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What is the best way to sell software from a website?
Currently I am using a SquareSpace website with a PayPal "Buy it Now" button. Upon a successful payment the customer must click the "Return to Merchant" button in order to be redirected to the download page.
This is obviously not very streamlined. The customer might not know that they have to click the "Return to Merchant" button. PayPal also does not offer automatic redirecting.
So what is the best way to streamline the payment and download process?
This is obviously not very streamlined. The customer might not know that they have to click the "Return to Merchant" button. PayPal also does not offer automatic redirecting.
So what is the best way to streamline the payment and download process?
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Hi Nick99c!
Squarespace isn't a bad product, but you're right... their checkout process does leave a little to be desired.
Here are my suggestions:
1)
You could switch to E-junkies Fat Free Cart:
http://www.fatfreecart.com/
It's very good. There are a ton of examples on the page and it's customizable.
2)
Paypal's newest product "PayPal Website Payments Standard" processes payments *on your website*. This is a lot like a full (expensive) "merchant account" but it is powered by paypal.
You can find out more here:
https://www.paypal.com/in/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-standard-overview-outside
3)
You can use a 3rd party merchant account.
There are a ton of these - each with different levels of service. You can find them here: http://www.google.com/search?q=us+merchant+account
Basically, these companies take care of communicating with the credit card companies to process your transaction. They're "3rd party" because they buy their service in bulk from real merchant account providers (like banks) and process your transactions.
4)
You could get a full merchant account. A quick visit or call to your bank will get you all of the information you need. Make sure that you tell them that you're doing business online and receiving payments over the web to get the right product.
Both options 3 and 4 require programming on your part. Basically, you're given access to an API to pass data to and retrieve the authorization code. The rest (shopping cart, etc) is up to you.
Squarespace isn't a bad product, but you're right... their checkout process does leave a little to be desired.
Here are my suggestions:
1)
You could switch to E-junkies Fat Free Cart:
http://www.fatfreecart.com/
It's very good. There are a ton of examples on the page and it's customizable.
2)
Paypal's newest product "PayPal Website Payments Standard" processes payments *on your website*. This is a lot like a full (expensive) "merchant account" but it is powered by paypal.
You can find out more here:
https://www.paypal.com/in/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_wp-standard-overview-outside
3)
You can use a 3rd party merchant account.
There are a ton of these - each with different levels of service. You can find them here: http://www.google.com/search?q=us+merchant+account
Basically, these companies take care of communicating with the credit card companies to process your transaction. They're "3rd party" because they buy their service in bulk from real merchant account providers (like banks) and process your transactions.
4)
You could get a full merchant account. A quick visit or call to your bank will get you all of the information you need. Make sure that you tell them that you're doing business online and receiving payments over the web to get the right product.
Both options 3 and 4 require programming on your part. Basically, you're given access to an API to pass data to and retrieve the authorization code. The rest (shopping cart, etc) is up to you.
voted helpful: dannyjohnson, warpedspeed
Good answer.. Covered all the options. Wish I had such guidance when I first started selling on the web..
Tip dannyjohnson for this comment
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Actually Paypal does have an option you can use... Create a custom "Thank You" page to be your download page instead.
Voted as best: the_brain
Interesting, I'm looking into this now.
Create a pop up window once verification of payment is registered on your site, and/or the cheapest alternative if you're not savy on creating this pop up window and need to pay some one to alter your site, is to include directions on clicking the "return to merchant button" it's not as much of a pain in the butt as you think. Most of the time the pop up thing works, and if they have pop up blocker it will tell thenm that they can allow your perticular pop up that single time. And off they go to download.
Plimus ::: ecommerce Company is a very helpfull and easy way for the seller and the buyer
Plimus's quote :
"When you complete a purchase transaction through the Plimus payment system we have an obligation to fulfil your contract. This means that you have a direct connection to customer services should you need some point clarified or have an issue with the fitness or quality of the product you purchased.
In effect this means an extra level of purchase protection over and above your relationship with your product supplier. In the event of a legitimate complaint our Customer Support section will work on your behalf to provide a full refund and can act as a middleman between you and your seller to resolve problems. If a seller is acting incorrectly Plimus has the power to cancel the transaction.
Wide choice of payment methods
Plimus also recognizes that many buyers prefer to purchase online without using credit cards. That's why we support additional online paying methods like Pay Pal and Google Checkout, as well as offering you the flexibility to buy using other methods such as Bank Transfer, Wire Order, ECheck, or using your credit card to order via phone or fax."
http://home.plimus.com/ecommerce/
i hope it helps!
Plimus's quote :
"When you complete a purchase transaction through the Plimus payment system we have an obligation to fulfil your contract. This means that you have a direct connection to customer services should you need some point clarified or have an issue with the fitness or quality of the product you purchased.
In effect this means an extra level of purchase protection over and above your relationship with your product supplier. In the event of a legitimate complaint our Customer Support section will work on your behalf to provide a full refund and can act as a middleman between you and your seller to resolve problems. If a seller is acting incorrectly Plimus has the power to cancel the transaction.
Wide choice of payment methods
Plimus also recognizes that many buyers prefer to purchase online without using credit cards. That's why we support additional online paying methods like Pay Pal and Google Checkout, as well as offering you the flexibility to buy using other methods such as Bank Transfer, Wire Order, ECheck, or using your credit card to order via phone or fax."
http://home.plimus.com/ecommerce/
i hope it helps!
Ayla_zed is correct, paypal does have a option for a custom thank you page.
I'm guessing you have created custom paypal buttons and are not using Paypal as a merchant provider (Paypal express payments)
OK here's how to find it:
Where you create a paypal button, 'Step 3: Customize advanced features (optional)'
there you will see "Take customer to a specific page (URL) after successful checkout:" -- you could even go so far as to put a direct link to your product, but the only issue with that could be people passing the link around (not a big deal, but if you're a small provider could have impact on bottom line)
If you are really concerned about click fraud, there's always Clickbank: http://www.clickbank.com/sell_products.html though I get the idea they are most expensive than a regular provider, but they do offer affiliate programs.
In regards to Plimus, they're a bit pricy, I'd checkout Yahoo Small Business http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ the also offer a virtual product checkout but to be honest if you only have a handful of products I'd go with creating the buttons and what you are doing now-- but maybe move the whole thing to wordpress... If you have any questions about YSB, PM me, I'm a mod on their YStore help forum and can happily point you in the right direction...
I'm guessing you have created custom paypal buttons and are not using Paypal as a merchant provider (Paypal express payments)
OK here's how to find it:
Where you create a paypal button, 'Step 3: Customize advanced features (optional)'
there you will see "Take customer to a specific page (URL) after successful checkout:" -- you could even go so far as to put a direct link to your product, but the only issue with that could be people passing the link around (not a big deal, but if you're a small provider could have impact on bottom line)
If you are really concerned about click fraud, there's always Clickbank: http://www.clickbank.com/sell_products.html though I get the idea they are most expensive than a regular provider, but they do offer affiliate programs.
In regards to Plimus, they're a bit pricy, I'd checkout Yahoo Small Business http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/ the also offer a virtual product checkout but to be honest if you only have a handful of products I'd go with creating the buttons and what you are doing now-- but maybe move the whole thing to wordpress... If you have any questions about YSB, PM me, I'm a mod on their YStore help forum and can happily point you in the right direction...
go open source and receive donations, a few people will pay the big bucks, but if you have a good idea that many can use then that translates into international use, millions of users, many distribution points, and all referring back to you as the writer.
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