Referral of potential customers to a seller

• US 20040254831A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William C. Dean
• Original Assignee: William C. Dean
• Inventors: Dean, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/458,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254831A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0211 Determining the effectiveness of discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user

Abstract

A method, for use by a seller, of obtaining customers includes receiving a referral of a potential customer from a referral source, issuing a certificate redeemable by the potential customer for a reward upon completing a transaction with the seller, and keeping the referral source informed as to the certificate status. A seller thus can deliver status feedback to those who refer potential customers. This method can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of word-of-mouth referrals.

Claims

1. A method, for use by a seller, of obtaining customers, comprising:

receiving a referral of a potential customer from a referral source;

issuing a certificate redeemable by the potential customer for a reward upon completing a transaction with the seller; and

keeping the referral source informed as to a status of the certificate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein keeping the referral source informed comprises notifying the referral source when the certificate is redeemed.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising using the redeemed certificate to notify the referral source.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing an award to the referral source when the certificate is redeemed.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising issuing a reward to the potential customer when the certificate is redeemed.

6. A computer system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device having instructions for performing the method of claim 1.

7. A computer-implemented method of obtaining referrals of potential customers to a seller, comprising:

entering, in a registry of the seller, information relating to at least one potential customer submitted by a user via a computer network;

issuing a certificate, via the network, indicating that the registered potential customer is to receive a reward upon completing a transaction with the seller; and

processing the certificate and issuing a reward to the registered potential customer when the registered potential customer completes a transaction with the seller.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein processing the certificate comprises issuing an award to the user.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising issuing the certificate to at least one of the user and the registered potential customer.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein processing the certificate comprises notifying the user that the certificate is redeemed.

11. A computer system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device having instructions for performing the method of claim 7.

12. A computer-implemented method of referring potential customers to a seller, comprising:

receiving, from a user via a computer network, information relating to at least one potential customer;

registering, in a registry of the seller, the at least one potential customer; and

indicating, via the network to at least one of the user and the registered potential customer, that the registered potential customer is to receive a reward upon completing a transaction with the seller.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising indicating to the user that the user is to receive an award if the registered potential customer completes a transaction with the seller.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the user instructing that a user award is to be issued to a charity.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein indicating that the registered potential customer is to receive a reward comprises issuing a certificate to at least one of the user and the registered potential customer.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending a certificate via electronic mail to one of the user and the registered potential customer.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the user accessing the registry to check a status of a potential customer.

18. A computer system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory device having instructions for performing the method of claim 12.

19. A method of referring potential customers to a seller, comprising:

supplying, to the seller, information relating to a potential customer;

receiving notification that the seller is issuing a certificate indicating that the potential customer is to receive a reward upon completing a transaction with the seller; and

receiving information from the seller relating to whether the potential customer has completed a transaction.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising receiving an award from the seller when the potential customer has completed the transaction.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising instructing the seller to send an award to a charity when the potential customer has completed the transaction.