

For example, if you want to study the pricing policy of competitors in the pet product market, you set the corresponding parameters in the parser, select the region, and specify the websites. After the analysis is complete, the program generates a report that allows you to visually assess the pricing situation in your industry.

Legality of parsing

Despite the advantages of parsing, its use is associated with certain legal risks. It is important to consider the following aspects:

Collecting data from open sources is not illegal; however, copying information from competitors' websites may lead to violations of intellectual property rights.
Aggressive parsing can create a load on target websites, which may be perceived as a DDoS attack.
The criminal code provides for liability for unlawful access to legally protected information, including personal data.
Since 2021, it is necessary to obtain user consent for the collection and use of even public personal data.

It should be remembered that parsing is permissible if all legal norms are observed and the rights of third parties are not violated.

Advantages of parsing

Parsing offers a number of advantages:

Accelerating the data collection process compared to manual labor.
The ability to finely tune parameters for data collection.
Reducing the likelihood of errors related to human factors.
Saving budget on data collection and optimization of advertising campaigns.
Regular and automated data collection, for example, for price tracking.

Types of parsing

There are several main types of parsing:

Product parsing: Collecting data from online store catalogs.
Price parsing: Analyzing the pricing policy of competitors.
SEO parsing: Analyzing the semantic core and identifying errors on the site.
Contact parsing: Collecting contact information available in open sources.
Audience parsing: Finding potential customers on social networks.
Search result parsing: Analyzing search results based on keywords.

Parsing tools

For parsing, both specialized solutions and custom programs can be used. Here are some popular options:

Cloud parsers: Diggernaut, Import.io, Apify, Mozenda.
Desktop parsers: ParserOK, Neatpeak Spider, ComparseR, Parsehub.
Social media parsers: Cerebro Target, TargetHunter, Pepper.Ninja.
Email address parsers: Scrapp.io, Scrapebox Email Scraper.

Most parsers offer free versions with limitations on time or functionality.