Patent ID: 6970835

Claim:
A method for using a networked system to promote items from one or more sellers, wherein operation by the networked system comprises the steps of: presenting information to a potential buyer of an item at a host site visited by potential buyers, the information comprising item information and incentive information, wherein the item information comprises information about an identified seller of the promoted item and the incentive information comprises information about an incentive offered by the host site to the potential buyer if that potential buyer purchased the promoted item in the item information from the identified seller in the item information, wherein the amount and type of the incentive is dependent upon the promoted item and the identified seller in the item information, and wherein the incentive information specifies a condition that the buyer is only qualified for the incentive if the buyer uses a buyer's agent with whom the host site has a fee sharing arrangement; receiving a request for the incentive at the host site from the buyer when the buyer purchases the promoted item from the identified seller; requesting certification from the buyer that the buyer purchased the promoted item from the identified seller; receiving certification from a buyer at the host site indicating that the buyer purchased the promoted item from the identified seller and that the buyer used the buyer's agent with whom the host site has a fee sharing arrangement entitling that buyer to the incentive, wherein the certification is issued to the buyer by the seller upon purchase of the promoted item and thereby confirming that the seller reports the sale to the networked system operator; determining the amount and type of the incentive due to the buyer; presenting the incentive to the buyer directly from the host site; requesting payment from the seller to the host site as a fee for the host site directing the buyer to the seller; and receiving payment from the seller at the host site when the buyer completes the purchase of the promoted item in the item information from the seller.