Promoting the goods and services of others by providing hypertext links to the web sites of others; promoting the goods and services of others by providing a website at which users can locate links to retail stores and to general consumer product information of their choosing; providing a website which features advertisements for the goods and services of others on a global computer network; providing a website whereby buyers of goods or services locate and receive quotations from multiple competitive sources and sellers of goods or services identify and bid on multiple new sales opportunities; providing on-line directory information services also featuring hyperlinks to other websites; facilitating the exchange of needed information for financial compensation via the Internet; preparing and placing advertisement for others to aid businesses in acquiring new customers, in retaining repeat purchasers, and in maintaining customer retention