Monthly Archives: August 2011

Paypal

Paypal – Add an ‘Admin User’ to a Business Account

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To create a Paypal Admin User and set up access privileges:

Login to your PayPal Account.
Click on “Profile”.
Choose “My Account Settings” (from the left sidebar).
Select “Manage Users” (6th option down)
Select “Add User”.
Complete the Form, entering the users full name, the ID you want them to use (a username) and a password.

Note, the login ID is “not” an email address, it’s just a unique user name you make up. The unique user name is used to log in along with the password you assigned.

Next you need to assign the privilages. The privileges listed below are the typical business operations that can be performed on PayPal. If the user is just going to be setting up paypal buttons in the merchant side of the account, you can ignore all of the Accounting section, tick the ‘View Profile’ and ‘Edit Profile’ choices in the administration section.
Next click save and its done. You can then logout and test the login ID and password yourself.

List of Privilages you may assign:

    Accounting Section
    * Send money – Allows users on your account to pay almost anyone with an email address in the countries that accept PayPal, with no fees.
    * Request money – Allows users to request that someone send money by email or through invoicing.
    * Add funds – Lets additional users add money to your PayPal account from your bank account.
    * Issue refunds – Lets your users send a full or partial refund.
    * Withdraw funds – Allows the user to withdraw money from your PayPal account to your bank account.
    * Cancel payments – Lets the user cancel unclaimed payments for you.
    * Distribute mass payments – Lets another user on your account pay large numbers of people using only the recipients’ email addresses and the payment amounts.
    * Set up recurring payments – Allows the user set up automatic billing cycles for your customers’ credit cards or PayPal accounts.
    * Handle authorizations and settlements – Lets another user perform this task for you daily.

    Integration Section
    * Activate and authorize APIs – Allows your developer to integrate your website with our products by setting up PayPal secure API credentials and permissions.

    Administration Section
    * View balance – Lets the user view the available balance shown on your Account Overview page.
    * View profile – Allows another user on your account to view your profile’s settings.
    * Edit profile – Lets users add, remove, or edit information on your PayPal account for you.
    * Discuss account with Customer Service – Gives the user permission to discuss your account with our agents. All you have to do is accept our Account Administrator Agreement after you select this privilege.

    Virtual Agent
    *Schedule and download transaction history and run settlement reports.

E-Marketing, Social Media

Social Media Marketing – FAQ’s Explored

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On the surface, social media may represent a bunch of people shouting back and forth at each other all day long, however, if you know what you’re doing, social media can be very effective and profitable.  Great content, articles or videos on your website that have educational and/or entertainment value shared with others on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, have the potential of becoming viral and can give you the kind of exposure money just can’t buy.

So heres the answers to the most common questions;

Do I have to subscribe to them all?

It’s not the number of social networks you’re on that matters, it’s how effectively you use them that’s important.  Unless you’re an experienced and skilled marketeer, focus on one social network at a time. Maximize the potential of each network, before moving onto the next one.
Remember, creating a profile is only the first step.  You have to promote your page and actively participate in the social networks you belong to. Just like your website,  if you simply abandon it, absolutely nothing will happen. If you do nothing, people will not simply magically appear at your doorstep – credít cards in hand – it just doesn’t work that way.

Isn’t face to face networking better?

Some people have and always will prefer face-to-face communication over all other forms of communication. It’s down to personal choice.  Networking online has its advantages – convenience being the most obvious, but it won’t ever replace the need for human interaction and good old face-to-face networking.

Should Social Media replace my website?

Absolutely not! Websites aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity. And I am absolutely amazed at how many people there are on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the other social networks who don’t have a website – not even a blog. I think this is a mistake for a number of reasons. First of all, search engines are content driven vehicles. And while you may have a nice profile on the various social networks, it’s not the same as having unique content on your website.  In addition, you have complete control over the content on your website, as opposed to social network profiles which are limited and have user guidelines. Also, it’s much easier to build your brand if you have a website. Think about it.

What about a Blog?  Do I need one?

Blogging works, but just like any marketing tool, it has to be properly executed.  That means you have to post often and refresh your content regularly to keep visitors coming back. It also means you have to figure out an effective way to monetise your website so that it’s profitable.  Rely on clever posting and linking rather than using Adsense, affiliate programs or banners, reducing your advertising costs – that way you get to keep all the profits.

Can I measure a return on investment with social media?

Yes, you can track and measure your social media ROI by using free analytic software like Google Analytics. For example, GA will allow you to track visitors coming from social networks and the actions they took. You can do this by setting up “Goals” in Google Analytics to see which links you are tracking generate the most activity.  You’d be surprised at the number of sophisticated actions GA can perform. All you have to do is take some time to study the tutorials to see what’s possible with GA. After all, that’s what being a professional is all about.

Im so busy, would Social media just be too time consuming?

Well, that depends on the individual and how disciplined he or she is. I use social media very effectively, and spend around 30 minutes a day combined on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and my Blog – but I’m disciplined. I know these sites are all made from virtual superglue!  During work hours, do what you need to do on those sites and then get out of there!  If youre short of time, dont mix business with pleasure.

But is Social Media right for my type of business?

If your business need to generate new leads, more traffic? If  you need to build your brand? Strengthen your SEO efforts? Provide customer support? Give your customers a platform to give feedback and suggestions in real-time?
If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, social media is right for your business.

What are you waiting for?

Paypal

Paypal, Website Postage Calculation Options

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Postage settings can be applied directly from your Paypal account. Go to ‘Profile’, then ‘My Selling Preferences’ and ‘Postage Calculations’

Paypal offer two ‘Cost Method’ options for postage charges:

Flat Amount:

Calculate a flat postage rate based on the total amount of the purchase. Or,

Percentage:

Calculate the postage based on a percentage of the total amount of the purchase.

Whichever you choose, PayPal then gives you up to 5 customisable tiers of cost and price ranges which you can enter a postage cost for. For example, if you choose the flat postage rate option, you could use the following settings:

£0.01 – £49.99: £5.00 delivery charge
£50.00 – £99.99: £9.00 delivery charge
£100.00 – and up: free delivery

Similarly, if you choose percentage of sales:

£0.01 – £49.99: 10% of total
£50.00 – £99.99: 8% of total
£100.00 – and up: 6% of total

You may also allow individual transaction-based postage values on certain items to override the profile postage settings listed above.  This is because you may want to offer a service and not charge any postage at all, or it is ideal for really small/light or really heavy/bulky items which the flat rate wouldnt be suitable for.

Postage will be applied to all PayPal Shopping Cart Purchases, Buy Now Buttons, and Donations as per the settings above.

Postage will not be applied to payments made with PayPal Subscriptions and Recurring Payments, Winning Buyer Notification, or Instant Purchase (for eBay listings).

Although PayPal doesn’t offer every shipping option an online merchant may want ‘off-the-shelf’, you can always box clever and approximate your postage costs or even amalgamate (some or all) into the actual product cost, you just need a little creativity.  This may work out a lot cheaper in the long run than switching to a 3rd party merchant that you have to pay a monthly subscription to, in addition to your transaction fees.