| What are the options for receiving online payment | | | | web site for secure payment. Paypal's web site |
| through my ecommerce web site? | | | | already has a secure certificate and payment is made |
| Buyers and selling online is increasingly popular and | | | | on ths secure web site and not on your own web site, |
| more and more organisations are looking for simple | | | | so security is taken care of by Paypal. Once the |
| ecommerce web design solutions to sell their products | | | | system is set up and running, you will receive an email |
| and services and receive payment securely online. For | | | | notification from Paypal every time a payment is |
| many the whole web design and payment process | | | | successful on your ecommerce web site. |
| remains a mystery and therefore a hindrance to them | | | | Other Payment Service Providers |
| setting up an ecommerce web design solution. Here | | | | Setting up a payment method with most other PSPs is |
| are a few simple facts and options to hopefully help | | | | slightly more involved and can be more costly than |
| you get started with an ecommerce web site. | | | | with Paypal. As a first step, you will most probably |
| Assuming your web design is taken care of and your | | | | require to obtain a merchant account from your bank |
| web designers are using a reliable shopping cart | | | | or any other bank that process merchant accounts. |
| software that both intuitive, user friendly and secure, | | | | This merchant account will be used by the PSP to |
| you need to know a Payment Service Provider (PSP) | | | | credit any payment received online from your web site |
| who will handle the payment process when your online | | | | to your bank account. The process of obtaining a |
| buyers purchase from your web site and how the | | | | merchant account can be a straight forward form |
| money will reach your bank. After all, no sales is | | | | filling exercise or, with some banks, quite a lengthy |
| actually a sale until you receive payment for the | | | | process. Some banks will even ask for your audited |
| purchase. | | | | accounts and a business plan. Do not be discouraged |
| Paypal | | | | though, shop around and you will find a reputable bank |
| Paypal is by far the quickest and simplest PSP to set | | | | that will provide you with a merchant account. There |
| up. All you need to do is sign up for a Paypal account | | | | are a number of PSPs that will accept online payment |
| online. You can sign up for free with an email address | | | | through integration with your web site. You will need to |
| and a password of your choice. The email account is | | | | consider which one offers the best package for your |
| also your username which you will need to use every | | | | online business. Cost is certainly a factor to consider. |
| time you want to log in to your Paypal account. All you | | | | Some PSPs require a minimum contract and a set up |
| then need to do is give the email address to your web | | | | fee while others like Protx charge no set up fee but |
| design company and they will link your ecommerce | | | | only a monthly fee provided the account does not |
| web site to your Paypal account. There is no need to | | | | exceeding a certain number of transactions per |
| provide your Paypal account password as this is not | | | | quarter. |
| needed for the Paypal integration into your web design | | | | Integration of a PSP other than Paypal is a bit more |
| system. There are a number of simple security | | | | involved, both technically from a web design point of |
| measures your web design company needs to put in | | | | view and also on the admin side. However, if your |
| place to ensure the integrity of the payment system. | | | | web site is a more established online business and you |
| This information is readily available in Paypal's online | | | | require a seamless payment system integrated into |
| resources for web design companies. You will not | | | | your web design solution, then it is worth the trouble |
| have to worry about this, assuming you are using a | | | | and your online buyers experience should be more |
| competent and reliable web design company. Every | | | | pleasant and fluid thus improving your conversion rates |
| time a buyers makes a purchase on your web site | | | | i.e. sales. |
| and select to pay, he or she is redirected to Paypal's | | | | |