Credit Card Processing - 7 Things You Need to Know Before Opening an Online Merchant Account

When considering opening an online merchant account to accept credit card orders, there are a lot of things you need to keep in mind. The best thing to do is learn all about credit card processing before you open your online merchant account so you can handle everything from the beginning rather than having to go back and make many changes.

The following topics are things you need to know about credit card processing online before you open an online merchant account:

Topic #1 Security

When it comes to making online purchases you need to be sure your customers feel as confident as possible that your site is secure and there is a very small percentage that any fraud will take place during their purchase. In general, the credit card processing software takes care of the security for the transactions; however you can boost security on your own website to reduce the theft of credit card numbers, hackers, and general fraud. Also, consider using additional secure measures like asking for the numbers on the back of their visa card or the four numbers on the front of their American Express. Doing so ensures that the person ordering has the credit card in hand, and more than likely this is the owner of the card.

Topic #2 Fixed Rates

Before signing up with a credit card processing company you want to make sure you will be receiving fixed rates for the life of the service. Many firms offer this so don't feel that this is not an option. When you set this up, it is important that you get this in writing to ensure your rates stay the same. Of course, your rates will rise if Visa or MasterCard increase what they charge for credit card purchases, but this should be the only condition. Don't sign any contracts without addressing this issue!

Topic #3 Bundled Rates

Be careful with bundled rate offers. Frequently, credit card processing companies will mention bundled rates and how they will save you money. This may or may not be the case, depending on your products and the average price you sell them for. Do some research on this topic in comparison to the types and prices of products you sell to see if it will save you money or not. For most businesses it costs more.

Topic #4 Confidence

Before you open an online merchant account, be sure you have complete confidence in the company that is handling the credit card processing. If for some reason you do not, even if you don't know why, keep moving on until you find one you do feel comfortable with.

Topic #5 Credit Cards and Debit Cards

You want credit card processing software that will allow you to accept a wide variety of credit cards as well as debit cards. Do not limit yourself to just Visa or MasterCard. Also accept cards like American Express, Diners Club, as well as all bank debit cards. Doing this will only increase your business.

Topic #6 Accept Credit Cards

Before opening an online merchant account you should know that most people are going to purchase from you using their credit or debit card. Sending personal checks and or money orders might be an option you provide for the small percentage without credit cards or who mistrust the Internet, but most people are going to buy with their cards so it is important to have secure software and an easy to use interface.

Topic #7 Save Payment Information

Many websites offer the option to save payment information. This means that more than likely, you will have a return customer who wants to save time when shopping next time by not having to type in all of their information again. Provide this option to shoppers on your website!

Michael Turner reveals step-by-step how you can increase search engine traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

---

Intranet Portals ? Search and Taxonomies

Knowledge Management for beginnersKnowledge Management (KM) can be defined simply... Read More

Database: The Secret of Success

BENEFITS OF A DATABASEBy maintaining your list as a database,... Read More

The Ecommerce Business Plan

Simply put, business plans can make or break your business.... Read More

7 Questions to Ask A Potential Internet Merchant Account Provider

Recently I went looking for an online merchant account, with... Read More

Your Affiliate Web Site Is Built ? Now What?

When I first got my web site built, I thought... Read More

Looking For Free Advertising, Here It Is!

There are lots of ways to advertise for free but... Read More

What Does It Take to Make Money Online?

What a loaded question! Let's narrow that down a bit... Read More

Accept Credit Cards Online Without a Merchant Account

There are two major ways to accept credit cards on... Read More

Intranet Portal ? Business Case ROI

The days of easy money are overIn these post-dot-com days... Read More

Ecommerce Comes from Customer Satisfaction

Online shopping is convenient, but many companies whose web sites... Read More

How Measuring Key Performance Indicators Can Improve E-Commerce Strategy - Part Two

Why time spent on your site is importantAll websites regardless... Read More

Selecting The Right Shopping Cart For Your Website

Shopping Cart Installation And SetupShopping cart technology has evolved to... Read More

The Top 10 E-Commerce Ways to Follow up with Clients - Part 1

Did you know that 80% of all sales are made... Read More

Credit Card Processing - 7 Things You Need to Know Before Opening an Online Merchant Account

When considering opening an online merchant account to accept credit... Read More

The Rise of Multinational Virtual Corporations

The virtual corporation is the emerging organisational form, which best... Read More

Shopping Cart Features to Consider

Often the simplest Web stores have the most success. But... Read More

7 Must Have Scripts to Look for When Shopping for E-commerce Hosting

When shopping for e-commerce hosting there are a lot of... Read More

Government Buying and Selling on the Internet

Global Insight, a leading economic and financial forecasting company, (formerly... Read More

E-marketplaces from Sellers Perspective

What is an E-marketplace anyway?E-marketplace is a business to business... Read More

Tell Site Visitors What To Do

Your site visitors make all the choices when it comes... Read More

Are You Making These E-Commerce Excuses? (part 1)

A year ago, I had big plans to re-vamp my... Read More

How to Generate Cash from Your Web Site

The Internet has changed the way people do business today.... Read More

Shopping Cart Usability

Usable Shopping Carts Increase SalesE-commerce has been around since 1993... Read More

Select a Niche Market for Ecommerce

Choosing a carefully pinpointed niche market should be one of... Read More

How to Receive Payments for Your Online Sales

Once you decide which products you are planning to sell... Read More

What is SSL (the little padlock)?

SSL ("Secured Socket Layer") is a protocol used to... Read More

Ecommerce - Boost Your Business ROI

Did you know that over 90% of all online orders... Read More

How E-commerce Web Site Design Differs From Normal Web Design

When it comes to e-commerce everything is a little bit... Read More

The Art of Being Human

This isn't the first time I have written about the... Read More

Google to Compete with PayPal?

PayPal is secure in its domination over the electronic payment... Read More

A Tale of Two Revolutions - Ecommerce: A Historical Perspective

The World As It Then WasThe dynamic economic growth of... Read More

Six Components Of A Good E-Commerce Site

Businesses, which are still sitting on sidelines and not doing... Read More

Online Business- What Makes It a Success!

Only a few manage to sell everything under the sun... Read More