Method and apparatus for word of mouth selling via a communications network

Abstract

A selling method and system that allows individuals or groups to interactively select associate products and services with their online presence in exchange for the online service, as part of an online service, or for some reward, monetary or otherwise. Individuals or groups select products and services from a pool of partner e-commerce retailers or import them from their purchasing histories based on personal preference and may use them as a means of expression for their online audience as part of an online service. This provides e-commerce retailers with self-selected targeted marketing and referral selling to affinity groups, the online version of word of mouth selling. E-commerce retailers share revenue and pay for referrals that occur via this word of mouth selling framework. Online services that have any form of user identity within the context of a larger audience may utilize this form of user based referral selling as a revenue generating tool.

1 . A computer-implemented associated product or service server system comprising:
 a receiving module that receives a request for content from a user regarding at least one product or service associated with at the identity of at least one individual or group of individuals that is a member of an online community, the request indicating a desire for content relating to the individuals or groups of individuals and indicating an identifier of the individuals or groups of individuals whose content is being requested;   a retrieving module that retrieves additional information regarding the associated product or service purchased or desired by the user; and   a transmitting module that transmits the content and additional information to the user, wherein the associated products or services have been authorized by the individuals or groups of individuals.   
     
     
         2 . The server system of  claim 1  further comprising a referral module that enables the individuals or groups of individuals to refer the user to the at least one product or service. 
     
     
         3 . A computer implemented system of online referral based selling comprising:
 a computer-readable user information module adapted to provide information identifying individuals or groups of individuals of an online community and their associated content to a requesting member of the online community;   a database module organizing content relating to the individuals or groups of individuals, said content including identities associated with self-determined product or service information and said data being associated with each identity in exchange for a reward, the database module being searchable to obtain word of mouth referrals of products or services;   a computer accessible view request module adapted to receiving requests from members of the online community to view an individual's associated content;   a computer accessible data access module adapted to access said database and provide said content information and said associated product or service information to a requesting member in response to a request for said selected individual's associated content; and   a computer-readable information receipt module adapted to receiving information requests for product or service information based on the self-determined product or service information correlated with a particular individual or group of individuals in the database module, the computer-readable information receipt module further providing the product or service information, including information regarding associated selling service providers, to a requester of the product or service information;   wherein said data associated with each identity are products and services that have not been purchased by the individual or group.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a referral module that refers a requesting user to a product or service provider and sends a correlation signal correlating one or more individual or group of individuals associated with its product or service in the database module with the referral. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein a purchase transaction serves as a basis of a reward signal. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein a third-party server reports to the server system regarding transactions performed based on directing the client component to the third-party server. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the referring service provider receives at least one of a referral fee and a commission. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a reward module that records rewards associated with individuals or groups of individuals for referring the user to purchase one or more product or service. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  further comprising a reward module that records rewards associated with users for purchasing one or more product or service. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the reward is based on at least one of a relationship between the user and the individuals or groups of individuals, frequency of purchases referred by the individuals or groups of individuals, and frequency of purchases made through a same one of the individuals or groups of individuals. 
     
     
         11 . An advertising method comprising:
 allowing a plurality of agents to create self-determined profile on an online selling platform, wherein each agent endorses a product or service in their profile in exchange for the possibility of a reward, the agent being rewarded upon the purchase by another member of the online selling platform of the product or service endorsed by the agent;   displaying the agent's profile to a viewer;   receiving a request from the viewer viewing the agent's profile to view the product or service associated with the agent's profile;   displaying content related to the product or service to the viewer and providing the viewer with an option to purchase the good or service;   crediting the agent's profile with a reward upon achievement of a milestone consisting of one of viewing the content related to the product or service and purchasing the product or service.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the reward comprises at least one of money, products, services, discounts, gift certificates, or a points towards cash, products, services, discounts, or gift certificates.