Method for an on-line promotion server

A method for a client system including a display for defining a promotion for distribution to a plurality of application servers comprises:

• displaying a plurality of web pages on the display, the plurality of web pages specified by a central server;
• receiving setup data for the promotion from the user in response to a first prompt on the plurality of web pages on the display;
• receiving a specification of an offer for the promotion from the user in response to a second prompt on the plurality of web pages on the display;
• receiving a targeting specification for the promotion from the user in response to a third prompt on the plurality of web pages on the display;
• and
• transmitting the setup data, the offer, and the targeting specification to the central server;
• wherein the central server forms a specification for the promotion in response to the promotion identifier, the offer, and the targeting specification;
• and
• wherein the central server transmits the specification for the promotion to the plurality of application servers.

A method for a central server for distributing promotions to a plurality of application servers comprises:

• providing a plurality of web pages for display to a client system;
• receiving promotion setup data from the client system, the promotion setup data provided by a promoter in response to a first prompt on the plurality of web pages;
• receiving a specification of an offer from the client system, the specification of the offer provided by the promoter in response to a second prompt on the plurality of web pages;
• receiving a specification of a targeting method for the promotion from the client system, the specification of the targeting method provided by the promoter in response to a third prompt on the plurality of web pages;
• receiving a specification of a method for delivering the promotion from the client system, the specification of the method for delivering the promotion provided by the promoter in response to a fourth prompt on the plurality of web pages;
• forming a specification for the promotion in response to the promotion setup data, the specification of the offer, the specification of the targeting method, and the specification of the method for delivering the promotion;
• storing the specification for the promotion in a database;
• and
• distributing the specification for the promotion to the plurality of application servers.