Lead distribution system

Abstract

A method is disclosed for generating a sales referral over the Internet for the sale of an asset. A first and second salesperson is provided with an account that comprises a number of clicks and a first period during which the clicks will be delivered. A click comprises an assignment on a web site of linking information corresponding to a saleperson's web site. A consumer who activates the click is transferred to a web site of the salesperson, and the click is debited from the salesperson's account.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method of providing sales leads comprising a processor for:
 (a) the processor, assigning a specific number of clicks to each of a plurality of sales entities each desirous of selling an asset, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer selecting at least one characteristic of the asset on a first web page to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the at least one characteristic, wherein the first web page is generated by a server and displayed on a display device; 
 (b) the processor, determining which sales entity is to be associated with a click based at least in part on the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity; 
 (c) the processor, associating a first browser session with linking information associated with one of the sales entities in accordance with the determination in step (b) in response to a click; 
 (d) the processor, debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the first browser session; 
 (e) the processor, associating a second browser session with linking information associated with one of the sales entities in response to a click in accordance with the determination in step (b); and 
 (f) the processor, debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the second browser session. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sales entity is one of a person and a business organization. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying at least a portion of the first web page within the first browser session. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographic location of the asset. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range of the asset. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the asset is one of real estate or a vehicle. 
     
     
       7. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of generating a sales lead over a communications network comprising:
 (a) generating a web page comprising a selectable characteristic of an asset using a first web server; 
 (b) assigning each of a plurality of sales entities with a specific number of clicks, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer using an input device to select the characteristic to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the characteristic; 
 (c) determining an order in which each sales entity is to be associated with the click; 
 (d) operating the server to associate one of the plurality of sales entities with the click according to step (c); 
 (e) transferring, upon detecting the click, the potential buyer into a first browser session sponsored by a first sales entity, wherein a sales lead is provided to the sales entity associated with the click when the potential buyer selects the characteristic; 
 (f) debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the first browser session; and 
 (g) associating a different sales entity with the click, according to the order determined in step (c). 
 
     
     
       8. The computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising operating the web server to generate a report, the report comprising a current number of clicks available to each sales entity and a remaining time period during which the current number of clicks will be available. 
     
     
       9. The computer readable medium of  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting an inquiry from the potential buyer regarding the asset to the sales entity over the communications network. 
     
     
       10. The computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographic location of the assets. 
     
     
       11. The computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range of the asset. 
     
     
       12. The method computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the communications network is the Internet. 
     
     
       13. The computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the asset is real estate. 
     
     
       14. The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sales entities are real estate agents. 
     
     
       15. The method computer readable medium of  14 , wherein the plurality of sales entities are participants in a multiple listing service. 
     
     
       16. The computer readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein the asset is a vehicle. 
     
     
       17. A system for providing sales leads for the sale of an asset comprising:
 a first web page accessible over a communications network; 
 a file comprising a specific number of clicks purchased by each of a plurality of sales entities, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer selecting a characteristic of the asset displayed on the first web page to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the characteristic; and 
 a processor operably connected to the communications network, wherein the processor generates the first web page, associates each sales entity with the click only for the number of clicks purchased by that entity, causes to be displayed on a display device a second web page that is part of the browser session and is associated with one of the sales entities in response to the potential buyer selecting the characteristic, causes to be displayed on the display device a third web page that is part of the browser session and is associated with the same sales entity that is associated with the second web page, and debits a click from the same sales entity. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor decrements the number of clicks assigned to the sales entity associated with the click each time a potential buyer selects the characteristic. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a report comprising a current number of clicks available to each sales entity and a remaining time period during which the clicks will be available. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor associates only one sales entity with the characteristic at any given time. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the processor causes at least a portion of the first web page to be displayed on the display device within the second web page. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographic location of the asset. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range of the asset. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the asset is real estate. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the sales entities are real estate agents. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the communications network is the Internet. 
     
     
       27. A method of providing sales leads in a communications network used by consumers to obtain information associated with one or more real estate listings in a geographic area, each real estate listing having a corresponding hyperlink comprising a processor for:
 (a) the processor, assigning a specific number of clicks to each of a plurality of sales entities associated with the network, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer selecting at least one characteristic of a real estate listing on a first web page to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the at least one characteristic; 
 (b) the processor, determining an ordered list comprising the clicks for the sales entities, the ordered list identifying a sequence in which the clicks are to be associated with each sales entity; 
 (c) the processor, in response to a first consumer selecting the at least one characteristic on the first web page, presenting to the first consumer real estate information corresponding to the at least one characteristic within a series of web pages that define a first browser session, wherein the first browser session is associated with a first sales entity in accordance with the sequence; and 
 (d) the processor, debiting a click from the first sales entity. 
 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 (d) the processor, removing from the ordered list one of the clicks assigned to the first sales entity. 
 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 27  further comprising:
 (d) the processor, determining a new ordered list in response to a change in the geographic area. 
 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 27  wherein the ordered list is defined based on the geographic area. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 27  wherein the geographic area is defined by a zip code. 
     
     
       32. A method of determining a manner in which an internet based server dynamically and selectively causes an internet enabled user device to display information concerning sales entities desirous of selling an asset, so as to provides sales leads to the sales entities, wherein, in response to electronic selection of a characteristic of an asset by a potential buyer on a host web site hosted by the server, via the internet enabled device, the potential buyer is electronically presented with information concerning a sales entity, the method comprising, via the processor:
 (a) electronically assigning a specific number of clicks to each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer electronically selecting, via the host web site, at least one characteristic of the asset on a first web page of the host web site, the number of clicks assigned being determined by the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, to thereby place the potential buyer into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages and based on the at least one characteristic, wherein the first web page is generated by the server and displayed on a display of the internet enabled user device;   (b) electronically determining which of the sales entities to associate with a click based at least in part on the number of clicks purchased by each sales entity;   (c) associating a first browser session with linking information associated with one of the sales entities in accordance with the determination in step (b) in response to a click;   (d) causing to be displayed on the internet enabled user device the sales entity information associated with the linking information obtained in (c);   (e) debiting a click from the sales entity associated with the first browser session;   (f) associating a second browser session with linking information associated with one of the sales entities in accordance with the determination in step (b) in response to a click;   (g) causing to be displayed on the internet enabled user device the sales entity information associated with the linking information obtained in (f);   (h) debiting a click from the sales entity that is associated with the second browser session.    
     
     
       33. The method of claim 32 wherein the sales entity information is caused to be displayed on the internet enabled user device with a page of the host web site.  
     
     
       34. The method of claim 32 wherein a page of the host web site is caused to be displayed on the internet enabled user device as a frame with the sales entity information.  
     
     
       35. The method of claim 32 wherein a page of the host web site is caused to be displayed on the internet enabled user device as a frame with a website of the sales entity.  
     
     
       36. The method of claim 32 wherein the sales entity information is caused to be displayed and visible on the internet enabled user device together and simultaneously with a page of the host web site.  
     
     
       37. The method of claim 32 wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographical location.  
     
     
       38. The method of claim 32 wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range.  
     
     
       39. The method of claim 32 wherein the asset is one of real estate or a vehicle.  
     
     
       40. An internet based system for dynamically and selectively causing an internet enabled user device to display information concerning sales entities desirous of selling an asset, so as to provides leads to the sales entities for selling the asset, wherein the asset and at least one electronically selectable characteristic of the asset are listed on a host web site for display on an internet enabled user device, and, in response to electronic selection of a characteristic of the asset by a potential buyer using an internet enabled user device, the potential buyer is electronically presented via the internet enabled user device with information concerning a sales entity, comprising:
 a) a server including a processor operably connected to the internet;   b) a file comprising data indicative of a specific number of clicks purchased by each of the sales entities, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer electronically selecting a characteristic of the asset via the internet enabled user device;   d) a computer readable medium having instructions executable by the processor for electronically associating a specific click to a sales entity based upon the data in the file only for the number of clicks purchased by that sales entity, and, in response to a click on a first web page of the host website, causing the potential buyer, via the internet enabled user device, and based on the selected characteristic, to be placed into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages, wherein, as part of the browser session, the instructions:   (i) cause to be displayed on the internet enabled user device a second web page associated with one of the sales entities;   (ii) cause to be displayed on the user internet enabled user device a third page associated with the same sales entity as associated with the second web page; and,   (iii) debit from the sales entity associated with the first and second web pages a click from the number of clicks purchased by that sales entity.    
     
     
       41. The system of claim 40 further comprising instructions for causing the sales entity information to be displayed on the internet enabled user device with a page of the host web site.  
     
     
       42. The system of claim 40 further comprising instructions for causing the host web site to be displayed on the internet enabled user device as a frame with the sales entity information.  
     
     
       43. The system of claim 40 further comprising instructions for causing a page of the host web site to be displayed on the internet enabled user device as a frame with a website of the sales entity.  
     
     
       44. The system of claim 40 further comprising instructions for causing the sales entity information to be displayed on the internet enabled user device together and simultaneously with a page of the host web site.  
     
     
       45. The system of claim 40 wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographical location.  
     
     
       46. The system of claim 40 wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range.  
     
     
       47. The system of claim 40 wherein the asset is one of real estate or a vehicle.  
     
     
       48. The system of claim 40 wherein the instructions decrement the number of clicks associated with a sales entity each time there is an actual click.  
     
     
       49. An internet based system for presenting an asset for sale, and for providing leads to sales entities for selling the asset, such that different ones of the sales entities are dynamically presented, via an internet enabled user device, to potential buyers of the asset upon different presentations of the asset, and for a number times assigned to each sales entity, wherein the asset and at least one electronically selectable characteristic of the asset are listed on a database backed host web site for display on the internet enabled user device, and, in response to electronic selection of a characteristic of the asset by a potential buyer using an internet enabled user device, the potential buyer is electronically presented, via the internet enabled user device, with information concerning a sales entity then assigned to the asset, comprising:
 a) a server including a processor operably connected to the internet and in communication with the database;   b) a file in the database comprising data indicative of a specific number of clicks purchased by each of the sales entities, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer electronically selecting a characteristic of the asset via the internet enabled user device;   d) a computer readable medium having instructions executable by the processor for electronically assigning a specific click to a sales entity based upon the data in the file only for the number of clicks purchased by that sales entity, and, in response to a click on a first web page of the host website, causing the potential buyer, via the internet enabled user internet device, and based on the selected characteristic, to be placed into a browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages, wherein, as part of the browser session, the instructions:   (i) cause to be displayed on the internet enabled user device a second web page associated with one of the sales entities;   (ii) cause to be displayed on the internet enabled user device a third page associated with the same sales entity as associated with the second web page; and,   (iii) debit from the sales entity associated with the first and second web pages a click from the number of clicks purchased by that sales entity.    
     
     
       50. The system of claim 49 further comprising instructions for causing the sales entity information to be displayed on the internet enabled user device with a page of the host web site.  
     
     
       51. The system of claim 49 further comprising instructions for causing the host web site to be displayed on the internet enabled user device as a frame with the sales entity information.  
     
     
       52. The system of claim 49 further comprising instructions for causing a page of the host web site to be displayed on the internet enabled user device as a frame with a website of the sales entity.  
     
     
       53. The system of claim 49 further comprising instructions for causing the sales entity information to be displayed on the internet enabled user device together and simultaneously with a page of the host web site.  
     
     
       54. The system of claim 49 wherein the characteristic of the asset is a geographical location.  
     
     
       55. The system of claim 49 wherein the characteristic of the asset is a price range.  
     
     
       56. The system of claim 49 wherein the asset is one of real estate or a vehicle.  
     
     
       57. The system of claim 49 wherein the instructions decrement the number of clicks associated with a sales entity each time there is an actual click.  
     
     
       58. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for causing a host web server to present via a web page an asset for sale on an internet enabled user device, so as to provide leads to sales entities for selling the asset, such that different ones of the sales entities are dynamically presented, via the internet enabled user device, to potential buyers of the asset upon different presentations of the asset, and for a number times assigned to each sales entity, wherein the asset and at least one electronically selectable characteristic of the asset are listed on a database in communication with the host web site for display on the internet enabled user device, and, in response to electronic selection of a characteristic of the asset by a potential buyer using an internet enabled user device, the potential buyer is electronically presented, via the internet enabled user device, with information concerning a sales entity then assigned to the asset, comprising instructions for:
 a) assigning each sales entity a specific number of clicks, the number of clicks assigned being determined by a number of clicks purchased by each sales entity, wherein a click corresponds to an occurrence of a potential buyer electronically selecting a characteristic of the asset via the internet enabled user device;   b) in response to a click, causing the potential buyer, via the internet enabled user internet device, and based on the selected characteristic, to be placed into a first browser session comprising a plurality of related web pages;   c) determining an order in which sales entities are to be assigned clicks;   d) assigning a sales entity to a click based on (c);   e) in response to a click, placing the potential buyer into a second browser session that presents to the potential buyer, via the internet enabled user device, information concerning the asset and the sales agent that has been assigned to the click, so as to provide a sales lead to the so identified sales entity;   f) debiting a click from the number of clicks assigned to the sales entity identified in (e);   (g) in response to a subsequent click, presenting a different sales entity based on (c); and,   (h) no longer presenting a particular sales entity in response to clicks when the number of clicks assigned to that particular sales entity has reached zero.