WO2008004730A1

WO2008004730A1 - Marketing method using on-line personal cards

Info

Publication number: WO2008004730A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/005717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ja-Ryong Goo
Original assignee: Gigo Communication Inc.
Priority date: 2006-07-03
Filing date: 2006-12-26
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: KR20080003683A

Abstract

The invention concerns to a method of marketing with novel name cards produced on line by collecting members who satisfy specific on-line conditions and producing, for free, their name cards including advertisement information and member's personal information only when each member accepts to perform a given mission when using his name card, so that the advertisement information printed on the name card used by the member can be widely spread among people around the member from mouth to mouth.

Description

[INVENTION TITLE]

MARKETING METHOD USING ON-LINE PERSONAL CARDS

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

The present invention relates to a method of marketing with name cards produced on line, and more particularly to a method of marketing with novel name cards produced on line by collecting members who satisfy specific on-line conditions and producing, for free, their name cards including advertisement information and member's personal information only when each member accepts to perform a given mission when using his name card, so that the advertisement information printed on the name card used by the member can be widely spread among people around the member from mouth to mouth.

[BACKGROUND ART] Name cards used typically used by business persons are increasingly used by ordinary people lately. On a name card, there are printed related personal information or photograph and graphics of a user such as user's name, contact address, phone number, etc. There have been proposed ideas to achieve advertisement effect that advertisement information is exposed to individuals whenever the user distributes his name card, by printing, on the name card, and distributing advertisement information in addition to personal information wherein the name card are produced for free distributed by the user. Exemplary methods of marketing for such advertisement effect by free on-line production of name cards are disclosed in the published Korea Patent Application No. 10- 2000-0061825 (applied by Korea On-line Co.), titled "Method of Providing Name Card on Which Advertisement Graphics are Printed on Network ", the published Korea Patent Application No.10-1999-0031899 (applied by Emboystelle Soft Co.), titled "Method of Configuring Web Service System for Applying Free Production of Name Cards with Advertisement thereon", and the published Korea Patent application No. 10-2000- 0000633 (applied by ITS Woops Co.), titled "Method of Providing Name Card Production Service with Advertisement on Internet". The aforementioned applications disclose advertisement technology for providing name cards (produced for free on line) having personal information and advertisement to applicants on the Internet. With such advertisement technology, it is an advantage that the contents of advertisement printed on the name cards can be exposed whenever the name card user gives his name card to people around him. In the conventional advertisement technology with name cards, however, the name cards are distributed to a plurality of unspecified people, and furthermore it is a disadvantage that the contents of advertisement printed on the name card are randomly selected. It means that, with the conventional methods, target advertisement cannot be achieved in that the target contents of specific advertisement are not exposed selectively to specific individuals. With the technology for achieving advertisement effect while producing name cards for free on which advertisement information in addition to personal information is printed, after collecting on-line members, it is an advantage that target advertisement is achieved in which a specific advertisement is exposed to intended specific individuals. •

[DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION]

The invention was conceived to address the prior art problems of marketing by name card advertisement, i.e., marketing technology with name cards produced on line for a plurality of unspecified people as described above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of marketing with novel name cards produced on line, wherein actual and effective target advertisement from mouth to mouth is achieved by making a specific advertisement printed depending on name card user's occupation, age or sex when producing the name card on line on a network on which bi-directional communication is allowed i.e., on the Internet, and by preparing a set of rules for guaranteeing name card users to distribute his name cards.

The aforementioned object is achieved by a method of marketing with name cards produced on line according to the invention. The method comprises the steps of, on a computer network where bi-directional data communication is allowed, announcing messages for collecting members by a name card production server to collect members and to make them join the inventive service, submitting, to an-line name card production server, name card user's personal information from the user terminal connected to the on- line name card production server and registering member information, the on-line name card production server providing mission information to the user terminal whose member information was registered, and the member accepting the mission information in order to decide whether he accepts to carry out the mission, the mission being performed by the member with the name card provided for free, sending at least one name card design from the on-line name card production server to the user terminal who accepted to carry out said mission, and selecting at least one name card design, wherein the member's personal information and advertisement information selected according to the member's registration information is already printed on the name card design, and outputting a name card, by the on-line name card production server issuing a command for controlling production of name cards according to the selected name card design.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the member registration information includes introducer's ID who introduced the member to join the on-line name card service. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of selecting at least one name card design includes sending at least one piece of advertisement information selected depending on the member's personal information to the member's terminal and the member's selecting one piece of advertisement information among the at least one piece of advertisement information.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, specific member joining conditions for allowing a person to be a member are presented in the step of collecting members, the conditions including at least one of specific schools, specific age ranges, specified sex, or specified social positions.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent through the following description, illustrated in the appended drawings, in which like components are referred to by like reference numerals. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart showing each step of marketing with name cards produced on line according to one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an overall configuration of a computer network system in which the method of marketing with name cards produced on line according to one embodiment of the invention can be executed;

Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary flow of marketing to which the method of the invention is applied;

Fig.4 shows an exemplary configuration of an embodiment of a name card which is a main medium in the method of the invention; and

Fig.5 shows an example of another embodiment of a name card according to the method of the invention.

[BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic flow chart showing a method according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows an overall configuration of a computer network system in which the method according to one embodiment of the invention can be executed.

First, referring -to Fig.2, showing a system in which the invention can be executed, the invention will be described. In Fig.2, an exemplary system is shown which is a bi^¬ directional computer communication system connected to, i.e., the Internet, in which the method of marketing with name cards produced on line according to one embodiment of the invention is carried out. The system comprises a plurality of user terminals 21 and 22 connected to the Internet, and an on-line name card production server 30 for implementing the method of marketing with name cards produced on line according to the invention. The user terminal 21, 22 may be a computer used by a plurality of unspecified people, a user or member who can use the method of marketing with name cards produced on line according to the invention. The user terminal should be interpreted to widely cover apparatuses such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, palmtop computer, other mobile phone, etc., which can be connected to the Internet.

The server 30 for producing name cards produced on line is the most characteristic device when implementing the method of the invention, Preferably, the server 30 is responsible for various functions, for example, collecting members according to given conditions, registering personal information including contact information of the collected members, providing mission information that the members has to perform in order to enhance targeting effect of the advertisement printed on the relevant name card, checking the performance, and controlling the process of outputting and forwarding the name cards, etc. To this end, as shown in Fig.2, the server 30 for producing name cards produced on line comprises a web server 31, a database for member registration information 32, an advertisement information database 33, a mission information database 34, and a name card information database 35. The web server 31 announces, on a web site, all activities such as advertising this inventive service for using the method according to the invention, collecting members and the like, so that non-members and members can access to the web site by means of their computer terminal 21, 22 to get the information.

The member registration information database 32 stores the information of collected members, for example, member's ID, password, address, school, actual name, hobby, age, interest, etc.

The advertisement information database 33 stores advertisement information to be provided to members and provides it to member's terminal that accesses to the server 30 if required. The advertisement information can be prepared and stored beforehand by advertisement clients on contract or a service provider of this inventive method.

The mission information database 34 stores mission information to be provided to members and can then provide it to the terminals 21, 22 of members that access to the server 30 if required. The mission information includes information about on-line and offline activities that will be carried out by the members with their name cards and those activities for reporting the result.

The name card information database 35 stores name card designs to be provided to members, and can then provide them to the terminals 21, 22 of members that access to the server 30 if required. The name card design includes various samples of layout of personal information to be printed on the front side of each name card and advertisement information to be printed on the -front side and/or rear side. Although in Fig.2, -the databases 32, 33, 34, 35 are shown separately, those skilled in the art will see that they can be integrated in one database.

Hardware, web browsers or server programs consisting of the system shown in Fig.2 are well known in the prior art field of Internet shopping mall in which the Internet and www (world wide web) are typically used. Therefore, those skilled in the art will know well the items of hardware, communication protocols and software required in the system shown in Fig.2 in which the invention can be carried out, and will also understand well that items of hardware, communication protocols and software conventionally known in the art can be used in the invention. An important characteristic in the method of the invention consists in the interaction between the server 31 and the terminals 21, 22, and in the data exchanged during the interaction. Therefore, for clarity of description, the items of hardware and software well known in the art will not be described in more detail.

Now, with reference to Fig.l, the method of marketing with name cards produced on line according to the invention will be described in detail.

First, the method according to the invention starts with the step 110, where, on a computer network that allows bi-directional data communication, i.e., on the web of the wired/wireless Internet, the on-line name card production server 30 announces messages describing the inventive service and for collecting members to introduce people to join the service according to the invention.

In a preferred embodiment, in the step 110 of collecting members, a specific member joining conditions can be presented which conditions describe the precondition to be a member. In the method of the invention, since one object is to obtain the effect of specific advertisement to be exposed to people satisfying specific conditions, people for advertisement can be specified depending on the conditions of member's joining the service according to the invention. The member joining conditions may include at least one of specific schools, specific age range, specific sex, or specific social positions. For example, when collecting members according to the method of invention, it is not intended to collect a plurality of unspecified people but influential people in a specific category. For example, with respect to young people in their teens to thirties, the members may be specified as class representatives in a specific school or department representatives, heads of departments, or clubs in a specific university, or operators in on-line communities, etc.

For the members collected and then member-joined, in the step 120 for registering member information, name card user's personal information is submitted and then registered from user's computer 21, 22 to the on-line name card production server 30, wherein the computer is connected to the server system 30. Preferably, the member's information includes various information, i.e., hobby, school career, field of interest, financial status, owned vehicle information, etc., in additional to personal information such as member's name and ID, contact address and phone number. It is preferred to induce members to submit such information by providing incentives (for example, increasing the number of provided name cards, or providing special premiums).

Furthermore, in a particular embodiment of -the invention, the member registration information preferably includes introducer's ID who introduced the member to join. Each member introduces people around him to join the service according to the mission in the invention that will be described in more detail hereinbelow. It is recommended that the member who joins the service according to the invention with the introduction submit introducer's name or ID at the time of member information registration. In this case, the introducer may be provided with a given premium or incentives.

When member information is registered, the on-line name card production server 30 provides the User terminal 21, 22 of the member information registered-member with the mission information which is to be carried out by the member with his name cards, and decides whether he accepts the mission or not, in the step of providing and accepting mission 130. This step of providing and accepting mission is a unique characteristic of the method according to the invention. That is, the invention has a characteristic in that members are requested to actively do various mouth-to-mouth advertisement activities with their name cards. Of course, members who actively carry out each mission will be provided with corresponding premiums or incentives depending on the result of their activities. An example of incentives is to increase the number of produced name cards. Accordingly, the contents of advertisement printed on the name cards are guaranteed to be distributed to the member and among people around him. In particular, it is an advantage of the invention that target advertisement depending on members can be implemented.

The mission information includes various on-line and off-line activities carried out by a member with his name card and those activities for reporting activity results. Examples of mission information that can be provided to members according to the invention will be now described in more detail.

- Please have some talk about the service according to the method of the invention when you distribute your name card. - Please introduce people who received your name card to enter you as an introducer when they join the inventive service.

- We will give you some premium after checking their registration when at least 30 people around you who received your name card apply for this on-line name card service according to the invention. - Please write your story related to this on-line name card service on our web site.

- Please send us the list of at least 40 people to whom you distributed your name card, by e-mail.

- Take a photo of your name card after receiving your name cards, then put it on your personal web site such as Cyworld or Blog. - Please always smile when you distribute your name card.

- Please tell people the brand printed on your name card when you distribute it. - Visit our on-line name card web site and recommend another name card designs.

- Handle your name card carefully because it represents you.

- Please gather and place various name card contents on your personal web site.

- Change your messenger ID to "FREE NAME CARD at www.oooo.co. k " and use it. When the relevant member accepts that he will carry out the aforementioned mission, in the step of selecting a name card design 140, the on-line name card production server 30 sends at least one name card design to the user's computer terminal 21, 22, so that the user can select one from the name card designs, wherein the member's personal information and advertisement information selected depending on the member's registration information is selected.

According to the invention configured as described above, selected advertisement information is printed so that proper target advertisement is implemented depending on the member's age, sex, hobby or interest. To this end, when storing advertisement information beforehand, an advertisement client can select the condition for releasing his own advertisement depending on specific conditions, i.e., member's age, sex, or interest. Advertisement information can be selected which will be printed on the name card design to be provided to a member, in conformity to the selection of the advertisement client. For example, if a specific advertisement client only selects women in their twenties, the advertisement of the advertisement client can be included only in the name card design for women members in their twenties.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the step of selecting a name card design 140, at least one piece of advertisement information selected depending on member's personal information is sent to the member's computer terminal and the member selects one of the plurality of pieces of advertisement information.

For example, in addition to the contents of personal information printed on the front side of the name card for a name card design to be sent to the member, 3 or 4 sample designs for advertisement contents to be printed the front side and/or rear side of the name card can be included. Each member can select one from a plurality of sample designs.

As such, among advertisement contents first selected by a service provider, a member himself can secondly select preferred advertisement contents, so that target advertisement effect can advantageously be doubled.

After a name card design is selected, in the step of outputting a name card 150, the on-line name card production server 30 issues a command for controlling production of name cards according to the selected name card design. Subsequently, a predetermined number or a selected number of name cards can be printed and forwarded to the member. The member who receives the completed name card then prints them out and carries out his mission described in the above, so that he can have the opportunity for incentives or premiums while target advertisement effect intended by the invention can be guaranteed.

Fig.3 shows an exemplary flow chart of a marketing method showing application of the method of the invention. Fig.4 illustrates an example of a configuration of an embodiment of a name card to be a main medium in the method of the invention. Fig.5 also illustrates an example of another embodiment of a name card according to the method of the invention.

A difference between the embodiments in Figs.4 and 5 is that the rear side of a name -card is used as a personal space. By printing a family photo or couple photo of a member on the rear side of the name card, the member will have more affection for his name card. While distributing name cards among people around him, it is possible to introduce the photo printed on the rear side of the name card, also to give personal information and to introduce the advertisement printed on the name card naturally at the same time, so that more effective advertisement can be achieved. As described above, it is a characteristic of the invention that, according to the marketing method with the name card produced on line according to the invention, a member who is provided with his name card produced according to the invention distributes his name cards voluntarily and introduce people around him to join the service according to the invention, so that a specific advertisement can be exposed to members of a specified group of people through mouth-to-mouth advertisement.

Hereinabove, the technical spirit of the invention was described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are intended to illustrate the most preferred embodiments of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention can be made by those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Accordingly, it should be noted that the scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims, not by the examples described above.

As described above, according to the marketing method of the invention with name cards produced on line according to the invention, on a network where bi-directional communication is allowed, i.e., on the Internet, actual and effective target advertisement can be achieved by mouth-to-mouth advertisement by printing a specific advertisement on a name card depending on specified user's occupation, age or sex and preparing an arrangement for guaranteeing distribution of name card user's name cards, when producing name cards produced on the network. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claimsdoes not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

[Claims]

[Claims 1] A method of marketing with name cards produced on line on a computer network where bi-directional data communication is allowed, characterize by comprising the steps of: a name card production server 30 announcing(llθ) messages for collecting members to collect members and to induce them to join the name cared service!

submitting (120), to the on-line name card production server 30, name card user's personal information from user terminals 21, 22 connected to the on-line name card production server 30 and registering member information;

the on-line name card production server 30 providing(130) mission information to the user terminal 21, 22 of the member whose member information was registered, and the member accepting mission in order to decide whether the member accepts to carry out the mission, the mission being carried out by the member with the name card provided for free!

sending at least one name card design from the on-line name card production server 30 to the user terminal 21, 22 of the member who accepted said mission, and selecting

(140) at least one from the name card designs, wherein the member's personal information and advertisement information selected according to the member's registration information is already printed on the name card design! and

outputting (150) name cards, by the on-line name card-production server 30 issuing a command for controlling production of name cards according to the selected name card design.

[Claims 2] The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the member registration information includes introducer's ID who induce the member to join the on-line name card service.

[Claims 3] The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the step (140) of selecting at least one name card design includes sending at least one piece of advertisement information selected depending on the member's personal information to the member's terminal and the member's selecting one piece of advertisement information among the at least one piece of advertisement information.

[Claims 4] The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that specific member joining conditions that a person can be a member are presented, the conditions including at least one of specific schools, specific age ranges, specified sex, or specified social positions.