In my last article I discussed the process of activating your credit card brick and mortar businesses. I pointed out that research has shown that accepting credit cards can help increase revenue and improve cash flow. I also pointed out that you may need to look beyond your local bank to help make things right. This week we focus on creating a system of payment for your online business website. If you think that putting a brick and mortar position prevents the card with a credit system as bankers, try asking them how to do on your site.
If you remember, the question that motivated this topic came from a lady who went to his local bank to help create an accepting credit cards for his business and his bank was not very expert. I pointed out that ignorance of his banker, the question was probably not a reflection on his skills of a banker, but a reflection on the partitioning of the emergence of bank credit cards.
The fact is that most banks can provide merchant accounts to accept payments by credit card, but beyond that have little to do with the process. Even larger banks may only have one person on staff who is charged as an expert "credit card" and if that person does not go on vacation, you are lucky enough (voice of experience speaking, people).
I have helped many clients set up systems for processing online credit cards and more than once I had to sit with the bank issuing the merchant account and educate on how online payment systems for the job. Do not believe me? This is a direct quote (here is the Bible, here's my hand) by the employee of the bank was asked to consider applications for the Internet merchant account, "When someone pays online how to pass a credit card in their computers € | "
A little 'as a brick and mortar system for processing the credit card, you will need the following to accept credit cards on your website: (1) an electronic shopping cart that allows customers to choose products and checkout when you are ready, (2) a payment gateway service to get approval or declination of credit cards, (3), a processor of credit card transaction processing, and (4) an internet merchant account issued by an acquiring bank in which processed funds are deposited.
We covered most of these last week. Here's a quick little reminder 'for those who have lost most, then talk of a trolley.
Payment Gateway Service: The payment gateway service comes into play when a customer submits their credit card information from the web form. Think of the gateway service as an intermediary in the process. The website Basket system electronically detects your card for the service gateway, which then transmits the data to the processor for approval. Depending on the response of the processor, the gateway service will return the approval or declination for the purchase. The whole process takes only seconds to complete.
Credit Card Processor: The processor of credit card has a data center that processes electronic transactions by credit card by the gateway company, ensures that the charge is valid, then deposit the funds into the merchant account.
Internet Merchant Account: An Internet merchant account is a bank or financial institution in which funds from online sales are deposited. Merchant accounts are usually issued by banks that are associated with the services of credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. Be aware that many banks will not provide merchant accounts to Internet merchants as they are often classified as "high-risk enterprises. This policy is highly variable and, finally, the grant of merchant account will fall to the economy of the bank's point of view. If the bank sees even the least iota of risk, will not be granted the account. Fortunately, the growth of online sales has led to an entire industry of merchant service bureaus that will give you a merchant account and all you need to accept payments online. The fees are generally higher, but it's better than having a system of online payment at all.
Shopping Cart System. To accept payments online, you must have what is called a system of "baskets" that allows customers to choose and buy products. Adding a shopping cart for your website can be simple or complex, cheap or very expensive. Depends on the product sales and the options you want to offer your clients. As in all things, you get what you pay for.
A shopping cart system typically consists of three elements: a product catalog, shopping cart, and order / payment system. The product catalog is the component inventory and displays items that are for sale on the site. The order / payment system is part of the program that allows customers to "add to cart", and ordering / payment system is the component that allows the customer to checkout and pay for its purchase.
There are a wide variety of shopping cart software on the market and the price depends on the desired characteristics. Cart systems range from simple insertion of HTML form complete catalog and inventory, such as those used by Amazon or Dell.
You can go from zero to tens of thousands of dollars. Some of them, you can configure the site itself, while others should be in place by someone who knows what they do.
You can get a free Paypal.com Shopping Cart System is the simplest in nature, but the easiest to implement. Using Paypal also alleviates the need for a business bank account, because everything is handled by Paypal, for a price of course. You insert HTML forms into your website code and when an item is purchased.
There are also many companies online that will help you configure your e-commerce / credit card system. These companies charge several hundred to several thousand dollars for their services, so it would be wise for you to get an idea of what you need before putting them in play.
Customer submits credit card. The site sends the transaction to the gateway. The gateway sends the information to the processor. The processor contacts the issuing of credit card customers of banks. The issuing bank returns the result of the processor. The processor routs the result to the door. The gateway transmits the result to the site. The site displays the result.
One thing to remember when creating a system of electronic commerce on their site is: Everything for the safety and privacy online. Even if the credit card processing online has been around for years there are still many people who do not give their credit card number online. These are the same people who willingly give their phone number credit card to a complete stranger or hand your card to a waiter who disappears with it for about ten minutes. The online credit card processing is much less vulnerable to fraud and abuse that the treatment is the phone or give to a boy.
Eighty-five percent of the surveys of Internet users said that the lack of security uncomfortable sending credit card information on the web.
It's up to you to instill a sense of security and make the customer comfortable pushing the card in your computer.
Here's to your success.
Tim Knox tim@dropshipwholesale.net For more information on starting your own online business or eBay, http://www.dropshipwholesale.net visit