System, method and computer program for varying affiliate position displayed by intermediary

A method for varying a display position of a dealer on a website, the method comprising:

• receiving, by a server computer, exogenous variables associated with an item, each of the exogenous variables representing an exogenous feature of a dealer with respect to the item, the exogenous feature not under control by the dealer;
• providing, by a server computer through a user interface on a user device under control of the dealer, a view comprising endogenous variables and the exogenous variables associated with the item, each of the endogenous variables representing an endogenous feature of the dealer with respect to the item, each of the endogenous features changeable by the dealer, the server computer associated with the website and operating independently of the dealer, wherein the user interface on the user device includes a visualization function for user-selection of any of the endogenous variables in the view and for visualizing effects of varying a value of a user-selected endogenous variable;
• receiving, by the server computer through the user interface on the user device, an indication that an endogenous variable has been selected by a user from the endogenous variables in the view for further analysis, the user-selected endogenous variable having a value set by the dealer, the value associated with a display position for the dealer that the website is to display to a website visitor inquiring about the item through the website;
• in response to the indication, computing, by the server computer, effects of how setting the user-selected endogenous variable at different levels affects a plurality of metrics that the server computer provides to the dealer through the website;
• generating, by the server computer, a visualization of the effects of setting the user-selected endogenous variable at the different levels, wherein the visualization of the effects comprises the plurality of metrics, and wherein the plurality of metrics relate to factors that affect potential future sales of items by the dealer;
• and
• providing, through the user interface on the user device, the visualization of the effects of setting the user-selected endogenous variable at the different levels.