Collaborative linking system with bi-directed variable granularity search engine

A computer implemented method allowing a provider to initiate and manage a promotional campaign in a geography based collaborative linking system including one or more geographic content servers and databases for linking consumers and providers, the method comprising:

• (a) providing an interface configured to receive provider information including at least one geographic preference and provider keyword data;
• (b) mapping said provider keyword data into one or more of the geographic content servers and databases of the collaborative linking system responsive to said at least one geographic preference, said geographic content servers and databases being searchable by consumers;
• (c) collecting consumer search activity including keyword hits;
• and
• (d) modifying said provider defined keywords in response to said logged consumer search activity.

A geography based collaboratve linking system comprising:

• a provider interface configured to receive from a provider of goods and services provider information including at least one geographic preference and keyword data;
• one or more geographic content servers and associated content databases in communication with the provider interface, said one or more geographic content servers and associated content databases configured to map thereon the received provider keyword data;
• a consumer interface in communication with the one or more geographic content servers and associated content databases, said consumer interface configured to receive search requests for goods and services associated with a user defined geographic point of interest and to return search results obtained from the mapped provider data within a geographic region related to the user-defined geographic point of interest;
• and
• an activity logger configured to record consumer search activity related to use of the collaborative linking system, wherein the provider selectively updates provider keyword data through the provider interface in response to logged consumer search activity, thereby allowing the provider to manage a promotion through section of keywords.

A computer implemented method in a geography based collaborative linking system allowing a provider of goods and services to initiate and manage a promotional campaign, the method comprising:

• receiving from the provider at least one geographic preference and promotional information;
• mapping said promotional information into one or more geographic content servers and associated databases of the geography based collaborative linking system according to the at least one geographic preference;
• receiving from a consumer geographic point of interest and a search request for goods and services associated with the geographic point of interest;
• and
• selectively forwarding said promotional information from at a one of said geographic content servers and associated databases to said consumer as function of said geographic point of interest and said search request.

A method for providing a consumer with an opt-in service to manage receipt of commercial e-mail messages, comprising:

• receiving by a traffic manager a consumer's buying preference;
• anonymously storing by the traffic manager the received consumer's buying preference, such that the stored consumer's buying preference is not known to an advertiser;
• receiving by the traffic manager an e-mail offer message from the advertiser;
• and
• selectively forwarding by the traffic manager to the consumer a commercial e-mail message responsive to the consumer's stored buying preference, the commercial e-mail message including at least a portion of the advertiser's e-mail offer message,
• wherein receipt by the consumer of the commercial e-mail message is manageable by the consumer's buying preference.