1. A method of generating a personalized offer for a user through an information gathering system disposed on the Internet, the method comprising: storing a user profile for each of a plurality of registered users in a profile database associated with the information gathering system; receiving an information request message at the information gathering system, wherein the information request message is sent in response to the user activating a hyperlink presented on a participating web site, wherein the participating web site is operated independently from the information gathering system and wherein the user activates the hyperlink in order to access an original intended destination distinct from the information gathering system; determining whether the user is one of the plurality of registered users; and if the user is one of the plurality of registered users: retrieving the user profile from the profile database; and sending a redirection message, wherein the redirection message is personalized according to the profile of the user.