System and method for using social networks for the distribution of communications
The present invention provides methods and systems for facilitating the distribution of a communication, for example, using one or more enterprise applications. According to one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining information regarding one or more entities. Using a software application, hardware device or combination thereof, a given entity is selected from the one or more entities. A given member of the enterprise is selected based on a path between the given member of the enterprise and a given entity, the path identified by the information regarding the given entity. A communication is addressed from the given member of the enterprise to the given entity.
1 . A method for facilitating the distribution of a communication using a social network, the method comprising:
obtaining information regarding one or more entities;
selecting a given entity from the one or more entities;
selecting a given member of the enterprise based on a path between the given member of the enterprise and a given entity, the path identified by the information regarding the given entity;
addressing a communication from the given member of the enterprise to the given entity; and
transmitting the communication to the given entity.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein a given entity includes an entity selected from the group comprising an individual and an organization.
3 . The method of claim 1 comprising prioritizing the information regarding the one or more entities.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein prioritizing comprises prioritizing according to the path between the one or more entities and the one or more members of the enterprise.
5 . The method of claim 4 wherein prioritizing comprising prioritizing according to a strength of the path between the one or more entities and the one or more members of the enterprise.
6 . The method of claim 1 comprising generating a visual indication of the path between the one or more entities and the one or more members of the enterprise.
7 . The method of claim 6 comprising generating a visual indication of a strength of the path between the one or more members of the enterprise and the one or more entities.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a given member of the enterprise comprises selecting based on a strength of the path between the given member and the given entity.
9 . The method of claim 1 comprising allowing the communication to be personalized by the given member.
10 . The method of claim 1 comprising providing the communication to the given member for approval.
11 . The method of claim 10 comprising:
determining if the given member approves the communication;
if the given member does not approve the communication, selecting a second given member of the enterprise based on the a path between the second given member and the given entity;
addressing the communication from the second given member to the given entity; and
transmitting the communication to the given entity.
12 . The method of claim 11 comprising:
if no member approves the communication, addressing the communication from the enterprise to the given entity; and
transmitting the communication to the given entity.
13 . The method of claim 1 comprising tracking a response to the communication from the given entity.
14 . The method of claim 13 comprising determining the effectiveness of a campaign based on the tracked response to the communication from the given entity.
15 . The method of claim 1 comprising displaying the path between the one or more entities and the or more members of the enterprise in conjunction with an application selected from the group comprising a CRM application, an SFA application, an HRM application and a messaging application.
16 . A method for facilitating the distribution of a communication using a social network, the method comprising:
obtaining information regarding one or more entities;
selecting a given entity from the one or more entities;
identifying a path between one or more members of the enterprise and the given entity; and
transmitting a communication through the one or more members of the enterprise to the given entity according to the path.