System and method of tracking, assessing, and reporting potential purchasing interest generated via marketing and sales efforts on the internet

摘要

The present invention is a system and method that tracks, accounts for, and assesses consumer interest and response to internet marketing and sales efforts. This system and method allows items offered for sale to the purchasing public via the internet to be tracked in terms of assessing the quantum of interest expressed by the potential purchaser in response to the internet marketing efforts pertaining to the sale of these items. The invention also offers and provides a broadcasting feature by which to market specific items. The invention is intended to provide a paperless marketing system and subsequent tracking of marketing results in real time. In addition, the system is intended to easily convert direct person-to-person responses generated from all forms of advertising (i.e.—signage, print, radio, television, etc.) into digitally recorded information that is used to enhance a seller's awareness of the results of an overall marketing campaign relating to an item offered for sale to the purchasing public. Finally, the system offers a means to generate a customized multimedia presentation for a single item for sale. Given present computer technology, specifically in terms of capacity to gather and deliver digital information in a convenient, timely, and cost effective manner, the present invention is best applied to the sale of unique, complex, and/or high (dollar) value items offered via the internet. Examples of items offered for sale via the internet may include, but are not limited to: real estate, capital equipment, heavy machinery, commercial or passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, watercraft, and aircraft. However, as new technology emerges, evolves, and becomes more readily accessible, the present invention will be suitably applied to a vast array of less complex and/or lower (dollar) value items. Such less complex and/or lower (dollar) value items include, but are not limited to, music (in any recorded format), artwork, household items (furniture, jewelry, electronics, appliances, books, etc.), and commercial items (equipment, supplies, etc.). All features of the system and method are contained in web services modules using web-based programming technology. The web service modules also allow customized interface to existing or planned database-driven web sites operated by sellers, seller's agents, and internet service providers, who intend to meet the next level of customer demands for any given industry or application. In addition, the web services format is suited to being subsequently sold either by franchise, by license or by fee for services to outside parties in applicable industries.