Social media distribution channels

Abstract

A system is disclosed for allowing a merchant to create offers for distribution via multiple distribution channels. The distribution channels may include social media networks and location based services. The method may include receiving offer parameters for generating the offer, generating offer data based on the offer parameters and merchant transaction data, and determining data subsets of the offer data for distribution through multiple electronic distribution channels. The systems and methods may include associating a transaction account of the account holder with the offer, monitoring a transaction of the transaction account, comparing with a criterion governing the offer, and generating a report for the merchant. The report may include various metrics of the offer, such as return on investment, tracking information on the number of repeat customers and new customers during an offer period, and may occur approximately real-time with the transaction.

1 . A method comprising:
 linking, by a computer-based system, a first social media channel with a merchant campaign application;   generating, by the computer-based system, an offer based on offer parameters and merchant transaction data;   creating, by the computer-based system, an opt-in criteria for the offer based on the first social media channel;   formatting, by the computer-based system, the offer for distribution through the social media channel based on a formatting protocol for the social media channel,   wherein the formatting protocol is customized for and defined by parameters of the first social media channel, and   wherein the offer includes the opt-in criteria as a point of interaction with the offer;   obtaining, by the computer-based system, transaction data of one or more transactions at the merchant from a third-party institution, wherein the transaction data corresponds to account holder data;   comparing, by the computer-based system, the one or more transactions with a criterion governing the offer; and   generating, by the computer-based system, a report based on the one or more transactions and account holder data for the social media channel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the report is a portion of a merchant report. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 storing, by the computer-based system, data sets of the offer parameters in a database as ungrouped data elements formatted as a block of binary (BLOB) via a fixed memory offset;   partitioning, by the computer-based system and using a key field, the database according to a class of objects defined by the key field to speed searching for the offer parameters;   linking, by the computer-based system, data tables based on the type of data in the key fields;   annotating, by the computer-based system, the data sets to include security information establishing access levels; and   obtaining, by the computer-based system, the offer parameters from the database.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, a selection of a merchant location for redemption of the offer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the social media channel is configured to broadcast text and images. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, a selection of the criterion governing the offer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account holder is selected based on account history of the account holder, and wherein the account history comprises at least one of prior transaction data, loyalty points, reward points, location of prior transactions, past purchases, transaction amount, transaction volume, or account status. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the account holder is selected based on at least one of demographics or a location of the account holder. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining, by the computer-based system, a location of the account holder based upon at least one of a zip code, a GPS signal, a location signal or a submitted location by the account holder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reporting information in the report includes at least one of number of the offers transmitted, number of the offers accepted, number of the offers redeemed, total value of the redeemed offers, average size of the transaction involving the offer, or rate of the offer redemption. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reporting information in the report includes a return on investment, wherein the return on investment is based on a comparison of first transactions during an offer period and second transactions during a non-offer period. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reporting information in the report includes non-transaction information, and wherein the non-transaction information includes at least one of demographic information of the account holder or social media indicators. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of modifying the marketing campaign or generating a second offer based on reporting information in the report. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the computer-based system, the report to an entity that provides the offer parameters. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising presenting, by the computer-based system, a marketing campaign application via a graphical user interface, wherein the marketing campaign application is configured to present a plurality of selectable social media channels. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising requesting, by the computer-based system and by the merchant campaign application, authentication information for the social media channel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the linking is in response to receiving, via the marketing campaign application, a selection of the social media channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the computer-based system, the offer parameters for generating the offer associated with the merchant. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising formatting, by the computer-based system, the offer for distribution through a second social media channel based on a second formatting protocol for the second social media channel, wherein the second formatting protocol is customized for and defined by parameters of the second social media channel. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-based system comprising:
 a processor configured for generating an offer,   a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor,   the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:   linking, by the processor, a first social media channel with a merchant campaign application;   generating, by the processor, an offer based on offer parameters and merchant transaction data;   creating, by the processor, an opt-in criteria for the offer based on the first social media channel;   formatting, by the processor, the offer for distribution through the social media channel based on a formatting protocol for the social media channel,   wherein the formatting protocol is customized for and defined by parameters of the first social media channel, and   wherein the offer includes the opt-in criteria as a point of interaction with the offer;   obtaining, by the processor, transaction data of one or more transactions at the merchant from a third-party institution, wherein the transaction data corresponds to account holder data;   comparing, by the processor, the one or more transactions with a criterion governing the offer; and   generating, by the processor, a first report based on the one or more transactions and account holder data for the social media channel.