Method for Marketing to Audience Members Based Upon Votes Cast by Audience Members

Abstract

A new and improved method for marketing to customers based upon incoming telephone calls is herein disclosed. A marketing method for use with a broadcast featuring multiple performers for whom at least one audience member may vote, the vote being based upon a performer's performance, the vote being communicated by an electronic device includes receiving the vote from at least one audience member, the vote being cast for at least one of the performers, capturing contact information for the audience member who cast the vote, identifying the contact information with the performer, and communicating a marketing offer to the audience member, the marketing offer related to the performer.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A telemarketing method for use with an associated television broadcast featuring associated multiple performers for whom at least one audience member may vote, wherein the performers are competing to advance to a final round, the vote being based upon performances by the performers, the vote being communicated by an associated telephone, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving the vote from the at least one audience member, the vote being communicated for one of the associated performers;   capturing a telephone number for the at least one audience member who communicated the vote;   associating the telephone number with the performer for whom the audience member voted; and,   offering for sale to the audience member, merchandise associated with the performer for whom the audience member voted.   
     
     
         23 . A marketing method for use with an associated broadcast featuring associated multiple performers for whom at least one audience member may vote, the vote being based upon a performer's performance, the vote being communicated by an associated electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving the vote from the at least one audience member, the vote being communicated for at least one of the associated performers;   capturing contact information for the at least one audience member who communicated the vote;   identifying the contact information with the at least one associated performer; and,   communicating a marketing offer to the at least one audience member, the marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the associated electronic device is chosen from the group comprising: telephone, cellular telephone, computer, and personal digital assistant. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one audience member is not in the same physical location as the associated performers. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein communicating a marketing offer to the at least one audience member, the marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer comprises the steps of:
 contacting the at least one audience member by telephone; and,   offering for sale, at least one item containing the likeness, name, voice recording, or image of the at least one associated performer for whom the at least one audience member voted.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein receiving the vote from the at least one audience member, the vote being communicated for at least one of the associated performers comprises the steps of:
 providing a phone number for the at least one audience member to call to communicate a vote;   associating a different number with each of the associated multiple performers; and,   when the at least one audience member enters the number for the performer, associating an electronic signal, from a telephone used by the at least one audience member, with a vote for the performer.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein receiving the vote from the at least one audience member, the vote being communicated for at least one of the associated performers comprises the steps of:
 providing an electronic server for receiving e-mail;   providing an interactive website;   providing voting via e-mail for at least one of the associated performers; and,   receiving the e-mail vote from the at least one audience member, the vote being communicated for at least one of the associated performers.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 determining categories of marketing offers in which there is a correlation between the categories and the associated performer; and,   communicating at least one marketing offer to the audience member, wherein the marketing offer is chosen from at least one of the categories.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 determining a number of times the audience member has voted for the associated performer; 
 providing a first marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer; and, 
 providing at least a second marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer, wherein the first marketing offer and the at least a second marketing offer are different depending on the number of times the audience member voted for the associated performer. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 categorizing the performers by genre;   analyzing votes communicated by the audience member to determine if the votes are at least substantially all for a particular genre; and,   communicating a marketing offer to the audience member based upon the genre.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:
 providing a sweepstakes;   after a winning performer is chosen from among the associated performers, entering the audience member in the sweepstakes with each vote communicated for the winning performer; and,   selecting a winner of the sweepstakes from all available entries.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the communicating a marketing offer to the at least one audience member, the marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer comprises the step of:
 communicating a marketing offer to the at least one audience member, the marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer, wherein the marketing offer contains a voice message from the at least one associated performer.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprising the steps of:
 providing the first marketing offer if the audience member voted for the performer once;   providing a second marketing offer if the audience member voted for the performer twice; and,   providing a third marketing offer if the audience member voted for the performer more than twice.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 obtaining permission from the audience member to capture the contact information.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method further comprises the step of:
 informing the audience member that casting their vote constitutes permission to capture the audience member's contact information and to contact the audience member.   
     
     
         37 . A marketing method for use with an associated broadcast featuring associated multiple performers for whom at least one audience member may vote, the vote being based upon a performer's performance, the vote being communicated by an associated electronic device, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving the vote from the at least one audience member, the vote being communicated for at least one of the associated performers;   communicating a marketing offer to the at least one audience member at the time of the vote being communicated, the marketing offer related to the at least one associated performer; and,   providing means for the at least one audience member to substantially immediately respond to the marketing offer.