Lead distribution system

• US 20040103041A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Decisions Media LLC
• Original Assignee: TWCC Holding Corporation (CF Entertainment, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alston, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A method is disclosed for generating a sales referral over the Internet for the sale of an asset. A first and second salesperson is provided with an account that comprises a number of clicks and a first period during which the clicks will be delivered. A click comprises an assignment on a web site of linking information corresponding to a saleperson'"'"'s web site. A consumer who activates the click is transferred to a web site of the salesperson, and the click is debited from the salesperson'"'"'s account.

Claims

1. A method of providing sales leads employing one or more servers comprising:

(a) assigning a selected number of clicks to each of a plurality of sales entities each desirous of selling one or more assets, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer clicking on a hyperlink on a web page generated by a server and displayed on a display device, the hyperlink being associated with a characteristic of the assets, and associable with each sales entity;

(b) determining an order in which each sales entity is to be associated with the hyperlink;

(c) associating each sales entity with the hyperlink only for the number of clicks selected for that sales entity; and

(d) causing to be presented on the display device one of the sales entities to the potential buyers in accordance with the order determined in step (b) in response to clicks, and only for the number of clicks assigned to each sales entity, and causing a different one of the sales entities to be thereafter presented on the display device to the potential buyers in response to clicks in accordance with the order determined in step (b), wherein a sales lead is provided to the sales entity associated with the hyperlink when the potential buyer clicks on the hyperlink.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the server communicates web page data containing the hyperlink over a communications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises assigning the selected number of clicks according to a price paid by each of the sales entities.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determination of step (b) is based upon the number of clicks assigned to each of the sales entities and an amount of time in which the clicks are to be associated with the hyperlink.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sales entity is a person.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sales entity is a business organization.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein only one sales entity is caused to be presented on the web page at any given time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the assets is a geographic location of the assets.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the assets is a price range of the assets.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is real estate.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the asset is a vehicle.

12. A method of generating a sales lead over a communications network comprising:

(a) generating a web page comprising a hyperlink associated with a characteristic of an asset using a web server;

(b) assigning each of a plurality of sales entities with a number of clicks, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer using an input device to click on the hyperlink, and wherein the number of clicks provided to each sales entity is determined according to a price paid by each sales entity, the hyperlink being associable with each sales entity;

(c) determining an order in which each sales entity is to be associated with the hyperlink;

(d) operating the server to associate one of the plurality of sales entities with the hyperlink according to step (c);

(e) transferring, upon the potential buyer clicking on the hyperlink, the potential buyer to a sales entity web site generated by a sales entity server, wherein a sales lead is provided to the sales entity associated with the hyperlink when the potential buyer clicks on the hyperlink;

(f) decrementing the number of clicks assigned to the sales entity associated with the hyperlink each time a potential buyer clicks on the hyperlink; and

(g) associating a different sales entity with the hyperlink, according to the order determined in step (c),

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determination of step (c) is based upon the number of clicks assigned to each of the sales entities and an amount of time in which the clicks are to be associated with the hyperlink.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising operating the web server to generate a report, the report comprising a current number of clicks available to each sales entity and a remaining time period during which the current number of clicks will be available.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting an inquiry from the potential buyer regarding the asset to the sales entity over the communications network.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the assets is a geographic location of the assets.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the assets is a price range of the assets.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the communications network is the Internet.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the asset is real estate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of sales entities are real estate agents.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the plurality of sales entities are participants in a multiple listing service.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the asset is a vehicle.

23. A system for providing sales leads for the sale of one or more assets comprising:

a web page accessible over a communications network;

a file comprising a selected number of clicks assigned to each of a plurality of sales entities, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer clicking on a hyperlink on the web page, the hyperlink associated with a characteristic of the assets and associable with each sales entity, and further comprising an order in which each sales entity is to be associated with the hyperlink;

a web server operably connected to the communications network, wherein the web server generates the web page, associates each sales entity with the hyperlink only for the number of clicks selected for that entity, causes to be displayed on a display device one of the sales entities according to the order and in response to the potential buyer clicking on the hyperlink, and only for the number of clicks assigned to each sales entity, and causes a different one of the sales entities to be thereafter presented on the display device in response to clicks and in accordance with the order, wherein a sales lead is provided to the sales entity associated with the hyperlink when the potential buyer clicks on the hyperlink.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the selected number of clicks is assigned to each of the plurality of sales entities according to a price paid by each of the sales entities.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the order is based upon the number of clicks assigned to each of the sales entities and an amount of time in which the clicks are to be associated with the hyperlink.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the web server decrements the number of clicks assigned to the sales entity associated with the hyperlink each time a potential buyer clicks on the hyperlink.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising a report comprising a current number of clicks available to each sales entity and a remaining time period during which the clicks will be available.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the web server associates only one sales entity with the hyperlink at any given time.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the web server causes to be displayed on the display device only one sales entity at any given time.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the characteristic of the assets is a geographic location of the assets.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the characteristic of the assets is a price range of the assets.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the asset is real estate.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the sales entities are real estate agents.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the communications network is the Internet.