# US 2013/0159071 A1 · Method for connecting customers and businesses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0159071 A1 - Document ID: US20130159071A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/325,830 - Filed: 2011-12-14 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-14 - Assignees: Daily Referral, LLC - Inventors: Shawn G. Inks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130159071A1 ## CPC - G06Q 30/0601: Electronic shopping [e-shopping] - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract According to one aspect of the present invention, a new and improved method for marketing to customers and businesses may comprise the steps of providing a platform on a global computer network for buying and selling of a good and/or service; providing a business, the business selectively offering the good and/or service at a first price, wherein the good and/or service are available for sale outside of the platform at a second price, wherein the first price is less than the second price; and sending a communication from the business via the platform to the customer for the good and/or service at the first price. The customer selects its interests to receive offers from businesses they prefer. The business uses the tools necessary via the platform to market its products or services directly to customers, who have selected preferences or interests that fall into their category. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for marketing to customers and businesses, comprising the steps of: providing a platform on a global computer network for buying and selling of a good and/or service; providing a business, said business selectively offering said good and/or service at a first price, wherein said good and/or service are available for sale outside of said platform at a second price, wherein said first price is less than said second price; providing a customer having an account with said platform, said customer desiring to receive said good and/or service from said business at said first price; and sending a communication from said business via said platform to said customer for said goods and/or services at said first price. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprises the step of: personalizing at least one interest on said platform by said customer, wherein said communication sent to said customer is related to said one interest. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein said step of sending a communication from said business to said customer for said goods and/or services at said first price is based from the group comprising answers to customer questionnaires, demographic data, previous purchasing habits, or selected interests. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a customer having an account with said platform, further comprises the step of: selecting categories of interest. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein said step of selecting categories of interest, further comprises the step of: selectively choosing geographic locations for said categories of interest. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a customer having an account with said platform, further comprises the step of: following activity of said business. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a customer having an account with said platform, further comprises the step of: creating a wish list, wherein said wish list is viewable by a third party. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: purchasing items via said platform from said wish list by said third party. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said business creates a storefront. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said storefront comprises updates about said business. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said updates comprise events, news, notifications and said offering of said good and/or service. ### Claim 12 A method for connecting a customer and a business, comprising the steps of: providing a platform on a global computer network for connecting said customer and said business; said business creating a storefront and selectively posting informational data about said business on said storefront; said customer selecting to receive informational data about said business; said platform accumulating informational data posted by said business; sending a communication to said customer for said informational data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said informational data is comprises old informational data and new informational data, wherein said step of sending said communication to said customer for said informational data is only said new informational data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said business is a generic business type. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said business is a specific business having an operating address. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said informational data further comprises a good and/or service at a first price, wherein said good and/or service is available for sale outside of said platform at a second price, wherein said first price is less than said second price; ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said informational data comprises updates including events, news, notifications and said offerings of said good and/or service. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: personalizing at least one interest on said platform by said customer, wherein said communication sent to said customer is related to said one interest. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said step of sending a said customer for said informational data is based from the group comprising answers to customer questionnaires, demographic data, previous purchasing habits, or selected interests. ### Claim 20 A method for connecting a customer and a business, comprising the steps of: providing a platform on a global computer network for connecting said customer and said business; said business creating a storefront and selectively posting new informational data and historical information about said business on said storefront, said new and said historical informational data comprising; a good and/or service at a first price, wherein said good and/or service is available for sale outside of said platform at a second price, wherein said first price is less than said second price; and updates including events, news, and notifications; said customer selecting to receive informational data about said business; said platform accumulating informational data posted by said business; sending a communication to said customer for said new informational data, wherein said communication sent to said customer is based from the group comprising customer's answers to customer questionnaires, demographic data, previous purchasing habits, or selected interests.