subject: Can Taking Plastic Cards Help Boost Sales ? [print this page] Can Taking Plastic Cards Help Boost Sales ?
Accepting charge cards online (or offline, for that matter) is an absolute necessity. In fact, running a business without a credit card processor is completely unheard of! Look around and you'll notice most people don't even carry cash anymore, only plastic and leather. For most people, a credit card feels safer than sending somebody cash or a check in the mail, because of the inherent paper trail a credit card leaves, along with the ability to accurately budget your account via online banking, and it's a lot faster and there's no chance of your money getting "lost" in the mail. So start accepting charge cards already!
Allowing customers to use charge cards is the biggest way to keep your business afloat no matter the climate of our economy. Credit card merchant accounts allow you to easily set up credit card processing on your site or store, and lets your business grow and attracts more customers because all credit card merchant accounts use 64- to 128-bit encryption (this helps prevent credit card fraud and gives the customer a true sense of security). Here are some important things to consider when choosing a credit card processor (also known as a credit card merchant or gateway):
? Good credit card merchant accounts or payment gateways allow customers to pay using any currency. They will also allow all major charge cards, debit cards, electronic checks or even 3rd party services like AlertPay or PayPal. Shoppers want everything, and they want it now. Your checkout process should be as quick and easy as possible. Any good credit card processing service will offer these features even on their most basic and cheapest plan.
? As mentioned earlier, credit card processors will provide extremely high levels of security, and your customer's information will be encrypted from both sides. Many people are still wary of entering their credit card number online, so it's important that your service protects them, and also informs them of their high measures of security. You want customers to feel safe while shopping at your store!
? Choosing a good credit merchant lets you focus on your business instead of chasing down missing payments or fraudulent charge cards. You will be able to easily view customer purchasing habits and improve their shopping experience. This will also give you more time to improve on customer service and support.
? Always remember that most people who buy online are impulsive. This means, they see something they want and they'll buy it without really thinking. You should take advantage of the fast checkout systems that charge cards provide. Your online shopping cart should let people make their purchase in 3 clicks or less. Don't give them opportunity to change their minds! Bring them to the final checkout page as quickly as possible.
Allowing customers to pay using their preferred method of payment gives the impression that your business cares about customer satisfaction, and indeed will make them happy. Perhaps they'll even return in the future and buy from you again, or maybe recommend your store to their friends. Studies show that businesses which do not accept charge cards are dying out, and become bankrupt or simply shut down. Therefore, accepting charge cards is not only highly recommended, it is a true necessity.
