System and method for attracting online viewers through distribution of hidden-award substrates redeemable at an online site

The method of claim I further comprising the steps of:

• creating a predetermined award schedule that determines when the awards corresponding to hidden images in the substrates change;
• providing the predetermined award schedule to recipients of the substrates;
• and
• providing a revealing screen that reveals an award associated with a substrate according to the predetermined award schedule to thereby attract the user back to the online site participant.

A method for encouraging input of visitor information at an online site comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one revealing screen from that online site that reveals one or more awards when a user places a hidden-image substrate in front of the revealing screen;
• and
• providing a visitor information input page to the user;
• and
• receiving input of specified visitor information prior to enabling the user to visit one or more protected screens at the online site.

A system for attracting visitors to an online site through offline distribution avenues comprising:

• distribution means for distributing a plurality of substrates, wherein each substrate comprises a unique account number and at least one hidden image;
• directing means for directing recipients of the substrates to one or more online site participants;
• one or more online site participants that provide at least one revealing screen that reveals one or more awards from the hidden image when the one or more hidden images are placed in front of the revealing screen;
• and
• account number accepting means for accepting recipient information including at least the unique account number of the substrate.

A server system for encouraging input of visitor information from visitors to that server system that receive files from the server system over the Internet comprising:

• visitor information input means for interacting with a visitor to receive visitor information from the user;
• and
• revealing screen means, interacting with the visitor information input means, for presenting at least one revealing screen to the visitor that reveals one or more awards;
• and
• screen control means for limiting a visitor's access to specified content of the server system until the visitor information has been received.