Methods and Systems for Generating Social Media Messages

A method and system are provided for generating social media messages. The method and system involve storing, in a storage module, a user profile corresponding to each user in a plurality of users and at least one message content in a plurality of message contents, the user profile includes a content indicator corresponding to one or more categories of message content selected by a corresponding user; and operating at least one processor module to associate each message content in the plurality of message contents with at least one category in a plurality of categories; determine, for at least one user in the plurality of users, one or more categories using the content indicator associated with the user; and a message content based on the determined one or more categories; and create the social media message based on the determined message content.

The drawings, described below, are provided for purposes of illustration, and not of limitation, of the aspects and features of various examples of embodiments described herein. The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the teachings in any way. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The various embodiments described herein generally relate to methods (and associated systems configured to implement the methods) for generating social media messages. The method includes storing user profiles for each user and at least one message content in a storage module. The user profile includes, at least, a content indicator that generally corresponds to one or more categories of message content selected by a corresponding user. A content system may associate each message content with at least one category. To generate the social media message for a user, the content system may determine at least one category based on the content indicator associated with that user and a message content based on the determined category. The content system may then create a social media message for that user based on the determined message content. After the social media message is generated, the content system may further distribute that social media message to one or more social media servers associated with that user.

The content system may also store supplemental content for each message content. As will be described below, the supplemental content may include images and descriptions. When generating the social media message, the content system may determine at least one supplemental content and include that supplemental content in the social media message.

Social media networks are becoming crucial platforms for mass content distribution. Users of the social media networks, however, may have difficulty maintaining their user accounts on the various social media servers. Some users may not be familiar with the operation of the different social media networks provided on the social media servers and have difficulty adding content, or messages, onto their user accounts associated with those social media servers. Also, maintaining a regular and effective social media presence can be quite time-consuming. Some users may not have time to constantly post and update messages on their social media accounts. By enabling the content system to automatically generate social media messages on behalf of users, users may benefit from an increased social media presence with minimal effort. The increased social media presence may also be customized by the users. For example, users can manage their social media presence by customizing their user profiles, such as by editing the corresponding content indicator.

It will be appreciated that numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the example embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description and the drawings are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way, but rather as merely describing the implementation of the various embodiments described herein.

The embodiments of the systems and methods described herein may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both. However, preferably, these embodiments are implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers each comprising at least one processor module (e.g., a microprocessor), a data storage system (including volatile and non-volatile memory and/or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. For example and without limitation, the programmable computers (referred to below as computing devices) may be a personal computer, laptop, personal data assistant, cellular telephone, smart-phone device, tablet computer, and/or wireless device. Program code is applied to input data to perform the functions described herein and generate output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices, in known fashion.

Each program is preferably implemented in a high level procedural or object oriented programming and/or scripting language to communicate with a computer system. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or interpreted language. Each such computer program is preferably stored on a storage media or a device (e.g. ROM or magnetic diskette) readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer, for configuring and operating the computer when the storage media or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described herein. The subject system may also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform the functions described herein.

Furthermore, the system, processes and methods of the described embodiments are capable of being distributed in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium that bears computer usable instructions for one or more processors. The medium may be provided in various forms, including one or more diskettes, compact disks, tapes, chips, wireline transmissions, satellite transmissions, internet transmission or downloadings, magnetic and electronic storage media, digital and analog signals, and the like. The computer useable instructions may also be in various forms, including compiled and non-compiled code.

Reference is first made toFIG. 1, which illustrates a block diagram100of components interacting with a content system110. The content system110interacts with a storage module120, one or more social media servers130and a user device140via a network150.

Storage module120may be provided using a data storage system. The storage module120may include one or more databases that are implemented with any database implementations. Although the storage module120is illustrated inFIG. 1to be separate from the content system110, the storage module120, or at least a part of the storage module120, may be provided within the content system110.

The storage module120may store information related to users of the content system110, information related to various message contents and other information for the operation of the content system110. The information stored on the storage module120may be received from the user device140via the content system110and from the content system110via the network150. The stored information may be accessed by the content system110via the network150.

The information stored in the storage module120may include a user profile for each user. The user profile may include general user information, such as a user identifier for identifying a user, personal information (e.g., occupation, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.), geographical proximities or locations (e.g., Eastern Canada or Toronto, Ontario), general interest information (e.g., hobbies, etc.) and a content indicator identifying categories of message content selected by the user.

The content indicator may be associated with one or more category identifiers. For example, the category identifiers can include, at least, an identifier for a geographical area category, an identifier for a subject category (e.g., informational identifier, lifestyle identifier, home inspection identifier, real estate identifier, insurance identifier, fitness identifier, mortgage identifier, etc.), and an identifier for a content type category (e.g., article identifier, blog identifier or real estate listing identifier).

In some embodiments, the content indicator includes a real estate interest indicator for identifying one or more categories of real estate contents selected by a user. Like the content indicator, the real estate interest indicator can include one or more category identifiers that are related to real estate. For example, the real estate category identifiers can include, without limitations, an identifier for a geographical area category, an identifier for a subject category (e.g., informational identifier, home inspection identifier, real estate insurance identifier, mortgage identifier, etc.), an identifier for a content type category (e.g., article identifier, blog identifier or real estate listing identifier), and an identifier for a type of property (e.g., condominium, house, townhouse, vacation home, etc.).

The user profile may also be associated with one or more social media servers130. In some embodiments, the user profile can further be associated with corresponding authentication information for each associated social media server130.

The storage module120may also store information related to message contents. Message contents may include any data information that can be included in a social media message generated by the content system110and distributed by the content system110to a user account associated with a social media server130. For example, a message content can include a combination of one or more of a text data, an image data, a video data and a Universal Resource Locator (URL) corresponding to a webpage. The URL may be associated with an article or a blog entry. It will be understood that the message content may include other similar types of data.

For each message content, the storage module120may also store supplemental contents. The supplemental contents may include at least one image that is associated with the message content and at least one description associated with the message content. The image may be image data that is related to the topic of the message content or a category associated with the message content. The description may include text data that generally introduces the topic or scope of the message content or a category associated with the message content.

Each message content may also be associated with an expiry date. The expiry date generally indicates a date on which that message content is no longer valid or current. The content system110may then remove that message content from the storage module120on the expiry date or prevent that message content from being available for use, such as by associating that message content with a status indicating that the message content is invalid.

Social media servers130are server computers associated with various different social media networks. It will be understood that a social media network may be associated with one or more social media servers130. Without limitations, the social media networks may include Facebook™, Google+™, a fan page on Facebook, LinkedIn™, Twitter™ and MySpace™. It will be understood that the content system110may similarly interact with other social media networks provided by other social media servers130via the network150.

User device140may be any computing device capable of network communication. For example, and without limitation, the user device140can be a personal computer, laptop, personal data assistant, cellular telephone, smart-phone device, tablet computer, and/or wireless device. For ease of exposition, only one user device140is shown inFIG. 1but it will be understood that multiple user devices140can communicate with the content system110via the network150at any given time.

Content system110may be provided as one or more server computers. It will be understood that the server computers may be distributed over a wide geographic area and connected via the network150. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the content system110includes, at least, a processor module112and an interface module114.

Processor module112includes hardware and software components for providing computing processing abilities and memory such as a database(s) or file system(s). As will be described below, the processor module112can operate to generate social media messages. For ease of exposition, only one processor module112is shown inFIG. 1but it will be understood that one or more processor modules112can be provided. The one or more processor modules112may be provided within the content system110, or separate from the content system110but able to communicate with the content system110via the network150at any given time.

Interface module114provides a communication interface for the content system110. The interface module114enables connection to the network150, for example, to communicate with the user device140, storage module120and the social media servers130. The interface module114may also provide user interfaces from which message contents may be received by the content system110.

Network150may be any network capable of carrying data, including the Internet, Ethernet, plain old telephone service (POTS) line, public switch telephone network (PSTN), integrated services digital network (ISDN), digital subscriber line (DSL), coaxial cable, fiber optics, satellite, mobile, wireless (e.g. Wi-Fi, WiMAX), SS7 signaling network, fixed line, local area network, wide area network, and others, including any combination of these, capable of interfacing with, and enabling communication between, the content system110, the user device140, the storage module120, and the social media servers130.

Referring now toFIG. 2, which is a flowchart200of an example method of generating social media messages. To illustrate the example method, reference will be made simultaneously toFIGS. 3A,3B,4A and4B, which illustrate screenshots of example interfaces for receiving message contents from a user, andFIGS. 5A to 8C, which illustrate screenshots of example social media messages. It will be understood that the content system110may receive the message contents from a user via user device140or the interface module114, or from the storage module120.

At210, the processor module112stores, in the storage module120, a user profile corresponding to each user in a plurality of users and at least one message content in a plurality of message contents.

As described above, a user profile is stored in the storage module120for each user. The user profile may include information associated with the user and user preferences, such as the content indicator. The content indicator generally corresponds to one or more categories of message content selected by the user. In some embodiments, the content indicator may include a real estate interest indicator that is associated with one or more categories of real estate contents selected by the user. The content indicator, therefore, may act as a guide for the content system110to determine the types of message contents that the user would like to have included in a social media message.

The user profile may also be associated with at least one social media server130. The user profile may further include authentication information corresponding to the associated social media servers130. For example, a user with a Facebook user account and a Twitter user account may want social media messages to be generated for both the Facebook and Twitter accounts. The content system110can determine from a user profile that the user is associated with the social media networks, Facebook and Twitter. The content system110can then generate social media messages for the user for the associated social media servers130corresponding to Facebook and Twitter.

The processor module112may receive message contents from a user via the user device140or the interface module114, or from an external data source. For example, a listing agent can provide a message content related to a real estate listing to the content system110via a user interface provided by the interface module114. In another example, the processor module112can receive message contents directly from a proprietary data service, such as the Multiple Listing Service™ (MLS™).

In some embodiments, the storage module120may receive the message content directly from the external data source and the processor module112may then receive the message content from the storage module120via the network150.

Reference is now made toFIG. 3A, which illustrates a screenshot300of a message content interface306for receiving a message content310. It will be understood that the illustrated message content interface306is only for illustrative purpose and that different data fields may be used.

The message content interface306may include various data fields for receiving data associated with the message content310. The data fields may include a title field312, a category dropdown list314, a subtitle field316and one or more content fields360. The title field312receives a title for the message content310and the subtitle field316receives a descriptive title for the message content310. It will be understood that the title field312and the subtitle field316may receive the same data. The category dropdown list314provides a list of categories from which at least one category can be selected to be associated with the message content310.

The content fields360may include one or more different data fields for receiving data associated with the message content310. InFIG. 3A, a content URL field362is provided for receiving a URL associated with the message content310and a content control364is also provided for allowing additional data, such as text data, image data or video data, to be included in the message content310. For example, the message content310may include a URL provided through the content URL field362and an image data provided using the content control364. In another example, the message content310can include only data provided using the content control364. That is, the message content310can include only text data, such as an inspirational quote, or image data, such as an image of designer decor. It will be understood that the message content310may include any combination of data received from the content URL field362and provided using the content control364.

As noted above, the data fields shown inFIG. 3Aare provided for illustrative purposes. For example, the processor module112may instead receive the message content310using only the content fields360. That is, the title field312, the subtitle field316and the category dropdown list314may be optional or form part of the supplemental content.

In the example ofFIG. 3A, the message content310includes a title “Inside Celebrity Homes” received from the title field312and a subtitle “Inside a Celebrity's Magical Malibu Mansion” received from the subtitle field316. The category selected from the category dropdown list314is “informational”. A URL is also provided for the message content310through the content URL field362.

The processor module112may also receive supplemental content for each message content310. The processor module112may store the supplemental content in the storage module120.

Reference is now made toFIG. 3B, which illustrates a screenshot302of another message content interface306′ for receiving the message content310. It will be understood that, like the message content interface306ofFIG. 3A, the illustrated message content interface306′ is only for illustrative purpose, and that different data fields may instead be used.

The supplemental content for the message content310may include image data330and description data320. By associating the message content310with supplemental content, the processor module112may generate, using the message content310, different social media messages by using different supplemental content. The inclusion of the supplemental content in the social media messages is described below.

The message content interface306′ includes data fields provided on the message content interface306ofFIG. 3Aas well as a description control322for adding description fields320, such as320A to320C and an image control332for adding image data330, such as330A to330C. As illustrated inFIG. 3B, each of the description fields320A to320C includes a different description text related to the message content310and each of the image data330A to330C is a different image related to the message content310.

In some embodiments, the processor module112receives an expiry date associated with the message content310. For example, as illustrated in the message content interface306′ ofFIG. 3B, an expiry data field340may be included for receiving a date indicating when the message content310is no longer valid. The message content310in the example ofFIG. 3Bexpires on Mar. 1, 2014 and therefore, the processor module112may remove the message content310from the storage module120on Mar. 1, 2014.

The message content310may include real estate content. Real estate content can include general real estate information, such as real estate news, advice and trends, and real estate listings providing information on a property for sale. The generation of social media messages based on real estate content, such as real estate listings, may be a helpful marketing tool for real estate agents. Social media networks are becoming a crucial marketing platform for professionals. Therefore, a real estate agent with a regular social media presence gains a marketing advantage.

It will be understood that the described embodiments can similarly be applied to different professional fields for which effective marketing is critical in gaining business and clients. For example, the described embodiments can be applied to other sales agents, such as in insurance and mortgage, and fitness instructors.

With respect to real estate, social media messages that are based on real estate listings may increase the visibility of that real estate listing and the number of real estate agents who can be associated with that real estate listing. Real estate agents who represent a property owner in the sale of their property can be referred to as listing agents. Listing agents are typically more senior real estate agents and earn a commission whenever their real estate listing is sold. Selling agents, on the other hand, are real estate agents who earn a commission when buyer clients they bring to different real estate listings make a purchase. Selling agents are typically more junior real estate agents. Since listing agents will earn a commission as long as the real estate property they represent is sold, a listing agent is likely to benefit from any additional promotion of their real estate listings and therefore, listing agents benefit by authorizing their real estate listings to be included in social media messages that are generated by the content system110and distributed to other real estate agents. Similarly, selling agents also benefit when social media messages with real estate listings are generated by the content system110and distributed to their social media accounts since their perceived portfolio of listings increases with minimal effort on their part and as a result, potentially attracting new buyer clients to them.

Reference is now made toFIG. 4A, which illustrates a screenshot400of a real estate content interface406for receiving a real estate content410. In the example ofFIG. 4A, the real estate content410is a real estate listing. It will be understood that the illustrated real estate content interface406is only for illustrative purpose, and that different data fields may be used.

The real estate content interface406may include various data fields for receiving data associated with the real estate content410. As illustrated inFIG. 4A, the real estate content410can include information related to the property and the sale of the property. For example, the data fields can include a location field412, a category dropdown list414, an address field416, a listing agent field418, a price field450, a published listing identifier field452and an authorization indicator field454. The location field412receives geographical data (e.g., city, neighbourhood, etc.) associated with the property, the address field416receives a physical address of the property, the listing agent field418receives a name or an identifier associated with the listing agent and the price field450receives a listing or asking price for the property. The published listing identifier field452receives an identifier corresponding to a proprietary publication of the real estate listing. For example, the proprietary publication can be a real estate listing provided by the MLS or other similar services. The category dropdown list414provides a list of categories from which at least one category can be selected to be associated with the real estate content410.

The authorization indicator field454receives an indication of whether the real estate content410can be shared with other users. As described above, a real estate property is represented by at least one listing agent. That listing agent may allow the real estate listing to be included in social media messages generated by the content system110and for the content system110to distribute the social media message to other users of the content system110. In the example ofFIG. 4A, the authorization indicator field454is selected and therefore, the content system110can generate social media messages for other users based on the real estate listing410.

In some embodiments, the authorization indicator field454can include additional data fields for customizing the scope of the authorization. The authorization indicator field454may further indicate certain limitations on how a social media message based on the real estate content410is used. For example, the authorization indicator field454can include a field for designating a time frame within which the real estate content410can be included in a social media message, types of real estate agents who can receive a social media message based on the real estate content410, and frequency in which the real estate content410is used in social media messages. It will be understood that the authorization indicator field454can include other different limitations.

In the example ofFIG. 4A, the real estate content410includes a location “Toronto, Ontario” received from the location field412, an address “1234 Long Blvd.” received from the address field416, a listing agent named “John” from the listing agent field418, a price of $300,000 from the price field450, and a MLS number “1234” from the published listing identifier field452. The category of the real estate content410is selected as “Toronto” from the category dropdown list414.

Similar to the message content310described above with reference toFIG. 3B, the processor module112may also receive supplemental content for each real estate content410. The processor module112may also store the supplemental content in the storage module120.

Reference is now made toFIG. 4B, which illustrates a screenshot402of another real estate content interface406′ for receiving the real estate content410. It will be understood that, like the real estate content interface406ofFIG. 4A, the illustrated real estate content interface406′ is only for illustrative purpose, and that different data fields may instead be used.

Similar to the message content interface306′ ofFIG. 3B, the supplemental content for the real estate content410may include image data430and description data420. The real estate content interface406′ includes data fields provided on the real estate content interface406ofFIG. 4Aand a description control422for adding description fields420, such as420A to420C, and an image control432for adding image data430, such as430A to430C. As illustrated inFIG. 4B, each of the description fields420A to420C includes a different description text related to the real estate content410and each of the image data430A to430C is a different image related to the real estate content410.

At220, the processor module112associates each message content310in the plurality of message contents with at least one category in a plurality of categories.

The processor module112associates the message content310with at least one category. The processor module112may determine the categories based on data provided in the message content310. For example, the category of the message content310can be the category selected from the category dropdown list314, or based on keywords in the message content310. As generally described above, the categories may include, without limitations, a geographical area category, a subject category, and a content type category.

The geographical area category may indicate a location or general region for which the message content310is associated. As illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B, the geographical area selected for the real estate content410using the category dropdown list414is Toronto. The geographical area category may include different levels of geography, such as a national category, a regional category and a local category. The processor module112may associate any message content310that includes data that is applicable nationwide with the national category, any message content310that includes data that is applicable within a region (e.g., a province in Canada or a state in the United States) with the regional category, and any message content310that includes data that is applicable locally with the local category. For example, the processor module112may associate a message content that includes inspirational quotes with the national category since inspirational quotes are generally not geographically limited, a message content related to the condominium market in British Columbia with the regional category, and a message content that includes a real estate listing for Toronto, such as the real estate content410, with the local category.

The geographical area category may further include user-defined geographical categories that correspond to certain types of geography instead of geographical locations. For example, user-defined geographical categories can include, without limitations, urban category, suburban category, farm category, warm climate category, cold climate category, oceanic category and landlocked category.

The subject category may indicate a topic of the message content310. For example, the subject category can include, without limitations, a wide breadth of topics, such as an informational category which indicates the message content310is related to general news, lifestyle category, home inspection category, real estate category, insurance category, fitness category, and mortgage category. As illustrated inFIG. 3A, the subject category selected for the message content310using the category dropdown list314is the informational category.

The content type category may identify a type of the message content310. For example, the content type category can include, without limitations, an article category, a blog entry category, a real estate listing category, an image category, a video category and a general message category. Inspirational quotes, for instance, may be associated with the general message category.

For embodiments in which the message content310includes the real estate content410, the processor module112may use different or additional categories, such as a category based on a type of real estate property. The type of real estate property may include a rental home, a vacation home, a condominium, a house and other types of real property. Other categories that are more specific to the real estate field may similarly be used.

At230, the processor module112determines, for at least one user in the plurality of users, one or more categories from the plurality of categories using the content indicator associated with the at least one user.

The content indicator may include default preferences provided by the content system110and user preferences provided by the user.

As described at210, each user profile includes a content indicator for indicating characteristics of the social media message to be generated for the user. For example, the characteristics may include the type of message content310(e.g., articles, images, real estate listings, etc.), a frequency at which the content system110generates social media messages for that user, and an order, or sequence, in which the processor module112determines the categories of the message content310for that user.

The frequency in which the content system110generates a social media message for a user may be provided as a number of social media messages within a predefined time period (e.g., three social media messages in a week) or a total number of social media messages for the duration of that user's subscription to the content system110.

The processor module112may determine, for the user, categories of the message content310based on a predefined order as provided in the content indicator. By using the predefined order, the content system110may increase the variety of the message content included in the social media messages generated for that user. The predefined order may include a category sequence. As well, the predefined order provides the content system110and the user with greater control over the frequency in which certain types of message contents appear in the generated social media messages.

For example, if the category sequence includes the national category and the local category. The processor module112determines the category by alternating between the national category and the local category. If the predefined order is not used, the processor module112may determine the national category consecutively.

Also, by spreading out the categories that are determined by the processor module112, there is smaller likelihood that a message content310is repeated for a user. Certain categories, such as the national category, are likely to be associated with a greater number of different message contents than other categories, such as the local category. Therefore, the use of a predefined order in which certain categories are determined by the processor module112increases the variety of the message contents for a user.

The content indicator may include specific categories of the message content310as selected by the user or a pre-defined order of categories as selected by the user. If the content indicator includes specific categories selected by the user, the processor module112may sequentially determine one of those categories selected by the user. The content indicator may instead include a default order in which categories of the message content310is determined by the processor module112.

An example order in which different categories of the message content310is determined by the processor module112can be a sequence involving the national category, the regional category and the local category. For a user profile associated with this example order, the processor module112can determine, for that user, the national category for a first social media message, the regional category for a second social media message, the local category for a third social media message, and so on. Another example order in which different categories is determined by the processor module112can be a sequence involving inspirational quotes, the regional category, the real estate listings and images.

Referring now toFIGS. 5A to 5C, which are screenshots of example social media messages based on different message contents510,512and514, respectively, for a user, “Shaun”, with a user identifier540. In the example illustrated inFIGS. 5A to 5C, the user identifier540is associated with a content indicator that indicates the categories of the message content310should be based on a sequential order including a national category, a regional category and a local category. The social media message570ofFIG. 5Aincludes the message content510which is associated with the national category (e.g., the condo market in Canada), the social media message572ofFIG. 5Bincludes the message content512which is associated with the regional category (e.g., Celebrity homes in California), and the social media message574ofFIG. 5Cincludes the message content514which is associated with the local category (e.g., a real estate listing for a home in Toronto). Each of the social media messages570,572, and574also includes an image530,530, and534, respectively. The processor module112can continue to generate social media messages for the user “Shaun” based on the order provided by the associated content identifier.

It will be generally understood that an order in which the categories of the message content is determined by the processor module112can include any number of categories.

At240, the processor module112determines, for the at least one user, a message content310from the plurality of message contents based on the determined one or more categories.

After determining the one or more categories based on the content indicator associated with the user, the processor module112determines the message content310based on the determined category. Depending on the category, the message content310may include the real estate content410.

In some embodiments, the content indicator can further specify that a message content can be used for a user for a limited number of times. For example, the content indicator may specify that no message content can be used more than once when generating social media messages for that user. The user profile for a user may be associated with a record all message contents that were used for generating social media messages for that user. When the processor module112selects a message content that was previously used for generating a social media message for that user, the processor module112selects another message content. In the case that no other message content is available, the processor module112may determine another category or not generate a social media message for that user at that time.

In some embodiments, the processor module112also determines at least one supplemental content from the supplemental contents that are associated with the message content310. As described above, the supplemental contents can include image data and description data.

At250, the processor module112creates, for the at least one user, the social media message based on the determined message content310.

Reference is now made toFIG. 6, which is a screenshot of a social media message670generated based on the message content310provided from the message content interface306ofFIG. 3A. It will be understood that the illustrated social media message670is only for illustrative purpose, and that different data may be included in the social media message670.

In the example ofFIG. 6, the processor module112generated the social media message670for a user, namely “Leslie”, associated with user identifier640. The social media message670includes the title312, the subtitle316and the content URL362received from the corresponding data fields on the message content interface306. As shown inFIG. 3A, the message content310is associated with the informational category based on the category dropdown list314and can further be associated with the regional category since the message content310is related to a mansion located in California. The processor module112, therefore, may determine the message content310for the user “Leslie” because the content indicator in her user profile is associated with at least the regional category or the informational category.

It will be understood, though, that the processor module112may generate the social media message670using only the message content310received from the content fields360. That is, the title312and the subtitle316may be optional or may even form part of the supplemental content.

The processor module112may generate social media messages for multiple users. For example, when generating social media messages for a first user and a second user, the processor module112can determine a first message content for the first user and a second message content for the second user. The first message content and the second message content may be identical or different. In some cases, the processor module112may further determine supplemental content for each of the first user and the second user. In the case that the first message content is the same as the second message content, the processor module112may determine supplemental content for the first user that is different from the supplemental content for the second user in order to generate different social media messages that are different for the first user and the second user. However, the processor module112may determine supplemental content that is the same for the first user and the second user.

FIGS. 7A and 7Billustrate screenshots of social media messages770A and770B, respectively, generated based on the message content310. Unlike the social media message670, the social media messages770A and770B include supplemental content provided from the message content interface306′ ofFIG. 3B.

Similar to the social media message670ofFIG. 6, the processor module112generated the social media message770A for the user, “Leslie”. In addition to the title312, the subtitle316and the content URL362provided in social media message670, the social media message770A further includes the image data330A and the description data320A associated with the message content310.

The social media message770B was generated by the processor module112for a user, “Grace”, associated with user identifier740. The social media message770B was also generated based on the message content310and therefore, includes the title312, the subtitle316and the content URL362provided in social media message670. However, despite being based on identical message content310, the social media messages770A and770B are different since they each include different supplemental content. As illustrated inFIG. 7B, the social media message770B includes the image data330B and the description data320B.

In some embodiments, the message content310can include the real estate content410.

Reference is now made toFIGS. 8A to 8C, which illustrate screenshots of example social media messages870A,870B and870C, respectively, generated based on the real estate content410provided from the real estate content interface406′ ofFIG. 4B. It will be understood that the illustrated social media messages870A,870B and870C are only for illustrative purpose, and that different data may be included each of the social media messages870A,870B and870C.

Although the processor module112generated the social media messages870A,870B and870C based on the same real estate content410for different users, the social media messages870A,870B and870C are different from each other due to the use of supplemental content. Each social media message870A,870B and870C includes the physical address from the address field416, the price from the price field450and the location from the location field412received from the real estate content interface406′ ofFIG. 4B.

However, social media message870A includes the image data430B and the description data420B, social media message870B includes the image data430C and the description data420C, and social media message870C includes the image data430A and the description data420A.

The social media messages870A,870B and870C are generated by the processor module112based on the real estate content410, which is a real estate listing. The social media messages870A,870B and870C may also include a URL corresponding to a webpage for that real estate listing. The webpage may be provided by the content system110.

For example, the URL for the real estate listing can be embedded in the social media message870A so that any selection of the social media message870A redirects a display of the user device140to the webpage for that real estate listing, such as listing interface900ofFIG. 9Afor displaying a real estate listing910. The listing interface900includes the real estate listing910and an agent contact control904. When the content system110receives a selection via the agent contact control904, the content system110may generate an interface, such as contact agent interface980ofFIG. 9B, for contacting a real estate agent associated with the real estate listing910. The listing interface900may include other fields and controls for receiving input from a potential client. For example, the listing interface900may further include a comment field from which the content system110may receive comments or questions from the potential client, or an appointment request field from which the content system110may receive a request for making an appointment for a showing of the property. It will be understood that the listing interface900may include other similar fields and controls for enabling interaction with the content system110.

The processor module112may create any of the above social media messages based also on the user profile of the user for which the social media message is generated. In some embodiments, the processor module112may associate the social media message with a user identifier corresponding to that user.

Continuing with the example described above with reference toFIG. 9A, the URL for the real estate listing910may include the user identifier640for the user, Leslie, for which the social media message870A was generated. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG.9B, the contact agent interface980can include contact information associated with the user identifier640instead of contact information associated with the listing agent identifier418. Similarly, if other fields and controls are provided on the listing interface900, the content system110may forward any input received via those fields and controls to the user, Leslie, since the user identifier640is associated with the URL for the real estate listing910.

Creating the social media message for a user may further include distributing the social media message to at least one social media server130associated with that user. The social media message may then be posted or associated with a user account on each of the social media servers130associated with that user.

In some embodiments, for a user associated with multiple social media servers130, the processor module112may generate social media messages that are based on different message contents310for each of the different social media servers130. For example, for a user profile that is associated with Facebook and Twitter, the processor module112can generate a social media message for Facebook based on a first message content and a social media message for Twitter based on a second message content that is different from the first message content. Also, the processor module112may generate different social media messages based on different requirements, such as formatting standards, of the social media servers. For example, the processor module112can generate a social media message for Facebook using a different formatting standard than a social media message generated for Twitter since social media messages on Twitter are limited to 140 characters.

FIG. 10illustrates a screenshot of example social media statistics1000for a user. The content system110may provide, for each user, social media statistics1000for tracking and monitoring a user's social media activities. For example, the social media statistics1000can include a feedback summary1010for generally illustrating the different types of feedback received for social media messages generated by the content system110for the user, a social media network summary1020providing a number of network connections that the user has in each associated social media server130, a readership summary1030providing a frequency in which social media messages generated by the content system110for the user is accessed by his or her network connections, a social media score1040calculated based on various factors, such as the readership summary1030and the social media network summary1020for example, and an activity summary1050providing a number of social media messages generated by the content system110for the user. It will be understood that other data may similarly be collected and summarized in the social media statistics1000.

The feedback summary1010may illustrate the feedback received for the social media messages provided on the user's social media accounts. For example, the feedback may include a number of times each social media message is selected, a number of comments provided for each social media message, and a number of times the content system110received a request for the user's contact information. It will be understood that other types of feedback data may similarly be collected for the user.

The feedback summary1010may further include feedback received on any social media messages that includes message contents310that originated from that user. Referring briefly to FIGS.4B and8A-8C, the feedback summary1010for the listing agent, John, can include feedback received on social media messages generated by the content system110for John and also feedback received on any of the social media messages870A to870C that the content system110generated for the users, Leslie, Grace and Shaun, respectively.

The present invention has been described here by way of example only. Various modification and variations may be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. Also, in the various user interfaces illustrated in the figures, it will be understood that the illustrated user interface text and controls are provided as examples only and are not meant to be limiting. Other suitable user interface elements may be possible.