AU2015203331A1 - Method and system for on-line marketing - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A method and systesm of on-line marketing enables an agent to market real-estate almost immediately after a contract has been signed, rather than having to wait for other processes to complete. The method includes receiving, at a marketing server, one or more product details for a product from a seller; receiving, at the marketing server, one or more product criteria from a buyer; comparing, at the marketing server, the one or more product details with the one or more product criteria; determining, at the marketing server, that the product details meet the product criteria; receiving, at the marketing server, instructions from the seller to provide modified product details; modifying, at the marketing server, at least one of the product details to create the modified product details; receiving, at the marketing server, confirmation of payment from the seller for sending the modified product details to the buyer; and sending, from the marketing server, the modified product details to the buyer.

Description

1 TITLE METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ON-LINE MARKETING FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to a method and system for on-line marketing, and in particular to a method and system for on-line marketing of, but not limited to, real-estate. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Typically, products such as real-estate and vehicles are marketed on a website via the Internet. However, there can be a time delay between when a product is ready to be marketed and when the product is actually marketed on the website. [0003] In real-estate, a seller of a property often engages a real-estate agent to market the property for sale or rent. In this scenario, there is often a time delay between when the seller signs the appropriate paperwork to authorise the agent to market the property, and when the property is visible on real-estate marketing websites. In some instances, the delay can be between 4 and 14 days. [0004] The delay is often due to one or more of the following factors: - Obtaining authority to market the property outside normal business hours, for example over a weekend; - The agent's administration procedures including the time to prepare an advertising "write-up" of a property; - Obtaining photos of the property, which are required on current portals before a property can be listed; - Obtaining videos and plans of the property; - Obtaining keys for accessing the property. This particularly can be a problem in the case of investment properties and remotely located owners; and - Access issues for tenanted properties. [0005] Such time delays cause issues for agents, sellers and buyers alike. Some of the issues include: 2 - The property lacks exposure to potential buyers for possibly the first 14 days from when the agent has obtained authority to sell the property; - Sellers can miss out on potential buyers or tenants for the property while waiting for the property to be listed; - Sellers can needlessly spend money on advertising campaigns when potential buyers are already present and ready to buy; - Advertising deadlines can be missed; - The agent may potentially lose up to 14 days of a contracted period of representing the client with no exposure; - The agent can lose vital marketing time for properties being exposed on current advertising mediums; and - The agent can miss out on the opportunity to create urgency by not exposing the property early to buyers. [0006] Similarly, buyers can miss out on properties, as in many cases a property has already been sold or rented by the time the property has been listed on current real estate portals. [0007] There is therefore a need for an improved method and system for on-line marketing. [0008] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0009] It is an object of some embodiments of the present invention to provide consumers with improvements and advantages over the above described prior art, and/or overcome and alleviate one or more of the above described disadvantages of the prior art, and/or provide a useful commercial choice.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] In one form, although not necessarily the only or the broadest form, the invention resides in a method of on-line marketing, including: receiving, at a marketing server, one or more product details for a product from a seller; receiving, at the marketing server, one or more product criteria from a buyer; comparing, at the marketing server, the one or more product details with the one or more product criteria; determining, at the marketing server, that the product details meet the product criteria; receiving, at the marketing server, instructions from the seller to provide modified product details; modifying, at the marketing server, at least one of the product details to create the modified product details; receiving, at the marketing server, confirmation of payment from the seller for sending the modified product details to the buyer; and sending, from the marketing server, the modified product details to the buyer. [0011] Preferably, the method further includes receiving, at the marketing server, buyer details from the buyer. [0012] Preferably, the method further includes: receiving, at the marketing server, a request for full product details from the buyer; receiving, at the marketing server, a confirmation of payment from the seller for the buyer details; sending, from the marketing server, the full product details to the buyer; and sending, from the marketing server, the buyer details to the seller. [0013] Preferably, the product is real-estate. [0014] Preferably, the full product details include a full address of the real-estate.

4 [0015] Preferably, modifying at least one of the product details includes changing a full address of the real-estate to a partial address of the real-estate. The partial address may include a locality of the real-estate such as a suburb, a state, a county, a country and a postcode. Thus the partial address may omit a number of a street and/or a street on which the real-estate is located. [0016] Preferably, the method includes receiving seller details from the seller. Preferably, the full product details include the seller details. [0017] Preferably, the method further includes receiving, at the marketing server, buyer details from each of a plurality of buyers. [0018] Preferably, the method includes determining a count of a number of buyers where the product details meet the product criteria, and sending the count of the number of buyers to the seller. [0019] Preferably, the method includes determining a count of new buyers where the product details meet the product criteria, and sending the count of the new buyers to the seller. [0020] Preferably, the method includes sending the modified product details to each buyer of the plurality of buyers where the product details meet the product criteria. [0021] In yet another form, the invention resides in a system for on-line marketing including a marketing server, the marketing server including a processor coupled to a memory, and the memory including program code components configured to cause the processor to: receive one or more product details for a product from a seller; receive one or more product criteria from a buyer; compare the one or more product details with the one or more product criteria; determine that the product details meet the product criteria; receive instructions from the seller to provide modified product details; modify at least one of the product details to create the modified product details; 5 receive confirmation of payment from the seller for sending the modified product details to the buyer; and send the modified product details to the buyer. [0022] Preferably, the program code components are further configured to receive buyer details from the buyer. [0023] Preferably, the program code components are further configured to: receive a request for full product details from the buyer; receive a confirmation of payment from the seller for the buyer details from the seller; send the full product details to the buyer; and send the buyer details to the seller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0024] An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for on-line marketing according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of on-line marketing according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 illustrates a screenshot of a login page displayed to a user according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 illustrates a screenshot of an evaluation page displayed to an agent according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 illustrates a screenshot of a first agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 illustrates a screenshot of a second agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 illustrates a screenshot of a third agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 illustrates a screenshot of a fourth agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention; 6 FIG. 9 illustrates a screenshot of a status page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 illustrates a screenshot of a list a property page according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 11 illustrates a screenshot of a confirmation page according to an embodiment of the present application; FIG. 12 illustrates a screenshot of a first buyer registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 illustrates a screenshot of a second buyer registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 illustrates a screenshot of a list of properties page, where the property details meet the property criteria, according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 15 illustrates a screenshot of a full address page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 illustrates a screenshot of property detail page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 17 illustrates a screenshot of a status page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 18 illustrates a screenshot of an edit property page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 19 illustrates a screenshot of a sold page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 20 illustrates a screenshot of a watch page according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 21 illustrates a screenshot of a home page of an on-line marketing website according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 22 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device for performing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0025] Elements of the invention are illustrated in concise outline form in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are necessary to understanding 7 the embodiments of the present invention, but so as not to clutter the disclosure with excessive detail that will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the present description. [0026] In this patent specification, adjectives such as first and second, left and right, front and back, top and bottom, etc., are used solely to define one element from another element without necessarily requiring a specific relative position or sequence that is described by the adjectives. Words such as "comprises" or "includes" are not used to define an exclusive set of elements or method steps. Rather, such words merely define a minimum set of elements or method steps included in a particular embodiment of the present invention. It will be appreciated that the invention may be implemented in a variety of ways, and that this description is given by way of example only. In addition the method steps may be performed in a different order to those presented. [0027] Generally, the present invention allows a real estate agent to list properties for sale almost immediately after a contract has been signed by a seller, by entering basic property details in an application installed on the agent's smartphone. The property details may include for example an address, a number of bedrooms, a number of bathrooms, and a number of garage spaces. As soon as the property is listed, a buyer with a similar application installed on a smartphone, is notified of the property for sale. [0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system 100 for on-line marketing according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 includes a marketing server 110 to which a number of users, such as a seller or a seller's agent 120 and a buyer 130, have access, for example using a suitable computing device connected via the Internet 140. The computing device used by the agent 120 and the buyer 130 may be any suitable computing device such as, but not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet computer, a games console, and a smartphone. In some embodiments, the seller 120 and the buyer 130 interact with the marketing server 110 via an application or a web browser installed on the computing device. As is known in the art, the application or web browser displays 8 data received from the marketing server 110 and allows the user to enter data to send to the marketing server 110. [0029] The marketing server 110 includes a processor coupled to a memory, and the memory includes program code components configured to cause the processor to perform the method of the present invention. Although the marketing server 110 is shown as a single device, it should be appreciated that the marketing server 110 may be part of a distributed computing environment. [0030] Embodiments of the invention will be described in relation to the marketing of real-estate such as a residential property. However the invention may also be applied to marketing other products such as vehicles, where on-line advertising is often subject to a time delay. In addition it should be appreciated that the present invention may equally be applied to the rental of products. Although in one embodiment the agent 120 is selling (or a letting) a property on behalf of a seller, it should be appreciated that sellers also may use the system 100 without the use of the agent 120. [0031] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 200 for on-line marketing according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step 210 the marketing server 110 receives one or more product details for a product from a seller. At step 220, the marketing server 110 receives one or more product criteria from a buyer 130. At step 230, the marketing server 110 compares the one or more product details with the one or more product criteria. At step 240, the marketing server 110 determines that the product details meet the product criteria. At step 250, the marketing server 110 receives instructions from the seller to provide modified product details. At step 260, the marketing server 110 modifies at least one of the product details to create the modified product details. At step 270, the marketing server 110 receives confirmation of payment from the seller for sending the modified product details to the buyer 130. At step 280 the marketing server 110 sends the modified product details to the buyer 130. [0032] In some embodiments the method may further include receiving, at the marketing server 110, buyer details from a buyer 130. Further the method may 9 include receiving from the marketing server 110, a request for full product details from the buyer 130, and receiving, at the marketing server 110, a confirmation of payment for the full product details from the seller. In addition the method may include sending, from the marketing server 110, the full product details to the buyer 130, and sending, from the marketing server 110, the buyer details to the seller. [0033] In some embodiments, the present invention allows an agent 120 to market real-estate directly after a contract has been signed, rather than having to wait for other processes to complete, such as taking photos and waiting for completion of a write up on the real-estate. In addition, real-estate can be listed with a minimum of expense for the seller instructing the agent 120, as the real-estate can be listed without the need for photos. Furthermore, buyers 130 are notified more quickly of real-estate coming to market than over prior art systems. [0034] In order to list a property, an agent 120 may log into the system 100 using a suitable app or via a website. Similarly, a buyer 130 may search for a property by logging into the system 100 using a suitable app or via a website. Exemplary screen shots of a suitable app according to one embodiment of the present invention are described below. [0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a screenshot 300 of a login page displayed to a user according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the user indicates whether he or she is an agent 120 or a buyer 130 by touching a suitable button. In addition, if the user has registered, the user can log in by supplying a username and password in suitable text fields. If the user has not registered, the user may register to use the system 100 by touching a register now button. In addition, the user may evaluate the system 100 by touching a try us out button. [0036] FIG. 4 illustrates a screenshot 400 of an evaluation page displayed to an agent 120 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The evaluation allows the agent 120 to evaluate the system to gauge a number of buyers that are registered on the marketing server 110 for a particular property.

10 [0037] In order to evaluate the system 100, the agent 120 may provide property details of the property he or she has for sale. The property details may include for example an address, a property type (such as an apartment or house), a number of bedrooms, a number of bathrooms, a number of car spaces, and an asking price. The server, 110 determines a count of a number of buyers 130 where the property details match the property criteria of one or more buyers 130. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the server 110 has determined that there are 16 possible buyers 130 where the property details match the property criteria of each buyer 130. If the agent 120 wishes to use the full functionality of the server 110, the agent 120 needs to register, for example by touching the register now button in FIG. 3. [0038] FIG. 5 illustrates a screenshot 500 of a first agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the agent 120 may provide agent details such as a first name, a last name, a mobile telephone number, an email address and a desired password. Once the agent 120 has entered the agent details, the agent 120 touches a next button, and is presented with a second agent registration web page. [0039] FIG. 6 illustrates a screenshot 600 of a second agent registration web page according to an embodiment of the present invention. The agent 120 enters further agent details such as a state in which the agent 120 is registered, an agency name, an agency suburb or postcode and a certificate or licence number of the agent. In some embodiments, the server 110 may validate the certificate or licence number. Once completed the agent 120 touches a next button and is presented with a third agent registration web page. It should be appreciated that, using predictive text functionality, some of the agent details may automatically populate as the user starts to type. [0040] In some embodiments, the agent 120 may be shown a tutorial on how to use the application or website at any stage of the registration process or upon request. [0041] FIG. 7 illustrates a screenshot 700 of a third agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention. The third agent registration page requests the agent 120 to select a plan type. The plan type may include a duration of 11 the plan, and a price the agent pays for each contact with a potential buyer 130. For example, for a short plan the agent 120 may pay a higher price per contact than for a longer plan. Once completed the agent 120 clicks on a next button and is presented with a fourth agent registration page. [0042] FIG. 8 illustrates a screenshot 800 of a fourth agent registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8 the agent provides a preferred payment method, such as by entering credit card details, bank details or details or any other suitable payment gateway, and touches a register button to complete the registration process. [0043] Once registered, the agent 120 is presented with a status of properties the agent 120 has for sale and/or rent. FIG. 9 illustrates a screenshot 900 of a status page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 9, a first time the agent 120 logs in, the status page does not include any listings. In order to list a property, the agent 120 touches a list a property button and is presented with a list a property page. [0044] FIG. 10 illustrates a screenshot 1000 of a list a property page according to an embodiment of the present application. In order to list a property, the agent 120 enters property details of a property. The property details may include for example a full address 1010 (for example the full address 1010 may include a street address, a suburb, and a postcode), a property type 1020 (such as an apartment or house), a number of bedrooms 1030, a number of bathrooms 1040, a number of car spaces 1050, and a property price 1060 or price range. Once the agent 120 has entered the property details, the system 100 determines a number of buyers 130 where the property details meet the property criteria, and simultaneously displays a count 1070 of the number of buyers. The agent 120 may also specify inspection details 1080 of the property, for example by appointment, or by a date by populating an open date field 1085. In order to list the property, the agent 120 clicks on a go live button 1090, and a confirmation page is displayed to the agent 120. It should be appreciated that the property details, and in particular the address, may automatically populate as the agent 120 starts to type.

12 [0045] FIG. 11 illustrates a screenshot 1100 of a confirmation page according to an embodiment of the present application. The confirmation page includes property details 1110 entered in FIG. 10 which may be edited by clicking on button 1112. In some embodiments, a count 1120 of a number of buyers, where the property details entered by the agent 120 meet the property criteria of a buyer 130, is displayed. Once listed, the agent 120 may alert buyers 130, where the property details meet the property criteria of the buyers 130, by tapping a send alerts button 1130. [0046] In response to the agent 120 tapping on the send alerts button 1130, the server 110 modifies one or more of the property details to create modified property details. In a preferred embodiment, the server 110 modifies the full address to a partial address. For example, the partial address may include a locality of the property such as a suburb, a state, a county, a country and a postcode. Thus the partial address may omit a number of a street, and/or a street in which the property is located. [0047] In some embodiments, the agent 120 is charged a fee to send each alert to each buyer 130, and the server 110 deducts the payment using the preferred payment method entered by the agent 120. Once the server 110 receives confirmation that payment, for sending the modified product details to the buyers 130, has been received from the agent 120, the modified product details are sent to buyers 130 where the property details meet the property criteria. For example, the modified property details may be sent by SMS, email or push notifications to an app. [0048] Similar to the agent 120, a buyer 130 also may register to use the system 100, according to embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 12 illustrates a screenshot 1200 of a first buyer registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention. The buyer 130 may provide buyer details such as a first name, a last name, a phone number, an email address, and a password. By pressing a next button, the buyer 130 is presented with a second buyer registration page. In addition, the buyer 130 may be requested to confirm a mobile telephone number, as is known in the art.

13 [0049] FIG. 13 illustrates a screenshot 1300 of a second buyer registration page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the buyer 130 enters property criteria which define a specification of a property that the buyer 130 is interested in buying or renting. For example, the property criteria may include a location 1310, a property type 1320 (such as a house or apartment), a number of bedrooms 1330, a number of bathrooms 1340, a number of car spaces 1350, a land size (not shown), and a price 1360 or price range. It should be appreciated that the property criteria may be a minimum criteria, such as a minimum number of bedrooms, and a minimum land size, etc. The buyer 130 then completes the registration by tapping a go button 1370. [0050] Once the buyer 130 has registered, the server 110 compares the property criteria entered by the buyer 130 with the property details entered by the agent 120, and returns a list of properties where the property details meet the property criteria. FIG. 14 illustrates a screenshot 1400 of a list of properties page, where the property details meet the property criteria, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 14, a count 1410 of a number of properties in the list is shown together with a count 1412 of a number of newly listed properties since the buyer 130 last logged in or viewed the page. Each property 1420 in the list may include one or more of the property details entered by the agent 120 with the modified property details. In this embodiment, a property address is limited to a suburb. In order to obtain a full address, the buyer 130 presses a get address button 1424, and the server 110 sends the full address to the buyer 130. In some embodiments, each time the buyer 130 requests a full address, the agent 120 is charged a fee. [0051] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 14, each property 1420 in the list may include a time 1422 since the property was listed by the agent 120, and a number of addresses 1430 previously requested by the buyer 130. [0052] In response to a request for the full address from the buyer 130, the server 110 sends the full address to the buyer 130. FIG. 15 illustrates a screenshot 1500 of a full address page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown 14 in FIG. 15 the full address page includes the property details such as a full address 1510, a map 1520 and the agent details 1530. [0053] In some embodiments once the buyer 130 has requested the full address of a property, the buyer 130 may add the property to a watch list by clicking on a watch this property button 1540. In some embodiments, once the property has been added to the watch list, the buyer 130 is immediately notified when the property is under contract, the property has been sold, or when a price of the property has been reduced. In addition, the full address page may include inspection details 1550 when the buyer 130 may inspect the property, usually before inspection times are advertised on current marketing portals. This can create urgency in buyers 130, in the knowledge of potentially viewing the property before other potential buyers 130. [0054] Similarly, once the full address of the property and an identity of the agent 120 have been revealed to the buyer 130, the buyer details are revealed to the agent 120 for the buyer 130 requesting the full address. FIG. 16 illustrates a screenshot 1600 of property detail page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 16, an identity of each buyer 130, including buyer details 1610, that requested the full address is displayed together with the property details 1620. In addition, if the server 110 determines that there are new buyers 130, where property details meet the property criteria of the new buyers 130, a send alert button 1630 may be displayed with a count 1632 of new buyers. In order to alert the new buyers 130, the agent 120 may tap the send alert button. Similar to the fee process described above, the agent 120 may be charged a fee to alert the new buyers 130. [0055] Further, the agent 120 may view a status of the properties he or she has listed. FIG.17 illustrates a screenshot 1700 of a status page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 17, the status page includes property details 1710 for each property listed, and a count 1712 of the number of alerts that have been sent for each property. In addition, the status page displays a count 1714 of the number of enquiries that have been received for each property. For example such a count may indicate the number of buyers 130 that have requested the full address of the property. In addition, the status page shows a count 15 1716 of a number of buyers 130 watching the property. The status page also allows the agent to edit the property details 1710 for a property by clicking on an edit button 1717. [0056] The status page also shows a count 1718 of the number of new buyers where the property details meet the property criteria. The count 1718 is incremented as new buyers 130 register property criteria that meet the property details listed by the agent 120. Also, the agent 120 may send alerts to the new buyers 130 by clicking on the count 1718 of the number of new buyers. In addition, the status page displays a count 1719 of a number of new enquiries where a buyer 130 has requested the full property details, and new buyer details may be viewed by tapping on the count 1719 of the number of new enquiries. Similarly, although not shown, the status page may show a count of a number of new buyers 130 watching the property. [0057] Once the agent has sold a property, the agent 120 may edit the property details by tapping on the edit button 1717 and amend the property details to show that the property has been sold. FIG. 18 illustrates a screenshot 1800 of an edit property page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 18 the agent 120 may edit any of the property details 1810, and a status 1820 of the property, for example to indicate that the property is under contract, has been sold, or has been taken off the market. In addition the agent 120 may edit inspection criteria 1830. In some embodiments, the server 110 may update a count 1840 of a number of properties where the property details meet the property criteria, as the agent 120 edits the property details 1810. Once the agent 120 has completed editing the property details, the agent 120 may save the edits by clicking on a save button. [0058] The present invention also allows the agent 120 to review the properties that have been sold. FIG. 19 illustrates a screenshot 1900 of a sold page according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 19, the sold page provides property details of each property the agent 120 has sold. [0059] In addition, the agent 120 may also view a list of buyers 130 watching the property. This allows the agent 120 to review relevant activity in substantial real time, such as as when a contract on a property is being prepared. The agent 120 may 16 contact the buyers 130 watching the property and provide the buyers 130 the opportunity to place an offer on the property, and possibly achieve a higher price for the seller. FIG. 20 illustrates a screenshot 2000 of a watch page according to an embodiment of the present invention. Although only one property is shown with one buyer 130 watching the property, it should be appreciated that the watch page may include more than one property, and more than one buyer 130 watching each property. As shown, each property includes property details 2010, and buyer details 2020 for each buyer 130 watching the property. [0060] FIGs 3 to 20 illustrate screenshots in relation to an app installed on a smartphone, and which uses actions such as tapping and touching a screen. However, as previously mentioned, other app or web pages having similar functionality may be displayed on any suitable computing device using an application or web browser, and using actions such as pointing and clicking a mouse. An exemplary web page displayed to a buyer 130 is shown in FIG. 21 and contains similar features to those shown in FIGs 3 to 20. As shown in FIG. 21, and similar to FIG. 13, the buyer 130 may enter property criteria in property criteria fields 2110. Once the property criteria have been entered, the server 110 returns a list of properties where the property details meet the property criteria. Similar to FIG. 14, each property in the list includes a number of modified property details 2120. In order to determine a full address, the buyer 130 clicks on a respective get address button 2130. In addition, and similar to FIG. 14, a time 2140 since a respective property was listed is displayed to the buyer 130. [0061] FIG. 22 illustrates a block diagram of a computing device 2200, which may be equivalent to the marketing server 110, for performing a method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, a device that is similar to the computing device 2200 of FIG. 20 may be used by the agent 120 or the buyer 130 to interface with the marketing server 110. [0062] The computing device 2200 includes a central processor 2202, a system memory 2204 and a system bus 2206 that couples various system components, including coupling the system memory 2204 to the central processor 2202. The 17 system bus 2206 may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. The structure of system memory 2204 is well known to those skilled in the art and may include a basic input/output system (BIOS) stored in a read only memory (ROM) and one or more program modules such as operating systems, application programs and program data stored in random access memory (RAM). [0063] The computing device 2200 can also include a variety of interface units and drives for reading and writing data. [0064] In particular, the computing device 2200 includes a hard disk interface 2208 and a removable memory interface 2210, respectively coupling a hard disk drive 2212 and a removable memory drive 2214 to the system bus 2206. Examples of removable memory drives 2214 include magnetic disk drives and optical disk drives. The drives and their associated computer-readable media, such as a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) 2216 provide non-volatile storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer system 2200. A single hard disk drive 2212 and a single removable memory drive 2214 are shown for illustration purposes only and with the understanding that the computing device 2200 can include several similar drives. Furthermore, the computing device 2200 can include drives for interfacing with other types of computer readable media. [0065] The computing device 2200 may include additional interfaces for connecting devices to the system bus 2206. FIG. 22 shows a universal serial bus (USB) interface 2218 which may be used to couple a device to the system bus 2206. For example, an IEEE 1394 interface 2220 may be used to couple additional devices to the computing device 2200. [0066] The computing device 2200 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers or other devices, such as a server, a router, a network personal computer, a peer device or other common network node, a wireless telephone or wireless personal digital assistant. The computing device 2200 includes a network interface 2222 that couples the system 18 bus 2206 to a local area network (LAN) 2224. Networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks and home computer systems. [0067] A wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, can also be accessed by the computing device 2200, for example via a modem unit connected to a serial port interface 2226 or via the LAN 2224. Transmission of data can be performed using the LAN 2224, the WAN, or a combination thereof. [0068] It will be appreciated that the network connections shown and described are exemplary and other ways of establishing a communications link between computers can be used. The existence of any of various well-known protocols, such as TCP/IP, Frame Relay, Ethernet, FTP, HTTP and the like, is presumed, and the computing device 2200 can be operated in a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve data from, for example, a web-based server. [0069] The operation of the computing device 2200 can be controlled by a variety of different program modules. Examples of program modules are routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The present invention may also be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personal digital assistants and the like. Furthermore, the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. [0070] In summary, embodiments of the present invention enable an agent to market real-estate almost immediately after a contract has been signed, rather than having to wait for other processes to complete. In addition, properties can be listed at any time. As such, buyers and tenants are almost instantly alerted to new properties, which can create urgency, potentially achieving a higher price whilst saving time.

19 [0071] In addition, real-estate can be listed with a minimum of expense for the seller instructing the agent, as photos and other marketing tools are not required. Furthermore, there is no requirement to access a property to begin marketing, as only basic details of the property are required. [0072] The above description of various embodiments of the present invention is provided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in the related art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerous alternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while some alternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, other embodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, this patent specification is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations of the present invention that have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the above described invention.

Claims (16)

1. A method of on-line marketing, comprising: receiving, at a marketing server, one or more product details for a product from a seller; receiving, at the marketing server, one or more product criteria from a buyer; comparing, at the marketing server, the one or more product details with the one or more product criteria; determining, at the marketing server, that the product details meet the product criteria; receiving, at the marketing server, instructions from the seller to provide modified product details; modifying, at the marketing server, at least one of the product details to create the modified product details; receiving, at the marketing server, confirmation of payment from the seller for sending the modified product details to the buyer; and sending, from the marketing server, the modified product details to the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the marketing server, buyer details from the buyer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, at the marketing server, a request for full product details from the buyer; receiving, at the marketing server, a confirmation of payment from the seller for the buyer details; sending, from the marketing server, the full product details to the buyer; and sending, from the marketing server, the buyer details to the seller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the product is real-estate.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the full product details include a full address of the real-estate. 21

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying at least one of the product details includes changing a full address of the real-estate to a partial address of the real estate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the partial address includes a locality of the real-estate selected from one of a suburb, a state, a county, a country and a postcode.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving seller details from the seller.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the full product details include the seller details.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the marketing server, buyer details from each of a plurality of buyers.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a count of a number of buyers where the product details meet the product criteria, and sending the count of the number of buyers to the seller.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a count of new buyers where the product details meet the product criteria, and sending the count of the new buyers to the seller.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending the modified product details to each buyer of the plurality of buyers where the product details meet the product criteria.

14. A system for on-line marketing including a marketing server, the marketing server including a processor coupled to a memory, and the memory including program code components configured to cause the processor to: receive one or more product details for a product from a seller; receive one or more product criteria from a buyer; compare the one or more product details with the one or more product criteria; 22 determine that the product details meet the product criteria; receive instructions from the seller to provide modified product details; modify at least one of the product details to create the modified product details; receive confirmation of payment from the seller for sending the modified product details to the buyer; and send the modified product details to the buyer.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the program code components are further configured to receive buyer details from the buyer.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the program code components are further configured to: receive a request for full product details from the buyer; receive a confirmation of payment from the seller for the buyer details from the seller; send the full product details to the buyer; and send the buyer details to the seller.