System, program product, and methods for social network advertising and incentives for same

• US 8,583,480 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Overstock.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Overstock.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Byrne, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAO, VINCENT M
• Application Number:
  US12/341,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0258 Registration
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Program product, systems, and methods of providing to social network websites advertising and incentives from an electronic retailer, are provided. A system can include a social network website displaying social network content and also displaying a link that reroutes the consumer to an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link. The system can also include program product for tracking purchase and other information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, and generating a commission for the provider of the social network website based on the tracked information about the consumer. The link can be embedded within the social network content or the link can be part of an advertisement and displayed adjacent the social network content. Also, a product featured in the advertisement can be affiliated with one main subject of the social network content.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of advertising on a social network website by an electronic retailer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving social network content from a third-party content provider computer at an electronic retailer computer of the electronic retailer;

initiating a search of a database for products for sale using the electronic retailer computer responsive to receiving the social network content;

automatically associating the social network content with one or more items for sale using the electronic retailer computer;

automatically creating an advertisement for the one or more items for sale using the electronic retailer computer, the advertisement comprising a link to a webpage of the electronic retailer;

automatically formatting a webpage such that the social network content and the advertisement are adjacent to one another;

providing the webpage to a social network website from the electronic retailer computer;

displaying the webpage with the social network content on the social network website viewable on a computer by a consumer, the social network content including one or more of the following;

a video segment with audio, a video segment without audio, an audio segment, a picture, and text;

displaying the advertisement adjacent the social network content on the webpage of the social network website;

rerouting the consumer from the social network website to the electronic retailer webpage when the consumer clicks on the link on the social network website;

tracking information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, the tracked information including;

an indication of the link on the social network website clicked by the consumer,

duration of time the consumer spends viewing the linked electronic retailer website web page,

duration of time the consumer spends viewing other electronic retailer website web pages,

number of times the consumer returns to the electronic retailer website during an established time period,

movements by the consumer within the electronic retailer website, and

information regarding purchases by the consumer from the electronic retailer website; and

generating a commission for one or more of the following;

a provider of the social network website and a provider of the social network content, based on the tracked information about the consumer, to thereby encourage additional display of additional social network content having at least one link to the electronic retailer website associated therewith.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of displaying social network content on a website viewable on a computer by a consumer is responsive to a search by a search engine;

and wherein the linked electronic retailer website web page features a product identified as being used in context within the social network content.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of rerouting the consumer from the social network website to the electronic retailer website involves redirecting the consumer to an appropriate section of the electronic retailer website, as determined by information contained within the ink, based on one or more of the following:

a product, a product category, a brand, and a price range.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the link is part of an advertisement, wherein the advertisement is displayed adjacent the social network content so that the consumer can view the advertisement at the same time as at least a portion of the social network content;

wherein a product featured in the advertisement is affiliated with one main subjects of the social network content.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for a multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers; and

recommending a second link to a particular product to the provider of a social network website by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content, based on the generated statistical data.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

administering a website affiliate program of social network website providers, the program involving the social network website providers advertising product on behalf of the electronic retailer to consumers in exchange for commissions, recommendations, and access to specials and promotions for affiliated social network website providers.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the link is a first link, the method further comprising the steps of:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers; and

recommending a second link to a particular product to the provider of the social network content by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content, based on the generated statistical data.

8. A method of advertising by an electronic retailer, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving social network content from a third-party content provider computer at an electronic retailer computer of the electronic retailer;

initiating a search of a database for products for sale using the electronic retailer computer responsive to receiving the social network content;

automatically associating the social network content with one or more items for sale using the electronic retailer computer;

automatically creating an advertisement for the one or more items for sale using the electronic retailer computer, wherein the advertisement includes a link being positioned to reroute a consumer to a webpage of an electronic retailer website when the consumer clicks on the link within the advertisement;

automatically formatting a webpage such that the social network content and the advertisement are adjacent to one another;

providing the webpage for publication to a third-party website from the electronic retailer computer;

tracking information about the consumer using the electronic retailer computer, the tracked information including;

information identifying the third-party website publishing the advertisement,

the link within the advertisement clicked by the consumer,

duration of time the consumer spends viewing the electronic retailer website,

movements by the consumer within the electronic retailer website,

number of times the consumer returns to the electronic retailer website during an established time period, and

information regarding purchases by the consumer from the electronic retailer website; and

generating a commission for the third-party website publishing the advertisement based on the tracked information about the consumer to thereby encourage additional display of additional social network content having at least one link to the electronic retailer website associated therewith.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, wherein the advertisement is displayed on the third-party website adjacent the social network content so that the consumer can view the advertisement at the same time as at least a portion of the social network content;

wherein a product featured in the advertisement is affiliated with on main subject of the social network content;

wherein the social network content including one or more of the following;

a video segment with audio, a video segment without audio, an audio segment, a picture, and text.

10. A method as defined in claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers; and

recommending an advertisement for a particular product to a third-party website by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content based on statistical data generated.

11. A system of advertising on a social network website by an electronic retailer, the system comprising:

a first computer being positioned to display an electronic retail website and defining an electronic retailer computer;

one or more second computers positioned remote from the first computer and in communication with the first computer through an electronic communication network, the one or more second computer being positioned to display a social network website and defining a social network website computer;

one or more third computers positioned remote from the first and second computers and in communication with the first and second computers through an electronic communication network and defining a consumer computer;

a first program product stored in a tangible computer medium that is readable by the social network website computer, the first program product comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the social network website computer, cause the social network website computer to perform the following operations;

displaying social network content on a website viewable on a computer by a consumer, defining a social network website, the social network content including one or more of the following;

a video segment with audio, a video segment without audio, an audio segment, a picture, and text,

displaying a link on the social network website to a web page of a website of an electronic retailer, and

rerouting the consumer from the social network website to the electronic retail website when the consumer clicks on the link on the social network website;

a second program product stored in a tangible computer medium that is readable by the electronic retailer computer, the second program product comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the electronic retailer computer, cause the electronic retailer computer to perform the following operations;

tracking information about the consumer by the electronic retailer, the tracked information including;

an indication of the link on the social network website clicked by the consumer,

duration of time the consumer spends viewing the linked electronic retailer website web page,

duration of time the consumer spends viewing other electronic retailer website web pages,

number of times the consumer returns to the electronic retailer website during an established time period,

movements by the consumer within the electronic retailer website, and

information regarding purchases by the consumer from the electronic retailer website, and

generating a commission for one or more of the following;

a provider of the social network website and a provider of the social network content, based on the tracked information about the consumer, to thereby encourage additional display of additional social network content having at least one link to the electronic retailer website associated therewith; and

a third program product defining a website generation program product stored in a tangible computer medium that is readable by the electronic retailer computer, website generation program product comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the electronic retailer computer, cause the electronic retailer computer to perform the following operations;

receiving the social network content from the social network content provider,

initiating a search of a database for products for sale response to receiving the social network content to identify products related to the received social network content, and

responsively generating the social network website to include the social network content and an advertisement displayed adjacent the social network content so that that consumer can view the advertisement at the same time as at least a portion of the social network content;

wherein the link to the electronic retailer website web page featuring at least one product being affiliated with at least one main subject of the social network content.

12. A system as defined in claim 11,

wherein the operation of displaying social network content on a website viewable on consumer computer is a result of a search by a search engine;

wherein the linked electronic retailer website web page features a product identified as being used in context within the social network content;

wherein the operation of rerouting the consumer from the social network website to the electronic retailer website involves directing the consumer to an appropriate section of the electronic retailer website, as determined by information contained within the link, based on one or more of the following;

a product, a product category, a brand, and a price range.

13. A system as defined in claim 11,

wherein the link is part of an advertisement;

wherein the advertisement is displayed adjacent the social network content so that the consumer can view the advertisement at the same time as at least a portion of the social network content;

wherein a product featured in this advertisement is affiliated with one main subjects of the social network content.

14. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the link is a first link, and wherein the operations of the second program product further comprises:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for a multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers;

recommending a second link to a particular product to the provider of a social network website by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content, based on the generated statistical data.

15. A system as defined in claim 11, wherein the link is a first link, and wherein the operations of the second program product further comprise:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers;

recommending a second link to a particular product to the provider of the social network content by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content, based on the generated statistical data.

16. Program product stored in a non-transitory tangible computer medium that is readable by a computer, the program product comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer causes the computer to perform the following operations:

receiving social network content from a third-party content provider computer;

initiating a search of a database for products for sale responsive to receiving the social network content;

automatically associating the social network content with one or more items for sale;

automatically creating an advertisement for the one or more items for sale, the advertisement comprising a link to a webpage of the electronic retailer;

automatically formatting a webpage such that the social network content and the advertisement are adjacent to one another;

providing the webpage to a social network website;

displaying the social network content on the social network website viewable on a computer by a consumer, defining a social network website, the social network content including one or more of the following;

a video segment with audio, a video segment without audio, an audio segment, a picture, and text;

displaying the advertisement on the social network website, wherein the advertisement is for a product affiliated with a main subject of the social network content selected for association therewith by one or more of the following;

a provider of the social network website and a provider of the social network content, the advertisement displayed adjacent the social network content so that the consumer can view the advertisement at the same time as at least a portion of the social network content;

rerouting the consumer from the social network website to the electronic retail website when the consumer clicks on the link on the social network website;

tracking information about the consumer, the tracked information including;

a duration of time the consumer spends viewing a specific electronic retailer website web page,

a duration of time the consumer spends viewing other electronic retailer website web pages,

movements by the consumer within an electronic retailer website,

number of times the consumer returns to the electronic retailer website during an established time period, and

information regarding purchases by the consumer from the electronic retailer website; and

generating a commission based on the tracked information about the consumer.

17. Program Product as defined in claim 16, wherein the operation of displaying social network content on a website viewable on consumer computer is a result of a search by a search engine;

and

wherein the operation of rerouting the consumer from the social network website to the electronic retailer website involves directing the consumer to an appropriate section of the electronic retailer website, as determined by information contained within the link, based on one or more of the following;

a product, a product category, a brand, and a price range.

18. Program product stored in a non-transitory tangible computer medium that is readable by a computer, the program product comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by the computer causes the computer to perform the following operations:

receiving social network content from a third-party content provider;

initiating a search of a database for products for sale responsive to receiving the social network content;

automatically associating the social network content with one or more items for sale;

automatically creating an advertisement for the one or more items for sale, the advertisement comprising a link to a webpage of the electronic retailer;

automatically formatting a webpage such that the social network content and the advertisement are adjacent to one another;

providing the webpage to a social network website;

tracking information about the consumer in response to the consumer selecting the advertisement on the social network website, including;

an indication of the link on the social network website clicked by the consumer,

duration of time the consumer spends viewing a specific electronic retailer website webpage;

duration of time the consumer spends viewing other electronic retailer website web pages,

movements by the consumer within the electronic retailer website,

number of times the consumer returns to the electronic retailer website during an established time period, and

information regarding purchases by the consumer from the electronic retailer website; and

generating a commission for one or more of the following;

a provider of the social network website and a provider of the social network content, based on the tracked information about the consumer, to thereby encourage additional display of additional social network content having at least one link to the electronic retailer website associated therewith.

19. Program product as defined in claim 18, wherein the link is a first link, and wherein the operations further comprises:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for a multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers;

recommending a second link to a particular product to the provider of a social network website by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content, based on the generated statistical data.

20. Program product as defined in claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating statistical data for an aggregation of tracked information for multiple consumers responsive to the tracked information for a plurality of consumers recommending a link to a particular product to the provider of the social network content by the electronic retailer for inclusion with the social network content, based on the generated statistical data.