Thursday, September 13, 2007

Building High Risk Merchant Dating Websites Simplified

Applying for a high risk merchant account fall along the lines of ambitious start ups who know they can make more revenue as each month passes. I don't think anyone would be able to go far without the help that high risk merchant account providers give. There are so many advantages but if you are unsure, don't plunge ahead. Make intelligent research and decide according to your business plan. Some online dating merchants who are content on using a payment gateway alone can very well survive, but with some cogs missing in the machinery. Others who believe they can get approved by local banks' merchant services are doomed to be disappointed.


Many high risk merchants are already aware of how to make money with online dating websites. It's not a vague concept that keeps everyone in the dark for long. It may begin from simple desire to help people meet their match or dissatisfaction from existing dating websites. It may also be inspired by the desire to make more revenue online, knowing how profitable the online dating industry is today.

I can make a wicked oversimplification and stack it in three steps:

  1. Build your website with low domain overhead costs and WSIWYG editing software

  2. Pitch in a number of affiliate programs

  3. Promote it with ethical SEO

Experts in building dating websites might want to add or whittle this simplified procedure depending on their experiences. I'd say though nothing is more effective. Many online dating entrepreneurs have already made money without even realizing it by simply applying these concepts.

Matt of Mingle2 for example was able to create his own free spiffy dating website in 66.5 hours -- not bad for a neat website inspired only by his analytic observation of what other dating websites lack or don't prioritize. Another programmer built a website on cheap hosting or do it yourself web design and managed it herself, earning an average of $40,000 monthly. Whether you make money through advertising, affiliate programs, or subscription is up to you. Note however, that high risk merchants usually make profit off member subscriptions.

The only thing left for you to do after the online dating website has been set up is maintenance. You can market your site via search engine optimization techniques. You can also apply for a high risk merchant account in order to outsource the payment processing tasks involved in your online dating business. Although many merchants frown on additional expenses incurred by third party providers, in the end they are grateful for having acquired one. It makes your life easier since not only it is efficient, it also gives your customers security when it comes to credit card processing. Many members balk at subscriptions when they know they cannot rely on you for protection of their credit card details. Far too many cyber crimes like identity theft and credit card hacking abound online.

Applying for a high risk merchant account fall along the lines of ambitious start ups who know they can make more revenue as each month passes. I don't think anyone would be able to go far without the help that high risk merchant account providers give. There are so many advantages but if you are unsure, don't plunge ahead. Make intelligent research and decide according to your business plan. Some online dating merchants who are content on using a payment gateway alone can very well survive, but with some cogs missing in the machinery. Others who believe they can get approved by local banks' merchant services are doomed to be disappointed.

Online dating websites are no doubt a highly profitable Web 2.0 business. It's far less prone to critical attacks like online pornography, and far more helpful to singles who are seeking their partners. Although the market is quite saturated, with a little twist to the concept and excellent marketing techniques, even the start up high risk merchant playing matchmaker is bound to succeed.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

High Risk Merchants: Tips on How to Deal with Lazy Customers

Having a clunky e-commerce site makes life even more difficult. The general rule for high risk merchants is to step into their customers' shoes and figure out how to make shopping online easier. If you are not willing to go through the challenge of this business, then the door is always open for you to find another vocation to pursue. You either put all your power to make money with the business you have chosen, or let your finances whittle away in mediocrity.


They say America enjoys the reputation for being spoon fed and spoiled, having most of the conveniences in life laid out in front of her. In fact, the U.S. has quite an abominable percentage of obesity in its population that it sometimes make you wonder whether the culture of abundance has done any good at all. But that is not what this article is all about. This article talks about competitiveness in the e-commerce industry, and how high risk merchants can get ahead by understanding this so-called “lazy” culture.

Generally though, people are hardworking. That is to serve their best interests. But generally, you or I would rather sit back than dig a ditch if we have a choice. Shopping for many of us is a burden. Rather than drive a car to the supermarket, we would sit in front of the computer and shop online. Or call up for pizza delivery instead of going to the restaurant itself.

Having a clunky e-commerce site makes life even more difficult. The general rule for high risk merchants is to step into their customers' shoes and figure out how to make shopping online easier. If you are not willing to go through the challenge of this business, then the door is always open for you to find another vocation to pursue. You either put all your power to make money with the business you have chosen, or let your finances whittle away in mediocrity.

People may have seen the best or worst of things when it comes to shopping online. They may have visited a store that looks a lot like your country grocery store or something like the Fashion Show Mall in Vegas. In fact, you can only do so much as guess what kind of customers are coming over to browse your products or services. Can you afford to lose them with your lack of knowledge on what they expect? Here's a short list of how to deal with the “lazy” culture problem. See if any of them are familiar to you!

Problem: Clicking!

Solution: Simplify your shopping cart. The less clicks to get to the checkout, the better.


Problem: Remembering page names and link names!

Solution: Come up with easy to remember and unique names, whether your domain, link, categories, or pages. Heck, there's a copycat in every corner of the world and you don't wanna add yourself up to the list.


Problem: Looking for products only to turn out they are out of stock! Or links that don't work!

Solution: It is common sense not to annoy your customers by not informing them about products that aren't in the inventory. Hire a good programmer to fix the broken links too.


Problem: Waiting for the graphics-laden page to load!

Solution: Think twice about using Flash or lots of pics as not only they make the page slow to load, they also generally cannot be crawled by search engines.


Problem: Reading esoteric or poorly laid-out text!

Solution: If you can't write good text, better let a professional do it. Bad text is a big turn off.


Problem: Having to download a hefty file!

Solution: Maybe unavoidable but do your best not to burden your customers with software or pdf downloads -- unless extremely necessary.


Problem: Expectations, expectations!

Solution: If you can't fulfill your promise such as no hidden fees or free shipping then don't make any.


Problem: Same old flat boring e-commerce website?!

Solution: No updates, no blogs, no newsletter, no design revamps, etc.? There must be a better way to be competitive.


Bottom line is: Spiffy up! You owe yourself and your customers a more exciting shopping experience. (See High Risk Merchants Guide to Creating the Perfect Shopping Experience for another good stuff to add to your entrepreneurial library.)


Source: www.highriskexperts.com

More Gerri Bryce articles:


How to Tackle Your E-Commerce Shipping Issues

E-commerce shipping is obviously a lot more complicated if you're a high risk merchant. One, because it may involve shipping goods overseas. Two, because you may be selling intangible products such as e-books. When this happens, the risk of returns and frauds are even higher.

Many a high risk merchant has suffered due to negligence of shipping issues. It's a little ridiculous, knowing how impossible it is for customers to get their products purchased unless an efficient shipping method is implemented. According to e-commerce reports, shipping issues are one of the top reasons why people do not buy from e-commerce merchants. People would either complain that the rates are too high, that the carrier cannot reach their location especially internationally, or that the company has a reputation for late delivery. Are you guilty of any of these headaches?


If not, you're lucky. Either you've progressed ahead of the crowd or have learned from sour experience. In reality, high risk merchants tend to neglect that only with efficient shipping will they be able to gain the trust of customers and encourage new visitors to buy. Shopping carts would not be abandoned for the sole reason that they (customers) didn't like the pricing or heard from a friend that your delivery date always come a day too late.


If you affiliate with popular shipping companies like UPS or FedEx, your customers' products are likely to be in good hands. However, you can establish your in-house shipping system if you are a small merchant or a start up with a modest product inventory. Otherwise, it is best to outsource shipping to a reliable shipping service provider.


E-commerce shipping is obviously a lot more complicated if you're a high risk merchant. One, because it may involve shipping goods overseas. Two, because you may be selling intangible products such as e-books. When this happens, the risk of returns and frauds are even higher. For example, if you're selling a collection of e-books, you don't need to employ FedEx or UPS' services. Instead you would provide a download link for your customers to access the product as soon as they paid for it. Hence, delivery time is no longer an issue. Delivery overseas require a better judgment when it comes to the shipping method you choose. The chances of errors in delivery and profit loss are higher.


Unscrupulous merchants will simply ignore customer complaints to avoid complications in product return issues. This is the easiest way to destroy your reputation as e-commerce merchant. Chargebacks or product returns should be addressed even though they may hurt your leg. They are part of business and all high risk merchants encounter them.


The best thing to do is to outline your shipping policies and make sure your customers are aware of them. In such a case where dissatisfied customers complain or even try to sue you, you are protected. A good and reasonable shipping policy vindicates you from the burden of paying for chargebacks and other expenses beyond control. This element is usually present in a high risk merchant services list in case you have applied for one. Keep in mind that even though shipping comes last in the buying and selling process, it is one of the most important aspects of doing business. And as a general rule, if shipping is free or low-cost, you're more likely to attract even the most reluctant of online buyers.

Source: Highriskexperts.com

Monday, September 10, 2007

High Risk Merchants Guide to Creating the Perfect Shopping Experience

I am doing more research on high risk merchant account owners' websites these days. The reasons as to why people leave the shopping cart before they make it to the checkout lane are not without solutions. Most of the shopping experience is built around the psychology of buying and selling online.


So many reasons why people leave the online shopping cart halfway while picking goods.
The scenario is similar to shopping on a local supermarket -- with negligible differences. The bottom line is to make it easy for your customers to shop. For example, would you fall in a long checkout line with only a six pack beer, a bag of crackers and small cash in your hand? To make things easy, let them pay at the express lane where cash is accepted and only a few items are processed.

Some people aren't really a big fan of shopping but with one e-commerce website after another being built, it's now just a few clicks away to buying without practically leaving the house. If it's so easy to lure even the laziest shoppers online, why do you still have a low conversion rate? Doesn't it bother you that if only you knew a few more insights your sales could double in no time?

I am doing more research on high risk merchant account owners' websites these days. The reasons as to why people leave the shopping cart before they make it to the checkout lane are not without solutions. Most of the shopping experience is built around the psychology of buying and selling online. People sometimes visit your store only to look at prices, linger for 5 seconds to browse your catalog, then hop to another store to do the same thing. Others are simply lured by advertising. These are situations you can't control. A mom may be browsing an online store for baby product and suddenly hears the baby gurgle and scream. She attends to her and comes back, flips to another web page, forgetting what she's looking for in the first place.

There are, however, shopping cart issues that you can control. Among a few are:

  1. Operating system and browser compatibility

  2. Catalog description/ Product presentation

  3. Payment type acceptance (credit card, MOTO, e-checks, etc.)

  4. Complexity/simplicity of browsing to checkout process

  5. Security



For complete article:

See: High Risk Merchants' Guide to Creating the Perfect Shopping Cart Experience