System and Method for Optimization of Viral Marketing Efforts

Abstract

Systems and methods for optimizing viral marketing efforts are disclosed in which a trial a viral marketing trial program is presented to a user. The viral marketing trial program includes a user incentive as well as a plurality of user tasks that needs to be completed to receive the user incentive. One or more user reactions to the plurality of user tasks are monitored; user feedback in accordance with the one or more user reactions is collected, the user feedback is analyzed using one or more metrics and the viral marketing trial program is adjusted in accordance with the analyzed user feedback.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 presenting to a user a viral marketing trial program, wherein the viral marketing trial program includes: (i) a user incentive and (ii) a plurality of user tasks that needs to be completed to receive the user incentive;   monitoring one or more user reactions to the plurality of user tasks;   collecting user feedback in accordance with the one or more user reactions;   analyzing the user feedback using one or more metrics; and   adjusting the viral marketing trial program in accordance with the analyzed user feedback.   
     
     
         22 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the user incentive is determined in accordance with a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         23 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein adjusting the viral marketing trial program includes: adjusting the viral marking trial program after it is terminated. 
     
     
         24 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein adjusting the viral marketing trial program includes:
 after the viral marketing trial program has begun,
 adjusting, without terminating, the viral marking trial program. 
   
     
     
         25 . The computer implemented method of  claim 24 , wherein adjusting, without terminating, the virtual marking trial program includes one of:
 offering an additional user incentive for completing the plurality of user tasks;   modifying the user incentive for completing the plurality of user tasks;   specifying an additional user task that needs to be completed to receive the user incentive; and   modifying a user task in the plurality of user tasks that needs to be completed to receive the user incentive.   
     
     
         26 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the user incentive and the plurality of user tasks are presented to the user before the user begins the vial marketing trial program. 
     
     
         27 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the user incentive includes a monetary portion and a non-monetary portion. 
     
     
         28 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the viral marketing trial program is presented to the user via: a social network application, an instant messaging application, or a computer network phone application. 
     
     
         29 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more user reactions to the plurality of user tasks include:
 accepting or declining an invitation to begin the viral marketing trial program;   accepting or declining to register for the viral marketing trial program;   accepting or declining to invite other users to the viral marketing trial program;   accepting or declining to purchase a product or service offered by the viral marketing trial program; and   accepting or declining to redeem the user incentive.   
     
     
         30 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein
 presenting to the user the viral marketing trial program includes: presenting the viral marketing trial program via one of: a computer network, a postal network, a TV network, a radio network; and wherein   the one or more user reactions are monitored over a computer network.   
     
     
         31 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 enabling the user to invite one or more other users to participate in the viral marketing program;   tracking participation of the one or more other users with respect to the viral marketing program; and   presenting to the user the tracked participation of the one or more other users.   
     
     
         32 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more metrics include: an invitation metric, an incentive metric, a page views metric, a page conversion rate metric, and an offspring count metric. 
     
     
         33 . The computer implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein adjusting the viral marketing trial program also includes: adjusting the viral marketing trial program in further accordance with a business objective for the viral marketing trial program. 
     
     
         34 . The computer implemented method of  claim 33 , wherein the business objective includes one of:
 a) maximizing a number of participants in a program,   b) maximizing a number, amount or both the number and amount of consumer viral marketing actions, and   c) minimizing an outlay required for objectives a, b, or both a and b.   
     
     
         35 . A system, for improving the performance of a viral marketing program, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors;   the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 presenting to a user the viral marketing trial program, wherein the viral marketing trial program includes: (i) a user incentive and (ii) a plurality of user tasks that needs to be completed to receive the user incentive; 
 monitoring one or more user reactions to the plurality of user tasks; 
 collecting user feedback in accordance with the one or more user reactions; 
 analyzing the user feedback using one or more metrics; and 
 adjusting the viral marketing trial program in accordance with the analyzed user feedback. 
   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the user incentive is determined in accordance with a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:
 in response to a monitored user reaction to a user task in the plurality of user tasks:
 adjusting, without terminating, the virtual marking trial program. 
   
     
     
         38 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 presenting to a user a viral marketing trial program, wherein the viral marketing trial program includes: (i) a user incentive and (ii) a plurality of user tasks that needs to be completed to receive the user incentive;   monitoring one or more user reactions to the plurality of user tasks;   collecting user feedback in accordance with the one or more user reactions;   analyzing the user feedback using one or more metrics; and   adjusting the viral marketing trial program in accordance with the analyzed user feedback.   
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein the user incentive is determined in accordance with a profile associated with the user. 
     
     
         40 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:
 in response to a monitored user reaction to a user task in the plurality of user tasks:
 adjusting, without terminating, the virtual marking trial program.