GB2503278A

GB2503278A - A method for broadcasting push feed messages

Info

Publication number: GB2503278A
Application number: GB201211089A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Riaz Vali
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-22
Filing date: 2012-06-22
Publication date: 2013-12-25
Also published as: GB201211089D0

Abstract

A method for broadcasting push feed messages for a retailer comprises conducting a retail transaction offline between a customer and a retail establishment; composing a push feed message having selected data from the retail transaction; and publishing the push feed message to one or more e-mail addresses, the one or more e-mail addresses affiliated with a social networking profile of the customer. The method may further comprise scanning a bar code imprinted card at a point of sale and loading a customer marketing application into a customer communication (mobile) device. The application also relates to a marketing system including a marketing server functioning to create a push feed template for a retailer and a retailer server arranged to obtain an email address for a social networking application to enable the retailer to publish an edited vesion of the push feed template in a social networking application.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

(00011 The present invention relates to a system and method for marketing activities and, more particularly, to a web-based system configured to provide marketing feeds to selective users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[00021 Contemporary network and Internet resources provide means by which users can interact online and share information and activities. However, the present state of the art does not disclose a method, a system, or tools by which users can seamlessly publish and/or share their offline activities online. In particular, a retailer may not have a convenient method of initiating a marketing program to potential customers, where the marketing program incorporates the offline activities of customers of the retailer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

(0003] In one aspect of the present invention, a method for broadcasting a push *feed message for a retailer comprises: conducting a retail transaction offline between a customer and a retail establishment; composing a push feed message having selected data from the retail transaction; and publishing the push feed message to one or more e-mail addresses, the one or more e-mail addresses affiliated with a social networking profile of the customer.

(0004] In still another aspect of the present invention, a marketing system suitable for use by a retailer comprises: a marketing server having an administrative marketing module, the administrative marketing module in communication with a network via an administrative communication link, the administrative marketing module functioning to create a proposed push feed template for the retailer; and a retail server having a retailer marketing module in communication with the network, the retailer marketing module further in communication with the administrative marketing module via a retailer communication link and the administrative communication link to obtain an e-mail address for a social networking application so as to enable the retailer to publish an edited version of the push feed template in the social networking application.

[0005] The additional features and advantage of the disclosed invention is set forth in the detailed description which follows, and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the invention as described, together with the claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The foregoing aspects, uses, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description of the present invention when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which: [0007] Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical illustration of a web-based marketing system, in accordance with the present invention; (0008] Fig. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of the marketing system of Fig. 1; and [0009] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating steps taken by a retailer to access the marketing system of Fig. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00101 The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

[00111 The present invention relates generally to a marketing method and system for generating push feeds in response to a retail customer's offline activity, and for sending the push feeds to selective recipients using a substantially safe, secure, and seamless computer-enabled process.

[0012] There is shown in Figure 1 a web-based marketing system 10, in accordance with the present invention. The marketing system 10 operates in accordance with an administrative marketing module 14 resident in a marketing server 12. The administrative marketing module 14 may advantageously (i) utilize a customer's profile in a social networking group, such as FACEBOOK, and/or (ii) may function via a communication network, such as TWITTER, as described in greater detail below. The marketing server 12 may be in communication with a network such as the Internet 20, via an administrator communication link 16. Similarly, a retailer server 30, operated by a retailer, may be n communication with the Internet via a first retailer communication link 34. The retailer server 30 includes a retailer marketing module 32 that communicates with the administrative marketing module 14, as described in greater detail below.

[0013] The retailer server 30 may also be in communication with an electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) terminal 36 via a second retailer communication link 38. In an exemplary embodiment the EPOS terminal 36 may be used in a retail commerce establishment (not shown) operated by the retailer, such as a clothing store. In a typical customer transaction 24, a customer 18 may conduct a retail transaction at the retail commerce establishment. For example the customer may inquire about potentially purchasing an item, or may make a purchase at the EPOS terminal 36.

Particulars of the customer transaction 24 conducted at the retail commercial establishment may be provided to the retailer server 30, as is well known in the relevant art. For example, the customer 18 may be asked to complete a form (not shown) describing his experience in the retail commerce establishment, or to provide feedback regarding the retail purchase made.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, pre-specified details of the customer transaction 24 may be provided to the retailer server 30. For example, a customer name, a description of an item purchased, and the date of purchase may be provided to the retailer server 30. The retailer may also request the customer to provide an e-mail address or a user name for a social networking group, of which the customer is a member. The customer 18 may have a FACEBOOK account and may Twitter, or otherwise provide, the FACEBOOK e-mail or username to the retailer in response to the request.

[0015J The customer 18 preferably has access to a customer communication device 40, such as a PC, a PDA, or a SmartPhone. In an exemplary embodiment, the customer communication device 40 may include a customer marketing application 42 which functions to communicate with the retailer software module 32 and with the administrative marketing module 14, as described in greater detail below. In an exemplary embodiment, the customer communication device 40 further includes a social networking application 46, which enables the customer 18 to access a social networking group (e.g., FACEBOOK) of which the customer 181s a member.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the customer 18 may have one or more friends that are members of the same social networking group of which the customer 18 is a member. Thus, the e-mail address or other contact information for the friend may be accessed via the social networking group of the customer 18, such as the customer's FACEBOOK account. The friend of the customer 18 may utilize a second communication device 50, the second communication device 50 also comprising the social networking application 46. The second communication device may also function to access the Internet 20, via a user communication link 54.

[0017] The innovative method executed with the web-based marketing system can be described with reference to a flow diagram 60, shown in Figure 2. The customer 18 may conduct a retail transaction when visiting a retail clothing store, for example, as step 62. The transaction may include trying on one or more clothing items, or may include making a retail purchase of one or more clothing items. In response to the customer visit or purchase the retailer software module 32 may create a proposed feed based on the customer retail transaction, at step 64.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the proposed feed may be: (i) created only for a "repeat" customer, (ii) created only for a "first-time" customer, or (iii) created for any responsive customer, whether or not a purchase is made, and whether or not the customer 18 is a first-time customer or a repeat customer. Preferably, the feed format is user-friendly. There may be a pre-defined limit to the number of feeds proposed by the administrative marketing module 14, such as a limit of one feed per day or two feeds per week, for example, for a particular customer transaction. A proposed feed, responsive to a retail transaction at a retail clothing establishment, may be formatted in accordance with a clothing commodity template comprising one or more fields and pre-defined terminology, such as, for example: (0019] (RETAILER NAME) sold {PRODUCT NAME) to {USERNAME} (FEED POWERED BY 020.ME.UK}.

[0020] The retailer marketing module 32 may enter the name of the retailer or retail store in the field (RETAILER NAME). The retailer marketing module 32 may also enter for the field (PRODUCT NAME) a descriptor, such as "jacket," for the product considered by or purchased by the customer 18. A user name for the customer 18 may also be automatically entered into the field (USERNAME} where the username may have been obtained from a FACEBOOK account by a service such as TWITTER. That is, the service may write the user's name onto a marketing feed, as the username is obtained from the profile of the user in the respective social networking account. The proposed marketing feed may be credited to an application administrator by an affiliate code or reference field, here exemplified by the entry (FEED POWERED BY 020.ME.UK}. This entry may be stored in the marketing server 12.

[0021] For a customer 18 patronizing a restaurant, for example, the retailer marketing module 32 may compose a proposed feed formatted in accordance with a dining template comprising one or more fields and pre-defined terminology, such as,

for example:

[0022] (USERNAME) dined at (RETAILER NAME) and had (MENU ITEM} {FEED POWERED BY 020.ME.tJK}.

[0023] The retail software module 32 may enter the name of the retailer or dining establishment in the field (RETAILER NAME}. The retail software 32 may also enter for the field (MENU ITEM) a descriptor for the particular entrée or main course ordered by the customer 18. A user name for the customer 18 may also be entered into the field (USERNAME}. The proposed feed may be credited with the entry (FEED POWERED BY O20.ME.UI(}and stored in the marketing server 12.

[0024] The retailer may log into the web-based marketing system 10 and enter the customer e-mail address or user name with the administrative marketing module 14, at step 66. The administrative marketing module 14 may then "ping" the e-mail or user social networking account of the customer 18 to ascertain whether the customer marketing application 42 had previously been loaded into the customer communication device 40, at step 68. If the customer communication device 40 does not include a pre-loaded customer software application 42, at decision block 70, the customer 18 may be asked to do so, at step 72. The customer 18 may choose to install the customer marketing application 42, at decision block 74. If the customer loads the customr software application 42 as requested, the process returns to step 78. Otherwise, the current process of publishing a push feed message to the customer social networking account wall terminates, at step 76.

[0025] If the customer communication device 40 does have the customer marketing application 42 loaded, at decision block 70, the proposed feed may be transmitted to or otherwise provided to the social networking account of the customer 18, in step 78. The feed may be "published" in the social networking wall of the customer 18, whether or not the customer 18 has logged into his account in the social networking application 46. The user 28 may then see a feed message 28 on the wall of the customer 18 after logging into his own account in the social* networking application 46.

[0026] By publishing the feed message 52 to the user 28, and to other members of the customer social network, the retailer thus utilizes a convenient method of initiating a marketing program to the user 28 and to other members of the customer social network. Moreover, the web-based marketing system 10 provides a method and system by which the customer 28 can seamlessly publish and/or share his offline activities online with other members of his social network.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the customer 18 may directly access the EPOS terminal 36 to enable the process of publishing the proposed feed as explained above. For example, the customer 18 may be provided with a unique machine-readable card, such as a card with a pre-printed barcode, for scanning at the EPOS terminal 36. When the EPOS terminal 36 or the retailer marketing module 32 has validated the scanned card, the customer 18 may grant permission for the retailer marketing module 32 to send the proposed feed to one or more recipients, such as to the user 28.

[0028] The retailer may access the web-based marketing system 10 by first beginning a registration process for an account with the marketing server 12, as shown at step 82 in a flow diagram 80 in Figure 3. In response, the administrative marketing module 14 may request the retailer to provide, or to select from a menu, a description of the type of business for which the retailer is requesting access to the web-based marketing system 10, at step 84. For example, the retailer may request access for a service-based business, for a retail sales establishment, or for a restaurant chain.

10029] The administrative marketing module 14 may initiate a review of the retailer request, at decision block 86, but may decline the retailer request in accordance with pie-established standards, and end the retailer request process, at step 88. If the retailer request is approved, at decision block 86, the administrative marketing module 14 may structure an account for the retailer, and create a retailer template for proposed push feed messages, at step 90.

[0030] For example, a template for a proposed word feed may be generated for the retailer, the template preferably being appropriate to the nature of the retailer business. The retailer may be able to edit the template words and phrases appearing in curly brackets (shown above), but may not be able to edit the other terms in the word feed template. Further retail!r editing of the push feed message may be provided only for a push feed message that has not already been sent to the customer 18 or to contacts of the customer 18, such as the user 28. Once the push feed e-mail has been broadcast, the push feed message cannot be edited by the retailer.

[0031] The administrative marketing module 14 may function to add one or more affiliate codes to any hyperlink(s) provided by the retailer in the push feed message, at step 92. The hyperiinks may function to redirect a web user clicking on the hyperlink to another web-based site such as, for example, the FACEBOOK fan page of the retailer, a retailer website, on a web page for a particular product or service listed on the web page of the retailer. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the hypertext links may include an affiliate code to track paid commissions from web-based transactions related to the push feed actions of the administrative marketing module 14.

[0032] The administrative marketing module 14 may further function to view, and set limits on: the number of push feeds initiated for the retailer, and the frequency of push feeds sent by the retailer, at step 94. The administrative marketing module 14 may archive the retailer feeds, and may revoke or delete any pending feeds, in accordance with pre-established criteria. The administrative marketing module 14 may include analytic functions so as to enable the retailer to view the number of users that have "clicked" on the retailer link from the customer broadcast.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, the push feed message may provide for comma separated value (CSV) or extensible markup language (XML) encoding and enable the retailer to compose and send the push feed message directly from the EPOS terminal 36. In addition, the EPOS terminal 36 may be configured to export the e-mail address of the customer 18 to the administrative marketing module 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the EPOS terminal 36 may be configured to send the push feed message directly to the social networking application of the customer 18.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the customer 18 may receive and view pending push feeds in a customer inbox, as is well known in the art. The pending push feed message may display the retailer name and the content of the feed in addition to a date of transmission. The customer 18 may then be able to delete the pending push feed message, or to publish the e-mail. Once a selected push feed message has been published, the push feed message is deleted from the social software application 46 of the customer 18.

[0035] It is to be understood that the description herein is exemplary of the invention only and is intended to provide an overview for the understanding of the nature and character of the disclosed illumination systems. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of various features and embodiments of the method and devices of the invention which, together with their description serve to explain the principles and op!ration of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is: 1. A method for publishing a push feed message for a retailer, said method comprising the steps of: conducting a retail transaction offline between a customer and a retail establishment; composing a push feed message having selected data from said retail transaction; and publishing said push feed message to one or more e-mail addresses, said one or more e-mail addresses affiliated with a social networking profile of said customer.
2. The method of claim I wherein said step of publishing comprises the step of requesting, from said customer, a customer FACEBOOK e-mail address.
3. The method of claims 1 or 2 wherein said step of conducting a retail transaction comprises the step of making a retail purchase in a retail commerce establishment.
4. The method of any of claims 1 through 3 wherein said step of conducting a retail transaction further comprises the step of requesting from said customer a social networking application e-mail address.
5. The method of any of claims 1 through 3 wherein said step of conducting a retail transaction comprises the step of entering a customer social networking application e-mail address at a point of sale terminal.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of entering said customer social networking application e-mail address comprises the step of scanning a barcode-imprinted card.
7. The method of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein said step of publishing comprises the step of loading a customer marketing application into a customer communication device.
8. The method of any of claims 1. through 7 wherein said push feed message comprises a hyperlink redirecting a user to at least one of: a FACEBOOK fan page of the retailer, a retailer website, a web page for a product listed in said retailer web page, or a web page service listed on said retailer web page with an affiliate code.
9 A marketing system suitable for use by a retailer, said system comprising: a marketing server having an administrative marketing module, said administrative marketing module in communication with a network via an administrative communication link, said administrative marketing module functioning to create a proposed push feed template for the retailer; and a retail server having a retailer marketing module in communication with said network, said retailer marketing module further in communication with said administrative marketing module via a retailer communication link and said administrative communication link to obtain an e-mail address for a social networking application so as to enable the retailer to publish an edited version of said push feed template in said social networking application.
10. The marketing system of claim 9 wherein said retailer marketing module enables the retailer to edit said push feed template.