Method and apparatus for facilitating and tracking personal referrals
First Claim
1. A method for tracking personal referrals related to an employment offer, the method comprising:
- generating a unique identifier that is associated exclusively with the pairing of an individual and the employment offer;
sending to said individual an electronic-mail message that provides a hyperlink to or contains a Web page whose address or contents includes said unique identifier or a transformation thereof;
providing in said Web page a means to allow the individual to provide the electronic-mail (email) address of persons to whom said individual wishes to refer the employment opportunity;
tracking the referral by;
receiving from said individual the email addresses for the persons to whom said individual referred,updating at least one database to associate the individual with the electronic-mail addresses of the persons whom the individual wishes to refer, andfor each electronic-mail address of persons whom said individual wishes to refer, returning to generating a unique identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention facilitates and tracks personal referrals made via electronic networks. In a preferred embodiment, using electronic mail delivered to a participant interface 110, a central controller 100 provides a Web page through which an individual may enter the electronic-mail addresses of those whom he or she wishes to refer. This spares the individual the inconvenience of generating his or her own electronic-mail referrals, and also enables the central controller to determine the format and tone of the referral. The address or contents of the Web page includes a unique identifier that is exclusively associated with that individual and a specific offer 120. In this way, the series of referrals may be tracked, duplicate referrals to the same electronic-mail address may be eliminated, offers may be withdrawn or modified, and referrals about an expired or withdrawn offer may be prevented.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for tracking personal referrals related to an employment offer, the method comprising:
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generating a unique identifier that is associated exclusively with the pairing of an individual and the employment offer; sending to said individual an electronic-mail message that provides a hyperlink to or contains a Web page whose address or contents includes said unique identifier or a transformation thereof; providing in said Web page a means to allow the individual to provide the electronic-mail (email) address of persons to whom said individual wishes to refer the employment opportunity; tracking the referral by; receiving from said individual the email addresses for the persons to whom said individual referred, updating at least one database to associate the individual with the electronic-mail addresses of the persons whom the individual wishes to refer, and for each electronic-mail address of persons whom said individual wishes to refer, returning to generating a unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification