The Benefits of Owning an Ecommerce Site</h1> <article> <h1>The Benefits of Owning an Ecommerce Site</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:04:27 GMT</p> <p>Selling your products or services online can increase your potential for success. You don’t have to be a Web guru in order to sell online. In fact, most successful online storeowners have no experience in Web design or Web development. <br /><br />To get the most out of selling online, you should purchase an <a target="_blank" href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp">ecommerce Web site package</a>. With the right ecommerce package, your online store will be up and running in no time. Plus, you’ll be able to instantly and safely accept online credit card payments, and easily manage your prices and inventory.<br /><br />In this video, you’ll learn more about ecommerce and why hiring a Web services company can help you get the most out of selling online.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.networksolutions.com/video/nsplayer320_ecommerce.swf?video=http://www.networksolutions.com/video/ecommerce.flv" /> <param name="quality" value="high" /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /> </object> </p> <p> </p> <p>Check out our other videos for more information on getting online.</p> <ul> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mysolutionspot.com/getting-started-online/building-a-web-presence-why-and-how-1914/">Building a Web Presence – Why and How</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mysolutionspot.com/getting-started-online/how-to-build-a-web-site-for-your-small-business-1913/">How to Build a Web Site for Your Small Business</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mysolutionspot.com/optimizing-online-marketing-efforts/how-to-get-your-web-site-noticed-using-seo-1912/">How to Get Your Web Site Noticed Using SEO</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mysolutionspot.com/optimizing-online-marketing-efforts/reach-a-larger-more-targeted-audience-with-search-engine-marketing-1911/">Reach a Larger, More Targeted Audience with Search Engine Marketing</a></li> <li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mysolutionspot.com/maximizing-your-web-site-experience/protect-your-customers-with-ssl-certificates-1909/">Protect Your Customers with SSL Certificates</a></li> </ul><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Why Small Businesses Should Embrace E-Commerce</h1> <p>Nit Sujatanond — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:57:30 GMT</p> <p><eta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"> <eta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <eta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <eta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"> <link rel="File-List" href="http://www.mysolutionspot.com/C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CNSUJAT%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" /> <style type="text/css"></style> <style type="text/css"></style> How often have we heard this story? A large business opens several locations, stealing customers from local mom-and-pop shops and causing a domino effect of store closures. Despite such occurrences, small businesses still manage to make up the majority of the U.S. business population - in fact, approximately 99% of all U.S. businesses. <br /> <br /> Many small businesses rely heavily on their <a target="_blank" href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp">e-commerce Web sites</a> to effectively compete with the Goliaths in their industries. An e-commerce Web site, unlike other Web sites, enables its users to perform real-time business transactions - browsing, ordering and paying - online. It can operate as a standalone business or serve as an extension of a brick-and-mortar business. <br /> <br /> E-commerce is a cost-saving way for small businesses to enhance their accessibility and visibility, and take advantage of the massive traffic stream available on the Internet. Furthermore, e-commerce has no borders, making it possible for small businesses to sell their offerings locally, nationally and even internationally. It is comparable to leasing or purchasing multiple facilities - all situated in prime locations - but costs substantially less and does not require as much effort.<br /> <br /> In addition to helping small businesses generate revenue, online stores also make it possible for business owners to directly communicate with current and potential customers. This means, using their online stores, owners can familiarize their audience with their history and their mission. They can even introduce their staff and talk about their philanthropies. Best of all, they can broadcast special promotions and advertise their business for free. <br /> <br /> Moreover, e-commerce Web sites can act as valuable market research tools. With the implementation of Web analytics, these sites can gather behavioral information, such as a customer's shopping style, his or her response to various promotions and the types of products he or she purchases. Additionally, store owners can solicit comments and suggestions by adding feedback forms to their Web sites.<br /> <br /> Creating an e-commerce Web site will expose small business owners to the large and fruitful online market. However, they must promote their sites, just as they would with any business. Online marketing techniques, such as search engine optimization and pay-per-click advertising, are unique, but there are numerous services that can manage their online marketing campaigns for them or at least help teach them how to manage their own campaigns. Managing an e-commerce store can be a continual learning process, but it is a huge opportunity that all small business owners should not ignore.</eta></eta></eta></eta></p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>How to Choose an E-commerce Provider</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:09:39 GMT</p> <p>Build it and they will come! Well, maybe not; at least, not in the Internet world. Once you’ve built your e-commerce site, you need to be sure that you can get found online, and this starts with the major search engines like Google®.<br /> <br /> As a small business owner, taking the leap from a brick-and-mortar store to a fully functioning online e-commerce site can be exciting and daunting at the same time. While it seems like a monumental task, there has never been a better time to get your business online. Studies show that online shopping is increasing as gas prices and economic concerns continue to worry consumers.<br /> <br /> Creating a Web site for the purpose of selling products or services online entails a large amount of research and planning. E-commerce encompasses many aspects of an online store including setting up product pages and lists of inventory, managing orders from customers, delivering ordered products, as well as customer support. Simply looking for a provider based on a list of features is not the best way to get started. You need to step back and take a look your needs as a small business owner and make a decision based on your business model and where you want to go with your online store. <br /> <br /> Choosing the right set-up for your business now will keep you from having to make complex and costly changes down the road. Let’s start by understanding the types of providers you can choose from: <br /> <br /> <b>Licensed vs. Hosted Solution: Which is right for your business?</b> You need to know your options when selecting an e-commerce provider. You can select a licensed option where you purchase the software and then host the information on your own server. Or, you can choose a hosted-provider solution where you design and set-up your store on a shared server and the provider manages the software and any technical needs.<br /> <br /> When you purchase licensed e-commerce software, you own the software code and can modify and change it accordingly. If there’s a new feature your customers desire, you can add it, which makes this option more flexible than a hosted solution. The obvious disadvantage is you must maintain it yourself. Maintaining an e-commerce site using licensed software often requires a technology team to ensure the system runs smoothly and if there is a software problem—with security or features—it’s up to you, the business owner, to fix it. <br /> <br /> With a hosted e-commerce site, the company that you purchase from maintains the servers and the software for you. The benefits of a hosted solution include set-up and maintenance of your shopping cart, security for your checkout process, 24/7 monitoring of your site, no investment in infrastructure, technical support, and free software upgrades. The hosting company handles any security, bug fixes, and emergency situations that might occur, so you don’t have to worry.<br /> <br /> The downside of purchasing a hosted solution is it’s not as flexible as its licensed counterpart because you must rely on the company you purchased from for modifications and maintenance. As the business owner, you can’t change anything specific to fit the needs of your evolving online business or fix any small problems that might arise. <br /> <br /> A good analogy to compare the two is buying vs. renting a home: You may pay more for the down payment at first, but the house is yours to change and fix, like a licensed solution. But buyers beware; when the faucets break or painting needs to be done, it’s up to you to do it. Renting or paying per month for a hosted solution allows you to stay focused on your business, knowing that those types of issues will be handled, with no additional cost or time to you. <br /> <br /> Bottom line? For the entrepreneur just starting out with its e-commerce site, hosting may be the best option. For the more established business with an in-house IT department, licensed may be the best option. <br /> <br /> In addition to choosing the right type of provider, there are some other options you need to consider when choosing an e-commerce provider. <br /> <br /> <b>Your e-commerce site needs a merchant account.</b> In order to sell online, you need to give your customers multiple payment options. Most customers are accustomed to using credit card for online transactions. In order to accept credit card payments, you need to apply for a merchant account. You need to apply for the merchant account and there are many vendors available. They will ask for information from you like your federal tax ID number (if registered as a business), driver’s license number, business bank account, a documented refund policy, and an estimate of your credit card sales volume. You will also need a “payment gateway” to connect your e-commerce Web site to the credit card companies and to your merchant account.<br /> <br /> <b>A secure checkout is vital to the reputation of your company.</b> Make your checkout secure by adding an <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/security-suite/index.jsp" target="_blank">SSL Certificate </a>(Secure Socket Layer); it will show your customers that you are serious about their security and it is safe to do business with you. If consumers have a negative experience buying products online from your e-commerce site, it can ruin your business reputation and your bottom line. <br /> <br /> <b>Make sure your provider is PCI Compliant.</b> E-commerce sites should be Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant. In 2006, major credit card issuers created a set of standards to ensure security and to protect personal information for processed payment card transactions. Members of the <a href="https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/index.shtml" target="_blank">payment card industry</a> include merchants, credit card companies and other financial institutions and each must comply with the <a href="http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/629-What-Is-PCI-Compliance-And-Should-Merchants-Be-Concerned-About-It-" target="_blank">standards</a> in order to accept credit cards. Failure to be compliant can result in fines and cause unnecessary stress on your small business. Make sure your provider is PCI Compliant.<br /> <br /> <b>Get the support you need.</b> Choose a reputable and reliable hosting provider.. Read reviews from others with experience with the company, along with third party reviews. Call the support line at hours convenient for you, and hours you would probably be working on your site. Call in the middle of the night (to prepare for those unavoidable emergencies that will crop up). Make sure it’s a real person that answers the phone. Getting poor service from your hosting provider makes it difficult for you to provide an exceptional experience for your customers. Therefore, do your homework and choose carefully.<br /> <br /> Understanding how to choose the right solution for your business will <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/new-to-ecommerce.jsp" target="_blank">start your e-commerce site</a> out on the right path. Knowing what options you have and what necessary steps are involved will save you time and headache over the long run. Remember, don’t let a laundry list of features drive your decision, but rather let the needs of your company determine your choice for an e-commerce solution.<br /> <br /> For more information on starting to sell online, check out Network Solutions Free Solution Guide <i><a href="http://bpmforms.networksolutions.com/whitepaper-8steps.html?OriginationPage=/e-commerce/index.jsp&CampaignName=8Steps-20070521" target="_blank">8 Steps to Start Selling Online.</a></i><br /> <br /> For more information on security and SSL Certifications, Check out Network Solutions Free Solution Guide <i><a href="http://bpmforms.networksolutions.com/whitepaper-ssl.html?OriginationPage=am-news&CampaignName=sslwhitepaperbase-20070820" target="_blank">SSL Certificates: A Simple Solution to Web Site Security.</a></i></p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Get Started with a Merchant Account</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:21:22 GMT</p> <p>For the vast majority of online shoppers, facilitating the buying process for customers is key to success. This means finding a way to accept credit card payments. While it sounds like a simple e-commerce solution, online credit card processing can be a complex, confusing venture for small businesses. </p> <p>Online stores often use third-party providers like PayPal® to accept credit card payments. However, when you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of this ecommerce solution, you’re likely to find that using a third party provider increases your risk of abandoned checkout sessions and exposes you to unwanted (and often unnecessary) fees. The smallest online stores – those with minimal products and low-volume sales -- may indeed succeed using PayPal®, but it places limitations on future growth and may even impede repeat sales.</p> <p>The majority of online stores don’t just want to go online – they want to grow online. If this describes your goal, your choice should be clear: you’ll need to create a merchant account for credit card processing. Choosing a <a target="_blank" href="http://merchantservices.networksolutions.com/merchant-services-resources.php">merchant account</a> can be overwhelming. As you begin your search for reliable credit card processing services, you’ll need to evaluate each merchant account provider based on a variety of key factors.</p> <p><b>Legitimacy of Fees.</b> A merchant account is a contractual agreement, so be vigilant about finding hidden fees in fine print -- like those charged for application processing, account set-up and even customer refunds. Some merchant account fees are legitimate, such as monthly statement fees for credit card processing costs and pre-determined transaction fees. You may be inundated with low rates that may be deceptive, so be sure to read the fine print.</p> <p><b>Room for Growth.</b> Low rates are often used as bait to lure customers into a contract that does not support the growth of their online business. It’s imperative to choose a merchant account provider that can support you now and in the future. While it’s impossible to predict exactly how much (and how quickly) your business will expand, you can be ready by choosing a merchant account provider that has the flexibility to meet increased credit card processing demands caused by new business growth or even the holiday rush. Also, inquire about the possibility of restrictive policies like low monthly limits. Some merchant account providers will charge their customers an added fee for exceeding their monthly credit card processing limit.<br /><br /><b>24/7 Availability.</b> As a business owner, you know the importance of providing customer service – so why expect anything less for yourself? Your merchant account provider will help you accomplish your ultimate goal -- completing sales -- so the provider should be available whenever problems arise with credit card processing. If you become unable to accept credit card payments at any time, an immediate response will be required to prevent loss of revenue.<br /><br /><b>Technical Compatibility.</b> Your merchant account provider should offer simple instructions for setting up your payment gateway and even walk you through the process if necessary. Also make sure that your merchant account and your e-commerce shopping cart are compatible, which will save you time and effort in several areas. For example, your merchant account provider should enable integration with QuickBooks® to expedite accounting. Another must: the ability to store customer information after credit card transactions.<br /><b><br />Processing Methods.</b> You’ll need a merchant account provider that can handle the e-commerce demands of supporting multiple users and their simultaneous credit card transactions. Decide which type of credit card processing method you prefer -- real-time individual or end of day batch credit card processing – and verify that your provider can accommodate your preference. <br /><br /><b>Background Check.</b> Promises are one thing – a proven history of results is another. A quick online search often reveals important clues regarding the reliability of a given merchant account provider. Look for important indicators of reliability such as years in business and customer service complaints. Find out how they monitor and resolve issues before you’re the one with a service problem.<br /><br />By looking beyond enticing yet misleading introductory offers, you can find a merchant account provider that will be a reliable long-term business partner – one who will be capable of meeting your credit card processing needs now and in the future.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Want to Sell on the Internet? Your Guide to Calculating Return on Investment for an E-commerce Site</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:25 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The basics of calculating Return on Investment</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">There are some fairly obvious ways you can try to calculate the value of your e-commerce Web site. The direct sales made on your the Web site, and the lifetime value of repeat customers are good indicators of the income your <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp">e-commerce shopping cart</a> has generated. However, there may be significant other revenues coming from sales made by e-mail or phone calls that can be directly attributed to your e-commerce web site. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">In addition to sales, cost reduction is an area where your Web site can help your business; if your website reduces the number of incoming calls that need to be answered, it can save you a lot of time and money! Finally, your E-commerce site can act as a fulfillment agent for your marketing and customer support materials, significantly reducing costs if prospects and customers are prepared to download materials rather than have items mailed to them.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">However, determining e-commerce ROI can be more complicated than adding up revenue and cost savings, and then deducting the actual cost of the site. First of all, companies often can't pinpoint how much incremental revenue an e-commerce site generates. Did the Web site earn the sale? Or did it cannibalize a sale that would have occurred anyway? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">So if you are thinking about starting to sell on the Internet, it pays to decide how you will calculate the return on investment for your potential e-commerce site ahead of time. Return on Investment (ROI) can be defined as the percentage of profit or revenue generated from a specific activity. At a basic level, we can measure the ROI of an e-commerce site by adding up the total amount spent on the Web site over a given period of time (e.g., $2000) versus the amount generated from it in revenue (e.g., $8,000) or the cost savings (e.g. $2,000). In this example, the ROI would then be 500%.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">How much does it actually cost to sell on the Internet?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Your costs should be relatively easy to calculate, depending on whether you have your own internal technology department, and manage your equipment, software and internet connections in-house, or whether you outsource your e-commerce store to a hosting company. In addition, you will need to consider the cost of sales, such as potentially higher merchant account fees for retailers who sell on the Internet rather than through a bricks and mortar store, and shipping and handling. You will need to estimate the cost of setting up and maintaining inventory in your store. If you do this yourself, how much is your time worth?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">How much revenue really comes from your e-commerce store?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">On the revenue side, it is fairly easy to calculate the total sales, minus their associated costs (including a portion of the costs of setting up and maintaining the site). However, do you know which sales you would have probably made anyway? For some regular customers who originally did not buy online, you should probably remove a portion of their sales from your calculations. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Conversely, do you know which of your customers purchased offline after researching you online? The Platt Retail Institute consulting firm noted that online sales of autos (and auto parts) will amount to only 2 percent of all U.S. retail sales in that category this year. By contrast, noted Platt, his automotive clients say that as many as 70 percent of their customers do all their research online before shopping for a particular car at a dealership. So depending on your category of goods, your online store could be generating significant sales for other channels to fulfill. One way to find out if this is true with your customers is to provide an online coupon that they can print or a code they can quote when placing an offline order. Or you can ask your customers whether they visited your Web site before deciding to buy from you. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">You can also install analytics software on your Web site to find out whether there is a correlation between the products visitors look at but don’t buy, and the volume of those products sold through other channels. On the most basic level, you want to measure sales, returns and allowances, sales per visitor, cost per visitor, and conversion rate.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The bottom line</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Once you have this information, you should allocate a period of time, spread the setup costs of your site over that period, and then add the ongoing costs and revenues. This should give you an idea of how profitable your e-commerce Web site actually is. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">In summary, while there is no set formula for evaluating Return on Investment for your e-commerce store, hopefully this article will provide enough information for you to make an educated assessment. </span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Design mistakes: how to avoid them</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:37 GMT</p> <p> </p> <div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in 2.25pt;" align="left" valign="top"> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">If you can avoid 5 common design mistakes, your <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp">e-commerce store</a> should experience more sales.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">1. <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Not planning out your web site</span></strong>. Planning is probably the most time consuming function of solid <strong><a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/custom-website-packages/index.jsp"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Web design</span></a></strong>. Planning is also the most overlooked step in the design process. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Before you design a graphic or lay out a single html page consider the following: </span></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">What are your goals for the site? </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">What type of visitors are you likely to attract? </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">What plans do you have for the site navigation? </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">Map out your site logically before designing. </span></li> </ul> <p><strong></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">2. <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Slow load times</span></strong>. Super high-end flash animation looks great, but if it takes more that a few seconds to download you are pushing away potential customers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">How big is too big? Typically if you can keep a page under 40K, you are golden, 60K is not to bad. Over 100K? Try to avoid! Test your site, check the time it takes to load from a dial-up account and remember the majority of your visitors are going to be accessing your site via a dial-up service. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">3. <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Outdated Information</span></strong>. Many e-commerce business owners setup a nice site and then forget to update it for months. Not only will the search engines think you have a dead site, so will your customers! </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Plan on adding a page of fresh content to your site as often as possible. GoogleBot shows preference to sites that add or update content daily. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">4. <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">Broken Links</span></strong>. You would think this goes without saying, but broken links are everywhere and diminish credibility. Check and re-check your site for broken links. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">5. <strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">The dreaded horizontal scroll</span></strong>. The horizontal scroll is a usability nightmare. If your site will not fit an 800x600 resolution and your visitors get a scroll bar at the bottom of the page, you will loose customers. Be sure that nothing on your page will push the design out past 780 pixels wide (Leave 20 pixels for the vertical scroll). </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Change your screen resolution, and take a look at the site in all of the available options that you have. Right now 800x600 is the most popular with 1024x768 the next favorite. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">To do this: </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">1. Right click on your desktop. <br /> 2. Click Settings.<br /> 3. Move the Screen Resolution Bar to 800 x 600 and click ok. <br /> 4. Once your screen refreshed check for horizontal scrolling. </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"><a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/custom-website-packages/index.jsp"><strong>Web design</strong></a> and site usability are major contributors to e-commerce success and failure. Follow the guidelines above, and you are one step closer to e-commerce success. </span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Credit Card Processing 101</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:37 GMT</p> <p> </p> <div> <table cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td style="padding:0in 2.25pt;"> <h3>Merchant Account Setup<span style="font-size:9pt;color:#336699;"></span></h3> <p><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">Q: How do I setup my shopping cart with a merchant account for credit card processing?</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;"><br />A: Most shopping cart systems are "pre-programmed" to allow easy credit card processing. Most shopping cart companies integrate with something called "virtual terminals" or "gateways." In order to use these gateways you need to signup with a gateway company directly such as <a target="_blank" href="http://merchantservices.networksolutions.com/">Network Solutions Merchant Account</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.authorize.net/"><span style="text-decoration:none;">Authorize.net</span></a> or <a target="_blank" href="http://www.verisign.com/"><span style="text-decoration:none;">Verisign</span></a>. Some merchant account providers bundle a gateway with the merchant account. Monster Merchant Account is a specialty online <b><a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/"><span style="font-weight:normal;">merchant account</span></a></b> provider that bundles a gateway and merchant account into one package. These bundled programs are an excellent choice as they limit headache and provide for single phone call support.</span></p> <h3>Credit Card Processing Terminology<span style="font-size:9pt;color:#336699;"></span></h3> <p><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">Q: What is a gateway or virtual terminal?</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;"><br />A: Gateways are special pieces of online software that securely pass credit card information from the shopping cart to the merchant bank. Gateways are also sometimes called virtual terminals because they perform the same function virtually that credit card swipe machines perform in brick and mortar stores. The shopping cart will pass all the credit card information directly to the gateway via a secure <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/SSL-certificates/index.jsp"><b>SSL encrypted channel</b></a>. The gateway then passes all of the information directly to the merchant bank (also known as the merchant account provider) will then process the card and arrange for the funds to be deposited in your business checking account (usually within 48 hours). </span></p> <h3>Merchant Account Rates<span style="font-size:9pt;color:#336699;"></span></h3> <p><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">Q: I see a lot of advertising that says "no hidden fees." What does this mean?</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;"><br />A: Merchant accounts have always carried many small and some large "extra" fees. If you think about it, processing a credit card and depositing money into a bank account is not a cheap task. In the Internet age, merchant account companies are all trying to appear to have the best deal when in reality all merchant account providers have similar costs and there really isn't a provider who can undercut the competition significantly. You have probably heard the saying, "if it looks to good to be true, it probably is." This is absolutely the case with online merchant accounts. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">Think of the costs associated if the merchant account provider is doing things right: Software and virtual gateway development costs, network costs, security costs, fraud examiners cost, customer service reps, administrative costs, hardware costs, mailing costs, bank fees, etc. The list is never ending. It is important to read the contract that comes from the merchant bank. This is where you will finally see all the real costs. A few crazy things I have seen lately surround early termination fees. Last week I spoke with a customer who read his contract and found that there was a $795 fee if he cancelled the account before the year contract was up! You can always expect to see a gateway fee, a statement fee, a transaction fee (both flat and percentage), a charge back fee, and a monthly minimum fee and there is sometimes variation based on how much information is sent through the gateway when the card is processed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">The bottom line is if you go with a reputable merchant account provider, it will, no matter what, cost more than you think, BUT you are not likely to get scammed like you are with some of the smaller merchant account companies just struggling to compete. </span></p> <h3>Chargebacks - Defeating credit card fraud<span style="font-size:9pt;color:#336699;"></span></h3> <p><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">Q: What are chargebacks and how do they work?</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;"><br />A: A chargeback occurs when a credit card owner decides that he/she is not responsible for a charge appearing on their card. Different credit card companies handle this type of claim differently. When a Visa or MasterCard user submits a charge back, the merchant who made the sale is given a chance to rebut the chargeback. This means the merchant can submit evidence showing why the chargeback is inappropriate. Once the merchant has submitted this, a review committee from Visa/MasterCard reviews the complaint and the rebuttal and makes a decision. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">The decisions in these cases are usually fair. American Express on the other hand, has a much different policy and heavily favors the consumer. If an American Express user submits a chargeback, depending on the type of goods, Amex usually debits the merchant's bank account right away and awards a victory to the consumer, no questions asked. This type of policy makes it very difficult for Internet merchants to accept American Express as many consumers are catching on to this trick and using it as a way not to pay! In addition to this policy, American Express allows a cardholder to charge back if they were "dissatisfied with the good or service." This allows an Amex cardholder to make a purchase, not return the item, and then claim that they were dissatisfied. </span></p> </td> </tr> </table> </div> <p><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:black;">This policy should be changed, however, until it does, I would recommend limiting credit card acceptance to Visa and MasterCard options. </span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Merchant account terminology</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:37 GMT</p> <p> </p> <div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in 2.25pt;" align="left" valign="top"> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Merchant Account</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - An account setup by a bank that allows you to accept credit cards. Your <a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/"><strong>merchant account</strong></a> will deposit collected funds into your business's checking account on a daily basis. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Discount Rate</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - A percentage that is paid to the credit card company on each transaction. If a customer makes a credit card purchase worth $20.00 and your discount rate is 2.4%, you pay $0.48 for the $20 sale. A competitive discount rate is roughly 2.40%. Discount rates made on the web are generally higher than that of brick and mortar stores. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Gateway Processor</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - A gateway processor charges your customers' credit cards via the web and sends the funds to your merchant account electronically. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Monthly Processing Minimum</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - The monthly processing minimum is the minimum monthly fee you must pay to the credit card company regardless of your total sales. A competitive monthly minimum is approximately $30. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Real-Time Processing</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - This method of credit card processing authorizes and charges the customer's credit card at the time of purchase. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Offline Processing</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - This method of credit card processing allows you to capture your customer's credit card information for charging at a later time. If you have an existing offline merchant account, this may be a good option for you. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Secure Socket Layer (SSL)</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - SSL is a secure web protocol that uses 128 bit or higher encryption to keep your customer's card number and personal information secure. </span></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Statement Fee</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - This charge is exactly as it sounds. The fee you pay for the bank to generate and mail you a statement outlining your transactions. Statement fees usually cost between $10.00 - $15.00 a month.</span></p> <p> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <p><strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Transaction Fee</span></strong><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;"> - The amount charged per transaction. Most companies charge around $0.30. If you make 100 sales per month… the total transaction fee would equal (0.30 x 100 = $30.00). </span></p> </article> <article> <h1>E-commerce hosting for small businesses</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:37 GMT</p> <p> </p> <div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding: 0in 2.25pt;" align="left" valign="top"> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">When it comes to choosing an <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp"><strong>e-commerce hosting</strong></a> solution, you'll want to take many things into consideration:</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">What language will you use to code your site? If you are coding in ASP (Active Server Pages), you are best suited for a Windows powered server with IIS. If you are coding PHP, Perl or JSP, either Windows or Linux/Unix will work, but make sure to check with the perspective Web host that the server maintains the proper software, plug-ins and modules needed to host your site efficiently. If you're coding a straight HTML Web page, almost any Web host should serve your needs. With a straight HTML site, reliability is your greatest concern. Ask yourself these essential questions: </span></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">Is your site going to use a database? If so, Microsoft SQL Server will only work on a Microsoft Windows platform. MySQL and a few other databases work on both platforms quite well. </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">Does the hosting company have the software you need installed or is it cost extra? </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">How much control over the database do you need?</span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">How much space for the database do you require?</span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">Can you use <a href="http://www.phpmyadmin.net/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: none;">phpmyadmin</span></a> or a similar database control system to add/remove databases and create/restore backups? </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial;">Are your database(s) backed up on a frequent basis? </span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">These are all important questions for any database driven Web sites. Your data and how it is maintained, stored, processed and backed up is critical to your project.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">As for choosing one platform over another, both Windows and Linux/Unix platforms (the most common platforms available) are excellent and stable solutions. I haven't had the opportunity to run a Novell or Sun platform, but I'm sure they also work very well. The key is to make sure you're able to do everything you need to do on that server without much trouble. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Another very important feature is the uptime and availability. Does the host guarantee uptime? How much space do I need? The latter is usually a difficult question because it's difficult to make that kind of prediction. To calculate the space you're going to use, go through your site and find the size of the coded pages first. Then add your media files. Media files are PDF files, Word documents, movie clips, audio files, flash files, and images, among other items. Media certainly takes up the bulk of space on your site. Adding more disk space later is almost always never a problem with hosts so long as you're willing to pay more. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">The next big item to tackle is how much bandwidth you're going to use. Bandwidth is what your host will measure to calculate how much people are downloading pages of content from your site. Bandwidth costs your Web host money, so you will almost always incur bandwidth charges. For new sites, try starting at the minimal bandwidth cost, and change your monthly bandwidth rate only if necessary. You'll find out very quickly that the sites with very little media files take very little bandwidth while sites with media will take up more. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">This finally takes us into cost. How much should you pay? Some Web hosts charge separately for hosting, bandwidth, databases, and so on, while others bundle it together. </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <p><span style="font-size: 8.5pt; font-family: Arial; color: black;">Having to change hosts is an inconvenience, so do your homework. Evaluate your options and make a list of the <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/web-hosting/index.jsp"><strong>best Web hosting companies</strong></a>, based on your server needs. Choosing the right Web host the first time eliminates unnecessary hassles and saves you money in the long run. Don't choose a Web host for cost alone. Make an educated decision based on the Web host's speed, reliability and connectivity. </span></p> </article> <article> <h1>E-commerce - Reasons to sell online</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:36 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">You've probably been inspired by a success story about <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp" target="_blank">selling online</a>. You may love the internet, or you may have a brick-and-mortar that you're considering taking online. People are using the internet more and more to find what they want to purchase. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Here's a list of some of the main benefits that you'll find when you turn to the world of e-commerce: </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">1.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Money- It's here folks! </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">E-commerce sales total in the billions of dollars every year. Not millions. Billions! In May 2008, the US Department of Commerce released figures reporting that e-commerce sales in the first quarter of the year had been up 13.6% from the previous year. E-commerce sales, which totaled at an estimated $33.8 billion for the quarter, account for 3.3 percent of total retail sales in the country, according to the report. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>The early bird earns market share. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Those who are first to enter a market will most likely control it. You probably aren't the first in your field to launch an e-commerce business, or even the hundredth- the sooner the better.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">3.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>E-commerce is affordable. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Small businesses often fear they don't have the resources to compete with the big boys. Thanks to application service providers (ASP's), small businesses can sell product on the web for under $50 per month. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">4.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Lower operating costs. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Dealing with clients over the Internet reduces operating costs. A recent survey yielded estimates that $7 is saved every time a customer checks their order status via the web compared to calling. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">5.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>E-commerce is conducted worldwide. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Sure, orders can be taken over the phone and by fax, but e-commerce enables a customer from Bangladesh to conduct business with a company in Nebraska.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">6.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Affluent consumers shop online. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Many research studies indicate that the higher the household income level, the higher the passion for online shopping.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">7.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Items can be added to your shopping cart 24-7. </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">E-commerce enables your businesses to operate 24 hours a day seven days a week (as long as you have a reliable e-commerce host, that is!)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">8.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>E-commerce is growing and growing and growing... </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Thousands of homes add the Internet each day, and it is estimated that by 2010, over 80% of all small businesses in the U.S. will be integrating the internet into their business tasks and procedures on a daily basis. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Sales tax, structure, & trademarks</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:36 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Starting an e-commerce site is one thing. Starting an e-commerce business that will grow and be profitable is more difficult. Addressed below are a few topics to consider when creating a business plan for e-commerce success. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Sales tax</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Most states treat online sales in the same manner as mail-order sales. There is no retail taxes for sales between states, however, sales within a state are taxed the standard tax rate. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">As a general rule, plan on collecting and paying taxes on sales within your state. Most states (if not all) maintain a formal position on e-commerce sales. Your state government will most likely send you quarterly tax reports to fill out.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Company structure</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Your company's operating structure is important. This holds true with any business including e-commerce. You should research the various forms of business structures available in your state. For small businesses, the most common are sole proprietorships, LLC's and incorporations. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">1.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Sole proprietorships are the easiest to get started. You simply need to register with your state and possibly acquire a business permit from your local city government. Many small businesses start out as sole proprietorships. The government sees you and your business as one entity. This means that you are personally liable for your business practices and risks. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">2.<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Most states will offer an LLC, S, or C type corporation. One great advantage of a corporation is that it creates a separate entity for your business. Your liability is limited to the assets of the corporation. If you are looking for outside capital, investors will prefer a corporation to allow stock to be purchased in exchange for funding. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:Arial;"><span style="mso-list:Ignore;">3.<span style="font:7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Choosing to incorporate on the other hand will cost a lot more than sole proprietorship. The costs often exceed $1,000 to cover all expenses of incorporation. There will be a good deal of paperwork involved and the process takes a lot longer to complete. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Trademarks </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">For an <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp">e-commerce site</a>, your domain is a huge part of your identity. You will want to protect this. The best protection you can apply for in this instance is a trademark. A trademark is a word or symbol used to identify the source of goods or services to customers. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">You may only apply for a trademark after you use the mark to identify products or services performed 'in commerce'. In other words you have used the word(s) or symbol in advertising and/or paid sales to customers. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The trademark office will not register a domain name that doesn't meet the requirements of being a trademark. Having trademark rights allows you to protect your domain name against others who might allege that it infringes upon their trademark. Trademarks are very complex. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Consult an attorney for your particular situation, and you can learn more at: www.uspto.gov </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Choosing a merchant account provider</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:36 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">These are some things you should consider when choosing a <a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/" target="_blank">merchant account</a> provider:</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">What are your needs?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Do you want to batch (manual) payment process or real-time payment process? </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Manual processing requires an order to be received with the credit card number through a phone call, fax, or online form. The order is then processed manually either by contacting the payment processing company (through a web based or dial-up connection) to verify the credit card number or by using a point-of-sale terminal to swipe the card. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">In contrast, real-time payment processing means the credit card is automatically processed when the customer submits an order. When the credit card is verified and approved, the customer receives immediate notification that the order is accepted and the funds are transferred from the customer’s bank account to the merchant’s account. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">When choosing batch or real-time processing, consider the number of transactions that occur on your storefront. If you expect low volume sales then manual processing is a viable route. It is not only less costly than real-time processing but it also protects against fraud, as you have more control over the processing procedure. The disadvantage is the time it takes to manually process orders. Real-time processing is better for large volume sales and for products that are sent electronically. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Examining your Business</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Margins:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"> The margins of the products and services you sell will determine the transaction fees you can afford to pay. For instance, if your products are inexpensive and sold in high volumes, then it is beneficial to choose a provider that offers low transaction fees. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Transactions Per Month</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">: Some banks require a minimum number of transactions per month. If you do not meet this minimum, you could be required to pay additional fees. Some banks will ask you to estimate the number of transactions you expect on your site. If you are a new business, it is better to estimate low and exceed your expectations compared to guessing high. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Internal Resources:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"> Your internal resources will influence the type of services you need from your provider. For instance, if you lack technical resources, then it would benefit you to select a merchant account provider that focuses on customer service and is willing to work closely with you. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Evaluate Your Businesses Hardware, Software And Service Requirements</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Integrated Systems</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">: When you choose to take your business online, selecting a merchant account provider is only one of several considerations. It is suggested you first find a shopping cart solution that fits your needs, and then you should find a merchant account that integrates with your storefront (not the other way around). You also need a payment system to process transactions, and a payment gateway to securely process payments. A number of merchant account providers offer integrated systems (turn-key solutions) that include each of these components, as do E-commerce solution providers. Many will bundle merchant accounts and other e-commerce services into their packages. Working with a merchant account provider that offers integrated services means that each level of the transaction is compatible with the other, meaning fewer headaches for you. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">If the merchant account provider does not offer integrated services, it is important to ask what software it requires and the cost of the software. Often times, a merchant account company will offer low cost merchant accounts and then charge extra on the software they sell you on the back-end. While a good merchant account provider will tell you what software is compatible, you will benefit more if you do your homework and ask the right questions. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Security:</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"> Whether you host your own site or house it on the server of your e-commerce provider, it is important to ensure you have security measures in place to protect sensitive information. The majority of web sites use SSL security (Secure Sockets Layer), an encryption program that will encrypt credit card information during the transaction process. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> </article> <article> <h1>What is a merchant account?</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:36 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">There are many different classes of <a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/" target="_blank">merchant accounts</a>, each depending on what type of business you run and your credit card acceptance needs. If you maintain a brick and mortar business, then you require a merchant account that accepts point of sale (POS) transactions (the buyer ‘swipes’ his or her credit card) at the time of purchase. If you run a mail order or telephone order business, then you need a MOTO (Mail Order/Telephone Order) merchant account. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">If you wish to accept credit cards over the Internet you need a MOTO merchant account. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The type of merchant account needed for e-commerce businesses is similar to the type of merchant account needed for mail order businesses. The main difference between a traditional (retail establishment) merchant account and a web-based merchant account is that online and mail-based transactions are riskier for the underwriting bank. In web-based or mail purchases, the buyer and credit card are not physically present. This is known as a ‘cardholder not present’ (CNP) transaction. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Merchants will have a larger cost for accepting credit cards via the Internet because an authorization for a CNP ( Cardholder Not Present ) does not assure payment of the transaction since there is no guarantee that the cardholder is initiating the transaction. In other words, the chance of fraud is increased which increases the “risk”. In turn, these types of merchant accounts tend to be more costly. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">There are two options available for applying for your Internet merchant account - through a bank or through an independent sales organization (ISO). An ISO acts as a third party between the merchant and acquiring bank (merchant bank). </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">If you have a brick-and-mortar business and wish to sell online, it may make more sense to apply at your current bank (for an Internet merchant account) because you already have an established account with them. In this case, your current bank has access to your existing accounts and financial information, making the application process faster and the likelihood of securing a web based merchant account is increased. If you acquire your Internet merchant account through a bank with which you normally do not conduct business, it is important to ensure that your Internet merchant bank is willing and able to transfer funds to your regular bank. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Banks are known to offer security, reliability and stability, but have the reputation of being more conservative and selective when issuing Internet merchant accounts. ISOs tend to be more flexible towards riskier businesses, such as casinos or adult sites, but they generally charge more for bearing the risk.</span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Merchant Accounts: What you need to ask</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:35 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">When selecting a <a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/" target="_blank">merchant account provider</a>, consider the following questions. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Q: What information do I need to submit for your merchant account application?</span></b><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Here is a list of information commonly required by merchant account companies. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Business financial information </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Types of products or services </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Length of time in business </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Credit history </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Business location (it is difficult to get a US merchant account if not located in the US) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Price of products or services offered </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>The market segment in which you operate </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Business type </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Refund policies </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Average order size </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Average monthly amount </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>The processing method in which products and services are being sold and delivered (manual or real-time) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Other sources of income </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Q: What fees do you charge for your products and services?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Typical fees include transaction fees, discount rates and set-up or application fees. Fees range from merchant account provider to provider and varies based on credit history, type of business, and transaction volume. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Q: Do you have a minimum transaction number per month?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Most merchant account providers require a minimum number of transactions per month. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Q: What is the time delay between a credit card transactions and when the money is deposited into your bank account?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The time delay is usually one to three days. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Q: What storefront solutions, payment gateways, and E-commerce back-ends are compatible with my merchant account?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">When conducting real-time processing, your transactions will not execute properly if each of your E-commerce components is not compatible. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Q: What security features do you have?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Your merchant account provider should have ways to reduce the risk of fraud during the transaction process. They should have software like SSL that will encrypt sensitive customer information.</span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Shipping: US Postal vs. UPS™</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:35 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Shipping calculation is often a road block for small <a href="http://www.networksolutions.com/e-commerce/index.jsp">e-commerce businesses</a>. Many issues come into play when calculating shipping costs: </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Ship from/to addresses </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Weight of product and packing material </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Dimensions of your items/containers </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Insurance </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Delivery Time </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Confirmation </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Tracking Numbers </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Handling Fees </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Let's discuss two popular shopping carriers: USPS Priority Mail<span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;">®</span> vs. UPS. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">USPS Priority Mail</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The US Postal Service offers standard and priority shipping. Priority mail is usually a 2-3 day ground delivery anywhere in the continental US. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">USPS Advantages </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Cost. Priority mail will almost always beat the price of UPS Ground Service. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Free materials. The post office offers free boxes for Priority Mail customers. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Confirmation #. This allows you to confirm delivery of your product. This is also free if you print your labels from the USPS web site: http://www.usps.com </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Disadvantages </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Insurance is expensive. Current rates show insurance on a $100 package at $3.75 </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Confirmation number is not a tracking number. You cannot use the USPS confirmation number to track where your shipment is, only if it has been delivered or not. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">UPS</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">UPS offers a wide range of delivery methods. Anything from a next-day air to three-day ground. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">UPS Advantages </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Tracking numbers. UPS allows customers to find out exactly where the shipment is once it leaves your store. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>Insurance is cheap. UPS includes $100 of insurance into their price. After that the insurance is pennies on the dollar compared to USPS insurance. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>More Flexible. UPS offers a wide range of shipping options. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Disadvantages </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>UPS is generally more expensive. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">•<span style="mso-tab-count:1;"> </span>You must find a UPS drop off location. UPS locations are often harder to find than post offices. Third party drop-off locations will add their own fees. Be sure your drop-off location offers true UPS rates. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Bottom Line </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">If most of your shipments are relatively light (under 6 pounds), and have a value under $100 USPS Priority is a good bet. If you are shipping expensive, heavy, or extremely fragile products that need insurance, UPS may be a better solution.</span></p> </article> <article> <h1>What’s the difference between a merchant account and PayPal™?</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:25 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">If have a product or service that can be sold over the internet, you will probably want to accept credit cards online. There are several options you can consider, including handling payment transactions via an online service such as PayPal, or a settling up a bank <a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/" target="_blank">merchant account </a> coupled with a real time payment gateway such as Authorize.Net®. Some research indicates you can significantly increase sales by offering both options to your customers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">It is a good idea to only accept PayPal payments?</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">In the past there were several differences between using PayPal to process credit card payments instead of setting up merchant accounts. Having a merchant account means that you can accept credit card payments on your web site in real time. In contrast, the traditional PayPal service required that the customer had a PayPal account rather than just using a standard credit card*. In order to use the PayPal service, customers had to log into their PayPal account on the PayPal web site, complete the payment and then return to your site. Obviously this is more time consuming for the customer and takes them away from browsing your site. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The problem with only offering PayPal is that not everyone has, or wants, a PayPal account. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"> </span>Also, some customers do not think it is a professional way to accept online payments. It is quick and easy to set up a PayPal account and virtually anyone can do it. PayPal does not require a credit check, so even businesses and individuals with less-than-perfect credit can accept payments online. Therefore many customers may question whether they will actually receive what they pay for at your store. For credibility alone, it is worth obtaining a merchant account and processing credit card transactions on your own Web site.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">The benefits of accepting credit cards through both a merchant account and PayPal</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">PayPal estimates that offering the traditional PayPal option in addition to merchant account credit card processing can increase sales by an average of 14%. Some customers prefer to use PayPal because they may have a positive balance in their PayPal account and would prefer to use that rather than a credit card. The benefit of using a merchant account service is that you can accept credit cards online and to process transactions immediately on your own web site.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Before making a decision you should certainly investigate both, and weigh the pros and cons for your business. For example how much does a merchant account cost per month, and what additional services do they offer? Each bank will have different services as far as their merchant accounts are concerned. Beware of any hidden or additional fees that may be included. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">Network Solutions makes it easy to <a href="http://merchantaccounts.networksolutions.com/">accept credit cards </a> through a merchant account, or PayPal account, or both. Network Solutions Merchant Account is an online merchant account provider for real-time or batch credit card processing services. Our complete merchant account services enable you to begin processing credit cards immediately through our merchant account </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;">*PayPal does now offer merchant account credit card processing options that can be integrated into your website.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial;"></span></p> </article> <article> <h1>Minimizing Affiliate Marketing Risks</h1> <p>MySolutionSpot Editor — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:39:07 GMT</p> <p>Should you join a broker network? Those looking at opening their own online store or who want an e-commerce store but don’t want huge overhead might want to consider a dropshipping business and using broker networks to help manage it. A broker network can be a pretty profitable proposition and can help minimize the risk of setting up relationships with companies you don’t know much about.There are many ways to try to earn money online and one of the sure fire ways to do it is to find something people want to buy and sell it to them. If you don’t manufacture anything and don’t want to stock product you might not sell, you might want to consider joining a network to help you with your entrepreneurial e-business efforts. If you want to operate your own online store you might be surprised at how easy it actually is. Before you get started there are several things you need to consider such as: how much you want to invest, what you want to sell and how you’ll fund it all. If you aren’t looking to open and staff a warehouse, you might want to take advantage of the many options for dropshipping businesses. A broker network can help simplify all of it for you and minimize your risk of being scammed. Some questions that may have crossed your mind already are: -What should I sell? -Do I need a lot of money for overhead? -How does it all work? -How much money can I make? There’s a lot to e-commerce and affiliate marketing but just about anyone with a computer can operate their own online store if they do some homework and research and get some good advice. You need to know what scams to watch for, how to source the right products and how to market your website. Broker networks can help you manage your business well and can be an excellent support system as well as offer safeguards to you Instead of your having to do most of the things that come with running a store, in the background, you can be equipped with partnerships that do it all for you. Companies like Doba and Worldwide brands can help you. Different things are required from different companies and various companies have a distinct advantage or value add proposition but using these types of services can be quite beneficial. Broker Network Options There are an almost limitless number of options for those interested in doing business. Working with a broker network like Worldwide Brands or Doba can have a big impact on your success. Use the many online resources that are available which can help you determine what you need to know about running your own drop shipping or affiliate based business. There are several broker network options available to you and many online resources that can help you learn about the best approach from marketing and administrative perspectives. Brokers can be very helpful in minimizing risks for you and managing everything from helping you find reputable wholesalers to managing payment for you. </p> <p><b>About The Author: </b>To learn about Doba, Worldwide Brands and broker networks, visit http://www.thewebreviewer.com.</p> </article> </main></body></html>