Method and system for an enhanced subscription capability for a newsletter

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

0001A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0002The present invention relates to a method and system for an enhanced subscription capability for a newsletter through a newsletter publisher's network site that may be part of a marketing or sales campaign initiated by the publisher according to one embodiment of the present invention.

BACKGROUND

0003A newsletter is one means by which a business maintains contact with its business partners—the business's potential and actual customers as well as other interested parties. A newsletter may contain articles, product information, tips, etc. and may allow the newsletter publisher (i.e., the business) to provide valuable information to its partners while maintaining an ongoing relationship. In addition to newsletters targeting business partners, a newsletter may also be internally directed at employees and others. The use of newsletters is an effective communication tool to define a publisher's message, disseminate information, maintain ongoing relationships, and to develop new relationships.

0004Business partners typically subscribe to a newsletter by visiting a publisher's network site and affirmatively entering the required subscription information. This requires a positive act on the part of the business partner and assumes that the business partner is aware of the newsletter and where and how to subscribe. Using customer relationship management software, a publisher may be able to derive statistics related to the newsletter subscriptions and interests of particular types of business partners. In particular, if business partners provide additional information about themselves and their interests during the subscription registration, this process is further enhanced. However, the disjointed process whereby business partners subscribe to newsletters and the marketing and sales activities of the publisher make this information useful but less than ideal.

0005The present invention provides a novel means for enhancing the subscription process by providing an additional capability to the publisher and the publisher's network site to facilitate the subscription process and to link the process of subscribing to the publisher's marketing and sales activities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0006<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram illustrating the network environment in which the enhanced subscription capability is provided for a publisher's newsletter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0007<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart describing the newsletter subscription process according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0008<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a screen shot of an example subscription registration page on a network site for a newsletter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0009<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a screen shot of an example login page for a network site according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0010<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>a </i>is a screen shot of one portion of a business partner registration page on a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>b </i>is a screen shot of a second portion of a business partner registration page on a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>c </i>is a screen shot of an example registration confirmation page for a successful business partner registration with a publisher on a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>a </i>is a screen shot of the interests tab in a business partner profile page of a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0014<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>b </i>is a screen shot of the subscriptions tab in a business partner profile page of a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0015<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a screen shot of a newsletter included in an email to a business partner according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0016<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a block diagram illustrating the platform on which the method and system for an enhanced subscription capability for a newsletter using a publisher's network site may operate according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0017A method and system are provided for an enhanced capability or process to subscribe to a newsletter through a newsletter publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. This enhanced capability may be implemented as part of a publisher's marketing or sales campaign using a customer relationship management (CRM) tool such as mySAP CRM® in one embodiment of the present invention. As part of this enhanced capability, an email may be sent to a business partner, such as for example a customer, potential customer, supplier, and/or employee according to this embodiment. The email may contain a link to a publisher's network site allowing the business partner to easily subscribe to the newsletter. The link may contain an embedded identifier to indicate, for example, the marketing or sales campaign, the target group the business partner belongs to, and/or the business partner's identity allowing for the rapid tracking of marketing or sales campaign statistics and business partner interests in addition to the email informing the business partner about the newsletter and providing an expedited ability to initiate the process to subscribe to the newsletter using the link. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the business partner may be presented a link on the publisher's network site allowing the business partner to subscribe to a newsletter. This publisher's network site link may also be offered as part of a marketing or sales campaign or may be presented independent of such a campaign in various embodiments of the present invention. The link on the publisher's network site may also contain an embedded identifier to also indicate, for example, the marketing or sales campaign, the target group the business partner belongs to, and/or the business partner's identity also allowing for the rapid tracking of statistics related to the campaign, business partner interests, and response to the newsletter.

0018<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagram illustrating the network environment in which the enhanced subscription capability is provided for a publisher's newsletter according to one embodiment of the present invention. A publisher <b>110</b> is a business or other entity that produces an electronic newsletter and makes the newsletter available to potential subscribers <b>105</b> over a communication network <b>154</b>, <b>155</b>. The potential subscribers <b>105</b> are termed business partners <b>105</b> herein and may include existing customers of the publisher <b>110</b>, prospective new customers, suppliers, employees, and any other group the publisher may want to target for the dissemination of information. The network <b>154</b>, <b>155</b> may include any communications network including a wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), a satellite network, a wireless network, and the Internet and it provides the electronic connectivity between a business partner <b>105</b> and a publisher <b>110</b> and between the different components of the publisher's network system <b>100</b>. This embodiment of the present invention relates to the process of subscribing to a newsletter.

0019A newsletter contains a collection of personalized articles and provides ongoing communication with a target group. For example, a product newsletter provides ongoing contact with the customers who have already purchased a product. An employee newsletter provides ongoing contact with the employees in a department or within an entire organization. Newsletters are generally distributed through email though they may also be distributed by other means such as, for example, hardcopy by mail, fax, etc. Newsletters are published periodically either at a given interval (e.g., monthly) or due to a particular event (e.g., on the release of a software revision). The publisher <b>110</b> may create a newsletter using any of the publisher's hardware and/or software products. In one embodiment, a newsletter once created may be stored in a publisher's business information management system(s) <b>140</b> and made available to a publisher's network site <b>115</b> for display to business partners <b>105</b>. The publisher's information technology hardware environment <b>135</b> contains the servers on which the publisher's network site <b>115</b>, business information management system(s) <b>140</b>, administration module <b>120</b>, and associated databases <b>130</b>, <b>141</b> are stored and on which they run. For example, the administration module <b>120</b> may consist of one or more software applications, programs, modules, procedures, or other computer code to include firmware and may additionally include data that resides on one or more servers, computers, or other hardware platforms that make up the publisher's information technology hardware environment <b>135</b>. The administration module <b>120</b> may handle the publisher's interaction <b>154</b> with the newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b> and may contain specific functionality for the management of the marketing or sales campaigns for these newsletters. The business partner interaction <b>155</b> with the newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b> is handled through the publisher's network site <b>115</b> which may serve as a portal to the both the administration module <b>120</b> and the publisher's business information management system(s) <b>140</b>. The administration module <b>120</b> though shown as a separate entity may be a part of the publisher's network site <b>115</b> or the publisher's business information management system(s) <b>140</b>. In addition to the databases <b>141</b> that are part of the business information management systems <b>140</b>, the administration module <b>120</b> and the network site <b>115</b> may also use a local database <b>130</b> to store newsletter and subscription information.

0020The administration module <b>120</b> may communicate <b>152</b> with the local database <b>130</b>; communicate <b>153</b> with the publisher's business information management system(s) <b>140</b>; and communicate <b>151</b> with the publisher's network site <b>115</b> using a communication network that is part of the publisher's information technology hardware environment <b>135</b>. In addition, direct communication (not shown) between the publisher's network site <b>115</b> and the publisher's business information management system(s) <b>140</b> may also occur. For example, the publisher's network site <b>115</b>, administration module <b>120</b>, local database <b>130</b>, and business information management system(s) <b>140</b> may be located on servers and/or other computers that are part of a communication network—such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)—controlled by the publisher <b>110</b>. In an alternative embodiment, the publisher's information technology hardware environment <b>135</b> may include a communication network that is shared by the publisher <b>110</b> and other network users. For example, the publisher's network site <b>115</b>, administration module <b>120</b>, local database <b>130</b>, and business information management system(s) <b>140</b> may be located on servers and/or other computers that are part of at least one internal publisher communication network (e.g., a LAN and/or WAN) as well as a shared (i.e., shared by publisher with other non-publisher related entities) communication network such as the Internet. In either embodiment regardless of the network used for communication between the elements of the newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b>, publisher communication <b>154</b> and business partner communication <b>155</b> with the newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b> may occur over an external network (i.e., a network external to the publisher <b>110</b> and not under the publisher's direct control), such as for example, the Internet. In an alternative embodiment, publisher and business partner communication <b>154</b>, <b>155</b> with the newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b> may occur over a publisher-controlled network (such as a publisher-controlled wide area sales network) and/or may involve a combination of at least one publisher-controlled network and at least one external network.

0021The newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b> integrates a publisher's business information management systems(s) <b>140</b>, which may serve as a backend system(s), with a publisher's network site <b>115</b>, serving as a front-end system, and it <b>100</b> may use an administration module <b>120</b> in order to provide newsletter subscription and dissemination services to the publisher <b>110</b> and the business partner <b>105</b> according to one embodiment of the present invention. A publisher's business information management system <b>140</b> is an application with at least one associated database <b>141</b> typically using a database management system (DBMS) that provides data storage and associated programming support for that data (e.g., a query system such as an SQL editor, optimization routines, program interfaces). For example, a publisher may have a customer relationship management system <b>140</b> with its own database <b>141</b> developed using mySAP CRM® on the SAP® R/3 DBMS platform as one example of a business information management system <b>140</b>.

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a flowchart describing the newsletter subscription process according to one embodiment of the present invention. The process begins <b>201</b> by providing a link (e.g., a hyperlink) to a business partner <b>105</b>. The link may be provided as part of a purchaser's marketing or sales campaign where information about the newsletter including a link to subscribe to the newsletter is made available to a business partner <b>105</b> due to that business partner meeting the criteria of the target group for the marketing or sales campaign. The marketing campaign or sales campaign (used interchangeably herein and also referred to as the campaign) refers to any effort to target or present information to a group of one or more business partners which may include the marketing of products and/or services, offers for sale, promotions, providing product updates and pointers, etc. The target group for the campaign may be selected using known customer relationship management (CRM) tools and functions such as those available using mySAP CRM®. In another embodiment (not shown) the link may be provided independent of a campaign. For example, if a business partner <b>105</b> registers with a publisher <b>110</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b> for a reason unrelated to subscribing to a newsletter (e.g., when a business partner <b>105</b> purchases goods or services from the publisher <b>110</b>), the business partner registration may initiate the providing of the link to the business partner <b>105</b> independent of a campaign.

0023The link may be a hyperlink or other navigation shortcut that when selected (e.g., clicking on the hyperlink) navigates the business partner <b>105</b> to, for example, the publisher's network site <b>115</b> to facilitate the subscription process according to one embodiment of the present invention. The link itself may be presented to the business partner <b>105</b> in various ways in different embodiments of the present invention. In addition to containing navigation information identifying, for example, the publisher's network site <b>115</b> and perhaps a specific page on the network site <b>115</b>, the link may contain one or more embedded identifiers that allow greater detail to be provided to the publisher <b>110</b>. For example, an embedded identifier containing a global user identifier (GUID) uniquely identifying a business partner <b>105</b> may be used in conjunction with stored business partner details (e.g., industry, interests, etc.) to gauge the interest in the newsletter (e.g., 80% of the interest in the newsletter came from hardware makers and only 10% came from software makers with 10% in other industries). The embedded GUID may instead of just uniquely identifying a business partner <b>105</b> may uniquely identify a business partner <b>105</b> as part of a target group for the campaign by including campaign identification information in the GUID. Alternatively, the campaign identification information may be a separate embedded identifier either embedded in conjunction with business partner identifier or instead of a business partner identifier. The embedded campaign identifier may be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular campaign (e.g., 14 of 19 business partners in the target group subscribed to the newsletter) and/or the association (matching of interest) between the target group and the newsletter. Other embedded identifiers and/or other identification information in a particular embedded identifier may also be included in other embodiments of the present invention.

0024In one embodiment, the link may be included as an object embedded in an email (i.e., an electronic mail message). In this embodiment, the publisher <b>110</b> initiates a marketing or sales campaign <b>202</b> using a CRM system <b>140</b> that may be one of the publisher's business information management systems <b>140</b>. As part of generating the campaign, the publisher <b>110</b> may define a target group for the campaign using the CRM tools. An email may be sent <b>203</b> to the business partners <b>105</b> that make up the target group. This email may include various types of information such as, for example, a sample copy of the newsletter being promoted by the campaign. Other types of information may include, for example, offers for products and services, reminders about warranty periods, recalls, newly available upgrades or accessories, etc. The campaign may promote a newsletter using an opt-out or an opt-in distribution scheme. In an opt-out distribution scheme for the campaign, the business partners <b>105</b> forming the target group are automatically subscribed to the newsletter and must opt-out (i.e., cancel the subscription). In an opt-in distribution scheme for the campaign, the business partners <b>105</b> forming the target group must affirmatively complete a subscription process to become subscribed for the newsletter. The link will conform to the newsletter distribution scheme for the campaign. For example, if an opt-out distribution scheme is being used for a campaign, the link will facilitate the process of opting-out and cancelling the subscription of the business partner <b>105</b>. If an opt-in distribution scheme is being used for a campaign, the link will facilitate the process of opting-in or subscribing the business partner <b>105</b> for the newsletter.

0025In another embodiment, the link may be displayed <b>205</b> to a business partner <b>105</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. This network site link <b>205</b> may be displayed as part of a campaign or independently as stated above but instead of sending the link to a business partner <b>105</b> in an email <b>203</b>, the link is provided to a business partner <b>105</b> when they next login to or visit the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. In other embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the link may be displayed to the business partner <b>105</b> using other means.

0026Regardless of how the link is presented to the business partner <b>105</b>, selecting the link (e.g., by clicking on the hyperlink) may result in connecting the business partner <b>105</b> with the publisher's network site <b>115</b> to allow the appropriate selection of a subscription option (e.g., unsubscribing in an opt-out distribution scheme campaign or subscribing in an opt-in distribution scheme campaign). Connecting the business partner <b>105</b> with a network site <b>115</b> to facilitate the subscription process (this step is not shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) may present the business partner <b>105</b> with information about the newsletter and subscription options according to one embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment, the business partner <b>105</b> may be directly presented with a login screen <b>210</b> on publisher's network site <b>115</b> (described below).

0027<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a screen shot of an example subscription registration page on a network site for a newsletter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0028The subscription registration page <b>300</b> in this example embodiment is an Internet Web page displaying a newsletter title <b>301</b> identifying the newsletter, a newsletter description <b>302</b>, and a sample issue offer <b>303</b> including a link <b>304</b> to a sample issue of the newsletter that the business partner <b>105</b> may review. In the example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the SAP® community newsletters subscription registration page <b>300</b> is shown allowing a business partner <b>105</b> to subscribe to the “SAP Community Flash Newsletter” <b>301</b>. The information presented <b>301</b>-<b>304</b> in the subscription registration page <b>300</b> is only one example of the content that may be included on the subscription registration page <b>300</b> which may contain none, some, or all of these fields along with other information in various embodiments of the present invention. In addition to this information, a subscription registration page <b>300</b> may also include a “Subscribe now!” (or other titled) link <b>305</b> or other option selection means such as, for example, a button (not shown) or pull-down menu option (not shown) allowing a business partner <b>105</b> to continue with the subscription registration process according to this embodiment. The business partner <b>105</b> may view the information presented in the subscription registration page <b>300</b> and decide whether to continue with the process by selecting the subscription link <b>305</b> or the business partner <b>105</b> may abort the process by exiting or navigating out of the subscription registration page <b>300</b>. In addition to the newsletter information presented, other links <b>306</b>, a search capability <b>307</b>, and other network or network site navigation tools <b>308</b> may also be included on the subscription registration page <b>300</b> for the news letter.

0029Continuing with the newsletter subscription process shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, a business partner <b>105</b> may need to login <b>210</b> to a publisher's network site <b>115</b> before the business partner <b>105</b> may access a newsletter or newsletter options according to one embodiment of the present invention. The login <b>210</b> step may be necessary to verify a business partner's identity with a publisher <b>110</b> before the business partner <b>105</b> is provided access to subscription and other newsletter options through the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. An already registered business partner <b>105</b> may be able to login <b>210</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b> using the already registered identifier and password for the business partner <b>105</b> according to one embodiment of the present invention. A publisher's network site <b>115</b> may be able to implement known hardware or software recognition means for business partner verification. A new, unregistered business partner <b>105</b> may be presented a registration option allowing the business partner <b>105</b> to register with the publisher <b>110</b> on the network site <b>115</b>.

0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a screen shot of an example login page for a network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. The login page <b>400</b> may include login certification fields <b>410</b> such as, for example, an identifier field <b>411</b> and a password field <b>412</b> that may be used to verify a business partner's identity on the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. The identifier field <b>411</b> may allow a business partner <b>105</b> to enter a unique identification such as an email address or user name as indicated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. The password field <b>412</b> allows the business partner <b>105</b> to verify his/her identity as the rightful user of the entered identifier. Once the appropriate business partner information is entered into login certification fields <b>410</b>, the business partner <b>105</b> may select (e.g., by clicking on) the continue option indicated in this embodiment by a “Continue” button <b>413</b>. The continue option may alternatively be selected using other means such as, for example, drop-down menu options (not shown) and hitting the “Enter” key while the highlight (i.e., cursor) is in one of the login certification fields <b>410</b>, <b>411</b>, <b>412</b>. If a business partner <b>105</b> is not registered with a publisher's network site <b>115</b>, a registration option may also be provided on the login page <b>400</b> as indicated in this example by the “Register Now” button <b>401</b>. A business partner <b>105</b> may select this option to register with the publisher's network site <b>115</b>.

0031If a new, unregistered business partner <b>105</b> selects the registration option <b>401</b> from the login page <b>400</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b>, a business partner registration <b>221</b> process begins where the new business partner <b>105</b> provides publisher specified information in order to register with the publisher <b>110</b> and the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. This information may contain identification information to verify a business partner's identity on subsequent logins. The registration information may also contain optional business partner demographic data and/or information on the interests of the business partner which may be used to tailor the information provided to the business partner <b>105</b> and enhance customer relationship management reporting for the publisher <b>110</b> and the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. Additionally, the registration information may include business partner contact information such as, for example, one or more email addresses and/or facsimile machine (fax) numbers so that the publisher may be able to contact the business partner and send information to the business partner including newsletters.

0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>a </i>is a screen shot of one portion of a business partner registration page on a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>b </i>is a screen shot of a second portion of a business partner registration page on a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. The business partner registration page <b>500</b> (shown in its entirety through portions displayed in both <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5</figref><i>a </i>and <b>5</b><i>b</i>) contains a title <b>501</b> and some limited instructions and/or description <b>502</b> that instruct the business partner <b>105</b> about completing the registration information form <b>510</b> contained on the page <b>500</b>. Only the top portion of the registration information form <b>510</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>a </i>while the bottom portion of the registration information form <b>510</b> is shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>b </i>with some overlap between the fields on both forms. The fields on the registration information form <b>510</b> may allow the entry of information required by a publisher <b>110</b> as well as optional information that a business partner <b>105</b> may choose to provide. For example in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5</figref><i>a </i>and <b>5</b><i>b, </i>the fields preceded by an asterisk (“*”) are the mandatory or required fields as indicated in a notation <b>511</b> on the registration information form <b>510</b>. The fields not preceded by an asterisk (“*”) are optional and allow the business partner <b>105</b> at his/her discretion to provide additional information to the publisher <b>110</b> during the registration process. This additional information may be used by the publisher <b>110</b> in tailoring the display and/or targeting of information and offers to the business partner <b>105</b> as well as for the enhanced compilation of statistics relating to customer relationship management and/or network site statistics. Examples of required fields in the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5</figref><i>a </i>and <b>5</b><i>b </i>include a business partner first name <b>512</b>, last name <b>513</b>, company <b>514</b>, email address <b>515</b>, user name <b>516</b>, and password <b>517</b>. Either the user name <b>516</b> and the email address <b>515</b> may be used as the business partner identification in the identifier field <b>411</b> on the login page <b>400</b> of the network site <b>115</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> discussed above with the password <b>517</b> providing the verification of the business partner identity as discussed above according to this embodiment. Examples of optional fields in the registration information form <b>510</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5</figref><i>a </i>and <b>5</b><i>b </i>include city <b>518</b>, phone number <b>519</b>, position <b>520</b>, and industry <b>521</b>. The field values for the position <b>520</b> and industry <b>521</b> fields use drop down menus to allow selection from a pre-designated list of allowable entries according to this embodiment. Once the business partner <b>105</b> has completed entering the registration information, he/she <b>105</b> may submit <b>531</b> (by selecting the submit option indicated by the “Submit” button <b>531</b>) the registration information to the publisher <b>110</b> to generate a business partner account or to otherwise register the business partner <b>105</b> with the publisher <b>110</b> and/or the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. If the submitted <b>531</b> registration information is not complete—i.e., values are not entered in all the required fields and/or incorrect values are provided in some of the field data-an error may be provided and the business partner <b>105</b> may be asked to fix the problems before continuing. The business partner <b>105</b> may at any time during the registration process decide to abort the process by selecting the cancel option indicated by the “Cancel” button <b>532</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>b. </i>

0033On the successful submission of registration information by a business partner <b>105</b>, the publisher's network site <b>115</b> may display a registration confirmation to the business partner <b>105</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>c </i>is a screen shot of an example registration confirmation page for a successful business partner registration with a publisher on a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. The registration confirmation page <b>550</b> may include a title <b>551</b> and a description <b>552</b> indicating that the business partner registration is successful. The business partner <b>105</b> may be presented with an option to continue <b>553</b> indicated by the “Continue” button <b>553</b> which allows the business partner <b>105</b> to access the publisher's network site <b>115</b> as if the business partner <b>105</b> just successfully logged in <b>210</b>. The business partner <b>105</b> may also be presented with other options such as, for example, an option <b>554</b> to have the publisher <b>110</b> contact the business partner <b>105</b>. In addition to or instead of the display of a registration confirmation page <b>550</b> and as indicated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, a business partner <b>105</b> may also be notified of a successful registration by an confirmation email <b>230</b> sent to the business partner using the “E-mail” field <b>515</b> value (as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref><i>b</i>) entered by the business partner <b>105</b> during the registration process.

0034Once a new, previously unregistered business partner <b>105</b> successfully registers <b>221</b> with the publisher <b>110</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b>, a welcome or start screen (not shown) may be displayed <b>222</b> for the business partner <b>105</b>. An already registered business partner <b>105</b> who logs-in <b>210</b> to a publisher's network site <b>115</b> as described above may also be presented a welcome or start screen (not shown). This welcome or start screen may include general information related to the publisher <b>110</b>, the publisher's network site <b>115</b>, and/or may contain particular information directed to the business partner <b>105</b> either individually or as part of a group of business partners sharing one or more particular characteristics (e.g., all business partners located in the Federal Republic of Germany). In this embodiment, the welcome or start page serves as an introductory page to the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. From this welcome or start page, a registered business partner <b>105</b> may navigate the publisher's network site <b>115</b> to reach the newsletter options including which newsletters a business partner is subscribed to. For example, the newsletter options such as newsletter subscriptions may be contained in the profile information of the business partner <b>105</b>. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the welcome or start screen (not shown) is a brief welcome to the network site <b>115</b> using, for example, a popup window, after which the business partner <b>105</b> is directed to their profile information from which newsletter subscription options may be modified.

0035As stated above, the subscription attributes or information for a business partner <b>105</b> may be maintained <b>240</b> in the newsletter subscription process shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> using the profile information for the business partner <b>105</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>a </i>is a screen shot of the interests tab in a business partner profile page of a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. The business partner profile page <b>600</b> contains a table <b>610</b> with multiple tabs containing the specific information affiliated with a particular business partner <b>105</b> according to this embodiment. For example, the table <b>610</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>a </i>contains four tabs: “Your Information” <b>611</b>, “Your Company Information” <b>612</b>, “Your Interests” <b>613</b> shown, and “E-mail Subscriptions” <b>614</b>. The interests tab <b>613</b> allows a business partner <b>105</b> to indicate topics of interest by checking the appropriate boxes. The interests <b>620</b> indicated by the business partner <b>105</b> may be used by the publisher <b>110</b> to tailor the display of information to the business partner <b>105</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b> as well as to determine what information is sent to the business partner <b>105</b> either electronically and/or in hardcopy format. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>b </i>is a screen shot of the subscriptions tab in a business partner profile page of a publisher's network site according to one embodiment of the present invention. The business partner profile page <b>600</b> shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>b </i>is the same as <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>a </i>and contains a table <b>610</b> with four tabs—“Your Information” <b>611</b>, “Your Company Information” <b>612</b>, “Your Interests” <b>613</b>, and “E-mail Subscriptions” <b>614</b>—except that instead of the interests tab <b>613</b> being shown as in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>a </i>the subscriptions tab <b>614</b> is instead displayed. The business partner <b>105</b> may select newsletters <b>630</b> by checking the appropriate boxes for the desired newsletters. The newsletters <b>630</b> may be organized by category <b>631</b>-<b>633</b> such as, for example, the “Global Newsletters” <b>631</b>, “Local Newsletters <b>632</b>, and “Local Education Newsletters” <b>633</b> categories shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref><i>b. </i>An option may also be presented (not shown) to select an entire category of newsletter at one time according to one embodiment of the present invention.

0036The last steps in the newsletter subscription process shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> begin after the business partner <b>105</b> indicates his/her desired newsletters. The subscribed to newsletters <b>630</b> may be sent <b>250</b> to the business partner <b>105</b> using an appropriate means. As previously stated, email may be a common means of distributing a newsletter but other means such as fax, mailed hardcopy, network site availability, etc. may also be used. The delivery of the subscribed to newsletter(s) ends <b>260</b> the newsletter subscription process which may be used repeatedly by a business partner <b>105</b> to update and change their subscription preferences. The process outlined above refers to an opt-in newsletter distribution scheme. The same process may also be used in an opt-out newsletter distribution scheme with the maintain subscription attributes step <b>240</b> used to opt-out of a newsletter subscription and the send step <b>250</b> instead not sending the newsletter to the business partner <b>105</b>. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, a business partner may access one or more newsletter features and/or subscribe to a newsletter without needing to be registered with the publisher <b>110</b> on the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. According to this embodiment, the log in step <b>210</b> and the registration step <b>221</b> may both be removed from the process with the business partner <b>105</b> navigating directly to the newsletter options page.

0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a screen shot of a newsletter included in an email to a business partner according to one embodiment of the present invention. The email header <b>701</b> identifies the email <b>700</b> routing information. The newsletter <b>702</b> (partially shown) is included in the body of the email <b>700</b> with links <b>703</b> provided to facilitate the implementation of various options related to the newsletter according to this embodiment. These options <b>703</b> may allow a business partner <b>105</b> to contact <b>711</b> the publisher <b>110</b> such as, for example, by means of an email message or by navigating the business partner <b>105</b> to the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. The business partner <b>105</b> may also be presented with a link allowing for the quick navigation <b>712</b> to the publisher's network site <b>115</b>. Another option may allow a business partner <b>105</b> to share <b>713</b> the newsletter and information about the newsletter with other business partners <b>105</b> (e.g., email addressees). For example, the “Tell a Friend” option <b>713</b> may forward the email <b>700</b> to another business partner <b>105</b>. The subscribe/unsubscribe option <b>714</b> has already been discussed above. These options <b>703</b> are only some of the examples of the options that may be included with the newsletter according to this embodiment of the present invention.

0038Embedding a subscription link during the creation of a newsletter or when providing a link to a business partner (e.g., during the generating of an email to a business partner) may be performed by a publisher independent of any location on the publisher's network site and/or independent of the subscribe/unsubscribe process or mechanism used by the publisher according to one embodiment of the present invention. A subscription link or link (as referred to herein) may allow a business partner to subscribe and/or unsubscribe to a newsletter and may also contain embedded information used in CRM or as part of a marketing campaign as previously discussed. According to this embodiment, a link option may be provided to a publisher <b>110</b> creating a newsletter to bring a link into the newsletter without requiring the publisher to specify the URL or link information. This link option, when selected, may generate and/or copy the appropriate link within a newsletter for the newsletter publisher <b>110</b>. For example, this link option may be made available to a publisher <b>110</b> creating a newsletter through the administration module <b>120</b> of the newsletter subscription and dissemination system <b>100</b>. The link option may be presented, for example, as a button or pull-down menu option that when selected by the publisher embeds the link (e.g., the URL location) within the newsletter at a designated position. A link option may also or alternatively be provided to a publisher <b>110</b> initiating a subscription process, such as for example shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, where the link is presented to a business partner <b>105</b>. For example, a publisher <b>110</b> may include a link in an email on the publisher's network site <b>115</b> to facilitate a business partner <b>105</b> opting-in or opting-out of a newsletter subscription. The link option allows, for example, a marketing person working for the publisher <b>110</b> to include the link information without having to maintain the link which may be handled by a information systems support person or team working for the publisher. In this manner, the maintenance of the newsletter link information may be separated from the newsletter generation and/or the marketing campaign.

0039<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a block diagram illustrating the platform on which the method and system for an enhanced subscription capability for a newsletter using a publisher's network site may operate according to one embodiment of the present invention. Functionality of the foregoing embodiments may be provided on various computer platforms executing program instructions. One such platform <b>800</b> is illustrated in the simplified block diagram of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>. There, the platform <b>800</b> is shown as being populated by a processor <b>810</b>, a memory system <b>820</b> and an inputoutput (I/O) unit <b>830</b>. The processor <b>810</b> may be any of a plurality of conventional processing systems, including microprocessors, digital signal processors and field programmable logic arrays. In some applications, it may be advantageous to provide multiple processors (not shown) in the platform <b>800</b>. The processor(s) <b>810</b> execute program instructions stored in the memory system. The memory system <b>820</b> may include any combination of conventional memory circuits, including electrical, magnetic or optical memory systems. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, the memory system may include read only memories <b>822</b>, random access memories <b>824</b>, and bulk storage <b>826</b>. The memory system not only stores the program instructions representing the various methods described herein but also can store the data items on which these methods operate. The I/O unit <b>830</b> would permit communication with external devices (not shown).