Patent ID: 7333948

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