Online Payments - a Must for Ecommerce Success
A Home Business Article Contributed by Sharon Hill
Show Me the Money - an Ecommerce Essential
The biggest draw for Internet (ecommerce) sales, as opposed to brick and mortar or print media sales, is immediacy. Folks turn to the Internet for their purchases because not only can they choose from their own home any time of day or night, but they can also pay for it and arrange for its delivery - without leaving their house.
To allow this ecommerce immediacy you need to offer your viewers a way to use their credit card, or perhaps their checking account, for online payment.
How-Tos of Ecommerce Credit Card Payments
To include credit card transactions as part of your business' ecommerce offer, you will need the help of other vendors and software. There are various ecommerce vendors from which to choose. PayPal is the best known and perhaps the most reputable. Owned by eBay, this online payment resource offers advanced security and the ability to not only complete your customer's payment transactions, transferring their funds to your coffers, but also offers several free of charge funds transfer services as well.
Setting up a credit card merchant account is probably the most daunting part of your ecommerce venture.
There are some cautions. First (and although I may convince you, your potential consumers may not be no matter what you say), using a credit card online is far less risky than pulling out your plastic at the local supermarket. Ecommerce security, with very little effort on your part, is much more strenuous and effective than in any brick and mortar location. The second element you should always keep in mind is that vague doesn't cut it online.
There are plenty of folks out there who are online but not ecommerce or even Internet savvy. Some don't know how to use their browser's back button, or to even double click on an icon. Assuming someone knows that they should only click once n the "buy now" or whatever label you give your finalize transaction button is assuming too much. Be very clear. Let them know that now is the time they are making the money commitment. Tell them to CLICK HERE AND ONLY ONCE. Spell it out.
It will save headaches later.
Your ecommerce order form doesn't need to be rocket science or beautiful. It just needs to be organized and clear. Don't forget that baby boomers are aging and more and more folks ordering from you will need larger point size to comfortable peruse your site - and buy from you.
You will need to head to your friendly bank representative and set up your credit card ecommerce merchant account. For this ecommerce payment help you'll typically pay a per-transaction fee to the bank. Sometimes the fee is a combination of an initial fixed fee and a percentage of the sale. You may also have a one time set up fee charged to your account as well as an overall monthly cost.
Other Ecommerce Payment Alternatives
Gift certificates and electronic checks are other ecommerce alternatives that have been around for awhile. The newest ecommerce payment offer, however, is "Bill me Later." Attractive to consumers that are cautious about using their credit card online, or who have no credit card, this option allows the purchaser to provide her or his date of birth, and last four social security number digits. With this and name and address, the retailer can send out the purchased merchandise along with an invoice due in 30 days.
To rake in the dough, to ecommerce you must go! You'll be glad you did.
