Categories
Stripe Tutorials

How to Accept WeChat Pay Payments Through Stripe: A Guide

For Chinese travelers, WeChat is a must-have with over 900 million monthly users. More than just a messaging app, WeChat allows users to shop with WeChat Pay, which supports the likes of Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and other Chinese bank cards. Users can then make a direct payment using the app or scan a QR code. 

What is WeChat Pay?

A keystone payment method for businesses reaching out to Chinese customers, WeChat Pay, caters to 600 million active customers. Once a simple messaging app, WeChat is now an entire ecosystem that allows users to browse items, chat with sellers, and make frictionless payments in a single interface. 

Previously a cash-based society, China is quickly going digital and favoring the convenience of mobile payment apps. Nowadays, Chinese consumers spend 90 times more time on their smartphones than American users do. 

WeChat Pay Capabilities

Other than the convenience of payment, WeChat Pay has several unique advantages. 

1. Disputed Payments

Sometimes, WeChat pay accounts are used illicitly. If such is the case, WeChat and Stripe alleviate the issue internally, removing all responsibility from the merchant. Users can only dispute payments if they are unsatisfied with the goods or services. Should disputes occur, Stripe deducts the appropriate amount from the merchant’s Stripe balance. 

2. Refunds

If a customer requests a refund using WeChat Pay, they can only do so within 180 days of the original charge. After 180 days, merchants will no longer be able to satisfy the refund. 

How Customers Use WeChat Pay

For customers to use WeChat Pay, the process is as follows.

  1. Select WeChat Pay at checkout on the hosted payment page
  2. Scan the displayed QR code using the WeChat Pay app
  3. Enter the given PIN into the WeChat Pay app
  4. Receive a notification that the payment is complete

Why WeChat Pay is Popular

Mobile payments are especially popular among Chinese youth. Especially abroad, apps like WeChat Pay satisfy a growing need for accessibility and convenience. Here are the main reasons Chinese travelers prefer WeChat Pay as a payment method.

1. Convenience

Instead of having to sift for cash, WeChat Pay is intuitive. Users can even approve payments in their native language. 

2. Pride

WeChat accounts for the majority of China’s data traffic, topping even Facebook usage in North America. Chinese travelers don’t just love its speed and ease of use—they love WeChat as a brand. 

3. Exchange Rates

As opposed to using cash or credit cards, WeChat exchange rates are more than preferable. Currency conversions are locked-in at the time of travel and won’t fluctuate throughout the consumer’s trip. 

4. Discounts

Everybody loves a loyalty reward. WeChat Pay offers users discounts for using the app—you, as a merchant, can even provide a voucher of your own. 

Conclusion

If you’re expanding your global business, you can’t miss out on WeChat Pay. China is notorious for its enthusiastic shoppers and travelers—a booming demographic of potential. With WeChat Pay, you can cater to millions of consumers you wouldn’t have within your reach natively. 

Compliment your payment gateway with a beautifully designed page using our payment page builder. With a 30% discount upon launch, you can start accepting online payments immediately with Payment Page. 

Categories
Accepting Online Payments Marketing

What Is the Best Way to Boost Sales Online?

One inevitable challenge that business owners face is when their eCommerce sales or subscriptions start to plateau—or even decline. 

If you are going through this phase at the moment, don’t get discouraged! These things naturally happen at one point (sometimes even more) throughout your operations. On top of that, there’s usually a way for you to pick yourself up and get back on track. 

When it comes to boosting your sales online, however, it’s helpful to remember that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Every business is unique, so the strategies they need to drive their eCommerce sales will naturally differ as well. 

On that note, you will learn of smart and practical ways to improve your revenue in the sections below. Feel free to experiment with these and mix and match items until you find the strategy that works for you.

1. Work Both on Customer Acquisition and Customer Retention

A common mistake business owners make is focusing all their efforts on acquiring new customers. While customer acquisition is essential to keep your business afloat, you must also pay equal attention to retaining your existing customers. 

Compared to new customers, loyal customers are more likely to add more items to their shopping carts. On top of that, they also tend to have a higher conversion rate and generate more revenue for you for each of their visits. 

Keeping your existing customer base engaged is a cost-effective strategy to drive your sales.

2. Include Video Demonstrations On Your Website and Social Media Pages 

There’s no denying the fact that consumers love videos. In fact, a study shows that the average user spends 88% more time on web pages that have videos in them

Considering this insight, incorporating videos in your promotional strategy may be worthwhile. Videos can easily draw the attention of prospects because of their audio-visual content. On top of this, they help create brand recall in your audience.

If you have a product offering that must be operated in some way, producing video demonstrations is worth giving a shot. This not only draws the attention of prospects but also educates them about the uses and benefits of your product. 

3. Make Sure Your Ecommerce Shop Is Mobile-friendly 

Today, more people are accessing the Internet through their phones. Furthermore, 40% of mobile users have bought something online using their devices

This is something you can’t ignore as an online business owner. You must make sure that your website is optimized for mobile devices; otherwise, you may be driving potential sales away. This may even be the reason why you’re seeing a decline in sales or subscriptions. 

A mobile-friendly online eCommerce website delivers the convenience and speed that customers want in their online shopping experience. 

4. Accept Different Payment Options 

One of the most important things you have to remember if you want to drive more sales is that you must prioritize your customers’ convenience. 

Payment options are a crucial aspect when it comes to providing your customers with a pleasant online shopping experience. No matter how good your product offering is, if you only accept Visa and MasterCard, you may be alienating lots of potential customers. 

Ensuring that you can accept debit cards in addition to credit cards may be the missing piece you need to unlock your eCommerce website’s full potential.  

Conclusion

Stagnating or declining sales does not necessarily mean that your product offering is not attractive anymore. Most of the time, it indicates that you must devise new and creative ways to market and sell it on your eCommerce site. If you aren’t sure where or how to start, begin with the tips mentioned above. Experiment on various executions, refine your strategy, and you’ll be well on your way to devising the best way to boost your sales. 

If you’re looking to reinvent your payment form to boost your sales, why not consider Payment Page? This WordPress plugin integrated with Stripe can make it easier for you to accept recurring payments for your eCommerce store. Head to our website today to get Payment Page as soon as we launch and save up to 30%! 

Categories
Business

How to Receive Payments for Your Online Teaching Job

Being an online teacher nowadays is an exciting venture now that more homebound students are looking for virtual classes this 2020. According to Freelancers Union, the boom in online work only proves this, with almost 57 million Americans doing freelance work in 2019 alone.

So if you want to jumpstart your freelance teaching career, there are several things you have to consider, and perhaps one of the most important ones is how you get paid. If you’re confused about the new ways of transaction nowadays, don’t worry because receiving payments is now made easy and efficient with technology.

Here are some modes of payment you can choose from to help you find the most accommodating transfer for you.

Exploring Different Payment Options For Freelancers

1. Checks

The classic bank check deposit has always been the norm for many. With no additional fees, you are assured that you get the full payment you deserve. The downside, though, is that there are possible delays in its mail transfer as it arrives and clears into your bank account.

2. Electronic Transfer

If you’re in for innovative modes, you can choose to get paid via Electronic Funds Transfer or EFT. It works by directly moving your funds from bank to bank without involving apps or credit card processors. However, funds can take around two to four business days, but at least you don’t have to transfer it again to yours, just like how PayPal works. 

3. PayPal

Most commonly used by freelancers because it’s easy. Clients transfer funds to your account electronically, and once you receive them in your PayPal account, the amount instantly appears. But, transfers to your bank account may take more time, so if you’re in immediate need, you may pay additional fees. There’s also an option for a PayPal debit card if you want to spend using your PayPal balance instantly.

Sign-up is free, but you lose 2.9% of it to transaction fees based on the amount you expect to receive for PayPal payments you receive. While it seems only a fraction, if you consider PayPal for a long time with multiple transactions, the sum amount can pile up, therefore, losing significant money on fees instead of it all ending up yours in full.

4. Credit Cards

Payments via credit cards are processed through PayPal as well or any other online payment system.

Some freelancers take the extra step by getting their credit card processing equipment to receive payments. It requires wireless credit card terminals, processing software, or a merchant account. Others even get hardware that works with mobile devices to cut the need for bulky terminals at checkout counters.

The Bottom Line: Getting The Moolah Freelancers Deserve As Seamless As Possible 

It’s important to consider that most freelance teachers who use this mode of payment use apps or other service providers to get paid. Some of these options include Google Wallet, Square, or Quickbooks. Nonetheless, the list above explores some of the most reliable gateway options that offer both credibility and convenience for freelancers across the world. 

How Can We Help?

If you’re looking for more different online payment methods that you can integrate into your business, Payment Page is your best option! We aim to make it easier for you to implement, making it possible to receive global payment support in just a few clicks with our WordPress plugin that helps create a hosted payment page seamlessly. 

Categories
eCommerce

Everything You Need to Know About Transaction Fees

As a business owner, accepting the cost of payment processing fees is akin to that of ditching a bad habit. Losing $50 off a $1,000 sale may feel like a blow, yet it is the necessary evil of doing business. As fewer shoppers prefer cash payments over the versatility of a credit card, you’ll have to come to terms with the exorbitant fees attached. Here’s everything you need to know. 

Transaction Fees Will Vary

If you’re at a loss for why a $1,000 sale may set you back $40 with one supplier and $50 with another, know that not every payment processing company will adhere to the same fee structure. For instance, PayPal will charge higher fees than other payment processors. Fortunately, business owners have total freedom to shop for a diverse range of fee structures. 

You Can Negotiate Fees

Not satisfied with your current fees? You’re at complete liberty to negotiate them with your processor. The more you rely on a principal processor, the more room you have to discuss a drop in rates and fees. 

Hardware Doesn’t Come Cheap

To process payments, most sellers will use a terminal. Hardware will almost always come with a hefty price tag and long-term contract. However, to find a solution amid today’s primarily digital landscape is as easy as using e-cash, digital wallets, or cryptocurrency instead. 

Different Types of Processing Come With Different Fees

For a hosted payment form to thrive, it must accept various methods of payment. That in mind, one bank may charge higher fees than another. A single transaction might also charge additional costs, such as terminal fees, annual fees, gateway fees, non-compliance fees, and the like. Don’t settle for a low flat rate—you never know what other charges you might incur! 

More People Are Involved Than You Think

Payment processing doesn’t just involve you and your provider. Credit card providers, issuing banks, and processors also play the game. To process business transactions, you’ll need a merchant account and payment gateway. Yes, that’s at least five different entities processing a single transaction!

Payment Processing is Changing

Contrary to where it used to be, the payment industry is continually evolving. Nowadays, you’ll have more than your fair share of processors to select from and various Stripe checkout methods such as smartphone apps or digital currencies. 

Are you catering mostly to Bitcoin users? No problem—there’s undoubtedly a gateway for it. Not to mention, online and mobile point of sale systems make accepting payments more accessible than ever before. 

As the payment industry undergoes rapid change, there’s no denying an inevitable shift in fees and rates as well. 

Conclusion

Unfortunately, there’s no sneaking by payment transaction fees when you run an eCommerce business. The good news is that there are a plethora of options that may best suit your business model. The more thoroughly you learn to navigate a myriad of portals and gateways, the more the fees will pay off in the long run. 

Coming soon, you can launch your eCommerce website with Payment Page’s intuitive payment page builder! Along with the ability to accept various payments, you can supplement your form with a stunning design that gets customers checking out without a second thought. 

Categories
eCommerce

Chargebacks: What Are They and How Can My Business Handle Them?

Your business is running smoothly, sending out product after product. You finally begin reaping the benefits of years of hard work. All is well—until you receive yet another barrier to success: a chargeback. Chargebacks are one of the most detrimental occurrences to any business, and as an entrepreneur, you need to be wary about this especially in online platforms. 

When you allow chargebacks to get out of control, your business suffers huge losses not just in profit, but reputation. If you wish to operate in the most profitable way possible, you need to ensure that your chargeback history remains untarnished. 

To learn more about chargebacks and how to protect your business from their damaging effects, here is a quick guide to follow:

What are chargebacks?

Chargebacks are basically transactions that are disputed by the customers. Customers can dispute an item on their transaction reports or credit cards. When an item is successfully disputed, the seller can reverse the transaction and return the customer’s money.

Chargebacks are designed to protect customers from fraudulent transactions, but chargebacks can also be subject to abuse. Some customers relentlessly make use of chargebacks and cause losses to the company, which can especially hurt small businesses. Other times, clerical errors can also lead to chargebacks. These errors may seem inevitable, but there are ways for businesses to reduce the likelihood of having to deal with chargebacks.

How can I protect my business from chargebacks?

Given the detrimental costs associated with chargebacks, you need to ensure that your business remains protected from untoward chargebacks. Here’s what you can do:

1 – Ensure that your customer service remains topnotch

Your customers serve as your business’s source of life, so ensuring that they are satisfied with every aspect of your business is paramount to your survival. That said, ensure that they always have access to quality customer service. This includes making sure that return policies are clear during the transaction. Bear in mind that customers raising disputes are likely looking for solutions—most are prompted to initiate chargebacks due to unsatisfactory services. 

2 – Enlist the help of an Address Verification Service (AVS)

Address Verification Services (AVS) can work to reduce fraudulent transactions. An AVS can identify suspicious transactions by checking for discrepancies in a customer’s name and address used in the transaction. It compares the customer’s details with the given data at the credit card company. 

Should the AVS detect any discrepancy, it could be a sign for you to proceed with caution and ask for further information, or perhaps decline the transaction. If the information matches, however, it is likely that the transaction is valid. 

3 – Always ask for CVV/CVC codes

Chargebacks are heavily shrouded in fraud, so to ensure that your business does not fall victim to such practices, require your customers to input CVV/CVC codes. These pertain to the 3 digital security codes on the backside of credit cards, which is particularly important for online shopping. By doing so, you ensure that the person using the card is indeed the owner, and not someone who has stolen the account number. 

Keeping Your Business Secure

There’s no other way to place it—chargebacks can lead to major losses. If you own a relatively young business, this could lead to dire consequences, especially if you get caught in the chaos of fraudulent sellers. That said, you need to ensure that you protect not only revenue but your reputation. Make sure to keep this guide in mind when dealing with customers and remember that chargebacks are much better off prevented. 

If you wish to build a payment system that delivers and protects, Payment Page is the place to go. We offer you a WordPress plugin that creates a hosted payment page, integrated heavily with the ever-reliable Stripe. Build and protect your business by offering better payment options—reach out today. 

Categories
eCommerce

4 Common Online Checkout Blunders and How to Avoid Them

With the majority of business now being conducted online, it is important for every business to have an online presence. While this does make things more convenient for the average consumer, this makes things far more competitive for businesses of all sizes, in all industries. 

For a business to have that competitive advantage online, it must achieve quite a few things. It must have a robust and recognizable brand, it must have good social media practices, and its website must provide a good experience for the user. In this article, we are going to talk about the user experience. In particular, we will go over how your payment process can affect it. 

To that end, here are 4 common mistakes online businesses make when designing their payment process, and the ways to fix them:

1. No mobile checkout

Gone are the days when most users were on laptops. Nearly 60% of internet users in the modern age use their smartphones to make online purchases. That means your mobile interface is more of a priority than ever, including your payment process or stripe checkout process. 

One of the easiest ways to fix this is through the use of a hosted payment page. It is also important to test your website on a mobile device to see how well it looks and how easily it is navigated on a smaller screen. 

2. No guest checkout

Not everyone who goes to your website wants to make an account. Some enjoy guest checkout because the process of filling out a form might take too long, and others might have security concerns. Whatever the reasoning might be, not allowing guest checkout might just turn them off from a purchase entirely. While having that important user data is important, it is still more important to prioritise profit. 

This is relatively easy to fix, as it involves incorporating a checkbox that allows users to skip your user data form. A hosted payment form is also a perfect thing to add. 

3. Too many clicks

Your website must take the fewest clicks possible from your landing page to your stripe checkout. This is the reason why Amazon has a 1-click checkout option, and why so many e-commerce websites have a “Buy Now!” button next to their “Add to cart.” The faster your users and customers can pay and get their order confirmed, the more likely you are to successfully sell them things. 

4. Surprise costs

One of the major reasons for abandoned carts on e-commerce websites is surprise costs. If your shipping and handling costs appear at the end of the payment process, it might prove dangerous for your e-commerce website. Any surprise costs might scare off potential customers, so it is important to give them an idea of the cost of their shipping and handling as they continue to shop.

Another good solution is to offer promotions of free shipping and handling once a certain purchase total has been achieved. 

Final thoughts

The user experience is one of the most important considerations in the design of a website. Your payment process is no exception to this. Even with all the information a customer has to provide, it must be as convenient as possible for them to make a purchase. This can improve your bottom line and elevate your profits. 

If you’re looking for a hosted payment page service, send us at Payment Page a message. We have the skills to make this easier for both you and your customers. 

Categories
Marketing

How to Build Trust During Online Checkout

Business is a never-ending tug of war—you have successfully encouraged your customers to add items into their cart, but understand that the battle is only half won. You will need to close the sale and ensure that no carts become abandoned. 

Ensuring that your products remain flowing and never stuck in the limbo is paramount to your business success, just as vital as lead generation and promotional strategies. You need to let your customers know that they’ll be getting value for money, and that your products will deliver above and beyond.

That said, here’s how to reduce cart abandonment and encourage solid trust:

1 – Make sure that you have SSL certificates on your site

A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certification directly translates to a trustworthy brand. Displaying it on your online store certifies that you are indeed trustworthy and credible, letting them know that you value your customers’ online security. SSL certificates signify the protection of your clients’ valuable information through encryption and ensures that they are being handled securely. 

Customers are more likely to trust your brand if you have a visible SSL certificate. You may add visual cues to the field wherein they must place their credit information, such as security icons and borders. These let your customers know that you are using a secure method of transaction.

2 – Offer a reliable and 24/7 customer service

If customers are curious about certain aspects of your brand, they may have some inquiries and will attempt to reach out to you. They may do this through your contact number, social media pages, or your business’s e-mail address. It’s crucial that you attend to these inquiries as soon as possible and answer any questions clearly.

Customers are more likely to trust your brand if you give a clear and complete answer within a few minutes of asking, as customers may get impatient and lose interest if you keep them hanging for too long. Using a live chat feature on your website can help with this because it allows you to connect with your customers in real-time and provide them with the information they need. It also allows you to negotiate with your clients and easily make deals.

3 – Make sure that they experience personalized shopping

Thousands of other eCommerce entrepreneurs likely offer similar products and services, so how do you ensure that you standout? Building trust is the answer, and one crucial aspect of that is tailoring shopping experiences according to your customers’ preferences. By making the shopping journey fir to their unique tastes and expectations, you build trust unlike any other.

One of the best ways to do this is to allow your web pages to be translated to their native language. Offering diverse payment methods is also key, as this will unconsciously tell them that you care and are willing to go above and beyond. 

Building the Best Business with a Hosted Payment Page

To ensure that your carts get successfully checked out, invest in trust. In the landscape of eCommerce, your customers need to know that you are reliable and trustworthy, promising to deliver them the best products possible. One of the best ways to do that is through reliable customer service, SSL certificates that encourage security, and of course, a personalized shopping experience through diverse payment methods.

If you wish to invest in diverse Stripe checkout methods, Payment Page can help. We offer you a WordPress plugin to create a hosted payment page, allowing you to diversity your payment methods and accept payments from international clients. Building trust has never been easier—reach out to us for more information.