Abstract: A computer assisted compensation method is provided. The compensation method comprises sending a message from a first party to a second party, wherein the message includes a link to a processor and the link has a sponsor identifier, having the second party select the link to contact the processor, correlating the first party with the second party, and providing credit to the first party for an activity of the second party. A compensation system and an apparatus that performs a compensation function are also provided. A computer assisted marketing method is also provided. The computer assisted marketing method includes identifying a referrer, correlating a referred consumer and the referrer that referred the consumer, receiving referred consumer purchase information, calculating compensation due to the referrer for referred consumer activity, transferring consumer activity related data to a merchant storage device, and transferring consumer activity related data to a non-merchant storage device.