METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN E-COMMERCE PROMOTIONS PLATFORM
Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and system for an e-commerce promotions platform for administering e-commerce promotions, such as sweepstakes, contests, giveaways, and/or instant wins.
1 . A method of operating an e-commerce promotions platform for administering e-commerce promotions, the method comprising:
in a computer system configured to manage an e-commerce platform that communicatively couples to a respective communication device of each of a plurality of users,
receiving, from a first party, a plurality of parameters defining operation of a promotional activity and user eligibility for participation in the promotional activity;
controlling review and approval of the plurality of parameters by a plurality of reviewers according to a particular sequence of approval of the plurality of parameters, to produce an approved plurality of parameters;
processing the approved plurality of parameters to deploy the promotional activity to the e-commerce platform to permit participation by eligible users of the plurality of users using their respective communication devices;
receiving information representing performance of the promotional activity, from the e-commerce platform; and
processing the received information to produce a report of performance for transmission to the first party.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the promotional activity is a sweepstakes.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a geographic region, and wherein users of the plurality of users residing within the geographic region are eligible to participate in the promotional activity.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters specifies an action to be performed by the one of the plurality of users in order to qualify for participation in the promotional activity.
5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the action to be performed by the one of the plurality of users comprises sharing an opinion with one or more members of a social network running on the e-commerce platform.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters specifies a period during which the promotional activity is active.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the e-commerce promotions platform directs the e-commerce platform to repeat the promotional activity according to the plurality of parameters.
8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon, one or more code sections each comprising a plurality of instructions executable by at least one processor for causing the at least one processor to perform actions for operating an e-commerce promotions platform for administering e-commerce promotions, the actions comprising:
receiving, from a first party, a plurality of parameters defining operation of a promotional activity and user eligibility for participation in the promotional activity;
controlling review and approval of the plurality of parameters by a plurality of reviewers according to a particular sequence of approval of the plurality of parameters, to produce an approved plurality of parameters;
processing the approved plurality of parameters to deploy the promotional activity to the e-commerce platform to permit participation by eligible users of the plurality of users using respective communication devices;
receiving information representing performance of the promotional activity, from the e-commerce platform; and
processing the received information to produce a report of performance for transmission to the first party.
9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the promotional activity is a sweepstakes.
10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a geographic region, and wherein users of the plurality of users residing within the geographic region are eligible to participate in the promotional activity.
11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters specifies an action to be performed by the one of the plurality of users in order to qualify for participation in the promotional activity.
12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 11 , wherein the action to be performed by the one of the plurality of users comprises sharing an opinion with one or more members of a social network running on the e-commerce platform.
13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of parameters specifies a period during which the promotional activity is active.
14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 8 , wherein the e-commerce promotions platform directs the e-commerce platform to repeat the promotional activity according to the plurality of parameters.
15 . A system for use in an e-commerce promotions platform for administering e-commerce promotions, the system comprising:
at least one processor for communicatively coupling to respective communication devices of each of a plurality of users, the at least one processor operable to, at least:
receive, from a first party, a plurality of parameters defining operation of a promotional activity and user eligibility for participation in the promotional activity;
control review and approval of the plurality of parameters by a plurality of reviewers according to a particular sequence of approval of the plurality of parameters, to produce an approved plurality of parameters;
process the approved plurality of parameters to deploy the promotional activity to the e-commerce platform to permit participation by eligible users of the plurality of users using their respective communication devices;
receive information representing performance of the promotional activity, from the e-commerce platform; and
process the received information to produce a report of performance for transmission to the first party.
16 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the promotional activity is a sweepstakes.
17 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a geographic region, and wherein users of the plurality of users residing within the geographic region are eligible to participate in the promotional activity.
18 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of parameters specifies an action to be performed by the one of the plurality of users in order to qualify for participation in the promotional activity.
19 . The system according to claim 18 , wherein the action to be performed by the one of the plurality of users comprises an action of sharing an opinion with one or more members of a social network running on the e-commerce platform.
20 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of parameters specifies a period during which the promotional activity is active.
21 . The system according to claim 15 , wherein the e-commerce promotions platform directs the e-commerce platform to repeat the promotional activity according to the plurality of parameters.