Abstract:
Systems and methods for determining and sending a preferred of two electronic mail communications or messages (emails) to a group to increase likelihood of its review. Information for conducting a test between two emails, referred to as A email and B email, is collected. The information may identify a particular group, and segments A and B of the group. The information may provide content for the emails and include differentiation information between the emails. Determination information on how to select one of the emails as the preferred email and when to select the preferred email may be collected. The information is used to send the A email to the segment A, to send the B email to the segment B, to determine the preferred email between the A email and the B email, and to send the preferred email to at least a portion of the particular group.

Description:
[0001]    SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING AND SENDING A PREFERRED OF TWO ELECTRONIC MAIL COMMUNICATIONS, which was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Oct. 31, 2007, which was assigned U.S. Application Ser. No. 60/984,232, and which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS 
       [0002]    The inventions relate to the communication of information. More particularly, the inventions relate to the communication of information so that it is more likely to be reviewed upon receipt. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present millennium has been referred to as the Information Age. But too much information may mean that at least some of it may be ignored, overlooked, lost or otherwise not received or reviewed. Among the problems of a communicator trying to get its message out is to make as sure as possible that its communications are received and reviewed, and not ignored, overlooked, or lost. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Generally stated, the inventions relate to systems and methods for facilitating success of an email campaign by determining which of at least two electronic mail messages (“emails”) is acted on more than the other. An exemplary embodiment creates a first email and a second email, where the first email and second email differ by a selected characteristic. The first email is sent to a first segment of a group. The second email is sent to a second segment of the group. A determination is made as to which of the emails is acted on by more members of its respective segment. The email determined to be more acted on is sent to one or more members of the group. An alternative to this embodiment may create more than two emails, send them respectively to more than two segments of the group, and determine which email from the more than two emails is acted on by members of its group than the other emails. 
         [0005]    Another exemplary embodiment of the inventions includes a method for determining which email of two or more emails is more likely to be reviewed by a group and sending that email to the group. This method identifies a segment of the group to correspond respectively to each of the two or more emails. A characteristic is selected to differ respectively among the two or more emails. One of the two or more emails with the differing characteristics is sent to each of the respective segments of the group. A determination is made as to which of the two or more emails with the different characteristics is reviewed by more members of its segment of the group than other segments. The determined email is sent to one or more of the group. 
         [0006]    Yet another exemplary embodiment of the inventions is a method for determining and sending a preferred of two electronic mail messages (“emails”). In this embodiment, information is received for conducting an A/B split test between the two emails, referred to as A email and as B email. The information may identify a particular group, identify a segment A of the particular group, identify a segment B of the particular group, provide content for the two emails, include differentiation information between the two emails, and include determination information on how to select one of the two emails as the preferred email and when to select the preferred email. The information also may include send information on when to send the preferred email to at least the portion of the particular group. The information may be used to send the A email to the segment A, to send the B email to the segment B, to determine the preferred email between the A email and the B email, and to send the preferred email to at least a portion of the particular group. The send information may be used to send the preferred email to at least the portion of the particular group according to the send information. 
         [0007]    The exemplary embodiment may include other features. For example, the exemplary method may facilitate the receipt of the differentiation information between the two emails by providing one or more input areas for the differentiation information. In an embodiment, the differentiation information between the two emails may be different subject lines respectively between the two emails, may be different “from” names respectively between the two emails, may be different delivery dates respectively between the two emails, and or may be different delivery times respectively between the two emails. 
         [0008]    The exemplary embodiment also may facilitate the identification of the segment A by providing a mechanism whereby a randomly chosen percentage of between about 5%-50% participants of the particular group is selectable to be identified as the segment A. The exemplary embodiment may provide the same with respect to segment B. 
         [0009]    Further, the exemplary embodiment may facilitate the receipt of the determination information on how to select one of the two emails as the preferred email by providing one or more choices of a method of determination. The exemplary embodiment may facilitate the provision of the determination information on when to select one of the two emails as the preferred email by providing one or more time choices. The exemplary embodiment may facilitate the identification of the particular group by allowing a subset of a group of recipients to be selected as the particular group. The exemplary embodiment may facilitate the subset to be selected based on one, two or three common conditions. The exemplary embodiment may facilitate creation of the content for the two emails. The exemplary embodiment may facilitate by providing a pre-delivery checklist. The exemplary embodiment may facilitate making status information relating to the A email and the B email available. The exemplary embodiment may make a final report relating to the A email and the B email available. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the inventions. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary environment for operation of an exemplary embodiment of the inventions. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the inventions. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4-14  are screen shots of an exemplary embodiment of the inventions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The inventions are described herein with reference to exemplary embodiments, alternative embodiments, and also with reference to the attached drawings. The inventions, however, can be embodied in many different forms and carried out in a variety of ways, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth in this description and/or the drawings. The exemplary embodiments that are described and shown herein are only some of the ways to implement the inventions. Elements and/or actions of the inventions may be assembled, connected, configured, and/or taken in an order different in whole or in part from the descriptions herein. 
         [0015]    For example, the exemplary embodiments presented below refer select a “winning” email between two emails. But other embodiments may select a winning email from more than two emails. Individual actions or elements of these other embodiments may differ in whole or in part from the actions or elements presented herein. 
       Overview—FIG. 1 
       [0016]    Generally stated, the inventions relate to methods and systems for determining a preferred electronic mail message (email), and for sending that preferred email after such determination. For example, the preferred email may be determined between two emails. Particularly, the inventions relate to methods and systems for determining a preferred email for a particular group of recipients by sending the test emails to respective segments of the particular group. For example, two test emails may be sent respectively to two segments of the particular group. The determination of the preferred email may be carried by A/B split testing. Upon determination of the preferred email, it may be sent to the remainder of the particular group. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a flow diagram illustrating an overview of an exemplary method  10  according to the inventions. After a discussion associated with  FIG. 1 , further details are provided below in connection with the other figures including screen shots. 
         [0018]    According to the exemplary method as shown in  FIG. 1 , after start  12 , in action  14  A/B split testing is selected as the process for determining which of two emails is to be sent to recipients designated as a particular group. The two emails are referred to herein as the “A email” and the “B email”. The A email will be sent to a certain percentage of the recipients of the particular group referred to herein as “segment A”. The B email will be sent to a certain percentage of the recipients of the particular group referred to herein as “segment B”. The recipients of the particular group who are not part of either segments A or B are referred to herein as the “remainder of the recipients”. 
         [0019]    In action  16  of  FIG. 1 , information for the A/B split testing is received. The information may include: information differentiating the A email from the B email; the percentage(s) of recipients of the particular group that constitutes respectively segment A and segment B; information on how to determine the preferred email as between the A email and the B email; and when to make the determination as to the preferred email. The received information also may include information on when to send the preferred email to the remainder of the particular group, as well as other information or data. 
         [0020]    In action  18  of  FIG. 1 , the content(s) for the A and B emails is/are received. Generally, this content is the same except for the information differentiating the A email from the B email mentioned above. The content may include a designation of the particular group to whom the A and B emails, and the preferred email are to be sent. The content may include the subject matter of the A and B emails. 
         [0021]    In action  20 , the A emails are sent to segment A of the particular group and the B emails are sent to segment B. In action  22 , the preferred email as between the A and B emails is determined The preferred email may be determined in a manner and at a time previously provided. In action  24 , the preferred email is sent to the remainder of the particular group. The preferred email may be sent automatically upon determination of the preferred email. The preferred email may be sent at a time previously provided. The preferred email is also referred to herein as the “winner” or the “winning email”. The exemplary method ends in action  26 . 
       Exemplary System Overview—FIG. 2 
       [0022]    The inventions may be used in many different environments. An exemplary environment is an email communication system that provides tools for creating electronic mail messages that may be or may include advertising, advice, announcements, campaigns, news, newsletters, reports, solicitations, and/or other information. Such an email communication system also may provide tools for performing related tasks such as content creation, email address list management, email distribution, email tracking and follow-up such as reports and analysis. 
         [0023]    The patent to Ayan, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,002 is entitled a System and Methods for Multilevel Electronic Mail Communication Programs. This patent is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates a general structure of an exemplary email communication system  30  as may be used with the inventions. The “brains” or “smarts” of the system  30  is the controller  32  that may include at least part of the logic as necessary to implement and manage operation of the inventions in the exemplary system  30 . Generally, the controller  32  interfaces with the other elements of the system  30 . The controller  32  may perform a variety of system administration and configuration functions. The controller  32  may configure the system  30  to define a campaign, a marketing program, an advertising plan, or like scheme, and their participants in accordance with the structures of the campaign, program, plan or scheme to be served. 
         [0025]    Other elements of system  30  include the user content manager  34 . It may provide tools that enable a user to create and edit user content. The user content may be stored in the content database  36 . The campaign manager  38  may provide tools that enable a user to create and edit email messages such as may be used in email campaigns. An email campaign is used herein to refer to the process of sending an email (generally the same email) to a particular group of people. The campaign manager  38  interfaces with a campaign distributor  40  that prepares and sends the emails in a campaign to campaign recipients  41  using email addresses stored in address lists of a campaign address database  42 . The campaign address database  42  and the content database  36  may be implemented using a single database system. 
         [0026]    Addresses in the campaign address database  42  may be entered and organized using tools provided by a campaign list manager  44 . Addresses may also be entered into the campaign address database  42  from web page modules  46  that may be placed on program participants&#39; web pages to allow interested parties to subscribe to receive email messages and campaigns on an opt-in basis. 
         [0027]    As noted, the system  30  is an exemplary system. Other configurations for implementation and use of the inventions are possible. 
       Exemplary Embodiment—FIG. 3 and Screen Shots FIGS. 4-14 
       [0028]    An exemplary embodiment  50  according to the inventions is now described with reference to the flow diagram shown in  FIG. 3  and the screen shots labeled as  FIGS. 4-14 . 
         [0029]    In  FIG. 3 , after start  52 , in action  54  the exemplary embodiment  50  may receive an indicator that a user desires to run a campaign by sending an email to recipients. But prior to sending the email, the user desires the email to be chosen based on A/B split testing. The combination of testing between two mails and sending the winning email is referred to herein as an A/B split campaign.  FIG. 4  is a screen shot that includes a button marked “Create A/B Split Campaign” A. A user may provide the indicator that he/she desires to create the campaign by clicking on this button A. 
         [0030]    After receiving the indicator in action  55 , the exemplary embodiment  50  may display or present in action  56  an optional information window on “How A/B Split Works”.  FIG. 5  is a screen shot that includes a window B with the information on “How A/B Split Works”. In another optional action, the user may click on the “Let&#39;s Get Started” button C that is part of the window B to proceed with the A/B split campaign. Thus, in optional action  58  shown in  FIG. 3 , the exemplary embodiment may receive the positive response to “Let&#39;s Get Started”. 
         [0031]      FIG. 3 , action  60  presents the user with options available for conducting the A/B split testing. In this embodiment, these options include denominating the manner in which the emails to be tested are different; choosing the size of the test groups or segments; how to pick a winner or preferred email; and when to pick the winner. Other embodiments may have fewer, more, and/or different options for A/B split testing.  FIG. 6  is a screen shot that illustrates one way in which these options may be presented. 
         [0032]    Difference between emails A and B—In this embodiment, the user may choose to distinguish email A from email B in one of three manners (as indicated by D on the screen shot shown in FIG.  6 )—by each of them having: (1) different subject lines; (2) different “from” names; or (3) different delivery date/times. These are only three examples of possible distinguishing features between the tested emails. Fewer, more, and/or different ways in distinguishing emails may be included in other embodiments according to the inventions. For example, other implementations might allow for testing of dates sent, times sent, completely different content, differing content, etc. 
         [0033]    As shown at D in  FIG. 6 , the user selected “subject lines” as the distinguishing feature between the two emails to be tested. 
         [0034]    Size of Test Segments—In this embodiment, the user may select the size of the test groups or segments to be sent the emails A and B for testing. The size may be selected based on percentage of recipients in the group or otherwise. Advantageously, a sliding bar is provided for the user&#39;s ease in making the size selection as shown at E in  FIG. 6 . In some embodiments, the user may have complete freedom in choosing the size of the test segments, but in others, the user may not have as broad a choice. For example, the size of the test segments may be linked to one or more of the other options for testing. Also, in another embodiment, a user may be able to choose one test segment to be different in size from the other. 
         [0035]    How to Pick Winner—In this embodiment, the user may select how the winner is picked between emails A and B from one of three manners as shown at F of the screen shot labeled  FIG. 7 . The user may choose to have the preferred embodiment be the email that was opened most (the “open rate”), clicked most (the “click rate”), or the user may choose to pick the winner. The time of winner determination also may be selected by the user or provided by the user as indicated at G on the screen shot labeled  FIG. 7 . 
         [0036]    When to Pick Winner—Advantageously, the user may select when one of the emails is selected as the winner as shown at G in the screen shot of  FIG. 7 . The user may indicate the winner is to be selected after 1 day from sending (as shown in  FIG. 7 ), at some other time, or when the user makes the selection, and/or otherwise. 
         [0037]    As indicated by  FIG. 3 , action  62 , the selected options are received by the exemplary embodiment. In action  64 , the exemplary embodiment presents input areas for the selected differentiator(s) between emails A and B.  FIG. 8  illustrates a screen shot at H that shows the user is presented with two different subject lines for the respective emails in this exemplary embodiment. Other embodiments may differ. The user may fill-in the subject lines as he/she desires. In action  66  of  FIG. 3 , the inputs for differentiator(s) for the two emails are received. 
         [0038]    The exemplary embodiment asks the user to select a group of recipients for the A/B campaign as shown in action  68 ,  FIG. 3 . The group may be selected from predefined groups or may be created for this A/B campaign (or otherwise). The exemplary embodiment receives the user&#39;s choice for the group. 
         [0039]    Advantageously, the exemplary embodiment allows the user to choose a subset of recipients from a selected group as the group for the A/B campaign as shown in action  70 ,  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 8  shows a screen shot  6  where the user has selected the list used for the “Good Eat&#39;n Newsletter” (having 766 recipients) for further segmentation. As indicated at I in  FIG. 8 , in this case, the user may narrow the list of recipients based on indicated interests. The user has narrowed the list by including only those who indicated an interest in “pizza” and “vegetarian”. This reduces the list to a group of 584 for the A/B split campaign. Other embodiments may provide additional, other, or fewer choices for reducing a list. Further, the reduction in a list as described in this paragraph may be an optional feature. 
         [0040]    In action  72 ,  FIG. 3 , the exemplary embodiment provides tools for creating the content or subject matter of the emails A and B, and in action  74  receives such created content. In addition or alternatively, the embodiment may accept content as created separately by the user and/or otherwise. An exemplary email with content is shown in the screen shot of  FIG. 10 . Optional actions  76  and  78  as noted in  FIG. 3  may allow the user to select other set up options for the A/B split campaign. 
         [0041]    An advantage of the exemplary embodiment is that as indicated at action  80 ,  FIG. 3 , and shown in the screen shot of  FIG. 11 , a “finish process” may be carried out to make sure that the A/B split campaign is set up as desired for the user.  FIG. 11  shows that an example of such a finish process is the “Pre-delivery checklist” where the options selected by the user are presented. If the details of the A/B split campaign are set as desired by the user, the user may click on “send campaign now” shown at J in  FIG. 3 . Other possibilities such as sending a test, saving a draft, and scheduling delivery are shown in  FIG. 3  and may be implemented by the user. 
         [0042]    By clicking on the “send campaign now”, the user initiates the two step sequence of the exemplary embodiment in sending the A and B emails to respective segments of the group of recipients, and then of sending the winning email to the remainder of the group. Thus, in action  82 ,  FIG. 3 , the A emails are sent to segment A of the group, and B emails are sent to segment B of the group. The exemplary embodiment returns a message to the user such as shown in screen shot of  FIG. 12  with information on the sending of the A and B emails and other details about the A/B split campaign. 
         [0043]    The exemplary embodiment may track the A and B emails based on the characteristic selected by the user for selecting a winning or preferred email and/or other characteristic as indicated by action  84 ,  FIG. 3 . In action  86 , the exemplary embodiment determines the winner between emails A and B as selected by the user and at the time selected by the user. Alternatively, the user may make the selection, and/or otherwise. The exemplary embodiment may keep track of the test recipients receiving the A and B emails so as not to send the test recipients the winning email. 
         [0044]    If the user desires to see the status of the A/B split campaign, the user may check a “dashboard” or summary screen as provided by the exemplary embodiment and shown in the screen shot of  FIG. 13 . The status of the campaign as an “A/B split campaign” is highlighted in the dashboard as shown at K in  FIG. 13 . The icon including the backward slash “\” indicates that the particular campaign is an A/B split campaign. Thus, at a glance, the user may distinguish the A/B split campaign from others. Other ways of providing information on the status of a campaign as it is underway or finished may be provided by other embodiments. 
         [0045]    The exemplary embodiment also provides details regarding the testing conducted during the first part of the A/B split campaign. As shown in the screen shot of  FIG. 14 , details on the testing between the A and B emails may be provided. The B email is declared the winner in this example. 
         [0046]    After the winner has been determined, in action  88 ,  FIG. 3 , the exemplary embodiment sends the B email to the remainder of the recipients in the group of recipients. Other embodiments may vary this practice. In this example, the group for the A/B split campaign included a total of 584 recipients. Of the 118 emails sent as part of the testing action, 59 recipients were sent the A email and 59 recipients were sent the B email. These 118 recipients were randomly chosen from the 584 group of recipients. Alternative embodiments may use methods other than random sampling for selecting the test recipients. 
         [0047]    Once the winner is determined, the second part of the A/B split campaign may be carried out. The winning email is sent to the remaining 466 recipients in this example. Other embodiments may vary this practice. Advantageously, in this example, the user does not have to take any separate action to have the winning email sent out to the remaining recipients. In this embodiment, the winning email is sent out as soon as it is determined In other embodiments, the user may specify the date/time the winning email is to be sent out. In either case, the user does not have to take any other action to have the winning email sent out. It happens automatically. In an embodiment, the user may be provided with the opportunity to stop the winning emails from being sent out. In another embodiment, the user may be provided with the opportunity to change or add to the winning email. In another embodiment, no action regarding the winning (or losing) email may be taken until further input from the user or otherwise. 
         [0048]    An advantage of the exemplary embodiment is that the test recipients who received the A emails and the B emails are not sent the winning email. In other words, the test recipients are not sent duplicate (at least in content) emails. Thus, complaints about spamming and other negatives due to sending duplicate emails are at least minimized if not eliminated. The exemplary embodiment may keep track of the recipients receiving the test emails A and B so that the embodiment does not send the test recipients the winning email. Other embodiments, of course, may differ in this action and/or others. 
         [0049]    As an option, the exemplary embodiment may be made to send the “non-winning” test recipients the winning email. In this option, the recipients who received the A email may be sent the B email. As another option, all test recipients may be made to receive the winning email. In that case, the recipients who received the B email as part of the test will receive a second identical email. 
         [0050]    Optionally, the exemplary embodiment may track the winning emails sent out to the remaining recipients in action  90  of  FIG. 3 , and/or the exemplary embodiment may take other actions or provide other services or opportunities such as providing reports, analysis, etc. regarding the winning emails. The exemplary embodiment ends in action  92 . 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0051]    The exemplary embodiments of the present inventions were chosen and described above in order to explain the principles of the invention and their practical applications so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the inventions including various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular uses contemplated. The examples provided herein are not intended as limitations of the present invention. Other embodiments will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.