Method for automated electronic mail communication

• US 6,993,489 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2000
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John R. Miglautsch
• Original Assignee: John R. Miglautsch
• Inventors: Miglautsch, John R
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ouellette, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US09/657,071
• Time in Patent Office: 1,972 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/348
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method of controlling the automated electronic communication between a host database and a prospect that was referred to the database by a sponsor. Initially, a sponsor accesses the host database and answers survey questions related to the sponsor and additional survey questions about each of the prospects being referred to the host database. Based upon the information received about each of the prospects from the sponsor, the host database generates a message template that is delivered electronically to the sponsor. After receiving the message template, the sponsor forwards the message to the prospect such that the prospect believes that the message has been originated directly from the sponsor, rather than the host database. The message template sent to the prospect from the sponsor includes an electronic link to a customized web page generated by the host database. The customized web page is created based upon the information received about the prospect from the sponsor. Based upon the information about the prospect, the web page is created containing information relevant to the prospect. Upon accessing the web page, the prospect is asked if they would like to receive further information. If further information is required, the host database again generates a message template that is sent to the sponsor for forwarding onto the prospect. The method of automated electronic communication allows the host database to generate messages that are first sent to the sponsor prior to their receipt by the prospect.

Claims

1. A method of automated electronic communication between a host database and a prospect referred to the database by a sponsor, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting prospect information from the sponsor, the prospect information being requested by the host database and including the email address and additional personal characteristics of the prospect;

receiving and storing the prospect information from the sponsor in the host database;

automatically creating a personalized message for the prospect at the host database based upon the stored prospect information;

electronically forwarding the personalized message from the host database to the sponsor;

promoting the sponsor to forward the personalized message to the prospect such that the personalized message is received by the prospect from the sponsor;

automatically creating at least one follow-up message for the prospect at the host database based upon the stored prospect information;

electronically forwarding the follow-up message to the sponsor at predetermined at times determined by the hose database based upon the stored prospect information; and

prompting the sponsor to forward the follow-up message to the prospect such that the follow-up message is received by the prospect from the sponsor, such that the host database controls the timing of the contact between a sponsor and the prospect.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

developing a personalized web page from the stored prospect information, the personalized web page being created based upon the personal characteristics of the prospect; and

attaching an electronic link to the personalized message prior to forwarding the personalized message to the sponsor, the electronic link directing the prospect to the personalized web page.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the prospect has accessed the personalized web page within a selected time period after receiving the personalized message from the sponsor; and

automatically creating a follow-up message and forwarding the follow-up message to the sponsor when the prospect has failed to access the personalized web page within the time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined times for contact with the sponsor include special events for the prospect as determined by the host database from the prospect information stored in the host database.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of requesting sponsor information from the sponsor, the sponsor information being indicative of personal characteristics of the sponsor.

6. A method of automated electronic communication between a host database and a prospect referred to the database by a sponsor, the method comprising the steps of:

requesting prospect information from the sponsor, the prospect information being requested by the host database and including the email address and additional personal characteristics of the prospect;

receiving and storing the prospect information from the sponsor in the host database;

creating a personalized message for the prospect at the host database from the stored prospect information;

developing a personalized web page from the stored prospect information, the personalized web page being created upon the personal characteristics of the prospect;

attaching an electronic link to the personalized message, the electronic link directing the prospect to the personalized web page;

electronically forwarding the personalized message including the electronic link to the sponsor from the host database;

prompting the sponsor to revise and forward the personalized message to the prospect, such that the personalized message is received by the prospect from the sponsor;

automatically creating at least one follow-up message for the prospect at the host database based upon the stored prospect information;

electronically forwarding the follow-up message to the sponsor at predetermined times determined by the host database based upon the stored prospect information; and

prompting the sponsor to forward the follow-up message to the prospect such that the follow-up message is received by the prospect from the sponsor, such that the host database controls the timing of the contact between a sponsor and the prospect.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the personalized message includes multiple message choices selectable by the sponsor prior to the sponsor forwarding the message to the prospect.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the prospect has accessed the personalized web page within a selected time period after the prospect receives the personalized message from the sponsor;

automatically creating a follow-up message when the prospect has failed to access the personalized web page within the selected time period; and

prompting the sponsor to forward the follow-up message to the prospect such that the follow-up message is received by the prospect from the sponsor.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of requesting prospect information includes prompting the sponsor to answer a series of survey questions based upon the sponsor'"'"'s knowledge of the prospect.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of requesting the sponsor to answer survey questions to develop sponsor information.

11. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the prospect has positively responded to the personalized web page;

analyzing the success rate of the personalized message based upon the prospect information received from the sponsor about the prospect; and

revising the personalized message for the prospect based upon the success rate for the group of similar prospects.