Business system and method of compiling mailing list of interested customers

• US 6,292,785 B1
• Filed: 02/19/1999
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Labeladd LLC
• Original Assignee: Labeladd LLC
• Inventors: von Braun, Peter, McEvoy, Richard B.
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/253,283
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/10, 705/14, 705/26, 253/383, 253/493, 283/81, 283/62, 283/67, 283/116
• US Class Current: 705/14.36
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement

Abstract

A system and method for using a mailing label to be applied to magazines, newspapers, circulars or other mass mailing items, which has a subscriber'"'"'s name and address, which label bears a corporate logo or other advertising, marketing or promotional information for a product. The label can be removed from the mailed item and applied to a coupon for retail redemption or to a return mailer, so that the subscriber information can be extracted from the coupon or return mailer, and used to generate a database of computer records forming a mailing list of desirable, motivated customers for the product promoted on the label.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of identifying desirable customers for targeted advertising or marketing, comprising the steps of:

applying a removable label, bearing a name and address for identifying a subscriber, to a subscription periodical publication delivered to the said subscriber;

applying an advertising indicia to said removable label for identifying an advertiser;

providing a customer benefit program activated by removing said removable label from said publication and applying said removable label to a customer benefit redemption form;

creating a computer database record containing information identifying a subscriber, who participates in said customer benefit program by removing said label from said publication and applying said removable label to a customer benefit redemption form and submitting the customer benefit redemption form to a redemption agent;

compiling a computer database comprising records of said persons who participate in said customer benefit program, and also containing records identifying a product whose sale is promoted by said customer benefit program, from one or more of said records.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said information identifying a subscriber on said removable label comprises machine readable text or codes identifying the name and address of the said subscriber.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said machine readable codes comprise bar codes.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said advertising indicia comprises a logo or slogan identifying a company which is providing said customer benefit program.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein said advertising indicia further comprises information for locating said customer benefit redemption form in said publication.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said customer benefit redemption form comprises a store discount coupon, or a returnable form.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said store discount coupon comprises a high value coupon.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said returnable form comprises a mail in form for a store discount coupon.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein an advertising message is imprinted in a substrate below said removable label, said advertising message being visible upon removal of said label.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of delivering product information or product offers related to products promoted in said customer benefit program to persons listed in said computer database.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein said product information or product offers are delivered by one or more of personal delivery, postal mail service, and electronic mail service.

12. A computer-implemented method of product marketing, comprising the steps of:

applying a removable label, bearing a name and address for identifying a subscriber and further bearing advertising indicia including a logo or slogan identifying a company which is providing a customer benefit program, to a subscription periodical publication delivered to the said subscriber;

restricting eligibility to participate in said customer benefit program to persons who remove said removable label from said publication and apply said removable label to a customer benefit redemption form;

creating a computer database record containing information identifying a subscriber who participates in said customer benefit program by reading said information on said label applied to said form;

compiling a computer database comprising records of persons who participate in said customer benefit program and a product associated with said customer benefit program;

directing product information or product offers related to products promoted in said customer benefit program to persons listed in said computer database.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein said advertising indicia further comprises information for locating said customer benefit redemption form in said publication.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said customer benefit redemption form comprises a store discount coupon, or a returnable form.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said store discount coupon comprises a high value coupon.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said returnable form comprises a mail in form for a store discount coupon.

17. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein an advertising message is imprinted in a substrate below said removable label, said advertising message being visible upon removal of said label.

18. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said information identifying a subscriber on said removable label comprises machine readable text or codes identifying the name and address of the said subscriber.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said machine readable codes comprise bar codes.

20. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein said product information or product offers are delivered by one or more of personal delivery, postal mail service, and electronic mail service.