AU2013202122A1 - Systems and methods for managing referral commissions in a social networking environment - Google Patents

Abstract

Described herein are systems and methods for managing referral commissions in a social networking environment. For example, some embodiments are directed to technology for enabling a user to conveniently share content including a referral link via a social network facility, such as Facebook or Twitter. In some cases, the user agrees to share a proportion of his/her commissions with a cause, such as a charity or the like. For example, a user makes a post to a social network facility encouraging people to purchase product from a certain supplier, and in doing so support a worth cause by way of the sharing of commissions. (FIG. 1)

Description

1 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING REFERRAL COMMISSIONS IN A SOCIAL NETWORKING ENVIRONMENT FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to systems and methods for managing referral commissions in a social networking environment. Embodiments of the invention have been particularly developed to enable users to conveniently generate social network content (such as "tweets") that include links thereby to assist in the generation of referral commissions. While some embodiments will be described herein with particular reference to that application, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a field of use, and is applicable in broader contexts. BACKGROUND [0002] Any discussion of the background art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. [0003] It is known to provide referral commissions in the context of the Internet. For example, one approach is for a vendor to provide a facility for a web publisher to insert a referral link into a webpage. This referral link is directed to a sales facility associated with the vendor. The referral link allows the vendor to associate sales made to consumers who used the referral link with the web publisher responsible for inserting the referral link in their webpage. In this manner, the vendor is able to calculate a referral commission payable to the web publisher. Hence, the arrangement is beneficial to both the vendor (who receives patronage as a result of the referral link) and the web publisher (who receives a referral commission). [0004] Existing frameworks for managing referral commissions have, however, been generally unable to successfully leverage off the widespread success of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. [0006] One embodiment provides a method, preformed by a server device, for generating web content in response to input from a client device, the method including: [0007] receiving from the client device a request to generate a new referral content item; [0008] providing a product selection interface for enabling a user of the client device to select one of a plurality of products for which the server is able to provide a referral link; [0009] receiving from the client device data indicative of a product selection made via the product selection interface; [0010] providing a content editing interface for allowing enabling the user of the client device to edit content that is to be published via the new referral content item; [0011] receiving data indicative of content edited via the content editing interface; [0012] generating a web page having unique address for the new referral content item, the web page including the referral link to the selected product and the edited content; [0013] generating a draft social network facility post, wherein the draft post includes an editable portion and a link to the generated web page; [0014] providing a post editing interface for enabling the user to modify the editable portion and electively approve the post; [0015] receiving data indicative of the modified editable portion and approval of the post; and [0016] publishing the post to the social network facility on behalf of the user.

3 [0017] One embodiment provides a method, preformed by a server device, for generating web content in response to input from a client device, the method including: [0018] receiving from the client device a request to generate a new referral content item; [0019] providing a product selection interface for enabling a user of the client device to select one of a plurality of products for which the server is able to provide a referral link; [0020] receiving from the client device data indicative of a product selection made via the product selection interface; [0021] providing a content editing interface for allowing enabling the user of the client device to edit content that is to be published via the new referral content item; [0022] receiving data indicative of content edited via the content editing interface; [0023] generating a draft social network facility post, wherein the draft post includes an editable portion and the referral link; [0024] providing a post editing interface for enabling the user to modify the editable portion and electively approve the post; [0025] publishing the post to the social network facility on behalf of the user. [0026] One embodiment provides a computer program product for performing a method as described herein. [0027] One embodiment provides a non-transitive carrier medium for carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method as described herein. [0028] One embodiment provides a system configured for performing a method as described herein. [0029] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment", "some embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or 4 characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. [0030] As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner. [0031] In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding others. Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising. [0032] As used herein, the term "exemplary" is used in the sense of providing examples, as opposed to indicating quality. That is, an "exemplary embodiment" is an embodiment provided as an example, as opposed to necessarily being an embodiment of exemplary quality. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0033] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0034] FIG. 1A schematically illustrates an arrangement according to one embodiment. [0035] FIG. 1B schematically illustrates an arrangement according to one embodiment.

5 [0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a referral commission management system according to one embodiment. [0037] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary IT framework that underlies various embodiments. [0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a method according to one embodiment. [0039] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E illustrate exemplary screenshots according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0040] Described herein are systems and methods for managing referral commissions in a social networking environment. For example, some embodiments are directed to technology for enabling a user to conveniently share content including a referral link via a social network facility, such as Facebook or Twitter. In some cases, the user agrees to share a proportion of his/her commissions with a cause, such as a charity or the like. For example, a user makes a post to a social network facility encouraging people to purchase product from a certain supplier, and in doing so support a worthy cause by way of the sharing of commissions. General Overview [0041] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B provides general context to the technologies described herein (for example technologies relating to various systems and methods for managing referral commissions). In broad terms, the various parties active illustrated in these figures operate respective computer systems, which communicate over a network (such as the Internet). [0042] As a starting point, FIG. 1A illustrates a user 100. User 100 operates a computing device, such as a PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet, or the like. The user is registered with one or more social network facilities 102, such as Twitter and Facebook. The user logs on to a website that provides a referral content item generation engine 103. The user interacts with engine 103 thereby to generate a referral content item, which is posted to social network facility 102. In the illustrated embodiment this is posted as a social network content item 104 (such as a Facebook post for a Twitter "tweet") with a link 6 105a to an associated accessible content item 105b (such as a webpage to which item 104 links, also generated by engine 103). However, in some embodiments all content is embedded in item 104, negating the need for a link 105a to separate item 105b. It will be appreciated that factors (such as the inherently limited size of tweets) in some cases favours the use of a separate item 105b. [0043] It will be appreciated that in various embodiments web content defining item 105b is hosted by a web server external of social network facility 102. For example, in the illustrated embodiment engine 103 publishes item 105b via an associated web server facility. [0044] Item 104 and/or item 105b include a referral link, which is a hyperlink to a product available via an online store 106. In some cases the hyperlink designates the store only, as opposed to a specific product or category of products. This link is clicked by a consumer 120, who is directed to store 106 (for example by the opening of a new browser tab or window with the address defined by the referral link). The referral link operates so as to track purchases made by consumer 120 at store 106, in accordance with an existing referral commission scheme (of which there are a wide range in operation). For example, cookies may be used for the purpose of this tracking. In any case, in the event that consumer 120 makes a purchase that is eligible for a referral commission, a signal is provided to a referral commission management engine 114. Although this is illustrated as a direct signal from store 106 to engine 114, in some cases an affiliate platform acts as an intermediary. [0045] Referral management engine 114 is associated with the referral content item generation engine 103 (for example they are operated by or on behalf of a common business). For example, the referral link identifies engine 114 as the beneficiary of any referral commissions. Engine 114 is then responsible for allocating some or all of a derived commission to user 100. Preferably an administrator of engines 103 and 114 retains a portion of all commissions. [0046] In the embodiment of FIG. 1B, part of the commission allocated to user 100 is provided to a cause 120 (such as a charity or the like). For example, the user stipulates that a non-zero proportion (up to 100%) of his/her commission generated via the referral link is to be allocated to a cause selected by user 100.

7 [0047] With this in mind, there are two broad categories of embodiment described herein: firstly "user-driven embodiments" where a user publishes a referral content without reference to a cause (i.e. FIG. 1A) and "cause driven embodiments" where a user publishes referral content with reference to a cause that shares in referral commissions. It will be appreciated that a single system may be configured to allow both possibilities (i.e. by having cause selection as an option only). [0048] Enabling technologies for the arrangements described in connection with FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are described in more detail below. Exemplary Computer System Framework [0049] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary computer system framework, focused on a referral commission management system 200. System 200 is a web hosted system, and may include various distributed components. [0050] This example illustrates various computer systems, modules operating on those computer systems, and databases. Each computer system, module or database may be defined in practice by multiple individual components (which may be distributed). The modules define functionally separable software components, which are in some embodiments embodied in a common platform. Likewise, the databases may be combined in a single data store, or otherwise fully/partially consolidated. [0051] An exemplary user operates an exemplary user terminal 201. This may be any form of Internet connected terminal, such as a PC, notebook, tablet, smartphone, PDA, and so on. This terminal operates a web browser application 202, such as Internet Explorer or Google Chrome. Application 202 allows for the rendering on terminal 201 interfaces and other data transmitted from a remote location on the Internet. [0052] In this example, application 202 is used to navigate to a website hosted by referral content management system 200. System 200 in this regard provides components for the hosting and delivery of a website, which are generally ignored for the present purposes. The functionalities of system 200 relevant to the provision of this website are referred to as referral content item generation module 208, which is a module of server 200 that enables a user of user terminal 201 to generate referral content items, as discussed in more detail further below. In broad terms, by navigating to a page hosted by web system 200 that provides access to functionality of module 208, system 200 is 8 able to deliver data for rendering at web browser application 202 (such as user selection interfaces, and the like). [0053] A user management module 210 operates in conjunction with a user database 211, thereby to collect and maintain data indicative of users that register to generate referral content items. Preferably, this leverages a social network based login arrangement (for example a "login via Facebook" arrangement) whereby user details are provided (with the user's consent) from a social network facility 203 of which the user is a member. In other embodiments a more conventional user registration process is performed. Module 210 and database 211 make it possible for system 200 to identify individual users, and hence determine to which user a portion of a referral commission should be allocated, and effect such allocation. [0054] A product selection module 212 operates in conjunction with a product database 212. In the present embodiments, this allows web server 203 to in effect provide an interface whereby a user of terminal 201 navigates and/or searches a repository of products (from various online stores) that are able to be the targets of referral links. In some embodiments, module 212 leverages content (such as product images and descriptions) from the relevant online stores. In some embodiments the referral links are pre-generated. In some embodiments content for the product database is sources directly from referral affiliate platforms as opposed to the stores themselves. [0055] As used herein, the term "product" may refer to an individual item offered to sale, a service offered for sale, a category of product offered for sale via an online store, or more generally to a product in the sense of an online store or other sales facility. [0056] Once the user selects a product, a link generation module 213 obtains a link to that product. This may involve: * Using a predefined link from an active link database 214. For example, these may be defined by way of a single registration to a given affiliate platform that defines referral links on behalf of online stores. * Modifying a link from database 214 thereby to include additional information. For example, a link may identify system 200 as the referral beneficiary, and the 9 link is modified to include an additional portion to identify the user. The modified link is optionally stored in database 214. Defining a new link, and recording data indicative of that link in an active link database 214 (for example time, date, user, web content item, web content item responsible party, target product, target product store, etc.). [0057] It will be appreciated that the nature of the link, and method for obtaining the link, varies between online stores and/or between affiliate programs that manage referral links for those stores. [0058] In any case, the obtained link operates such that the administrator of a vendor referral commission system 220 associated with an online store to which the link directs is able to associate patronage with the link, and hence is enabled to keep track of referral commissions payable in respect of that link. In this embodiment, commissions are in all cases payable to an administrator of system 200, who has registered with system 220 to receive such commissions. [0059] Data indicative of referral commissions is provided by system 220 to a commission determination module 221 of system 200. Module 200 is responsible for determining how a given commission is to be allocated. Various embodiments use different approaches, including the following: * In some embodiments each link includes an embedded identifier recognizable by module 221, enabling module 221 to determine the user that posted the link, and the web content item in respect of which it was posted. This embedded identifier is discernible in the data received from system 220. * In some embodiments temporal and/or product based analysis is used. For example, a commission indicates that product X was purchased at time Y. Module 221 looks for a referral link directed to product X proximally prior to time Y. [0060] In some cases there is no capability to record details for the consumer who clicks a referral link. By implementing the system such that the referral link first diverts the user to a server maintained by or in conjunction with system 114 in the first instance, 10 before redirection to the online retailer, some embodiments record "click-through" statistics at referral link level. These statistics are used in conjunction with commission reports provided by the retailer, to determine commission payments. Consequently, some commission determination options used in various embodiments include: * Pro-rata commissions paid based purely on total periodical "click throughs", irrespective of specific products purchased. For example, assume UserA generates 5000 "click throughs" in month, UserB generates 3000 "click throughs" in month, and UserC generates 2000 "click throughs" in month. Then UserA gets 50%, UserB gets 30%, and UserC gets 20%. * Pro-rata commissions based on "click-throughs" within product categories, where product category commission data is available from retailers. * Pro-rata commissions based on "click-throughs" for individual products, where product commission data is available from retailers. * Pro-rata commissions based on "click-throughs" based on narrow periods of time, to more closely associate purchases with "click-throughs" * Combinations of the above, determined by the commission data available from various retailers. [0061] In some embodiments arrangements between the system and specific retailers/affiliates enhance integration, allowing for more precise arrangements. For example, in some embodiments each referral link includes an identifier indicative of the user responsible. System 220 informs system 200 of the link responsible for each commission, allowing system 200 to identify the relevant user. [0062] In some cases, the data indicative of referral commissions is collated to include commissions from a plurality of links, hence requiring additional processing. [0063] A commission allocation module 222 is responsible for allocating commissions to the relevant users and web content responsible parties. Instructions regarding quantum and recipients are provided by module 221; module 222 is concerned with implementing the allocation. In the case of users, in some embodiments system 200 has 11 data to enable communication with users, and informs users that a commission amount has been allocated and is available for collection. The user then indicates how the funds are to be transferred. In other embodiments users log onto a website provided by system 200 and are able to view their commissions, and in some cases spend available funds on goods/services made available via that website. In other embodiments commissions are distributed to users via administrators of the websites on which comments are posted. [0064] In cases where causes are selected, a cause selection module 250 operates in conjunction with a cause database 251 thereby to allow a user to select a cause to which some or all of their commissions are to be allocated. Exemplary Method and U! Screenshots [0065] An exemplary method performable by system 200 is described by reference to method 400 of FIG. 4 and the exemplary screenshots of FIG. 5A to FIG. 5E. It will be appreciated that the steps of method 400 may be performed in other sequences for the purpose of further embodiments. It will additionally be appreciated that the exemplary screenshots are intended to provide context only, and should not be regarded as limiting in terms of website design and/or other issues. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the present methodologies are readily implemented via a wide range of GUI enabling technologies, including voice recognition, touch-screens, motion sensing, and the like. [0066] Method 400 is a method preformed by a server device, for example on the basis of computer executable code executed at that server device. The method, in general terms, is a method for generating web content in response to input from a client device. Functional block 401 represents a process including receiving from the client device a request to generate a new referral content item. For example, this may occur when the user navigates to a web page configured to commence the generation process. FIG. 5A illustrates one such web page, which provides a "log in via Facebook" button 501 and a "log in via Twitter" button 502, thereby to allow a user to commence the process using personal information associated with their Facebook or Twitter accounts respectively. In some embodiments return users are recognised and not required to complete this process. Clicking button 501 or 502 leads to an approval screen (typically hosted by the social network facility) whereby the user consents to personal information (and other optionally permissions) being granted to system 200.

12 [0067] Functional block 204 represents a process including providing an interface for referral content item creation. In the present embodiment, this includes providing a product selection interface for enabling a user of the client device to select one of a plurality of products for which the server is able to provide a referral link. An exemplary product selection interface is illustrated in FIG. 5B. This includes a store selector menu 511, for allowing the user to select an online store, and a search facility 512 for allowing the user to search product available at that store (or in some cases across a plurality of the stores). A product display object 513 allows the user to view products (optionally with multiple products being simultaneously displayed) and make a selection. The server device receives from the client device data indicative of a product selection made via the product selection interface. [0068] The process of functional block 204 also includes, in the present embodiment, providing a cause selection interface for enabling the user of the client device to select one of a plurality of causes in respect of which the referral content item will be indicative. An example is shown in FIG. 5C. A user selects a cause using one of objects 521 to 526, and the server receives from the client data indicative of a cause selection made via the interface. Also as illustrated in FIG. 5B, the server provides a commission split selection interface 528 for enabling the user of the client device to select a proportion of referral commissions allocated to the user in respect of the referral link that are to be provided to the cause. In FIG. 5C this includes a slider that moves from 0% to 100% (although in some cases 0% is not selectable). The server receives, from the client, data indicative of a proportion selection made via the commission split selection interface. [0069] In some embodiments the cause section process is optional or omitted. However, for the purpose of the present description, it is assumed that a cause is selected. [0070] The process of functional block 204 also includes, in the present embodiment, providing a content editing interface for allowing enabling the user of the client device to edit content that is to be published via the new referral content item. An exemplary content editing interface is shown in FIG. 5D, which shows: * Cause information 531 for the selected cause. * Product information 532 for the selected product.

13 * A rich media editor 533, for allowing the user to associate rich media (such as images, audio, video, links to hosted video/audio/image content< and so on) with the referral content item. * A personal message editor 534, for allowing the user to edit a personal message. In some embodiments this is pre-populated with information regarding the selected cause and/or product, thereby to assist the user in editing. * A personal disclaimer editor 535, whereby the user can disclaim any personal interests (for example "I am an unpaid advocate for Cause X but a paid advocate for Store Y"). In some cases this is also pre-populated to assist the user. [0071] It is intended that the generated content be authored by the user in a manner to publicise the product and/or cause. For example, a user may use the personal message and/or video to encourage others to support a cause by purchasing a particular product. [0072] The server device receives data indicative of content edited via the content editing interface, and uses this to generate content. In some embodiments that content is for sharing via the relevant social network facility, and in other embodiments the content is shared via a separate web page that is accessible via a post on the social network facility. For the purpose of the present description, the latter option is dealt with in detail. [0073] The server device generates a web page having unique address for the new referral content item, the web page including the referral link to the selected product, and additionally including the edited content (and optionally other information). In some cases the user is able to view this webpage, and iteratively re-use the editing interface to modify the content of that page. [0074] The server device is additional configured to generate a draft social network facility post, wherein the draft post includes an editable portion and a link to the generated web page. This is shown in FIG. 5E, which illustrates a post editing interface 540 for enabling the user to modify the editable portion (via an editing object 541) and electively approve the post; (via a button 542). Interface 540 is preferably limited by limitations that apply to posts in the social network facility.

14 [0075] Upon receiving data indicative of the modified editable portion and approval of the post, the server device publishes the post to the social network facility on behalf of the user. In this manner, this user in effect generates the final content for a post to the social network facility, and is responsible for the posting. Exemplary System-Level Overview [0076] In some embodiments, methods and functionalities considered herein are implemented by way of a server, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In overview, a web server 302 provides a web interface 303. This web interface is accessed by the parties by way of client terminals 304. In overview, users access interface 303 over the Internet by way of client terminals 304, which in various embodiments include the likes of personal computers, PDAs, cellular telephones, gaming consoles, and other Internet enabled devices. [0077] Server 303 includes a processor 305 coupled to a memory module 306 and a communications interface 307, such as an Internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, wireless network card, serial port, or the like. In other embodiments distributed resources are used. For example, in one embodiment server 302 includes a plurality of distributed servers having respective storage, processing and communications resources. Memory module 306 includes software instructions 308, which are executable on processor 305. [0078] Server 302 is coupled to a database 310. In further embodiments the database leverages memory module 306. [0079] In some embodiments web interface 303 includes a website. The term "website" should be read broadly to cover substantially any source of information accessible over the Internet or another communications network (such as WAN, LAN or WLAN) via a browser application running on a client terminal. In some embodiments, a website is a source of information made available by a server and accessible over the Internet by a web-browser application running on a client terminal. The web-browser application downloads code, such as HTML code, from the server. This code is executable through the web-browser on the client terminal for providing a graphical and often interactive representation of the website on the client terminal. By way of the web browser application, a user of the client terminal is able to navigate between and 15 throughout various web pages provided by the website, and access various functionalities that are provided. [0080] Although some embodiments make use of a website/browser-based implementation, in other embodiments proprietary software methods are implemented as an alternative. For example, in such embodiments client terminals 304 maintain software instructions for a computer program product that essentially provides access to a portal via which framework 100 is accessed (for instance via an iPhone app or the like). [0081] In general terms, each terminal 304 includes a processor 311 coupled to a memory module 313 and a communications interface 312, such as an internet connection, modem, Ethernet port, serial port, or the like. Memory module 313 includes software instructions 314, which are executable on processor 311. These software instructions allow terminal 304 to execute a software application, such as a proprietary application or web browser application and thereby render on-screen a user interface and allow communication with server 302. This user interface allows for the creation, viewing and administration of profiles, access to the internal communications interface, and various other functionalities. Conclusions and Interpretation [0082] It will be appreciated that the disclosure above provides various significant systems and methods for managing referral commissions. [0083] Unless specifically stated otherwise, as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the specification discussions utilizing terms such as "processing," "computing," "calculating," "determining", analyzing" or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform data represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities into other data similarly represented as physical quantities. [0084] In a similar manner, the term "processor" may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory. A "computer" or a "computing machine" or a "computing platform" may include one or more processors.

16 [0085] The methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included. Thus, one example is a typical processing system that includes one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM. A bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. The processing system further may be a distributed processing system with processors coupled by a network. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. If manual data entry is required, the processing system also includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth. The term memory unit as used herein, if clear from the context and unless explicitly stated otherwise, also encompasses a storage system such as a disk drive unit. The processing system in some configurations may include a sound output device, and a network interface device. The memory subsystem thus includes a computer-readable carrier medium that carries computer-readable code (e.g., software) including a set of instructions to cause performing, when executed by one or more processors, one of more of the methods described herein. Note that when the method includes several elements, e.g., several steps, no ordering of such elements is implied, unless specifically stated. The software may reside in the hard disk, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer-readable code. [0086] Furthermore, a computer-readable carrier medium may form, or be included in a computer program product. [0087] In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a user machine in server-user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment. The one or more processors may form a 17 personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. [0088] Note that while diagrams only show a single processor and a single memory that carries the computer-readable code, those in the art will understand that many of the components described above are included, but not explicitly shown or described in order not to obscure the inventive aspect. For example, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. [0089] Thus, one embodiment of each of the methods described herein is in the form of a computer-readable carrier medium carrying a set of instructions, e.g., a computer program that is for execution on one or more processors, e.g., one or more processors that are part of web server arrangement. Thus, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as a method, an apparatus such as a special purpose apparatus, an apparatus such as a data processing system, or a computer-readable carrier medium, e.g., a computer program product. The computer-readable carrier medium carries computer readable code including a set of instructions that when executed on one or more processors cause the processor or processors to implement a method. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a method, an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of carrier medium (e.g., a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium) carrying computer-readable program code embodied in the medium. [0090] The software may further be transmitted or received over a network via a network interface device. While the carrier medium is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term "carrier medium" should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term "carrier medium" shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by one or more of the processors 18 and that cause the one or more processors to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present invention. A carrier medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical, magnetic disks, and magneto-optical disks. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a bus subsystem. Transmission media also may also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications. For example, the term "carrier medium" shall accordingly be taken to included, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, a computer product embodied in optical and magnetic media; a medium bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of one or more processors and representing a set of instructions that, when executed, implement a method; and a transmission medium in a network bearing a propagated signal detectable by at least one processor of the one or more processors and representing the set of instructions. [0091] It will be understood that the steps of methods discussed are performed in one embodiment by an appropriate processor (or processors) of a processing (i.e., computer) system executing instructions (computer-readable code) stored in storage. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular implementation or programming technique and that the invention may be implemented using any appropriate techniques for implementing the functionality described herein. The invention is not limited to any particular programming language or operating system. [0092] It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, FIG., or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

19 [0093] Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination. [0094] Furthermore, some of the embodiments are described herein as a method or combination of elements of a method that can be implemented by a processor of a computer system or by other means of carrying out the function. Thus, a processor with the necessary instructions for carrying out such a method or element of a method forms a means for carrying out the method or element of a method. Furthermore, an element described herein of an apparatus embodiment is an example of a means for carrying out the function performed by the element for the purpose of carrying out the invention. [0095] In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description. [0096] Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term coupled, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being limited to direct connections only. The terms "coupled" and "connected," along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Thus, the scope of the expression a device A coupled to a device B should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. "Coupled" may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. [0097] Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as falling within the scope of the invention. For example, any formulas given above are merely representative of procedures that may be used. Functionality may be added or deleted from the block 20 diagrams and operations may be interchanged among functional blocks. Steps may be added or deleted to methods described within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (25)

1. A method, preformed by a server device, for generating web content in response to input from a client device, the method including: receiving from the client device a request to generate a new referral content item; providing a product selection interface for enabling a user of the client device to select one of a plurality of products for which the server is able to provide a referral link; receiving from the client device data indicative of a product selection made via the product selection interface; providing a content editing interface for allowing enabling the user of the client device to edit content that is to be published via the new referral content item; receiving data indicative of content edited via the content editing interface; generating a web page having unique address for the new referral content item, the web page including the referral link to the selected product and the edited content; generating a draft social network facility post, wherein the draft post includes an editable portion and a link to the generated web page; providing a post editing interface for enabling the user to modify the editable portion and electively approve the post; receiving data indicative of the modified editable portion and approval of the post; and publishing the post to the social network facility on behalf of the user.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the referral link is configured to enable sharing of a referral commission generated via the link between the user and an administrator associated with the server. 22

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the referral link includes a portion indicative of the administrator and a portion indicative of the user.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the referral link is indicative of the administrator and not the user.

5. A method according to claim 1 further including: providing a cause selection interface for enabling the user of the client device to select one of a plurality of causes in respect of which the referral content item will be indicative; and receiving from the client data indicative of a cause selection made via the interface; wherein the generated web page includes data indicative of the cause.

6. A method according to claim 5 further including: providing a commission split selection interface for enabling the user of the client device to select a proportion of referral commissions allocated to the user in respect of the referral link that are to be provided to the cause; and receiving from the client data indicative of a proportion selection made via the commission split selection interface.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the generated web page includes data indicative of the proportion of referral commissions allocated to the user in respect of the referral link that are to be provided to the cause.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein the referral link is configured to enable sharing of a referral commission generated via the link between the user, the cause selected by the user, and an administrator associated with the server.

9. A method, preformed by a server device, for generating web content in response to input from a client device, the method including: 23 interacting with a client terminal thereby to define a social network post associated with a user, wherein the social network post includes a referral link provided by the server; monitoring referral commissions derived via the social network post; and allocating at least a proportion of the referral commissions to the user.

10. A method according to claim 9 including allocating, to a cause associated with the user, some or all of the proportion of the referral commissions allocated to the user.

11. A method, preformed by a server device, for generating web content in response to input from a client device, the method including: receiving from the client device a request to generate a new referral content item; providing a product selection interface for enabling a user of the client device to select one of a plurality of products for which the server is able to provide a referral link; receiving from the client device data indicative of a product selection made via the product selection interface; providing a content editing interface for allowing enabling the user of the client device to edit content that is to be published via the new referral content item; receiving data indicative of content edited via the content editing interface; generating a draft social network facility post, wherein the draft post includes an editable portion and the referral link; providing a post editing interface for enabling the user to modify the editable portion and electively approve the post; publishing the post to the social network facility on behalf of the user.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the referral link is configured to enable sharing of a referral commission generated via the link between the user and an administrator associated with the server. 24

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the referral link includes a portion indicative of the administrator and a portion indicative of the user.

14. A method according to claim 2 wherein the referral link is indicative of the administrator and not the user.

15. A method according to claim 11 further including: providing a cause selection interface for enabling the user of the client device to select one of a plurality of causes in respect of which the referral content item will be indicative; and receiving from the client data indicative of a cause selection made via the interface; wherein the post includes data indicative of the cause.

16. A method according to claim 15 further including: providing a commission split selection interface for enabling the user of the client device to select a proportion of referral commissions allocated to the user in respect of the referral link that are to be provided to the cause; and receiving from the client data indicative of a proportion selection made via the commission split selection interface.

17. A method according to claim 6 wherein the post includes data indicative of the proportion of referral commissions allocated to the user in respect of the referral link that are to be provided to the cause.

18. A method, preformed by a server device, for generating web content in response to input from a client device, the method including: interacting with a client terminal thereby to define a social network post associated with a user, wherein the social network post includes a referral link provided by the server; monitoring referral commissions derived via the social network post; and 25 allocating at least a proportion of the referral commissions to the user.

19. A method according to claim 9 including allocating, to a cause associated with the user, some or all of the proportion of the referral commissions allocated to the user.

20. A method for managing referral commissions, the method including: monitoring data indicative of incoming referral commissions; allocating proportions of the incoming commissions among a plurality of registered users on the basis of a predefined protocol; in respect of a given one of the users, allocating some or all of that user's allocated proportion to a cause associated with the user.

21. A method according to claim 11 wherein the incoming referral commissions are generated by referral links provided via a link generation engine.

22. A method according to claim 12 wherein the referral links are publicised via social network posts generated by a referral content item wizard.

23. A computer system configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. A computer program configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

25. A non-transitive carrier medium carrying computer executable code that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.