Abstract:
A marketing portal server comprises a marketing portal website; a client identification engine for confirming that a user is a client of a financial institution; a posting engine for enabling a client to post a directory listing on the marketing portal website; and a directory engine for enabling a client to view at least some of the directory listings on the marketing portal website. The client identification engine may identify a client by client name and ATM pin number. A client enrollment engine may determine subscription information based on client status, and the directory engine may manage directory listings based on the subscription information. An exchange engine may manage an electronic commerce site for clients. A payment engine may perform debits and credits for transactions occurring on the website. A client rating engine may rate clients. Geographic limitations may be imposed on a client or on a directory listing.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit of and hereby incorporates by reference provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/794,783, entitled “NETWORKING SYSTEM AND METHOD IN A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION,” filed on Apr. 24, 2006, by inventors Faramarz Ghafari. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to electronic commerce, and more particularly provides a system and method for offering a marketing portal only to clients of a financial institution.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     People generally think of banks as a place to hold personal and business accounts, get loans for businesses and real estate, manage a checking system, obtain money orders, manage credit cards, etc. A few think of banks as a place to get greater financial advice for such services as portfolio management, college preparation, etc.  
         [0004]     Accordingly, banks market their services by offering low interest rate loans, higher interest rate savings accounts, higher interest rate certificates of deposit, additional services to the business entity, talented portfolio managers to assist with financial planning, etc. Some offer free services, e.g., free money orders, free checks, etc., to higher net-worth individuals or individuals involved in greater business arrangements with the bank (e.g., high loans).  
         [0005]     However, once an individual or business entity has established an account with one bank, there is limited motivation for the individual or business entity to switch banks. A small difference in interest rate at another bank is generally insufficient draw to overcome the hassle of moving an account (including changing checks, learning new passwords, switching automatic deposits, switching automatic payments, etc.). Further, there is limited reason for individuals or businesses to have multiple accounts at multiple banks. Accordingly, once an individual or a company has created an account at a bank, the individual or business entity typically pays little attention to and is rarely swayed by bank marketing.  
         [0006]     Systems and methods are needed that motivate individuals and business entities to select one bank over another, and possibly to switch banks. Further, systems and methods are needed to change consumer perception of a bank to be more that just a financial institution. For example, systems and methods are needed that enable customers to see banks as a portal to the community and an assistant to business development.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     In one embodiment, the present invention provides a marketing portal server, comprising a marketing portal website; a client identification engine for confirming that a user is a client of a financial institution; a posting engine for enabling the user who is confirmed to be a client of the financial institution to post a directory listing on the marketing portal website; and a directory engine for enabling the user who is confirmed to be a client of the financial institution to view at least some of the directory listings on the marketing portal website. The client identification engine may identify a client by the client name and the ATM pin number. The posting engine may enable posting of a web page. The marketing portal server may further comprise a client enrollment engine for determining subscription information based on the status of the client, and the directory engine may manage directory listings based on the subscription information. The marketing portal server may further comprise an exchange engine for managing an electronic commerce site for clients of the financial institution. The marketing portal server may further comprise a payment engine for managing automatic debit and credit for transactions occurring via the marketing portal website. The marketing portal server may further comprise a client rating engine for rating the client of the financial institution. The client rating engine may rate the client based on client status. The directory engine may enable the user to view directory listings based on geographic limitations imposed by subscription information associated with the client. The directory engine may enable the user to view directory listings based on geographic limitations imposed on the directory listing.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method, comprising confirming that a user is a client of a financial institution; enabling the user who is confirmed to be a client of the financial institution to post a directory listing on a marketing portal website; and enabling the user who is confirmed to be a client of the financial institution to view at least some of the directory listings on the marketing portal website. The step of confirming may include identifying a client by the client name and the ATM pin number. The information may include a web page. The method may further comprise determining subscription information based on the status of the client, and enabling posting and viewing services based on the subscription information. The method may further comprise managing an electronic commerce site for clients of the financial institution. The method may further comprise managing automatic debit and credit for transactions occurring via the marketing portal website. The method may further comprise rating the client of the financial institution. The rating may include rating the client based on client status. The step of enabling the user to view at least some of the directory listings may include enabling the user to view directory listings based on geographic limitations imposed by subscription information associated with the client. The step of enabling the user to view at least some of the directory listings may include enabling the user to view directory listings based on geographic limitations imposed on the directory listings.  
         [0009]     In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a system, comprising means for confirming that a user is a client of a financial institution; means for enabling the user who is confirmed to be a client of the financial institution to post a directory listing on a marketing portal website; and means for enabling the user who is confirmed to be a client of the financial institution to view at least some of the directory listings on the marketing portal website.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a network system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating details of the marketing portal server, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for creating, managing and conducting a marketing portal in a financial institution, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a screen-shot illustrating an example user interface for accessing the marketing portal from a financial institution website, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a screen-shot illustrating another example user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a screen-shot illustrating an example business profile form, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a screen-shot illustrating another example user interface, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a screen-shot illustrating an example user interface for creating a web page, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a screen-shot illustrating example customer information, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a screen-shot illustrating an example directory, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a screen-shot illustrating an example sub-directory, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a screen-shot illustrating an example goods exchange, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is a flow diagram illustrating another example method for creating, managing and conducting a marketing portal in a financial institution, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0024]     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the embodiments are possible to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to these and other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles, features and teachings disclosed herein.  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is an example network system  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Network system  100  includes a financial institution  105  coupled via a computer network to client systems  115   a  and  115   b  (either referred to herein as a “client system  115 ”). The financial institution  105  may include any banking network, such as the Wells Fargo network of banking offices, the Citibank network of banking offices, or Bank of America network of banking offices, credit unions, etc. It will be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may apply also to insurance companies and the like.  
         [0026]     The financial institution  105  includes a marketing portal server  120  coupled to a security system  125 . The security system  125  conducts network security services and may include a firewall, anti-spyware software, anti-adware software, antivirus software, anti-spam software, etc. The marketing portal server  120  enables clients of the financial institution to post directory listings, create web pages, manage directory listings and web pages, market goods and services, effect transactions, etc. from within the intranet of the financial institution  105 . In one embodiment, the marketing portal server  120  does not allow the general public to access the web pages or information of the marketing portal. Clients of the financial institution  125 , operating on client systems  115 , can log onto the marketing portal server  120 , add and/or edit web pages, search for goods or services needed, etc. Details of the marketing portal are described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . Although the marketing portal server  120  is being illustrated as being hosted and managed by the financial institution  105 , other embodiments may put the marketing portal server  120  outside or both outside and inside the financial institution  105 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating details of the marketing portal server  120 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The marketing portal server  120  includes a web server  200 , a client identification engine  205 , a client enrollment engine  210 , a directory listing development engine  215 , a posting engine  220 , a directory engine  225 , an exchange engine  230 , a payment engine  235 , a client rating engine  240 , an advertisement engine  245 , and/or the like.  
         [0028]     The web server  200  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that manages the general web pages of the marketing portal, e.g., the login page, general navigation between marketing portal services (such as directory listing development, enrollment, business directory navigation, electronic commerce site navigation, etc.), web page communication with client systems  115 , etc.  
         [0029]     The client identification engine  205  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that identifies users as clients of the financial institution  105 . Clients of the financial institution may include those persons or entities with bank accounts with the financial institution  105 , those persons or entities with loans from the financial institution  105 , employees of the financial institution  105 , and/or otherwise authorized users of the marketing portal server  120 . Clients of the financial institution may include honorary groups such as students generally, students of a particular university, college or high school, members of a church group, etc. Marketing programs can be offered that offer access to certain honorary groups. In one embodiment, the client identification engine  205  confirms user identification by the client&#39;s name and client&#39;s pin number for ATM transactions. That way, the client identification engine  205  need not obtain and/or maintain new usernames and passwords for the majority of clients, and need not generate and/or maintain links between each client&#39;s savings/loans accounts and marketing portal accounts. The client identification engine  205  may access the same database of clients&#39; names and pin numbers that ATM machines access. Other user identification techniques can be used.  
         [0030]     The client enrollment engine  210  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that enrolls a client (and/or the client&#39;s business) into the marketing portal server  120 . In one embodiment, the client enrollment engine  210  obtains client and/or entity marketing information such as company information, company contact information, company public website information, etc. In one embodiment, the client enrollment engine  210  determines the client&#39;s status to determine whether any subscription fees are necessary for the marketing portal services being provided to each client. For example, the client enrollment engine  210  may provide a client of the financial institution  105  that has only a small bank account a single web page to be made available to clients within a limited geography (i.e., limited publication rights) free of charge. For additional fees, the client may obtain more pages, greater geographic reach, etc. Similarly, the client enrollment engine  210  may enable the client that has only the small bank account search rights for web pages of companies within a limited geography (i.e., limited access rights). The client enrollment engine  210  may offer a client that has a larger account more web pages, greater geographic reach (e.g., expansive publication and/or access rights), and/or the like for no additional subscription fees.  
         [0031]     The directory listing development engine  215  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that enables an enrolled client to generate a directory listing, possibly including one or more web pages, for publication within the marketing portal provided by the financial institution  105 . One embodiment of the directory listing development engine  215  may enable the client to upload and compile HTML to generate associated web pages, possibly the same HTML used for the client&#39;s public website. Based on client settings generated by the client enrollment engine  210 , the directory listing development engine  215  may limit the size of a web page, the number of web pages, the number of categorizations for the directory listing, the geographic reach of the directory listing, etc.  
         [0032]     The posting engine  220  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that posts the client&#39;s directory listing to the marketing portal within the financial institution  105 . In one embodiment, the posting engine  220  attaches branch information, address information, client setting information, etc. to the directory listing, e.g., to facilitate geographic and/or other limitations. In one embodiment, the posting engine  220  also enables the client to post goods and/or services to an electronic commerce site, such as provided by eBay Inc. and craigslist.com. The posting engine  220  may attach branch information, address information, client setting information, etc. to the goods and/or services, e.g., to facilitate geographic and/or other limitations. In some embodiments, posting, e.g., of directory listings and/or of exchange items, may be offered only to bank clients and not honorary groups. Honorary groups may only be able to view listings and/or electronic commerce items. Other embodiments may allow the honorary groups to post.  
         [0033]     The directory engine  225  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that manages the directory listings, e.g., including client web pages, for presentation only to clients of the financial institution  105 . In one embodiment, the directory engine  225  monitors the limitations of the requesting client and the limitations of the client directory listings to effect control of the publication and/or access rights. For example, in one embodiment, if a client with access rights limited to directory listings within the San Francisco area makes a request for businesses the automotive industry, the directory engine  225  may provide access to only those directory listings belonging to clients residing within the San Francisco area or belonging to clients whose account is maintained in the San Francisco area. In another embodiment, if a New York client with expansive access rights requests directory listings for all clients in a particular industry, the directory engine  225  may not display the directory listing of a client with publication rights limited to only the San Francisco area. The directory engine  225  may sort the directory listings based on distance from the requester, based on client status in the financial institution  105  (e.g., size of the account or amount of business with the financial institution) or client rating (e.g., as generated by the client rating engine  240  below).  
         [0034]     The exchange engine  230  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that operates the electronic commerce site, e.g., an auction or a reverse auction site. In one embodiment, the exchange engine  230  conducts searches of the posted goods and/or services in response to queries. In one embodiment, the exchange engine  230  enables the client to browse categories and subcategories of goods and/or services. In one embodiment, the exchange engine  230  manages publication and/or access rights in a manner similar to that described with reference to directory listings.  
         [0035]     The payment engine  235  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that effects transactions requested by clients. For example, if one client wishes to purchase a product being marketing on the electronic commerce site, then the payment engine  235  may debit the buyer&#39;s account and credit the seller&#39;s account, with or without transaction fees. Transaction fees may be based on the client subscription settings. The payment engine  235  may also effect marketing portal service fees based on the subscription details. For example, the payment engine  235  may automatically debit the client and credit the financial institution  105  for marketing portal service charges.  
         [0036]     The client rating engine  240  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that rates a client based on a variety of factors. Some of the factors for rating a client may include average size of the client&#39;s accounts, number of transactions per day, week, month, etc., number of default transactions, number of overdrawn events, amount of business with the financial institution  105 , number of directory listing hits, etc. The client rating engine  240  may append the client rating on the client&#39;s directory listing or near the client&#39;s name, or may provide the client rating only upon request by the client, by other clients, and/or only with client authorization.  
         [0037]     The advertisement engine  245  includes hardware, software and/or firmware that enables clients to upload and/or generate advertisements to be presented on the various web pages of the marketing portal, possibly as banner ads. The advertisement engine  245  may select advertisements based on relatedness to query searches, click history, the client&#39;s business, etc. for a more directed approach to advertisements. The advertisement engine  245  may charge a client based on the subscription, the number of clicks, etc.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating details of a computer system, of which each of the marketing portal server  120 , security system  125  and client systems  115  may be an instance. Computer system  300  includes a processor  305 , such as an Intel Pentium® microprocessor or a Motorola Power PC® microprocessor, coupled to a communications channel  320 . The computer system  300  further includes an input device  310  such as a keyboard or mouse, an output device  315  such as a cathode ray tube display, a communications device  325 , a data storage device  330  such as a magnetic disk, and memory  335  such as Random-Access Memory (RAM), each coupled to the communications channel  320 . The communications interface  325  may be coupled to a network such as the wide-area network commonly referred to as the Internet. One skilled in the art will recognize that, although the data storage device  330  and memory  335  are illustrated as different units, the data storage device  330  and memory  335  can be parts of the same unit, distributed units, virtual memory, etc.  
         [0039]     The data storage device  330  and/or memory  335  may store an operating system  340  such as the Microsoft Windows XP, Linux, the IBM OS/2 operating system, the MAC OS, or UNIX operating system and/or other programs  345 . It will be appreciated that a preferred embodiment may also be implemented on platforms and operating systems other than those mentioned. An embodiment may be written using JAVA, C, and/or C++ language, or other programming languages, possibly using object oriented programming methodology.  
         [0040]     One skilled in the art will recognize that the computer system  300  may also include additional information, such as network connections, additional memory, additional processors, LANs, input/output lines for transferring information across a hardware channel, the Internet or an intranet, etc. One skilled in the art will also recognize that the programs and data may be received by and stored in the system in alternative ways. For example, a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM) reader  350  such as a magnetic disk drive, hard disk drive, magneto-optical reader, CPU, etc. may be coupled to the communications bus  320  for reading a computer-readable storage medium (CRSM)  355  such as a magnetic disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, RAM, etc. Accordingly, the computer system  300  may receive programs and/or data via the CRSM reader  350 . Further, it will be appreciated that the term “memory” herein is intended to cover all data storage media whether permanent or temporary.  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram illustrating an example flow diagram  400  for creating, managing and conducting a marketing portal in a financial institution  105 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Flow diagram  1400  begins with the web server  200  presenting the bank web site  1402 , and the client identification engine  205  in step  1404  determining whether the client has logged in. If not, then the client identification engine  205  in step  1406  conducts additional handshaking until the client has logged in. When logged in, then the web server  200  presents a user interface that enables user selection of one of the administrative menu  1408 , business directory  1410 , and exchange listings  1412 .  
         [0042]     If the client selects the administrative menu, then the web server  200  enables selection of exchange listings  416 , advertising  418 , and/or a business profile generation and/or editing  424 . If the exchange listings  416  link is selected, then the posting engine  220  enables a client to post a service  420  and/or product  422  to the electronic commerce site. If the advertising  418  link is selected, then the posting engine  220  enables the client to upload, generate, etc. an advertisement to be presented for example as a banner ad.  
         [0043]     If the business profile  424  link is selected, then the client enrollment engine  210  determines whether the client has enrolled as a subscriber to the marketing portal service. If not or if modifications are needed, then the client enrollment engine  210  in step  426  enables adding and/or editing the business profile of the directory listing. If enrolled, then the directory listing development engine  215  in step  428  determines whether the client has generated a web page. If not, then the directory listing development engine  215  determines whether the client wishes to generate a web page, e.g., possibly with the assistance of a third party vendor. If so, then the directory listing development engine  215  in step  440  enables generation/uploading/etc. of images  444 , menu items  446 , options  448 , page elements  450 , etc. The directory listing development engine  215  may employ applications  442  to assist in the generation of the web pages and/or services offered by the web page. Other applications  442  may enable other functions such as a client relationship database.  
         [0044]     If the client selects the business directory link  410 , then the web server  200  enables the client to conduct a business product and/or service search  452  of the directory listings. Based on the search criteria, a directory listing  454  is presented. The resulting directory listings  454  may include customer overview information and web page information. The client may click on a link from the customer overview to obtain business details  456 . Business details may include a link to a public website  458  and/or a link to a web presence  460  within the marketing portal. It will be appreciated that, if the searching client follows the link to the public website  458 , the searching client may need to undergo re-identification to re-enter the protected marketing portal.  
         [0045]     If the client selects the exchange listing  412 , the client may be directed to a search screen to enable searching the goods and/or services being listed for sale on the electronic commerce site. The result listing may provide a listing of entities, such that clicking on a link may direct the client to the business detail  456  of the directory listing. Alternatively, the client may browse goods/services details  464 . If so desired, the client may contact  466  the seller, or may request a credit validation web service  470  to obtain credit validation  468 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 5  is a screen-shot illustrating an example user interface  500  for accessing the marketing portal of the financial institution  105 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. User interface  500  may be generated by web server  200 . User interface  500  may include a link  505  to the exchange site  440  and a link  510  to intranet presence management  435 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 6  is a screen-shot illustrating an example user interface  600 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. User interface  600  may be generated by web server  200 . User interface  600  may be accessed from link  505 , and may include a link  605  to the business profile management  425 , and a link  610  to the exchange site  440 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 7  is a screen-shot illustrating an example business profile form  700 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Business profile form  700  may request company name  705 , contact information  710 , and company description  715  (e.g., short description and/or detailed description). The directory engine  225  may use the company name  705 , contact information  710  and company description  715  to assist with query-based searching of the company directory and/or the organization of directory listings in the business directory.  
         [0049]      FIG. 8  is a screen-shot illustrating another example user interface  800 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. User interface  800  may be generated by web server  200 . User interface  800  may be accessed from link  510  and includes a link  805  to web content management  435 , a link  810  to customer relationship management  470 , and a link  815  to effective marketing information.  
         [0050]      FIG. 9  is a screen-shot illustrating an example user interface  900  for creating a web page of the directory listing, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. User interface  900  may be generated by web server  200 . User interface  900  may be accessed from link  805 , and includes a company name  905 , a company description  910 , categories  915  in which the company belongs, images  920  which can be uploaded or provided, and documents  925  that can be linked to the web page. The directory engine  225  may use the company name  905 , company description  910 , categories  915 , images  920 , and documents  925  to assist with query-based searching of the company directory and/or the organization of directory listings in the business directory.  
         [0051]      FIG. 10  is a screen-shot illustrating example a customer information user interface  1000 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Customer information user interface  1000  may be accessed from link  810  and may have fields for contact person identification  1005 , contact information  1010 , company information  1015 , a password  1020 , and a field to enter additional comments  1025 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 11  is a screen-shot illustrating an example directory  1100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Example directory  1100  may be managed by the directory engine  225 . Example directory  1100  may be accessed from link  610  and includes a search section  1105  to enable query or criteria searching of the directory listings and a category section  1110  to enable navigation through the directory listings.  
         [0053]      FIG. 12  is a screen-shot illustrating an example sub-directory  1200 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Example sub-directory  1200  may be managed by web page server  225 . Example sub-directory  1200  may be accessed from the “law” link in the category section  1110  of directory  1100 . As shown, sub-directory  1200  includes a set of sub-directory categories  1205  and directory listings  1210  (e.g., listed by popularity).  
         [0054]      FIG. 13  is a screen-shot illustrating an example user interface  1300  for goods exchange electronic commerce site, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. User interface  1300  may be managed by exchange engine  230 . User interface  1300  may be providing the exchange engine  230  with a search term for computer and networking products to generate a product listing, e.g., the product listing provided in user interface  1300 . User interface  1300  includes a product column  1305  listing products, a price column  1310  listing lot price, a location column  1315  listing the location of the client, and a closing date column  1320  listing the date of the end of the sale and/or sale price. Some embodiments may enable the client to navigate to the directory listing of the seller.  
         [0055]      FIG. 14  is an example flow diagram  1400  for creating, managing and conducting a marketing portal in a financial institution, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Diagram  1400  includes a marketing portal administration portion  1401 , a bank administration portion  1402 , a marketing portal login portion  1403 , a marketing portal site portion  1404 , and a customer administration portion  1405 .  
         [0056]     The marketing portal administration portion  1401  may be administered by a third party, and may include a login function  1414 , auditing function  1415 , an accounting function  1416 , and a bank manager  1417 . The bank administration portion  1402  may be administered by the financial institution  105 , and may include a login function  1418 , a zip code container  1419 , an auditing function  1420 , an accounting function  1421 , and configuration portion  1422  (including exchange categories  1423 , product and service categories  1424 , and advertising  1425 ).  
         [0057]     The marketing portal site portion  1403  includes a central site  1426  that conducts client login  1427  for accessing customer administration portion  1405  and possibly no login for public visitor  1428  access to the postings on the marketing portal.  
         [0058]     If the user is determined to be a client, then the client is authenticated by a security web service  1428  and proceeds to customer administration portion  1405 . In customer administration portion  1405 , the client may select from options  1429 , namely, directory listings  1430 , exchange  1431 , and advertising  1432 . In directory listings  1430 , the client may generate an internet presence  1433  that may include a business listing and a web page (possibly using third party services). In exchange  1431 , the client may add services and/or products to the electronic commerce site. In advertising, the client may upload advertisements to be used as banners, may create and/or purchase advertisements, and may monitor success of advertisements, e.g., counting click events, purchase events, etc.  
         [0059]     If the user is a public visitor (which may be a client) interested in viewing the postings (directory listings or exchange items) on the marketing portal, then the visitor is directed to the public access area  1406  of the marketing portal site portion  1404 . In another embodiment, only a client may access the site  1406 . Site  1406  allows the visitor to select the business directory link  1436  to view business directory  1407 , including conducting searches, visit web pages of the businesses/individuals, and/or conduct category navigation. The visitor can select exchange listings  1437  to view exchange listings  1408 , including saving listings in favorites for future consideration, purchase goods and/or services, apply for credit, contact sellers, etc. The visitor can select a calendar link  1438  to view and/or post a community calendar of events. Such events may be searched using various query terms. The visitor can select a community news link  1439  to view and/or post community news  1412 . The visitor can select a community organizations link  1440  to view, submit and/or donate to non-profit, government and/or other organizations.  
         [0060]     As the visitor visits the different sites, advertising  1409 , e.g., banner ads, (generated by advertising  1432 ) may be placed on the visitors web pages.  
         [0061]     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is by way of example only, and other variations and modifications of the above-described embodiments and methods are possible in light of the foregoing teaching. Although the network sites are being described as separate and distinct sites, one skilled in the art will recognize that these sites may be a part of an integral site, may each include portions of multiple sites, or may include combinations of single and multiple sites. The various embodiments set forth herein may be implemented utilizing hardware, software, or any desired combination thereof. For that matter, any type of logic may be utilized which is capable of implementing the various functionality set forth herein. Components may be implemented using a programmed general purpose digital computer, using application specific integrated circuits, or using a network of interconnected conventional components and circuits. Connections may be wired, wireless, modem, etc. The embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. The present invention is limited only by the following claims.