Patent ID: 6885995

Claim:
A method for cross-marketing specific products and services to customers of specific merchant websites over a distributed communication network by a merchant loyalty service provider hosting site, comprising the steps of: providing a selectable connection to said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site on said network from a plurality of independent on-line merchant websites on said network whereby customers of different merchant websites can access said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site through said on-line merchant websites; providing at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site a customer loyalty benefit offer, wherein said customer loyalty benefit offer presents to a customer an offer for said specific products and/or services, and a benefit award to a customer as an incentive to accept said offer of specific products and/or services, wherein said benefit award is redeemable as a result of activity at the merchant website by the customer who accessed the merchant loyalty service provider hosting site; receiving at said merchant loyalty service provider hosting site an acceptance of said customer loyalty offer by said customer; and providing said customer loyalty benefit award to said customer in response to said acceptance.