Direct mail manager for tracking customer attributes

• Main Author: BLANKENSHIP MARK H
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.11.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

The present invention relates to a direct mail manager for tracking the direct mail results with the ESP tracking technology. The ESP generates a unique piece being sent and then tracks the personalized URL for each direct mail piece and associated URL, and its activity. Each unique visitor is tracked, and auto-populated into an ESP database. Each time a direct mail visitor enters the website or Microsite(TM) location through the unique link, the ESP technology alerts sales or marketing personnel of exactly who is visiting, when and for how long. The direct mail manager can be expressed as a method having the steps of the prospect receiving the mailed piece bearing a unique URL or custom link, engaging a web browser by the prospect, entering the unique URL or custom link by the prospect, entering the Microsite(TM) location, invoking a special message or page tied to the custom link, directing the prospect to a Microsite(TM) message, sending an entry alert to the user of the entry, creating a Microsite(TM) message, recording the prospects visit, upon completion of the visit by the prospect, sending a message to the user concerning same.