A method of notifying users of an online social network of an activity performed within a web site that is external to the online social network by an individual who is a registered user of the online social network and the web site, the online social network being managed by a manager application executed by a server of the online social network, manager, comprising: receiving, at the manager, a notification package from the external web site, the notification package including a notification message that describes the activity performed; determining, by the manager, whether the notification package specifies the individual existing within a database, if the individual exists within the database, determining, by the manager, whether an index within the notification package is undefined, determining, by the manager, that the notification package references a new object, when the index is undefined, and adding the new object to the database, when the index is defined, determining, by the manager, whether the index refers to an object existing within the database, if so, determining, by the manager, whether the notification package specifies one or more recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message, when no recipients are specified, notifying, by a social network provider, all users with whom the individual is associated, when one or more recipients are specified, notifying, by the manager, the specified one or more recipients according to notification preferences of the recipient, if not, returning an error; if the individual does not exist within the database, returning an error. receiving, at the manager, a notification package from the external web site, the notification package including a notification message that describes the activity performed; determining, by the manager, whether the notification package specifies the individual existing within a database, if the individual exists within the database, determining, by the manager, whether an index within the notification package is undefined, determining, by the manager, that the notification package references a new object, when the index is undefined, and adding the new object to the database, when the index is defined, determining, by the manager, whether the index refers to an object existing within the database, if so, determining, by the manager, whether the notification package specifies one or more recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message, when no recipients are specified, notifying, by a social network provider, all users with whom the individual is associated, when one or more recipients are specified, notifying, by the manager, the specified one or more recipients according to notification preferences of the recipient, if not, returning an error; if the individual does not exist within the database, returning an error. if the individual exists within the database, determining, by the manager, whether an index within the notification package is undefined, determining, by the manager, that the notification package references a new object, when the index is undefined, and adding the new object to the database, when the index is defined, determining, by the manager, whether the index refers to an object existing within the database, if so, determining, by the manager, whether the notification package specifies one or more recipients, each of whom is to receive the notification message, when no recipients are specified, notifying, by a social network provider, all users with whom the individual is associated, when one or more recipients are specified, notifying, by the manager, the specified one or more recipients according to notification preferences of the recipient, if not, returning an error; if the individual does not exist within the database, returning an error.