Dynamic tracking, analysis and acquisition of e-commerce advertising channels for toll-free markets

Abstract

The present invention assists the critical real-time decision making required to make important decision on bidding on various customer procurement commodities in a telephonic sales market. The invention provides dynamic pricing as a function of Internet or other types of advertisement costs for the telephonic market. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention is a virtual or physical e-commerce application with an interface connected to the telephonic routing system. A tracking identifier is used with an advertisement, usually a web-based ad, and routed via the vendor to the analysis and procurement system to measure advertising channel effectiveness. A pool of bidders can analyze the tracking data for effective and bid and procure an automated or manual 1800 sales call from a consumer based on a number of factors.

1 . A method for routing a customer call to a particular vendor comprising: providing a phone number to a customer, wherein said number is linked with a plurality of consumer category codes, and wherein said customer makes said customer call by dialing said phone and entering one of said plurality of consumer category codes; determining which of said plurality of consumer category codes is entered by said customer; associating said customer call with a consumer category based on which of said plurality of consumer category codes is entered; creating a consumer category database, wherein said consumer category database contains at least one vendor related with said consumer category; selecting one of said at least one vendor to produce said particular vendor, wherein said particular vendor is selected based on a bidding factor, and wherein said bidding factor comprises a bid made to a provider of said phone number; and displaying a source to said particular vendor, wherein said source provides at least some detail on how said phone number is provided to said customer. 
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bidding factor further comprises a preferred vendor status. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bidding factor further comprises a geographical limiter. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bidding factor further comprises availability of vendor in said category database. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bidding factor further comprises a financial range provided by said customer 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said bidding factor further comprises a keyword distinction selected by said particular vendor. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said consumer category contains a geographical limitation parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said customer enters a plurality of said plurality of consumer category codes. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said customer call is dialed automatically and at least one of said plurality of consumer category codes is entered automatically by said customer choosing said advertisement 
     
     
         10 . A method for assisting a user in the procurement of a keyword for placing an online advertisement on at least one search engine including: advertising a toll-free number for a product or service sold using said toll-free number, said advertisement including an identifier; routing calls to the toll-free number to a set of first locations, based on a first algorithm; procuring said identifier from a caller and placing said identifier into a database; accessing performance data, said performance data said at least one search engine; determining the relative cost of said advertising for said at least one product; and providing a price target for acquisition of said advertisement. 
     
     
         11 . The method recited in claim  18 , wherein said determining step includes the following acts: retrieving a desired margin for a sale of a set of at least one product; and applying a set of criteria in order to perform said providing of said keyword price target based on said desired margin, said applying including evaluating said performance data. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in claim  19 , wherein said desired margin is based on a percentage of a cost of a placed call. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in claim  19 , wherein said desired margin is based on a net margin of said at least one product. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in claim  19 , wherein said applying a set of criteria includes the act of linking with a financial software package. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in claim  19 , wherein said performance data includes at least data regarding keyword to calls placed ratios. 
     
     
         16 . A method for acquiring at least one customer procurement tool accessed over the Internet for a telephonic assisted sale including the steps of: tracking performance data related to one or more customer procurement tools; loading a set of at least one financial goal for at least one product; said loading including accessing at least one financial algorithm; analyzing said performance data and said at least one financial goal to calculate a target range; and placing an offer to acquire said at least one customer procurement tool, wherein said customer procurement tool is a keyword. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in claim  24 , wherein said acquiring is bidding on an electronic auction over a network and said placing is conducted electronically.