Classification and Management of Keywords across Multiple Campaigns

Abstract

A system for classifying and managing keywords across multiple campaigns comprises a classification manager, a bid management system, a web analytics tool and a search engine. The classification manager interfaces with the bid management system and the web analytics tool to provide user interfaces for reviewing data about specific keywords across multiple campaigns. The classification manager includes a classification keyword repository, a classification creation module, a classification measurement module and a classification user interface module for generating the user interface. This is particularly advantageous because statistics corresponding to keywords can be classified across multiple campaigns to provide greater flexibility in the analysis of web data. The present invention also includes a novel method for the classification of keywords across multiple campaigns.

1 . A system for classifying keywords across multiple campaigns, the system comprising: 
 a bid management system for managing purchase of at least one keyword in a plurality of campaigns;    a web analytics tool for collecting traffic statistics for the keyword; and    a classification manager adapted for communication with the web analytics tool and the bid management system, the classification manager adapted to receive input from a user including a classification including at least one classified keyword and a classification name, the classification manager retrieving and presenting web site visitation statistics related to the classified keyword.    
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the classification manager includes a classification user interface module for presenting the classification as a hierarchical display with the classification name at a level, and the classified keyword at a sub-level.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the classification user interface module is adapted to receive input from a user and manage keywords based on the input from the user.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the bid management system for managing purchase of a plurality of keywords in a plurality of campaigns on a plurality of search engines; and    the classification manager presents the classification including a plurality of classified keywords and a classification name, and the classification manager presents the classification as a hierarchical display with the classification name at a level, and the classified keyword at a sub-level.    
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the classification manager includes a repository for storing a classification and at least one classified keyword associated with the classification.  
     
     
         8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the classification manager includes classification creation module for creating the classification including the classification name, the at least one classified keyword, and a metric associated with the classified keyword.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the metric for the classified keyword includes one from the group of cost-per-click (CPC), impressions, clicks, click-through rate (CTR), page hits, and cost.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the classification manager includes a keyword measurement module for measuring metrics for classified keywords, the keyword measurement module adapted for communication with the web analytics tool.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the classification manager presents a plurality of classifications, each classification having a classification name and a plurality of classified keywords.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of classifications includes a sub-classification.  
     
     
         14 . A method for classifying keywords across multiple campaigns, the method comprising: 
 receiving from a user information including a classification name and at least one keyword;    creating a classification including the information;    determining the keyword in the information;    determining a web traffic metric for the keyword; and    presenting the classification to the user including the keyword in a relationship to the classification and the metric for the keyword.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising storing the information in a repository.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the information in stored in a data structure including a classification name, a classification keyword, a classification metric, and other classification information.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the metric is one from the group of cost-per-click (CPC), impressions, clicks, click-through rate (CTR), page hits and cost.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein presenting the classification includes displaying the classification name in a hierarchical relationship to keywords for the classification.  
     
     
         19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein presenting the classification includes generating and displaying a metric for the classification.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein presenting the classification presents the classification and the keywords of the classification in a graphical user interface.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising managing at least one classified keyword using the graphical user interface.  
     
     
         23 . A computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein and that are executable by a processor, the instructions comprising instructions to: 
 receiving from a user information including a classification name and at least one keyword;    creating a classification including the information;    determining the keyword in the information;    determining a web traffic metric for the keyword; and    presenting the classification to the user including the keyword in a relationship to the classification and the metric for the keyword.    
     
     
         24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18  wherein the presenting the classification includes displaying the classification name in a hierarchical relationship to keywords for the classification.  
     
     
         26 . (canceled)  
     
     
         27 . (canceled)