OFFERING SURVEY RESPONSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE
A system for offering survey response opportunities for sale to purchasers in a survey market system that is associated with a consumer analytics system. A survey response “opportunity” may be an expectation of the system that, if a survey is distributed, a response will be received and represents a chance for a potential surveyor to request that a survey be distributed on its behalf. Using the system, a purchaser may specify one or more conditions for distribution of a survey and one or more questions to be included in the survey, and request that a consumer analytics system distribute the survey in response to detecting that the conditions are met. For example, if a condition relates to consumer behavior, a survey may be distributed in response to detecting, from an analysis of location data indicating geographic locations of the consumer, that the consumer engaged in the behavior.
1 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method comprising:
determining, for a setting, a first number of survey responses that a consumer analytics system projects receiving, in a time period, in response to surveys that are distributed to consumers following detecting that one or more characteristics of the consumers satisfy at least one condition for the surveys to be distributed;
determining, based on the first number, a second number of survey response opportunities to make available for purchase via a survey purchase system of the consumer analytics system; and
following a purchase of a third number of survey response opportunities by a purchaser, storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute a fourth number of surveys to consumers in response to detecting that one or more characteristics of the consumers satisfy the at least one condition, the fourth number being equal to or greater than the third number, the information comprising information identifying a first survey, the first survey comprising one or more questions identified by the purchaser.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein determining the second number of survey response opportunities to make available for purchase comprises:
determining a fifth number of survey responses that the consumer analytics system is configured to collect in response to distributing surveys to consumers in response to detecting that the at least one condition is met; and
determining the second number of survey response opportunities based at least in part on the first number and the fifth number.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein determining the fifth number of survey responses that the consumer analytics system is configured to collect comprises determining a number of survey responses that one or more other purchasers have previously requested that the consumer analytics system collect in response to distributing surveys to consumers having one or more characteristics that satisfy the at least one condition.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
prior to purchase of the third number of survey response opportunities by the purchaser, the consumer analytics system is configured to produce a syndicated report of consumer analytics based at least in part on responses by consumers to surveys distributed to consumers having one or more characteristics that satisfy the at least one condition; and
determining the second number of survey response opportunities to make available for purchase comprises:
determining a fifth number of survey responses needed for the consumer analytics system to generate results having a desired level of accuracy for an analysis of the responses to surveys distributed to consumers having the one or more characteristics that satisfy the at least one condition; and
determining the second number of survey response opportunities based at least in part on a difference of the first number and the fifth number.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
distributing the first survey to a plurality of consumers, wherein distributing the first survey to a consumer comprises transmitting at least one first message to a mobile device operated by the consumer in response to determining that the consumer has one or more characteristics that satisfy the at least one condition, the at least one first message comprising information soliciting the consumer to provide input in response to the one or more questions.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the method further comprising:
receiving responses from consumers in response to the distributing of the first survey, wherein receiving the response from the consumer comprises receiving at least one second message from the mobile device operated by the consumer, the at least one second message comprising one or more inputs provided by the consumer in response to the one or more questions; and
transmitting information regarding the responses to at least one computing device associated with the purchaser.
7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein distributing the first survey to the plurality of consumers comprises distributing the first survey until a number of received responses to the first survey equals or exceeds the third number.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one condition comprises at least one behavior characteristic; and
storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute the fourth number of surveys to consumers in response to detecting that one or more characteristics of the consumers satisfy the at least one condition comprises storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute the fourth number of surveys to a consumer in response to detecting, based on an evaluation of location data for the consumer, that the consumer is or was engaging in the at least one behavior.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one behavior characteristic comprises visiting a business; and
storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute the fourth number of surveys to a consumer comprises storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute the fourth number of surveys to a consumer in response to detecting, based on an evaluation of location data for the consumer, that the consumer is visiting or was visiting the business.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one behavior characteristic comprises visiting one of a plurality of businesses in a market category; and
storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute the fourth number of surveys to a consumer comprises storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute the fourth number of surveys to a consumer in response to detecting, based on an evaluation of location data for the consumer, that the consumer is visiting or was visiting one of the businesses in the market category.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving purchase data from the purchaser via a web interface for the consumer analytics system, the web interface comprising one or more web pages, the purchase data information regarding the third number, the one or more questions, and the at least one condition.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
displaying, via the web interface, a prompt for the purchaser to specify one or more consumer characteristics that will serve as the at least one condition for distribution of the first survey.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, via the web interface, a bid from the purchaser in an electronic auction for survey response opportunities.
14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein receiving the bid from the purchaser in the electronic auction comprises receiving the bid in an electronic auction for at least some of the second number of survey response opportunities for distributing surveys in response to the at least one condition.
15 . A method of surveying a consumer in response to detecting that the consumer has engaged in one or more behaviors, the method comprising:
receiving, from a mobile device operated by the consumer, a plurality of units of location data each indicating a geographic location of the consumer at a time the unit of location data was generated;
analyzing the plurality of units of location data to determine at least one behavior in which the plurality of units of location data indicate the consumer engaged; and
in response to determining that the at least one behavior of the consumer satisfies one or more conditions associated with a plurality of surveys,
selecting a first survey of the plurality of surveys, and
transmitting at least one first message to the mobile device soliciting the consumer to provide answers to one or more questions of the first survey.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
each survey of the plurality of surveys is associated with a desired number of survey responses to be received by the consumer analytics in response to distribution of the survey to consumers; and
selecting the first survey of the plurality of surveys comprises selecting the first survey based at least in part on, for each survey of the plurality of surveys, a number of responses received in response to distribution of that survey to consumers in the time period.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein selecting the first survey based at least in part on, for each survey of the plurality of surveys, the number of responses received comprises selecting a survey having a lowest ratio of number of responses received to desired number of survey responses.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving responses from consumers in response to distribution of the first survey, wherein receiving the response from the consumer comprises receiving at least one second message from the mobile device operated by the consumer, the at least one second message comprising one or more inputs provided by the consumer in response to the one or more questions; and
transmitting information regarding the responses to at least one computing device associated with a party that provided the survey for distribution.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the party that provided the survey for distribution is a purchaser of a first number of survey response opportunities; and
the method further comprises, following a purchase of the first number of survey response opportunities by the purchaser, storing information configuring a consumer analytics system to distribute a second number of surveys to consumers in response to detecting that at least one behavior of each consumer satisfies the one or more conditions.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the at least one behavior comprises visiting a business; and
selecting the first survey in response to determining that the at least one behavior of the consumer satisfies the one or more conditions comprises selecting the first survey and transmitting the at least one first message in response to determining that the consumer is visiting or has visited the business.
21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the one or more conditions comprise a first condition relating to the at least one behavior and a second condition relating to at least one demographic characteristic; and
selecting the first survey and transmitting the at least one first message in response to determining that the at least one behavior of the consumer satisfies the one or more conditions comprises selecting the first survey and transmitting the at least one first message in response to determining that the consumer is engaging or has engaged in the behavior and that the consumer has the at least one demographic characteristic.
22 . At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method comprising:
determining, for a setting, a first number of survey responses that a consumer analytics system projects receiving, in a time period, in response to surveys that are distributed to consumers following detecting that at least one behavior of the consumers satisfy at least one condition for the surveys to be distributed;
determining, based on the first number, a second number of survey response opportunities to make available for purchase via a survey purchase system of the consumer analytics system; and
following a purchase of a third number of survey response opportunities by a purchaser, storing information configuring the consumer analytics system to distribute a fourth number of surveys to consumers in response to detecting that the consumers are engaging or have engaged in at least one behavior that satisfies the at least one condition, the fourth number being equal to or greater than the third number, the information comprising information identifying a first survey, the first survey comprising one or more questions identified by the purchaser.
23 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein determining the second number of survey response opportunities to make available for purchase comprises:
determining a fifth number of survey responses that the consumer analytics system is configured to collect in response to distributing surveys to consumers in response to detecting that consumers are engaging in or have engaged in the at least one behavior; and
determining the second number of survey response opportunities based at least in part on the first number and the fifth number.
24 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein determining the fifth number of survey responses that the consumer analytics system is configured to collect comprises determining a number of survey responses that one or more other purchasers have previously requested that the consumer analytics system collect in response to distributing surveys to consumers that are engaging in or have engaged in the at least one behavior.
25 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein:
prior to purchase of the third number of survey response opportunities by the purchaser, the consumer analytics system is configured to produce a syndicated report of consumer analytics based at least in part on responses by consumers to surveys distributed to consumers that are engaging in or have engaged in the at least one behavior; and
determining the second number of survey response opportunities to make available for purchase comprises:
determining a fifth number of survey responses desired for the consumer analytics system to conduct an analysis of responses to the surveys distributed to consumers that are engaging in or have engaged in the at least one behavior; and
determining the second number of survey response opportunities based at least in part on a difference of the first number and the fifth number.
26 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:
determining at least one behavior in which a consumer is engaging in or has engaged in at least in part by reviewing a plurality of units of location data provided by a mobile device operated by the consumer, each unit of location data of the plurality indicating a geographic location of the mobile device at a time the unit of location data was generated by the mobile device.
27 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein:
the at least one behavior is visiting a first business; and
the one or more questions of the first survey comprise a question requesting that the consumer provide input regarding the consumer's intentions in visiting the first business, experiences at the first business, and/or impressions of the first business.
28 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 22 , wherein:
the at least one behavior is visiting a first business; and
the one or more questions of the first survey comprise a question requesting that the consumer provide input regarding actions taken by the consumer while visiting the first business.