This disclosure relates to social media. In particular, this disclosure is drawn to a system for directing users to web content of merchants and service providers.
It is common for businesses, groups, organizations, clubs, etc., to use social media as a form of promotion, and to communicate with people. Social networking allows businesses to reach out to potential customers without a huge advertising budget, while also staying in touch with current customers.
One challenge for a business using social networks as a promotional tool relates to the difficulty of getting current and potential customers to use social networks to communicate with the business. Typically, a business will provide customers with their social network handle or a URL, and hope the customers take the initiative to use that information to communicate with the business. This process typically results in a low acquisition rate.
A method is provided for linking users to online content using a mobile device, the method including providing a plurality of kits, each kit further comprising one or more signs, each sign having a machine readable medium storing a web address that is unique from web addresses in other kits, providing a web server for serving a plurality of web sites, selecting a kit from the plurality of kits, configuring the web server to host a web site at the unique web address, and configuring the content of the web site such that desired content is provided to a user who reads the machine readable medium of a respective sign.
Another embodiment provides a system for linking users to online content using a mobile device, the system including one or more signs, a machine readable medium formed on each respective sign, the machine readable medium storing information relating to an online address, and a web server configured to host a web page at the online address, wherein when a user reads the machine readable medium using a mobile device, a browser on the mobile device is directed to the web page.
Another embodiment provides a method for linking customers to the online content of a business, the method including creating a plurality of generic kits, each generic kit being configured to include unique information, but not to include information specific to any particular business user so that a business user can use any of the plurality of generic kits, for each of the plurality of kits, one or more signs, each sign having a machine readable medium storing information relating to a web address that is unique from web addresses in other kits, providing a web server for serving a plurality of web sites, providing a kit from the plurality of generic kits to a business user, configuring the web server to host a web site at the unique web address of the kit provided to the business user, allowing the business user to configure the content of the web site, and serving the web site to a mobile device when a customer uses the mobile device to read the machine readable medium of a sign from the provided kit.
Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows below.
The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
Generally, the present disclosure relates to techniques for linking users to one or more social networks or web sites. In one example, in the context of a business trying to attract current and potential customers to one or more social networks and/or other web sites, the business is provided with unique signs, stickers, decals, cards, etc. Each sign includes one or more machine readable medium that can be read by a mobile device. The machine readable medium stores information, including information relating to a web address that can be accessed by a mobile device. In one example, a mobile device that reads the machine readable medium is directed to a web site landing page configured by an administrator to provide the user of the device with information and links relating to the business. Examples include, but are not limited to, information relating to the business, social networking services, pictures, videos, etc. Once the web site is configured as desired, a business can display the signs, stickers, decals, etc., where current and potential customers can use a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone) to scan the medium and quickly and effortlessly be directed to the online content of the web site. Detailed examples of this and related techniques are described below.
As described above, techniques are disclosed for easily directing users to web content configured by an administrator. In one example, a system is provided that enables a business (or other user) to purchase a generic, but unique, kit containing one or more signs, each with at least one machine readable medium. A generic kit is intended to mean a kit that, while having a unique identifier, is not customized for any particular pre-existing user such that any user can use any kit. In the exemplary implementation described above, the computer readable medium of each kit stores information relating to a unique web address of a configurable web site. An administrator is allowed to configure the web site as desired so that when a user scans the medium, the user will be direct to the web site, and will have access to the content configured by the administrator. This technique eliminates the need for customized signs that have to be configured for a preexisting web address or user account. As a result, a plurality of generic kits can be manufactured inexpensively and can be used by businesses to direct users to a specifically configured web site.
In order to provide a context for understanding this description, the following description illustrates an example of an environment in which the techniques described may be used.
A plurality of web servers 14 and 16 are also coupled to the internet 12. The web servers 14 and 16 host various web sites, which may be accessed and viewed by internet browsers installed on the network clients 10. When a user of one of the network clients 10 requests a web page hosted by the web servers 14 and/or 16, the web browser of the network client 10 will send a request to the respective web server, and will then retrieve web page content, which is displayed for a user of the network client 10.
As described above, in one example, a kit is provided that includes one or more signs, each with at least one machine readable medium. The machine readable medium stores information relating to a unique web site landing page address hosted by the web server 16 (
Examples of web content include, but are not limited to, social networking services, links to web sites, pictures, videos, maps, reviews, surveys, contact information, business hours, wifi information, links to downloadable files, ecommerce tools, application shortcuts, etc. If desired, the web page can be formatted for optimal viewing on a mobile device, PC, tablet, etc. In one example, the web server detects the type of device requesting the web page, and provides the web content in an optimal format.
In the exemplary system described above, a generic, but unique, kit contains one or more signs, which can be used to direct customers to web content. Note that the term “sign” is intended to mean any item capable of being used to display information and/or provide access to a machine readable medium. The signs described can be displayed in any manner desired, such as being attached to a wall, window, or other surface, held upright by a base member, or incorporated with other items such as menus, brochures, etc. Other examples are also possible. In some examples, signs may be made from paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, stickers, decals, window clings, etc.
In one example, each sign includes at least one machine readable medium. As described above, each machine readable medium stores information that can be used to direct a user to web content upon reading or scanning the machine readable medium. For example, a user with a smart phone, tablet, or other portable device can use the device to read the machine readable medium and quickly and easily be directed to a web site landing page, as configured by the administrator. Examples of machine readable medium include optical bar codes (e.g., QR codes), near field communication (NFC) devices, magnetic stripes, smart chips, RFID tags, magnetic ink characters, Bluetooth (or similar wireless devices), etc.
When a user scans either medium, the user's device will be directed to a web page, such as the web pages shown in
The signs may also include a variety of types (e.g., paper, plastic, stickers, window clings, etc.), allowing the user to display multiple signs where desired.
Following is a description of the operation of the techniques described above, from a user purchasing a kit, to a customer scanning a sign and accessing a web site landing page. As mentioned above, a user (e.g., a business owner or other entity) is provided with a generic, but unique, kit. The user can use any generic kit, since the user is not limited to using a kit that has been customized for the user's pre-existing web sites or accounts. By eliminating the need for a kit that is customized for a particular user, the kits can be mass produced as a low cost, and used by any user.
Once a user obtains a kit, the user accesses a web site and begins a registration process. The user can then configure a web site landing page (such as that described above and shown in
A web browser in the device then generates a web page request for the respective web server (step 6-16), corresponding to the web site landing page. At step 6-18, the device retrieves the web site landing page from the web server (e.g., web server 16 of
As mentioned above with respect to the labels 38 of
Following is one example of how a kit user can use this feature. Like the examples above, the sign or label could include “Text ABCDE to 12345”, or something similar. When a customer texts “ABCDE” to 12345, an auto responder will reply with a message, as defined by the kit administrator, and a link to the web site landing page. The customer can then use the received link to access the web site landing page.
In the preceding detailed description, the disclosure is described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. Various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.