Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may include providing a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of content generators for providing content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include providing a first content generator of the plurality of content generators with a set of selection parameters, and receiving a first bid for one of the plurality of content slots from the first content generator. The first content generator may determine the bid based at least in part on the set of selection parameters.

Abstract: A promotion offering system and method is disclosed. The promotion offering system and method selects consumers for a test promotion that has one or more attributes, and is configured to generate test data for multiple consumer groupings. The promotion offering system and method may use the test data in analyzing whether to send a promotion to a consumer. For example, the promotion offering system and method may use one algorithm to generate a list of ranked promotions, and may use the test data in order to adjust the list of ranked promotions (such as replacing a highest ranked promotion with another promotion).

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for managing electronic promotion correspondence sent to consumers. A system may manage electronic promotion correspondence sent on a per-consumer basis. The system may access multiple electronic promotion correspondences generated for a particular consumer, select an electronic promotion correspondence from among the multiple electronic promotion correspondences, and determine to send the electronic promotion correspondence to the consumer according to any number of factors. The system may determine a target time to send the first electronic promotion correspondence to the consumer and selected communication channel to send the electronic promotion correspondence through.

Abstract: Electronic correspondence that includes one or more promotions may be generated for presenting to a consumer. In order to determine whether to present the electronic correspondence to the consumer, the promotions included in the electronic correspondences may be analyzed in terms of a probability the consumer will accept the promotions, a relevance level between the promotions and attributes of the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and a set of goals or rules, among other similar terms. After the analysis, a determination may be made whether to send the electronic correspondence to the consumer. Similarly, the analysis may compare multiple electronic correspondences, and determine, based on the comparison, which of the multiple electronic correspondences to send to the consumer.

Abstract: A system and method for throttling communications with consumer devices is disclosed. The consumer devices are associated with consumers and consumers are associated with preferred types of electronic correspondence. The system and method transmits to a first set of the consumer devices a first electronic correspondence including a deal from a deal program comprising an offer and an expiration date. The system and method receive responses to the first electronic correspondence and based on the responses and expiration of outstanding offers at the expiration date generates an indicator used to determine to communicate with one or more additional consumers through their consumer devices. The system and method generate additional electronic correspondence of the preferred type and transmit the additional electronic correspondence to the additional consumers. In this way, additional electronic correspondence may be throttled upward or downward.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for managing electronic promotion correspondence sent to consumers. A system may manage electronic promotion correspondence sent on a per-consumer basis. The system may access multiple electronic promotion correspondences generated for a particular consumer, select an electronic promotion correspondence from among the multiple electronic promotion correspondences, and determine to send the electronic promotion correspondence to the consumer according to any number of factors. The system may determine a target time to send the first electronic promotion correspondence to the consumer and selected communication channel to send the electronic promotion correspondence through.

Abstract: A promotion program analytical system and method is disclosed. The promotion program analytical system and method selects a promotion program to offer to a consumer. Selection of the promotion program to present to the consumer includes determining a probability that the consumer will accept the promotion program. The probability of acceptance may be determined based on past performance data of similar promotion programs, and also past performance data on the promotion program itself when it is available.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may provide a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content, the content comprising at least one of promotion content or non-promotion content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators for respectively supplying corresponding promotion content or non-promotion content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include determining selection parameters, and scoring the plurality of promotion content generators and non-promotion content generators based at least in part on the selection parameters.

Abstract: A promotion program analytical system and method is disclosed. The promotion program analytical system and method selects a promotion program to offer to a consumer. Selection of the promotion program to present to the consumer includes determining a probability that the consumer will accept the promotion program. The probability of acceptance may be determined based on past performance data of similar promotion programs, and also past performance data on the promotion program itself when it is available.

Abstract: Electronic correspondence that includes one or more promotions may be generated for presenting to a consumer. In order to determine whether to present the electronic correspondence to the consumer, the promotions included in the electronic correspondences may be analyzed in terms of a probability the consumer will accept the promotions, a relevance level between the promotions and attributes of the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and a set of goals or rules, among other similar terms. After the analysis, a determination may be made whether to send the electronic correspondence to the consumer. Similarly, the analysis may compare multiple electronic correspondences, and determine, based on the comparison, which of the multiple electronic correspondences to send to the consumer.

Abstract: A sales enhancement system and method is disclosed. The sales enhancement system is configured to use one or more deal program collections, which are groupings or compilations of deal programs. The sales enhancement system manages deal programs in the deal program collections at various stages of use including: associating a deal program with multiple deal program collections; determining the number of deals to assign to the different deal programs; using triggers to select which deal program collections to access; transmitting an offer for a deal; and processing acceptances of the offers.

Abstract: A deal program life cycle system and method is disclosed. The deal program life cycle may oversee the issuance of deals from a deal program to consumers over the life cycle of the deal program. One or more aspects of the deal program may change during different periods of the life cycle of the deal program. For example, the deal program may include deal features, a number of units for deals, and relevance features for the deal program. The deal features, number of units of deals, and/or relevance features for the deal program may change during the different periods of the life cycle.

Abstract: In a promotion offering system, a promotion offering may be presented to a consumer on more than one occasion. The previous presentation of the promotion to the consumer may affect a subsequent presentation of the same promotion to the same consumer. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for analyzing the effect a previous presentation of a promotion may have on a consumer when the promotion is presented to the consumer at a subsequent time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for managing the cadence (e.g., frequency or rate) that electronic promotion correspondence is sent to a consumer. A system may access a target cadence indicator associated with a consumer that indicates of a target rate for sending electronic promotion correspondence to the consumer. The system may also determine an actual cadence indicator for the consumer over a predetermined period of time and analyze a potential electronic promotion correspondence for sending to the consumer. The system determines whether to send the electronic correspondence to the consumer based on the target cadence indicator, the actual cadence indicator, and the analysis of the electronic promotion correspondence.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to improve generation of electronic communications. The method may include providing a plurality of content slots each configured to receive content. The method may also include maintaining a database comprising a plurality of content generators, and determining, using a processor, one of the plurality of content generators for providing content to each of the plurality of content slots. The determining the one of the plurality of promotion content generators or non-promotion content generators may include providing a first content generator of the plurality of content generators with a set of selection parameters, and receiving a first bid for one of the plurality of content slots from the first content generator. The first content generator may determine the bid based at least in part on the set of selection parameters.

Abstract: In a promotion offering system, a promotion offering may be presented to a consumer on more than one occasion. The previous presentation of the promotion to the consumer may affect a subsequent presentation of the same promotion to the same consumer. The present invention provides an apparatus and method for analyzing the effect a previous presentation of a promotion may have on a consumer when the promotion is presented to the consumer at a subsequent time.

Abstract: A sales enhancement system and method is disclosed. The sales enhancement system is configured to use one or more deal program collections, which are groupings or compilations of deal programs. The sales enhancement system manages deal programs in the deal program collections at various stages of use including: associating a deal program with multiple deal program collections; determining the number of deals to assign to the different deal programs; using triggers to select which deal program collections to access; transmitting an offer for a deal; and processing acceptances of the offers.

Abstract: A deal program life cycle system and method is disclosed. The deal program life cycle may oversee the issuance of deals from a deal program to consumers over the life cycle of the deal program. One or more aspects of the deal program may change during different periods of the life cycle of the deal program. For example, the deal program may include deal features, a number of units for deals, and relevance features for the deal program. The deal features, number of units of deals, and/or relevance features for the deal program may change during the different periods of the life cycle.

Abstract: Electronic correspondence that includes one or more promotions may be generated for presenting to a consumer. In order to determine whether to present the electronic correspondence to the consumer, the promotions included in the electronic correspondences may be analyzed in terms of a probability the consumer will accept the promotions, a relevance level between the promotions and attributes of the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and the consumer, a relevance level between the promotions and a set of goals or rules, among other similar terms. After the analysis, a determination may be made whether to send the electronic correspondence to the consumer. Similarly, the analysis may compare multiple electronic correspondences, and determine, based on the comparison, which of the multiple electronic correspondences to send to the consumer.