Abstract: A social network appreciation platform (SNAP) for marketing products or services of a merchant to customers online. A server receives marketing campaigns, announcements, coupons, or other messages defined by a participating merchant, for distribution to certain social networks to which a customer of the merchant belongs. The server also receives registration information from the customer including a unique identifier for use in purchase transactions, a selection of the customer's social networks to which certain of the merchant-defined messages are to be distributed, and a selection of the messages for distribution to the selected social networks. In response to transaction data from a transaction source representing a customer purchase, including the customer's unique identifier, the server transmits the messages selected by the customer to each social network selected by the customer, for display on the customer's page and viewing by friends or followers of the customer on the network.

Abstract: A network platform for marketing products or services to consumers. A transaction source processes a customer purchase from a business, and produces transaction data including at least a unique identifier for the customer. A networking server coupled to the transaction source has a corporate network or web interface to enable the business to define marketing campaigns and enter data and information concerning its customers, and a consumer network interface that allows a customer to perform at least one of (a) manage integration of his/her social network(s) with the business, (b) customize the form or content of messages sent to the customer's friends over the social networks, (c) opt in or out of certain services, (d) group the customer's friends for targeting by the business campaigns, and (e) obtain statistical data on the customer's business patronage. A social network interface enables the networking server to communicate with the social networks.