Every truly successful business has one thing in common – they make everything as easy as possible for their clients. It's not about how much they spend on their “image” - or advertising alone – it's how much they're able to cater to the market they serve.
And as a result, their profits bulge, and they're able to start scaling up their marketing efforts and watch their business grow. But it all starts with the basics – making customers happy, and making it as easy as possible for them to do business with you.
So what does this mean for you, exactly?
Very simply, it means that you need to take a good look at how your customers interact with your business on a daily basis. Put yourself in their shoes, and visualize yourself dealing with your own business as a consumer.
As is often said, “the devil is in the details” - and as such, it's often a small, overlooked detail that can make all the difference in the world when it comes to simply struggling to get by – or building a massively profitable business that will give you the resources to accomplish your goals, and live the life of your dreams – whatever that means to you...
Well, this article is going to reveal one of the simplest, “no-brainer” ways to boost your sales almost instantly – just by making it easier for your customers to give you their money. And even if you already use this tactic, I'm about to show you how you can maximize it to earn even more.
If you haven't guessed it already, one of the easiest (if not the easiest) ways to instantly boost your sales is simply by accepting credit cards.
Here's Why:
1. Convenience – No more pulling out cash at the ATM – not to mention having to carry it around and having it weigh down your pockets. No, instead, your customers can buy something anytime they feel like it – well, that's assuming that the vendor has a merchant account...
2. Capacity to Spend More Money – It's a proven fact that it's easier for people to spend money with their credit card than it is to use cash, or pay with a debit card that subtracts the money from their actual bank account. For some reason, using credit isn't as psychologically “painful” when it comes to making a purchase – especially a larger purchase.
Giving your customer this peace of mind when it comes to buying your product or service will make it easier to sell, period.
3. Instant Payments – Payments are instantaneous – processed in a matter of seconds. This makes a world of difference for both you and your customer. But through the eyes of your customer, it is so much simpler because it's fast – and because there's no “waiting period” in terms of receiving the product and so on, which can often create an awkward situation that kills the “fun” of the purchase. This is especially apparent if you're dealing with international customers.
4. There's Less Risk For Them to Buy From You – Your customers are protected when they buy anything with their credit card. This is because their card (lender) provides protection in the case of non-delivery, scams, and otherwise false advertising. And they know that in most cases, if they ask for a charge-back, they'll have their money refunded directly from the card company without having to deal with an unscrupulous business.
This removes much of the risk on their part, which makes it that much easier for them to "pull the trigger"...
5. They Get Rewards for Rewarding YOU – Almost every credit card in existence carries with it some sort of “rewards program” which acts as an incentive for customers to use the card. However, especially with larger purchases, this can make the use of a credit card especially appealing – to the point where some consumers are so “rewards-crazed” that they'll even look for companies that accept credit cards in the midst of a minor emergency. Such as finding a tow truck company that accepts Visa/MasterCard and so on...
6. Get Paid While You Sleep – If you're reaching your customers on the internet, then your “store” or virtual sales pitch can make sales for you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And besides, with the fraud protection and security features that are offered with practically every credit card provider, if you can't accept credit card payments online, chances are you won't be making too many sales, either. It's the only way that makes sense to do business on the web...
So as you can clearly see, accepting credit cards is a crucial part of making things easier for your customers. And while this single act certainly isn't the only thing that needs to happen in order to make your business successful, it's very likely the easiest way to get more sales than you do currently.
Always remember – making it easier for your customers to invest in you, means that it will be easier for you to get more sales, and more customers. Which means that it will be easier for you to succeed. It's that simple.
Now, at this point you might be saying, “Okay, I understand – but isn't it ultra-expensive to set up a merchant account and accept credit cards?”
Not necessarily. The already-huge merchant industry is growing and evolving continually, with more and more “niche” services popping up that are designed for every imaginable type of business. It takes some research, but rest assured that there is a company out there that will cater to the exact needs of your business – and it will set up so that you'll profit as a result of “paying” to accept credit cards.
Just make sure that you look for reasonable rates that make sense. If a company looks expensive, ask to see some customer testimonials – or perhaps find some current customers and ask them about it yourself. On the flip side, if a company is advertising incredibly low rates – suspiciously lower than their competitors – then they're likely using hidden fees to profit from your account. Additionally, even if it's legit, chances are that what you save in fees, you'll “pay for” in bad service.
So shop around, and look for a service that caters to what you need exactly. If you're a retailer, look for a merchant account with a low discount rate and a reasonable equipment program. If you're a service business that runs larger transactions (like a moving company or a solo attorney), you might consider using one of the new “wireless” providers that can process payments simply by using a regular cell phone. But whatever you do, make sure that you read that fine print!
Don't ignore the “details” of running your business. Issues of convenience and flexibility might be the furthest thing from your mind, but they'll be the first thing on your customer's, so don't put it off. Remember – making things easier for your customers will in turn make it exponentially easier for you to succeed.
