Credit Card Skimming
By Michael Russell
Credit card skimming is an international problem accounting for losses of over one-billion dollars a year. This type of credit card scam is common in Europe, Asia and Latin America and is starting to show up more in the United States.
This scam is easy to run - it can happen when you give your credit card to a store employee to make a purchase. That employee may not only swipe your card for payment, but also swipe the card with a small machine they hold in their hand known as a skimmer. This small device will store the information from your card into its system. The skimmer is equipped to hold information on hundreds of credit cards and from this information, the crooks are able to produce counterfeit cards.
There are skimming rings working all over the world and once your information is put into the skimmer, it is then downloaded into a computer, ready to be emailed to anyone worldwide.
A decade ago, this fraud was not as easy to accomplish as it is today, due to the fact skimmers were very large and had to be hidden under counters. However, with the advance of technology in the past ten years, they have been able to streamline the skimmer, making it small enough to be hand-held and out of sight of the unwary customer making a purchase. These skimmers are easy to buy; in fact, they can be purchased over the internet at around $300. The machine needed to make counterfeit credit cards is a much larger investment - costing $5,000 to $10,000.
Another form of this scam is done by actually pulling information directly from the credit card terminals. A skimmer bug is placed into the terminal and later retrieved with credit card information on it. Only the older terminals can be violated in this way and with the onset of new credit card terminals, this has alleviated much of this bugging.
As soon as the crooks have their needed information on you, they will start their shopping sprees using your credit card number. They purchase all types of merchandise and charge it to your credit card. Over half of credit card fraud is done over the internet with online purchases. With shopping on the internet becoming more and more popular, card fraud on the internet has also increased.
The crooks will also use the internet to verify the card information is valid. They will purchase many low-ticket items through various websites, checking to see if the card is active. Internet processing of card purchases is done by real-time processing and not handled by a person; thus, no chance of them being caught trying to use a stolen card number.
The cardholder is a victim of this crime and is responsible for up to $50 of the total amount charged on his card, while the real victim in all of this is the merchant whose employee did the skimming. The merchant is held 100% responsible and risks losing the merchandise, and is responsible for paying the fees of the investigation. Investigation fees paid by consumers and businesses in 2003 amounted to an estimated half-billion dollars in annual revenue for credit card companies. This money is used by the card companies to offset costs to investigate charge back claims by their customers.
The crook who perpetrates this card fraud, for the most part, goes unpunished. There is a limit of $2,000 before a criminal investigation can be started; the crooks know this and will not exceed $2,000 on their purchases from any one business. Thus, they are pretty much free to continue to victimize consumers and businesses.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Credit Cards
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
http://EzineArticles.com/?Credit-Card-Skimming&id=363585
Monday, May 14, 2007
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Credit Card Lingo
By Max Hunter
Knowing What’s Out There – And What To Choose
The World of finance can be a tricky game for both the seasoned
veteran and the novice borrower. Banks can – by accident or
design – make even the most simple information seem complicated
and through this unwittingly (or not) induce their customers to
go for products that might not be best suited to their needs.
Credit, charge, ATM and debit cards are not all alike. Although
you might think that they are basically the same thing – a way
of making payment for purchases or means of getting cash – they
are actually quite different. So as to use these cards wisely,
you should know what each one is and how it differs from the
others. Here’s some information to help you choose wisely.
Credit Cards
Credit cards can be a great way of paying for a purchase. They
are easy to apply for, easy to use, and flexible in their
repayment options. However, if you carry a balance, credit
cards can be like very expensive loans.
A credit card works like this: the credit card company supplies
you with a card; you use that card to pay for items and services
up to a certain total amount -- your credit ‘limit.’ The store
or service provider then collects what you owe from the card
issuer, whom you repay. You're then allowed to pay off as much
or almost as little as you like off the balance each month, so
long as you pay a minimum amount each time (usually 2.5 per
cent).
On the outstanding balance you’re charged interest (which can
be as high as 25% or more each year) at the end of each monthly
period, unless you pay the full balance each time your bill
arrives.
Credit cards are immensely profitable for issuers for a variety
of reasons. The high rate of interest yields issuing banks and
companies vast profits – in some cases the bulk of an
institution’s earnings. In addition to the interest, many
companies charge an annual membership fee for a credit card, as
well as a plethora of other charges, including late fees,
over-the-limit fees and other miscellaneous charges. Companies
also profit by charging stores a fee each time a customer uses
a credit card in their establishment.
There are three different types of credit card available:
Unsecured Credit Cards
These cards are commonly made available to those with good
credit history and credit score. These cards require no bank
deposit amounts to secure and usually have no annual fees and
low rate of interest.
Higher Risk Credit Cards
These cards are usually given to people who have a lower paying
job, and/or poor credit history and credit score. Often these
cards charge an activation fee, and also usually charge an
annual fee of up to $80.
Secured Credit Cards
These cards are given to people who have a lower paying job,
and/or a very poor credit history and credit score. Often these
cards require a deposit to be made to the lender, sometimes as
much as near or equal to the amount of credit available on the
card. If the borrower can prove their credit worthiness over
time, that credit limit is then upped. These cards also attract
a high annual fee of up to $100 and charge high rates of
interest.
Charge Cards
Charge cards (also known as travel and entertainment cards) are
slightly from credit cards. The most famous charge cards, such
as American Express and Diners Club, have an unlimited credit
limit. Normally you can charge as much as you like, but you are
required to pay off your balance in full when your bill arrives.
There’s one exception to this: If you charge air fare, cruise
fees or hotel charges booked through a travel agent on an
American Express card, you have an option to pay off your
balance over 36 months. There’s a sting in the tail, however:
you'll be charged around 20 per cent interest and will have to
make minimum monthly payments of $20.
The way charge card companies like American Express make their
profits is by charging very high annual fees – up to $100 – and
by hitting merchants with relatively high charges each time a
customer pays using their card.
If you don't pay your charge card bill in full (unless the
charges are travel expenses on an American Express card),
you'll get a one-month period of grace, when no interest is
charged. Beyond that, however, you'll be charged interest,
which weighs in at about 18 per cent. After about three months,
if your account is still not settled, your account will be
closed and your bill sent to the collections department.
Cash Advances
Some people use their credit or charge cards to obtain cash
advances. This can be an expensive way of accessing cash. Most
banks charge a transaction fee that can be as much as 4% for
taking a cash advance. Interest is also charged from the date
the cash advance is posted, even if it’s paid back in full when
your bill arrives. Moreover, the interest rate is usually higher
on cash advances than on ordinary credit card charges.
ATM & Debit Cards
ATM and debit cards offer most of the same functions as credit
and charge cards, but the crucial difference is that the money
comes out of your bank account straight away. If you don’t have
the money, you can’t buy the product.
For some people this is a preferable option: they like to keep
track of their outgoings, to keep tabs on what they’ve spent,
to avoid any sort of debt – no matter how brief.
There are disadvantages to using debit cards. It doesn’t give
you the option of up to a month to settle your statement. You
also don't have the right to withhold payment with a debit card
(the money is immediately removed from the account) in the event
of a dispute with the merchant over the goods or services paid
for. Some banks and merchants also charge transaction fees for
the use of debit cards.
About the Author: Max Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans
or any other type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.creditcardunlimited.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Max Hunter
Knowing What’s Out There – And What To Choose
The World of finance can be a tricky game for both the seasoned
veteran and the novice borrower. Banks can – by accident or
design – make even the most simple information seem complicated
and through this unwittingly (or not) induce their customers to
go for products that might not be best suited to their needs.
Credit, charge, ATM and debit cards are not all alike. Although
you might think that they are basically the same thing – a way
of making payment for purchases or means of getting cash – they
are actually quite different. So as to use these cards wisely,
you should know what each one is and how it differs from the
others. Here’s some information to help you choose wisely.
Credit Cards
Credit cards can be a great way of paying for a purchase. They
are easy to apply for, easy to use, and flexible in their
repayment options. However, if you carry a balance, credit
cards can be like very expensive loans.
A credit card works like this: the credit card company supplies
you with a card; you use that card to pay for items and services
up to a certain total amount -- your credit ‘limit.’ The store
or service provider then collects what you owe from the card
issuer, whom you repay. You're then allowed to pay off as much
or almost as little as you like off the balance each month, so
long as you pay a minimum amount each time (usually 2.5 per
cent).
On the outstanding balance you’re charged interest (which can
be as high as 25% or more each year) at the end of each monthly
period, unless you pay the full balance each time your bill
arrives.
Credit cards are immensely profitable for issuers for a variety
of reasons. The high rate of interest yields issuing banks and
companies vast profits – in some cases the bulk of an
institution’s earnings. In addition to the interest, many
companies charge an annual membership fee for a credit card, as
well as a plethora of other charges, including late fees,
over-the-limit fees and other miscellaneous charges. Companies
also profit by charging stores a fee each time a customer uses
a credit card in their establishment.
There are three different types of credit card available:
Unsecured Credit Cards
These cards are commonly made available to those with good
credit history and credit score. These cards require no bank
deposit amounts to secure and usually have no annual fees and
low rate of interest.
Higher Risk Credit Cards
These cards are usually given to people who have a lower paying
job, and/or poor credit history and credit score. Often these
cards charge an activation fee, and also usually charge an
annual fee of up to $80.
Secured Credit Cards
These cards are given to people who have a lower paying job,
and/or a very poor credit history and credit score. Often these
cards require a deposit to be made to the lender, sometimes as
much as near or equal to the amount of credit available on the
card. If the borrower can prove their credit worthiness over
time, that credit limit is then upped. These cards also attract
a high annual fee of up to $100 and charge high rates of
interest.
Charge Cards
Charge cards (also known as travel and entertainment cards) are
slightly from credit cards. The most famous charge cards, such
as American Express and Diners Club, have an unlimited credit
limit. Normally you can charge as much as you like, but you are
required to pay off your balance in full when your bill arrives.
There’s one exception to this: If you charge air fare, cruise
fees or hotel charges booked through a travel agent on an
American Express card, you have an option to pay off your
balance over 36 months. There’s a sting in the tail, however:
you'll be charged around 20 per cent interest and will have to
make minimum monthly payments of $20.
The way charge card companies like American Express make their
profits is by charging very high annual fees – up to $100 – and
by hitting merchants with relatively high charges each time a
customer pays using their card.
If you don't pay your charge card bill in full (unless the
charges are travel expenses on an American Express card),
you'll get a one-month period of grace, when no interest is
charged. Beyond that, however, you'll be charged interest,
which weighs in at about 18 per cent. After about three months,
if your account is still not settled, your account will be
closed and your bill sent to the collections department.
Cash Advances
Some people use their credit or charge cards to obtain cash
advances. This can be an expensive way of accessing cash. Most
banks charge a transaction fee that can be as much as 4% for
taking a cash advance. Interest is also charged from the date
the cash advance is posted, even if it’s paid back in full when
your bill arrives. Moreover, the interest rate is usually higher
on cash advances than on ordinary credit card charges.
ATM & Debit Cards
ATM and debit cards offer most of the same functions as credit
and charge cards, but the crucial difference is that the money
comes out of your bank account straight away. If you don’t have
the money, you can’t buy the product.
For some people this is a preferable option: they like to keep
track of their outgoings, to keep tabs on what they’ve spent,
to avoid any sort of debt – no matter how brief.
There are disadvantages to using debit cards. It doesn’t give
you the option of up to a month to settle your statement. You
also don't have the right to withhold payment with a debit card
(the money is immediately removed from the account) in the event
of a dispute with the merchant over the goods or services paid
for. Some banks and merchants also charge transaction fees for
the use of debit cards.
About the Author: Max Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans
or any other type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.creditcardunlimited.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Friday, May 11, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Partners For Life: Credit Card Bills And Debt Consolidation
By Diego Hernando
Meet the Batman – Robin tandem of the 21st century. Or the New
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cruise. Or Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie if and
when they ‘fess up. Today, thanks to inflation, terrorist
threats, the euro going up and the dollar going down, citizens
of the United States of America realize in horror that they are
just a statistic in a financial report. Their horrific situation
is utterly ordinary. They’re broke. And what do the government
have to say? Get over it and go back to work.
So that’s where debt consolidation comes along. The credit card
is an amazing thing because it lets you spend so much. Actually,
it lets you spend money that you don’t really have. But in the
end, well that’s when it gets tricky. Credit card bills start
knocking on your door and you find yourself wondering if you
really spent all that or was it your alter ego holding the
credit card in a trip to Macy’s. But of course it was you. And
since borrowing more from your bank is totally out of the
question, you have to take the next option available and that
could be debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation is where you gather all your bills together,
credit card bills especially because they’re somehow more
harrowing than the others, grab a calculator and add them all
up. When you’re done, you present this to the representative of
a debt consolidation company and see how he or she works out
everything.
Now, don’t start thinking that debt consolidation is like a
modern fairy godmother out to make your credit card bills
disappear in one big poof. Sorry, folks but this is reality and
things don’t work out quite that way. Sadly, your credit card
bills would remain visible and concrete, proof that you owe
loads of money to several financial institutions. And that’s
when the debt consolidation rep you’re talking to comes in.
First, she’ll ask you your budget and just how much you can
afford right now. Debt consolidation companies have to know
about their clients’ financial history to be able to negotiate
more competently with their clients’ creditors. They have to
know how much you’re earning, how many credit cards you have,
what loans and bills are there to be paid off etc. When that’s
done, these debt consolidation companies then approach the
people behind the bills: the creditors, in other words. They
talk to the managers behind that credit card bill staring at
you so accusingly from your office desk. They ask if it’s
possible to give you some more leeway so you have an
opportunity to continue paying them. If you go bankrupt,
neither would win. Debt consolidation representatives can make
the interest rates of your credit card bills lower, the monthly
payments decrease, the payoff time shorten and so on.
The important thing to know before choosing this particular
tandem approach however is being sure that you can really work
things out this way. If you feel that using debt consolidation
to pay off your debts, like credit card bills, is just like
papering cracks on the walls then don’t do it. You’ll simply be
worse off. Debt consolidation, like most things, requires
determination, self-control and dedication. And if you are
incapable of any of those qualities then my advice is to find
another solution.
About the Author: Diego HR. is the owner of My Debt
Consolidation Advisor http://www.mydebt-consolidation.biz/ and
invites you to take a download free helpful information,
articles, and more.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
By Diego Hernando
Meet the Batman – Robin tandem of the 21st century. Or the New
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Cruise. Or Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie if and
when they ‘fess up. Today, thanks to inflation, terrorist
threats, the euro going up and the dollar going down, citizens
of the United States of America realize in horror that they are
just a statistic in a financial report. Their horrific situation
is utterly ordinary. They’re broke. And what do the government
have to say? Get over it and go back to work.
So that’s where debt consolidation comes along. The credit card
is an amazing thing because it lets you spend so much. Actually,
it lets you spend money that you don’t really have. But in the
end, well that’s when it gets tricky. Credit card bills start
knocking on your door and you find yourself wondering if you
really spent all that or was it your alter ego holding the
credit card in a trip to Macy’s. But of course it was you. And
since borrowing more from your bank is totally out of the
question, you have to take the next option available and that
could be debt consolidation.
Debt consolidation is where you gather all your bills together,
credit card bills especially because they’re somehow more
harrowing than the others, grab a calculator and add them all
up. When you’re done, you present this to the representative of
a debt consolidation company and see how he or she works out
everything.
Now, don’t start thinking that debt consolidation is like a
modern fairy godmother out to make your credit card bills
disappear in one big poof. Sorry, folks but this is reality and
things don’t work out quite that way. Sadly, your credit card
bills would remain visible and concrete, proof that you owe
loads of money to several financial institutions. And that’s
when the debt consolidation rep you’re talking to comes in.
First, she’ll ask you your budget and just how much you can
afford right now. Debt consolidation companies have to know
about their clients’ financial history to be able to negotiate
more competently with their clients’ creditors. They have to
know how much you’re earning, how many credit cards you have,
what loans and bills are there to be paid off etc. When that’s
done, these debt consolidation companies then approach the
people behind the bills: the creditors, in other words. They
talk to the managers behind that credit card bill staring at
you so accusingly from your office desk. They ask if it’s
possible to give you some more leeway so you have an
opportunity to continue paying them. If you go bankrupt,
neither would win. Debt consolidation representatives can make
the interest rates of your credit card bills lower, the monthly
payments decrease, the payoff time shorten and so on.
The important thing to know before choosing this particular
tandem approach however is being sure that you can really work
things out this way. If you feel that using debt consolidation
to pay off your debts, like credit card bills, is just like
papering cracks on the walls then don’t do it. You’ll simply be
worse off. Debt consolidation, like most things, requires
determination, self-control and dedication. And if you are
incapable of any of those qualities then my advice is to find
another solution.
About the Author: Diego HR. is the owner of My Debt
Consolidation Advisor http://www.mydebt-consolidation.biz/ and
invites you to take a download free helpful information,
articles, and more.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Mobile Credit Card Processing Equipment
By Thomas Morva
In today's business environment, credit card processing equipment is an essential tool for completing an online transaction. Compared to traditional credit card processing services, mobile credit card processing ensures faster payment, increases overall sales and credibility, and saves a lot of money. A well maintained mobile credit card processing equipment is a must for such transactions. Mobile credit card machines are useful for those merchants who like to take their business to the customers. The functioning of a mobile credit card machine is simple. By swiping the customer's credit card through the mobile credit card processing equipment, all the transaction processes are done automatically in real time. When the merchant gets the authorization, a printed receipt is given to the customer.
Mobile credit card processing equipment helps in accepting payments through online credit cards as well as by telephone. With its state-of-the-art technology, mobile credit card processing equipment provides a secure payment gateway that enables fraud screening and also real time reporting of every transaction. For an online transaction, only a virtual terminal is needed. This enables you to get all the services through the Internet.
Mobile credit card processing equipment has certain added advantages when compared to traditional wireless merchant accounts. They include low monthly charges, low processing fee and no monthly minimum processing charge. Today, the wireless mobile credit card processing equipment is the latest in convenience and portability.
Many business concerns sign a contract with mobile credit card processing equipment companies for their services. These contracts might be for 2 to 5 years, a fact which is often unknown to the firm. Consequently, if a firm needs to terminate a contract, a cancellation fee is charged by these companies. So care should be while choosing the services of such companies.
Credit Card Processing provides detailed information on Credit Card Processing, Online Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Processing Software, Wireless Credit Card Processing and more. Credit Card Processing is affiliated with Wireless Credit Card Terminals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva
http://EzineArticles.com/?Mobile-Credit-Card-Processing-Equipment&id=353158
By Thomas Morva
In today's business environment, credit card processing equipment is an essential tool for completing an online transaction. Compared to traditional credit card processing services, mobile credit card processing ensures faster payment, increases overall sales and credibility, and saves a lot of money. A well maintained mobile credit card processing equipment is a must for such transactions. Mobile credit card machines are useful for those merchants who like to take their business to the customers. The functioning of a mobile credit card machine is simple. By swiping the customer's credit card through the mobile credit card processing equipment, all the transaction processes are done automatically in real time. When the merchant gets the authorization, a printed receipt is given to the customer.
Mobile credit card processing equipment helps in accepting payments through online credit cards as well as by telephone. With its state-of-the-art technology, mobile credit card processing equipment provides a secure payment gateway that enables fraud screening and also real time reporting of every transaction. For an online transaction, only a virtual terminal is needed. This enables you to get all the services through the Internet.
Mobile credit card processing equipment has certain added advantages when compared to traditional wireless merchant accounts. They include low monthly charges, low processing fee and no monthly minimum processing charge. Today, the wireless mobile credit card processing equipment is the latest in convenience and portability.
Many business concerns sign a contract with mobile credit card processing equipment companies for their services. These contracts might be for 2 to 5 years, a fact which is often unknown to the firm. Consequently, if a firm needs to terminate a contract, a cancellation fee is charged by these companies. So care should be while choosing the services of such companies.
Credit Card Processing provides detailed information on Credit Card Processing, Online Credit Card Processing, Credit Card Processing Software, Wireless Credit Card Processing and more. Credit Card Processing is affiliated with Wireless Credit Card Terminals.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva
http://EzineArticles.com/?Mobile-Credit-Card-Processing-Equipment&id=353158
Friday, May 4, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
DEVELOPING AN ONLINE BUSINESS QUICKLY by ANTHONY F FONTANA
If you are interested in developing a serious income online, but you lack the skill set necessary to do so, then I may have a solution for you. Over the past few years I have tried just about every possible system out there to make money online, from using EBay to actually trying to create my own product. The results? Nada, nothing, zilch! Thousands of dollars latter I found myself just giving up. I received enough information to make my eyes bleed and head throb. I subscribed to so many guru lists that I was forced to create alternate email addresses just to get rid of all the spam.
Every new product that came out generated hundreds of emails to me from dozens of so-called experts selling it to me. I took me a little while to realize that the only people making the money were the guys that took other peoples info, repackaged it and sold it to idiots like me! Can you say tech dummy? That is me in a nutshell. I am a banker, accountant, and mortgage loan officer. I am also a dreamer like you. I want the best that life offers. Give me the tools to achieve my dreams and I will run with them. I have absolutely no ability to absorb all of the tricks, techniques and ideas sent to me. It is all just over my head.
I have never been one to give up, so I began to focus on just one area. Affiliate Marketing became my vehicle to creating wealth. I signed up with click bank and joined over 30 different programs. I made a few dollars but realized that I was not capturing the information that I needed to build a long term income stream. Short term profits were okay, but they did not last and required constant work to maintain. By sending my customers to an affiliate product web site, I was basically giving them my customers forever. I was missing the opportunity to market other products to them in the future.
Eventually I stumbled upon an amazing internet marketer, who seemed to be able to focus his teachings like a laser beam into my brain. He recommended a product that had all of the elements I needed. The name of the program is Simple Money Machines. Simple Money Machines may not be what you need if you are a total technology nerd. If you are tech savvy, like me, then this could be your ticket to financial freedom!
Simple Money Machines is a new platform that allows someone with no technological abilities what-so-ever to set up a complete online business. You do not need to host an account, no software to purchase and learn, no worrying about back ups and no expensive testing required. Simple Money Machines does it all.
Here is a little bit of what Simple Money Machines includes
Web site creation using WYSIWYG for either an affiliate marketing site or an e-book marketing site
Auto-responder so that you can capture email addresses, build your own list and send future promotions. This is critical to your success. The key to developing a long-term internet income is in the list. Every large marketer online has one and use it to generate future sales. The auto-responder feature is used to send periodic emails to your customers. You determine what to send and when to send it.
Headline generator to create effective headlines
Web page video to increase conversions
Web page audio. You can create a message to your prospects using your home phone
Split-testing: Allows you to track conversions of different versions of your site
Opt-in Page also known as a Squeeze Page. It is an excellent way to develop an email list and it provides you with the ability to offer a bonus to your subscribers just for looking at your site
Traffic tracking software that lets you analyze the source and costs of different traffic options
Credit card processing and tracking
Simple Money Machines is unlike any other business-in-a-box program. The primary purpose of the program is to promote the affiliate programs YOU are excited about. You can use it to market your own e-book product. It lets you focus on the Marketing, and not on the programming. You can be up and running in under 1 hour. My first site was running thirty minutes after I joined the program. The program comes with a wonderful manual to guide you step by step on what to do.
You can sign up for the program for $ 1.00 for a 2 week trial. The trial will give you the ability to create up to five individual web sites promoting anything you want!
$ 1.00! There is absolutely no risk.
So there you have it. It is now up to you to drive the traffic to your new website. That is actually the easiest part. The internet is filled with tried and true methods to drive traffic such as pay-per-click, ezine article submissions, or any creative method you can devise.
Are you ready? Congratulations! You are now in business for yourself!
Anthony Fontana has been a banker and tax accountant for almost 30 years. When he discovers something that makes his life easier, and makes his business more profitable, he loves to share it with everyone he knows! Visit: http://simplemoneymachinesprogram.smmsite.com for more information.
About the Author
Tony is an online marketer for many years. He began his career in banking almost 30 years ago. He has sucessfully build a network marketing business, a tax and accounting practice, and is very successful in the mortgage finance industry. A noted speaker, he often appears before groups looking to achieve financial independence.
If you are interested in developing a serious income online, but you lack the skill set necessary to do so, then I may have a solution for you. Over the past few years I have tried just about every possible system out there to make money online, from using EBay to actually trying to create my own product. The results? Nada, nothing, zilch! Thousands of dollars latter I found myself just giving up. I received enough information to make my eyes bleed and head throb. I subscribed to so many guru lists that I was forced to create alternate email addresses just to get rid of all the spam.
Every new product that came out generated hundreds of emails to me from dozens of so-called experts selling it to me. I took me a little while to realize that the only people making the money were the guys that took other peoples info, repackaged it and sold it to idiots like me! Can you say tech dummy? That is me in a nutshell. I am a banker, accountant, and mortgage loan officer. I am also a dreamer like you. I want the best that life offers. Give me the tools to achieve my dreams and I will run with them. I have absolutely no ability to absorb all of the tricks, techniques and ideas sent to me. It is all just over my head.
I have never been one to give up, so I began to focus on just one area. Affiliate Marketing became my vehicle to creating wealth. I signed up with click bank and joined over 30 different programs. I made a few dollars but realized that I was not capturing the information that I needed to build a long term income stream. Short term profits were okay, but they did not last and required constant work to maintain. By sending my customers to an affiliate product web site, I was basically giving them my customers forever. I was missing the opportunity to market other products to them in the future.
Eventually I stumbled upon an amazing internet marketer, who seemed to be able to focus his teachings like a laser beam into my brain. He recommended a product that had all of the elements I needed. The name of the program is Simple Money Machines. Simple Money Machines may not be what you need if you are a total technology nerd. If you are tech savvy, like me, then this could be your ticket to financial freedom!
Simple Money Machines is a new platform that allows someone with no technological abilities what-so-ever to set up a complete online business. You do not need to host an account, no software to purchase and learn, no worrying about back ups and no expensive testing required. Simple Money Machines does it all.
Here is a little bit of what Simple Money Machines includes
Web site creation using WYSIWYG for either an affiliate marketing site or an e-book marketing site
Auto-responder so that you can capture email addresses, build your own list and send future promotions. This is critical to your success. The key to developing a long-term internet income is in the list. Every large marketer online has one and use it to generate future sales. The auto-responder feature is used to send periodic emails to your customers. You determine what to send and when to send it.
Headline generator to create effective headlines
Web page video to increase conversions
Web page audio. You can create a message to your prospects using your home phone
Split-testing: Allows you to track conversions of different versions of your site
Opt-in Page also known as a Squeeze Page. It is an excellent way to develop an email list and it provides you with the ability to offer a bonus to your subscribers just for looking at your site
Traffic tracking software that lets you analyze the source and costs of different traffic options
Credit card processing and tracking
Simple Money Machines is unlike any other business-in-a-box program. The primary purpose of the program is to promote the affiliate programs YOU are excited about. You can use it to market your own e-book product. It lets you focus on the Marketing, and not on the programming. You can be up and running in under 1 hour. My first site was running thirty minutes after I joined the program. The program comes with a wonderful manual to guide you step by step on what to do.
You can sign up for the program for $ 1.00 for a 2 week trial. The trial will give you the ability to create up to five individual web sites promoting anything you want!
$ 1.00! There is absolutely no risk.
So there you have it. It is now up to you to drive the traffic to your new website. That is actually the easiest part. The internet is filled with tried and true methods to drive traffic such as pay-per-click, ezine article submissions, or any creative method you can devise.
Are you ready? Congratulations! You are now in business for yourself!
Anthony Fontana has been a banker and tax accountant for almost 30 years. When he discovers something that makes his life easier, and makes his business more profitable, he loves to share it with everyone he knows! Visit: http://simplemoneymachinesprogram.smmsite.com for more information.
About the Author
Tony is an online marketer for many years. He began his career in banking almost 30 years ago. He has sucessfully build a network marketing business, a tax and accounting practice, and is very successful in the mortgage finance industry. A noted speaker, he often appears before groups looking to achieve financial independence.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Credit Card Equipment
Tips For Accepting Credit Card Payments on Your Web Site
By Gabriel J. Adams
Accepting credit card payments on your web site is very important if you want to increase sales. Many people are less trusting of web sites that do not accept credit cards, because it makes your web site appear less professional. Also you will possibly lose business, because a person might want to make a purchase immediately, and can only use a credit card to do so. If they have to wait to mail a check or a money order, then they might decide that they do not need your product that badly after all. Once a person decides to make a purchase you want to make it as easy as possible for them to complete their intended purchase.
The idea of accepting credit card payments on your web site might seem like a daunting task, but it can be quite easy if you use a third party merchant to accept credit card payments for you. Many third party merchants exist for the sole purpose of accepting credit card payments online. You will definitely want to research these merchants and choose the merchant that fits your web site and your budget best. However you want to make sure the merchant is reputable, because many cases of credit card fraud exist on the web today. Many of these merchants will charge a setup fee as well as a per transaction fee. It is usually better to accept a larger setup fee than to accept a larger per transaction fee.
There are many reasons to use a third party merchant for accepting credit card payments on your web site. When dealing with a person’s credit card information you need to be very careful that this information is secure. Third party merchants have already created implementations of accepting credit card payments that are secure. Also, customers will feel better about giving their credit card information if they know a reputable merchant is processing their transaction. Third party merchants also make accepting credit card payments on your web site very easy to implement. Most of these merchants offer technical support for the initial setup, and ongoing support if you start experiencing any problems.
Get Point of Sale equipment to help you process credit card payments face to face, plus software to track, control and manage your inventory.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriel_J._Adams
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Accepting-Credit-Card-Payments-on-Your-Web-Site&id=282540
By Gabriel J. Adams
Accepting credit card payments on your web site is very important if you want to increase sales. Many people are less trusting of web sites that do not accept credit cards, because it makes your web site appear less professional. Also you will possibly lose business, because a person might want to make a purchase immediately, and can only use a credit card to do so. If they have to wait to mail a check or a money order, then they might decide that they do not need your product that badly after all. Once a person decides to make a purchase you want to make it as easy as possible for them to complete their intended purchase.
The idea of accepting credit card payments on your web site might seem like a daunting task, but it can be quite easy if you use a third party merchant to accept credit card payments for you. Many third party merchants exist for the sole purpose of accepting credit card payments online. You will definitely want to research these merchants and choose the merchant that fits your web site and your budget best. However you want to make sure the merchant is reputable, because many cases of credit card fraud exist on the web today. Many of these merchants will charge a setup fee as well as a per transaction fee. It is usually better to accept a larger setup fee than to accept a larger per transaction fee.
There are many reasons to use a third party merchant for accepting credit card payments on your web site. When dealing with a person’s credit card information you need to be very careful that this information is secure. Third party merchants have already created implementations of accepting credit card payments that are secure. Also, customers will feel better about giving their credit card information if they know a reputable merchant is processing their transaction. Third party merchants also make accepting credit card payments on your web site very easy to implement. Most of these merchants offer technical support for the initial setup, and ongoing support if you start experiencing any problems.
Get Point of Sale equipment to help you process credit card payments face to face, plus software to track, control and manage your inventory.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabriel_J._Adams
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-For-Accepting-Credit-Card-Payments-on-Your-Web-Site&id=282540
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