Do you need to know how to accept credit card payments online?
If so, following these three simple steps will help you to make sure you get set up right the first time.
Accepting Payments Online
The most direct method for accepting payments online is to link your merchant account with your website.
There are two ways to do this:
- Use a shopping cart (software or virtual solution)
- Directly link your gateway to your website with an “ADD to CART” or “BUY NOW” button
You may need a SSL certificate for your domain, based on the method you choose. Now, the three steps for getting set up online are:
- Selecting an integration method
- Choosing a Gateway
- Finding a merchant account provider
Integration
The first (and often most difficult) decision you’ll need to make is how you want to accept credit cards from your website. Basically there are two options to consider:
- A shopping cart (software or virtual arrangement)
- Direct linking of your gateway to your site by using Add to Cart buttons
So which choice is the best?
Well, that depends on what you are selling online.
If you have an online catalog or a range of products and product options (colors, sizes, etc.) then you will be better off with a shopping cart.
On the other hand, if you are marketing professional services online or only have a couple of products then you can link directly to your site by generating “Add to Cart” button codes from within your gateway.
Gateway
They key to choosing a gateway involves three features: flexibility (i.e. how quickly can you edit products loaded in your catalog), cost (typically the more products you offer the more your cart will cost), and integration.
The third point (integration) is the most important.
I can’t tell you how many times people have contacted me for help AFTER they’ve already signed up for a gateway, only to find out that it won’t link with their shopping cart. And if you don’t think it’s a big deal, imaging an online catalog with hundreds of products already loaded into the cart software.
So, be very careful to ensure that your gateway will link up properly.
Finally, that brings us to…
Finding a Merchant Account Provider
To find a merchant account gateway and online merchant account provider, there are a couple of ways you can get started.
You can click on the link below to get a free rate quote from qualified providers, saving you time and aggravation:
CLICK the link and compare free
merchant account quotes today >>>
Or you can visit our online merchant accounts page for more information about how to accept credit cards online.
The choice is yours…
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Do you need to set up a merchant services gateway?
