PROMOTING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES VIA AN ACTIVITY STREAM

• US 20140129312A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Grishaver, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/706,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20140129312A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.23
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Techniques for promoting products and services in an activity stream are presented. A message publishing module provides a means for specifying different member-interest buttons to be presented in connection with messages published to the activity or content streams of members of a social network service, where such messages relate to specific products and/or services of a company. The social network service detects which members interact or select the various member-interest buttons, and in connection with which specific products and services. This information is then provided to authorized administrators or representatives of the company, and made available as member-targeting criteria for targeting members with subsequent messages that may include promotional content (e.g., offers, coupons, etc.) for specific products and services.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

at a message publishing module of a server computer operating a social networking service, receiving content to be published as a message in a personalized content stream of one or more members of the social networking service, the message including a promotional offering for a specific product or service of a company that has a company profile page hosted by the social networking service;

presenting a member-targeting interface that enables selection of targeting criteria that determines which members of the social networking service are to receive the message in a personalized content stream, the targeting criteria including criteria for selecting as the target audience those members of the social networking service who have previously selected one or more of a plurality of user interface buttons presented with content previously published on behalf of the company and relating to the particular selected product or service of the company; and

publishing the message so that the message is presented in the personalized content streams of all members of the social networking service who satisfy the selected targeting criteria.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offering for the specific product or service of the company includes a user interface element, which, when selected, will cause a digital coupon redeemable in a purchase transaction for the specific product or service to be presented.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the digital coupon is in a format that is compatible with a mobile application for redeeming digital coupons during purchase transactions, the digital coupon automatically transferred to a mobile device of a member when the user interface element of the promotional offering is selected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offering for the specific product or service of the company includes a link to an externally hosted web page via which the product or service is being offered.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional offering for the specific product or service of the company includes a link to an externally hosted web page via which the product or service is being offered.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more user interface buttons include a user interface button that, when presented with content relating to a particular product or service and selected by a member of the social networking service, represents acknowledgement, by the member who has selected the button, of recommending to others the product or service to which the content relates.

2. (canceled)

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

receive content to be published as a message to a personalized content stream of one or more members of a social networking service, the message including a promotional offering for a specific product or service of a company that has a company profile page hosted by the social networking service;

present a member-targeting interface that enables selection of targeting criteria that determines which members of the social networking service are to receive the message in a personalized content stream, the targeting criteria including criteria for selecting as the target audience those members of the social networking service who have previously selected one or more of a plurality of user interface buttons presented with content previously published on behalf of the company and relating to the particular selected product or service of the company; and

publish the message so that the message is presented in the personalized content streams of all members of the social networking service who satisfy the selected targeting criteria.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the promotional offering for the specific product or service of the company includes a selectable user interface element, which, when selected, will cause a digital coupon redeemable in a purchase transaction for the specific product or service to be presented.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the digital coupon is in a format that is compatible with a mobile application for redeeming digital coupons during purchase transactions, the digital coupon automatically transferred to a mobile device of a member when the selectable user interface element of the promotional offering is selected.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the promotional offering for the specific product or service of the company includes a link to an externally hosted web page via which the product or service is being offered.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 6, wherein the one or more user interface buttons include a user interface button that, when presented with content relating to a particular product or service and selected by a member of the social networking service, represents acknowledgement, by the member who has selected the button, of recommending to others the product or service to which the content relates.

7. (canceled)

11. A system comprising:

a processor;

memory storing executable instructions representing modules comprising;

a message publishing module to receive content to be published as a message to a personalized content stream, the message including a promotional offering for a specific product or service of a company that has a company profile page hosted by the social networking service; and

a member targeting module for presenting a member-targeting interface that enables selection of targeting criteria that determines which members of the social networking service are to receive the message in a personalized content stream, the targeting criteria including criteria for selecting as the target audience those members of the social networking service who have previously selected one or more of a plurality of user interface buttons presented with content previously published on behalf of the company and relating to the particular selected product or service of the company; and

wherein the message is to be presented in the personalized content streams of all members of the social network service who satisfy the selected targeting criteria.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the promotional offering for the specific product or service of the company includes a selectable user interface element, which, when selected, will cause a digital coupon redeemable in a purchase transaction for the specific product or service to be presented.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the digital coupon is in a format that is compatible with a mobile application for redeeming digital coupons during purchase transactions, the digital coupon automatically transferred to a mobile device of a member when the selectable user interface element of the promotional offering is selected.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more user interface buttons include a user interface button that, when presented with content relating to a particular product or service and selected by a member of the social networking service, represents acknowledgement, by the member who has selected the button, of recommending to others the product or service to which the content relates.

12. (canceled)