Abstract:
A method for monitoring and rewarding website activities based on a point reward system. The method for monitoring and rewarding a website activity includes the steps of creating a plurality of webpage links on the website, allocating a point value to each webpage link, tallying point values by navigating through at least one of the webpage links, the tallying is performed by a computer-readable program.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a method for rewarding the use of website activities. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for rewarding the use of website activities based on a point reward system. 
         [0002]    While visiting a website, publishers attempt to direct users to particular features by highlighting or positioning content prominently. It is common to place on the webpage pictures and videos to further direct the user to click on the particular features. Unfortunately, the advertising methods of the prior art do not provide an incentive to the user for visiting content beyond the homepage, or to participate in social activities, such as discussion forums, or to write opinions on the content of the website. Furthermore, the methods of the prior art do not guide and encourage users to visit preferred features in a graded, differentiated manner. 
         [0003]    As can be seen, there is a need for a method for providing the user with an incentive for visiting content beyond a homepage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring and rewarding a website activity includes the steps of creating a plurality of webpage links on the website, allocating a point value to each webpage link, tallying point values by navigating through at least one of the webpage links, the tallying is performed by a computer-readable program. 
         [0005]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a flowchart of the steps of a method for monitoring and rewarding a website activity based on a point reward system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart which is a continuation of the flowchart of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0009]    Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0010]    Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method for monitoring and rewarding website activities based on a point reward system. 
         [0011]    The term “point values” as used herein refers to any standard system that may allow the user to make a count for getting a score. 
         [0012]      FIGS. 1-2  illustrate a flowchart of the steps of a method  10  for monitoring and rewarding use of a website activity based on a point reward system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method  10  may allocate a point value  11  to every visited webpage link  13  associated with a website  14 . The method  10  may encourage the user to collect as many point values  11  during a given period, in order to receive a reward. 
         [0013]    In step  12 , the user may enter the website  14 . As soon as the user enters the website  14 , a pop-up window or a prominent text  15  may advise the user to register and to navigate the website as a registered user. 
         [0014]    In step  16 , the user may select to either log in  18  or register  20 . If the user already has an account, the user may select logging in  18 . If the user does not have an account, the user may select registering  20 . 
         [0015]    In step  18 , the user may enter his/her username and password to enter the website in order to collect point values  11 . Once the user is logged in, the website may pop up a screen containing the user&#39;s information along with the status of his/her reward points. The user may check the amount of previous points collected, points collected in current activity, and the total points to date. The user may then continue with step  22 . 
         [0016]    Users who choose not to register, or registered users who fail to log in, may visit the site by entering directly to step  22 —navigating the webpage, but the user may not earn points associated with their website activities. 
         [0017]    In step  20 , the user may register by creating an account. To create the account, the user may enter his/her email address; choose a username, and password. In step  20 , the user may be advised about the rules and advantages of tallying the highest number of point values  11  during a time period according to the method  10 . The user may then continue with step  22 . The time period may be, for example, a week, two weeks, or a month. 
         [0018]    In step  22 , the user may navigate pages of the different webpage links  13  on the website  14 , while tallying point values  11 . As the user may proceed to navigate the webpage links  13 , software may monitor and summarize the user&#39;s activities and tallied points. The software may be a commercially available software module that may allow ascribing and summing point values to each registered user based on their activities on the website  14 . 
         [0019]    The total point value  11  earned during the each section may be added to the total points of previous sessions. The user may observe the total points earned by looking at the homepage of the website  14 . 
         [0020]    The point values  11  may depend on the type of activity performed during the visit to the website links  13 . The activity may be selected from registrations, reading articles, clicking on advertisement banners, participating in discussion forums, surveys, polls, answering trivia questions, reviewing products, commenting on online content, or uploading media such as music, pictures, and videos. The number of point values  11  earned on each activity may be determined by the website. The website may include, next to each webpage link  13 , the amount of point values  11  that may be earn on each activity. 
         [0021]    The user may not obtain additional point values  11  for activities previously performed within a time period. However, participating in discussion forums, product reviews, blogs, and comments directed to the content of the website, if different from original participation, may be rewarded as often as those comments/participations occur. 
         [0022]    The user may obtain the number of tallied point values  11  during a time period. The reward may be promotional gifts, prizes, discount coupons, or air travel mileages. Registered users achieving the highest number of points over a given time period may be eligible to receive rewards. Winners may be notified via email and their identity may be disclosed on the website, if the user grants permission. 
         [0023]    The method  10  may be used in restaurants, supermarkets, travel industries, or online shopping. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, the method  10  may enable publishers to direct users to engage in activities (discussions, opinions, reviews), that otherwise would not necessarily be perceived as “valuable”. 
         [0025]    The user may also earn point values  11  engaging in social activities. 
         [0026]    The method  10  may stimulate existing users to visit the website more often and stay longer, enhancing the marketability of the website to advertisers. In addition, the method  10  may attract new users to the website. 
         [0027]    The method  10  may facilitate dynamic reassessment and change to the point values  11 . Specifically, if the feature may ascribe relatively high point values  11  and may be poorly received by the users, the point values  11  may be adjusted accordingly. In addition, if a feature having a low point values  11 , but may be visited frequently by users, may allow the point value  11  to be adjusted accordingly. 
         [0028]    In the step  24 , the registered users may leave the website either by retaining their login status or by logging out. If the user remains logged in, upon revisiting website, he/she may continually earn points for additional activities. 
         [0029]    However, depiction of points for activities associated with the lowest point value, including but not limited to low importance articles, visiting customer service, frequently asked questions, and “About Us” pages could be omitted in order to avoid repetition. 
         [0030]    The point values  11  may be replaced by a standard reward system. In some embodiments, the point values  11  may be replaced with an asterisk (*, **, ***, . . . *****) or stars. 
         [0031]    In some embodiments, the user may be provided with the information about the point system information prior to the step of registering  20 . 
         [0032]    If the user temporarily leaves the website, the user may not have to log in again. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, a new user may obtain information about the method  10  prior to the step  16  of registering. 
         [0034]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.