When you started your business, perhaps you thought it was
enough to make your goods available to a few neighbors in the
community, with no thought of ever applying for a Web hosting
merchant account. Then you might have expanded the company's
range by advertising in the newspaper or on the radio to get the
word out to those who did not drive by your company in a typical
day's time. But now you're poised to enter the electronic age as
your company moves into the e-commerce era. It's time to put up
a company Website for all the world to see.
But you may lack the skills and perhaps even the funds to
design, set up, and maintain a professional Website via a Web
hosting merchant account. Perhaps you don't even know where to
begin to find someone who can consult with you about what the
site should look like and how it should operate. You can't begin
to understand how to process credit card payments or manage
other electronic functions to better serve your customers. But
rather than admit any of this, it may be you are sitting back,
resting on the old ways of doing business, and watching your
colleagues' profits climb while yours hold even or occasionally
droop.
If this scenario describes your operation, maybe it's time to
inquire about a Web hosting merchant account. A bank or another
financial services provider can explain the terms and conditions
of operating a merchant account. Once you find out if your
company is eligible to apply, you can look for the lowest rates
and best service before making application, taking care to avoid
various setup and maintenance fees that can be calculated in
addition to your monthly transaction costs. When your
application for a merchant card is accepted, you can get help in
locating a Website designer, one who will work with you to
represent your company the way you want it to be. Then you can
equip it with software that will let you accept customers'
credit card payments when they shop online so they can pay for
their purchases immediately rather than mail a check. Your
merchant services underwriter will arrange a gateway coordinator
to funnel customers' credit payments directly into your
preferred checking account. All you will need to do is pay a
monthly rate for each credit card transaction or a low overall
percentage rate.
You can design a Website that will stand apart from the
competitors' sites. It could feature product descriptions, price
lists, sale dates, FAQs, testimonials, and links to related
sites if that will support your company goals. The site should
be error-free, contain easy-to-read chunks of information, and
not be littered with so much information that the customer will
feel overwhelmed. You can arrange to add an email site in case
visitors have questions or problems, and you can let them pay by
credit card online, which is perhaps the most essential feature
of all. Ask your banker for details about a Web hosting merchant
account.
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