Method of marketing local products and/or services

• US 20090012856A1
• Filed: 07/03/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Danconia Media
• Original Assignee: Danconia Media
• Inventors: Sweeney, William
• Application Number:
  US11/825,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20090012856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.490
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement

Abstract

A method of marketing local products and/or services includes establishing a database of providers of local products and/or services, wherein the providers are classified into one or more business categories and each provider is certified prior to inclusion. User requests are received for information about providers of local products and/or services in a specified business category, and a list of providers classified in the specified business category is displayed to the user in response to the request. The list has a limited number of providers to avoid an excessive number of choices.

Claims

1. A method of using a computer-based system to market local products and/or services, said method comprising:

establishing a database of providers of local products and/or services, wherein said providers are classified into one or more business categories and each provider is certified;

receiving a request from a user for information about providers of local products and/or services in a specified business category; and

causing a list of providers classified in said specified business category to be displayed to said user, wherein said list has a limited number of providers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said limited number of providers is optimized to avoid an excessive number of choices.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said limited number of providers is calculated based on user viewing factors, said user viewing factors selected from the group consisting of:

users'"'"' desire to scroll, how far users will scroll, screen size dimension, pixel resolution, screen lines, and browser tool bar implementation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each provider is certified by a certification process that includes a background check and/or interviewing references provided by each provider.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said certification process further includes periodic audits of said providers.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each provider is required to agree to adhere to a code of conduct.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein, once certified, a provider can be removed from said database only by failing to meet a standard level of service, failing to pay a required fee, or deciding to be removed from the database.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising charging each provider a set fee to be included in said database.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said set fee is based on a costing algorithm that identifies the value of being included in said database.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing information about said providers and/or their products and/or services to be displayed to said user together with said a list of providers.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said information about said providers and/or their products and/or services is selected from the group consisting of:

quality, price, reliability, location, and ease of use.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein all information displayed to said user is approved prior to being displayed.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing for an intercepted Internet mount point via a Targeted Audience Initiator arrangement.