Method for Internet Based Advertising and Referral using a Fixed Fee Methodology

• US 20080033796A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emergency 24 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Emergency 24 Incorporated
• Inventors: Piscotti, Gemma, Larson, Baird, Viadimirskiy, Arsen, Devereaux, Patrick, Monteverde, Dante
• Granted Patent: US 8,234,157 B2
• 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 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0256 User search
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A method of advertising a first web site on a second web site comprising with a fixed compensation based methodology. The method includes providing an upper level category and a lower level category, assigning at least one keyword to each of the categories, respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords that the first web sites will pay, assigning the second web site to any one of the categories, thereby defining a second web site category, associating the first web site with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords, thereby defining at least one first web site category, in response to receiving a request from the second web site, determining the second web site category, and providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site. In response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, awarding the second web site at least a portion of the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated.

Claims

1. A method of advertising a first web site on a second web site comprising:

providing an upper level category and a lower level category;

assigning at least one keyword to each of the categories;

respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords;

assigning the second web site to any one of the categories, thereby defining a second web site category;

associating the first web site with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords, thereby defining at least one first web site category;

in response to receiving a request from the second web site, determining the second web site category; and

providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site includes providing to the second web site the hyperlink only if the first web site category matches the second web site category.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of assigning the second web site to any one of the categories includes assigning the second web site to any one of the categories based upon a performance of the second web site.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the performance of the second web site is based on one or more criteria selected from the group consisting essentially of keyword conversion rates, first web site satisfaction, market penetration, market competitiveness, keyword click-thru rates, and keyword query type.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords includes assigning a fixed amount of compensation to any one keyword in the upper level category that is greater than the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the one keyword in the lower level category.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the request includes a keyword query having a queried keyword.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the step of providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site includes providing the hyperlink if the first web site category matches the second web site category and if the keyword associated with the first web site substantially matches the queried keyword.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein the step of providing to the second web site a hyperlink to the first web site includes providing the hyperlink if the first web site is associated with the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and that is assigned to the upper level category.

9. A method of advertising a plurality of first web sites on a second web site comprising:

providing an upper level category and a lower level category;

assigning keywords to the categories;

assigning the second web site to any one of the categories based upon a performance of the second web site, thereby defining a second web site category;

in each category, respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords;

respectively associating the first web sites with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords;

receiving a keyword query having a queried keyword from the second web site;

determining the second web site category;

arranging respective hyperlinks to any of the first web sites associated with the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and that is assigned to the second web site category, thereby creating an arranged results list; and

providing to the second web site the arranged results list.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the performance of the second web site is based on one or more criteria selected from the group consisting essentially of keyword conversion rates, first web site satisfaction, market penetration, market competitiveness, keyword click-thru rates and keyword query type.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of arranging respective hyperlinks to any of the first web sites associated with the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and that is assigned to the second web site category includes arranging the hyperlinks based upon respective performances of the first web sites.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the respective performances of the first web sites include respective conversion rates for the first web sites.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the hyperlinks include respective descriptions of the first web sites.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising, in response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, awarding the second web site at least a portion of the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising, in response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, charging the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated.

16. The method in claim 9 further comprising arranging respective hyperlinks to any of the first web sites associated with the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and that is assigned to the upper level category, thereby defining a second arranged results list, and providing to the second web site the second arranged results list.

17. A method of advertising a plurality of first web sites on a second web site comprising:

providing an upper level category and a lower level category;

assigning keywords to each of the categories;

providing a means for assigning the second web site to any one of the categories, thereby defining a second web site category;

in each category, respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords;

providing a means for respectively associating the first web sites with any of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to such keywords, thereby defining respective first web site categories;

receiving a keyword query having a queried keyword from the second web site;

determining the second web site category; and

providing a means for arranging respective hyperlinks to the first web sites associated with the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and that is assigned to the second web site category, thereby defining an arranged results list.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising providing the arranged results list to the second web site.

19. A method of advertising a plurality of first web sites on a second web site comprising:

providing an upper level category and a lower level category;

assigning keywords to the categories;

assigning the second web site to any one of the categories based upon a performance of the second web site, thereby defining a second web site category;

respectively assigning fixed amounts of compensation to the keywords, wherein the fixed amount of compensation assigned to any one of the keywords assigned to the upper level category is greater than the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the one keyword that is assigned to the lower level category;

respectively associating the first web sites with any one of the keywords and with the amount of compensation assigned to the one keyword;

receiving a keyword query having a queried keyword from the second web site;

determining the second web site category;

arranging respective hyperlinks to the first web sites associated with the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and that is assigned to the second web site category, based upon respective performances of the first web sites, thereby defining an arranged results list;

providing to the second web site the arranged results list; and

in response to an Internet user selecting any one of the hyperlinks, awarding the second web site at least a portion of the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19 further comprising, in response to the Internet user selecting the selected hyperlink, charging the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink the fixed amount of compensation assigned to the keyword that substantially matches the queried keyword and with which the first web site corresponding to the selected hyperlink is associated.