1. A method comprising:
using one or more computers, obtaining a first set of information from a first user relating to one or more parameters relating to advertisements to be placed in outgoing emails of the first user;
using one or more computers, facilitating placement of advertisements in outgoing emails of the first user in accordance with the one or more parameters;
using one or more computers, tracking one or more performance metrics associated with performance of the advertisements; and
using or one or more computers, facilitating providing benefit to the first user, wherein the benefit is based at least in part on the performance of the advertisements.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first set of information from a first user comprises obtaining information relating to one or more characteristics or requirements relating to advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first set of information from a first user comprises obtaining information relating to one or more types of advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first set of information from a first user comprises obtaining information relating to one or more categories of advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first set of information from a first user comprises obtaining one or more indications or selections relating to one or more subject matter-associated, product or product type-associated, service or service type-associated, or brand-associated categories of advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the first set of information from a first user comprises obtaining one or more indications or selections relating to one or more advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein advertisements are only placed in outgoing emails of the first user to users in a social network, or selected users in a social network, of the first user.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein a first advertisement placed in an outgoing email from the first user includes an explicit recommendation or endorsement from the first user relating to a subject of the first advertisement.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user registers as a publisher prior to placement of the advertisements in outgoing emails of the first user.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user obtains benefit based at least in part on one or more click-related, conversion-related, or impression-related performance metrics associated with advertisements placed in outgoing emails of the first user.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user obtains benefit based at least in part on one or more click-related, conversion-related, or impression-related performance metrics associated with advertisements placed in outgoing emails of the first user, and wherein the first user indicates, selects, or partially selects the one or more performance metrics.
12. The method of claim 1, comprising providing an online tool or online center, through which the first user can navigate to indicate or select one or more advertisement-related parameters required for placement of advertisements in outgoing emails of the first user.
13. The method of claim 1, comprising providing an online tool or online center for use by the first user, through which the first user can navigate to indicate or select one or more advertisement-related parameters required for placement of an advertisement in outgoing emails of the first user, and through which the first user can select one or more subject matter-based categories of advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user, and wherein the one or more categories can be selected with a varying degree of specificity or granularity.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user can indicate or select one or more products, services, or brands, and wherein advertisements placed in outgoing emails of the first user must relate to the indicated or selected one or more products, services, or brands.
15. A system comprising:
one or more server computers coupled to a network; and
one or more databases coupled to the one or more server computers:
wherein the one or more server computers are for:
obtaining, and storing in at least one of the one or more databases, a first set of information from a first user relating to one or more parameters relating to advertisements to be placed in outgoing emails of the first user;
facilitating placement of advertisements in outgoing emails of the first user in accordance with the one or more parameters;
tracking one or more performance metrics associated with performance of the advertisements; and
facilitating providing benefit to the first user, wherein the benefit is based at least in part on the performance of the advertisements.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein network comprises the Internet.
17. The system of claim 15, comprising placing emails in outgoing emails of the first user in accordance with the one or more parameters.
18. The system of claim 15, comprising providing an online tool or online center, through which the first user can navigate to indicate or select one or more advertisement-related parameters required for placement of an advertisement in outgoing emails of the first user, and through which the first user can select one or more subject matter-based categories of advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user, and wherein the one or more categories can be selected with a varying degree of specificity or granularity.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first user can indicate or select one or more products, services, or brands, and wherein advertisements placed in outgoing emails of the first user must relate to the indicated or selected one or more products, services, or brands.
20. A computer readable medium or media containing instructions for executing a method comprising:
using one or more computers, obtaining a first set of information from a first user relating to one or more parameters relating to advertisements to be placed in outgoing emails of the first user:
using one or more computers, facilitating placement of advertisements in outgoing emails of the first user in accordance with the parameters;
using one or more computers, tracking one or more performance metrics associated with performance of the advertisements; and
using or one or more computers, facilitating providing benefit to the first user, wherein the benefit is based at least in part on the performance of the advertisements;
comprising providing an online tool or online center, through which the first user can navigate to indicate or select one or more advertisement-related parameters required for placement of an advertisement in outgoing emails of the first user, and through which the first user can select one or more subject matter-based categories of advertisements that may be placed in outgoing emails of the first user, and wherein the one or more categories can be selected with a varying degree of specificity or granularity; and
wherein the first user obtains benefit based at least in part on one or more click-related, conversion-related, or impression-related performance metrics associated with advertisements placed in outgoing emails of the first user, and wherein the first user indicates, selects, or partially selects the one or more performance metrics.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A snap hook comprising:
a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second axially spaced ends;
a hook at said first end of said body, said hook having an axially extending shank, a bail and a tip spaced from said body and defining a hook entrance mouth between said tip and said body; and
a lock pin mounted in said body for axial movement toward said tip to a closed position and away from said tip to an open position;
said snap hook being characterized by:
a button mounted on said body for movement in a direction transverse to said axis; and
a cam system between said button and said lock pin for translating transverse button movement into axial lock pin movement, said cam system including a curved cam surface providing a decreasing button force requirement throughout at least most of the range of button motion as said lock pin moves toward said open position;
said lock pin including a segment within said body extending in a direction transverse to said axis, and said cam system including a cam surface on said button engaging said segment.
2. A snap hook as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a spring in said body urging said lock pin toward said closed position.
3. A snap hook as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an eye at said second end of said body.
4. A snap hook as claimed in claim 3, said eye being fixed with respect to said body.
5. A snap hook as claimed in claim 4, said eye comprising a slot extending through said body.
6. A snap hook as claimed in claim 4, said eye and said hook being integral and of one piece with said body.
7. A snap hook as claimed in claim 1, said button including a manually engageable portion located closer to said second end of said body than to said first end of said body.
8. A snap hook as claimed in claim 1, said hook including a ramp portion extending from said bail toward said body and to said tip at an oblique angle relative to said axis.
9. A snap hook as claimed in claim 8, said angle being between forty-five and ninety degrees.
10. A snap hook comprising:
a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second axially spaced ends;
a hook at said first end of said body, said hook having an axially extending shank a bail and a tip spaced from said body and defining a hook entrance mouth between said tip and said body;
a lock pin mounted in said body for axial movement toward said tip to a closed position and away from said tip to an open position; and
a button operably coupled to said lock pin for moving said lock pin toward said open position;
said snap hook being characterized by:
said button being mounted on said body for movement in a direction transverse to said axis; and
a cam system between said button and said lock pin for translating transverse button movement into axial lock pin movement;
said button comprising a lever having a first and a second end, said first end being pivotally attached to said body at a location closer to said first end of said body than to said second end of said body.
11. A snap hook as claimed in claim 10, said lock pin including a segment within said body extending in a direction transverse to said axis, and said cam system including a cam surface on said button engaging said segment.
12. A snap hook comprising:
a body having a longitudinal axis and first and second axially spaced ends;
a hook at said first end of said body, said hook having an axially extending shank, a bail and a tip spaced from said body and defining a hook entrance mouth between said tip and said body;
a lock pin mounted in said body for axial movement toward said tip to a closed position and away from said tip to an open position;
a button operably coupled to said lock pin for moving said lock pin toward said open position; and
said snap hook being characterized by:
a spring carried within said body and directly engaging said lock pin to urge said lock pin toward said closed position
said button being mounted on said body for movement in a direction transverse to said axis; and
a cam system between said button and said lock pin for translating transverse button movement into axial lock pin movement;
said button comprising a lever pivotally mounted relative to said body.