Three Steps for Getting Started with Social Marketing

Social media marketing can be an inexpensive way to raise the visibility of your brand and build a loyal following. Here are three steps to using social media for market your retail business.

#1: Create profiles on social networking sites. Make sure to put up a Google profile, a LinkedIn profile and a page at Facebook. For retailers with a local and/or regional presence make sure to build a profile at Google Local Business, Yahoo Local and MerchantCircle.com.

#2: Use social networking for special offers. Many retailers are experiencing great success offering special promotions via Twitter and Facebook. Limited-time offers exclusive to fans and followers of those sites work best.

#3: Build your Facebook page into a gathering place for customers. Feature special offers, coupons, discussions, photo galleries and reviews. Remember, though, that you need to make it someone's job to interact with customers who visit. And added benefit--you can run inexpensive ads on Facebook that are very highly targeted.

Make sure to make someone in your company responsible for interacting with customers through social media, and make sure they have the time to do it justice.

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Leasing Equipment for Credit and Debit Card Processing

Establishing credit and debit card transaction processing involves interactions with a number of partner organizations, including credit and debit transaction processors, Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs), equipment vendors and lease financiers.

• Transaction processors receive a per-transaction payment for their services based on the total number and transaction amount “batched” and processed each month for merchants.
  
• ISOs receive an up-front commission for bringing together the transaction processors, equipment vendors and lease financiers in a relationship.
  
• Equipment vendors provide the actual equipment for transaction processing
  
• Micro-ticket lease financing companies provide an option for acquiring the equipment needed. Rather than purchase it outright, a lease financing company will purchase the equipment and lease it back.

Success in micro-ticket lease financing is based on a long-term commitment and ongoing relations between the financing organization and the merchant. For more information, please visit our other Northern Leasing sites: http://wiki.northernleasing.com http://support.northernleasing.com http://blog.northernleasing.com

Northern Leasing Systems Technology for Happier Customers

Businesses process billions of dollars in credit card payments with Northern Leasing Systems each year. And as consumers grow increasingly comfortable with using their credit cards online, annual sales volume is expected to continue growing. But, there is a potential dark specter looming over the industry: credit card fraud. It can manifest in different ways and be financially devastating for its victims. The problem has prompted the credit card industry to aggressively pursue and adopt stringent security protocols according to Merchant Processors Northern Leasing Systems.

Northern Leasing Systems can help secure your customers' data. In doing so, you can boost their confidence and your sales in the process.

Northern Leasing Systems Merchant Account Processing Fees

Today, more consumers are using debit cards to purchase items. While many Northern Leasing Systems merchants know that accepting debit card transactions will lower their payment processing fees, they often fail to realize that there are different types of debit card transactions, each with different fees. Below, we'll describe the difference between accepting debit cards and credit cards with Northern Leasing Systems. You'll also learn how you can lower your fees even further by accepting direct debit transactions. In order to accept credit card payments, merchants need to have a payment processing method available to them. Typically, this means having use of a merchant account with Northern Leasing Systems.

Northern Leasing Systems Boosting Consumer Confidence

Don't underestimate the power of boosting your customers' confidence by opening a Northern Leasing Systems merchant account. As more people become aware of the potential dangers of credit card fraud, some have begun to limit use of their cards. As a business owner, this can have an impact on your sales. Having the ability to process payments online with a Northern Leasing Systems Account is important. The more confident they are that purchasing from your website won't compromise their credit card information, the more likely they are to buy.

There are a number of companies that can provide an SSL certificate for online payment processing such as Northern Leasing Systems. Many of the most reputable companies in the world use them, as do several small businesses. As a result, millions of people are familiar with the security associated with Northern Leasing. It increases their confidence. And that can make the difference between a floundering online business and a formidable success

Northern Leasing Accounts

In order to accept credit cards either online or through your physical storefront, one of the things you are going to need is an account with a Northern Leasing credit card processing provider. A Credit Card Processing Provider is a company that manages the interface between your credit card terminal or shopping cart software and the Visa/Master network.

Since you are paying a portion of each credit card transaction to your Northern Leasing Systems Inc credit card processing provider, it is important that you fully understand the services that your provider offers and how much you are going to pay for these services.

The rate that you will be charged by Northern Leasing Systems depends upon many factors including the type of product or service you sell and the amount of the average sales transaction. Using this information you can shop around to find a credit card processing provider that offers you the best value for the least money.

Northern Leasing Systems, New Seastone Study Finds Gift Card Packaging Increases Gift Card Sales

Northern Leasing Systems, New Seastone Study Finds Gift Card Packaging Increases Gift Card Sales: 84 Percent of Consumers More Likely to Purchase a Gift Card that

PROVO, Utah (Business Wire EON) March 24, 2008 -- "Gift card packaging has grown rapidly as a retail product category over the past few years, and this survey shows that consumer awareness is very high - 88 percent of gift card purchasers are now aware of special packaging," said Eric Child, Seastone President. "Retailers that do not offer gift card packaging are missing a significant revenue opportunity, since consumers are more likely to purchase a gift card if it either comes with free packaging or if packaging is available for purchase."

The highest numbers of consumers are more likely to purchase a gift card if it comes with free packaging (84%), but many are also more likely to buy gift cards if packaging is available for purchase (55%) or if the gift card display includes multiple packaging options (62%).

The most popular format for gift card packaging is a tin box (29%), for which Seastone holds an issued patent. Tin boxes are followed by paper pouches (19%), greeting cards (15%), and stuffed animal (10%) designs. Gift card packaging is most likely to be purchased for a birthday (78%), followed by the December holidays (72%). The trend towards birthday purchases makes a strong case for year-round gift card packaging programs.

The study found that consumers expect gift card packaging to range in price from $1.43 for a paper carrier, $2.48 for a tin box, and up to $3.66 for a stuffed animal. However, a large majority of consumers would spend $5 more on a gift card if it came with free packaging. Therefore, offers such as "free packaging with any gift card purchase of $20 or more" are attractive for consumers.

The results of the 2008 Gift Card Packaging Study come as retailers ramp up for their 2008 year-round and holiday gift card programs. Seastone commissioned the independent survey with The Marketing Workshop to assess the current status of the gift card packaging market. With more than 100 million units shipped in 2007, Seastone is the clear market leader in the fast growing category of gift card packaging, and has established a track record for delivering compelling design, on-time delivery and consumer value.

For a copy of the entire study, email John Pilmer at jpilmer@pilmerpr.com.

About the Study

The 2008 Gift Card Packaging Study, which polled a representative sample of 1,003 adults, was conducted for Seastone by The Marketing Workshop. The survey was performed online from January 22 - 25, 2008 with a margin of error of 1.5 percent.

About Seastone

Seastone (www.seastone.com) is the market leader in specialty gift card packages and gift card promotional programs. The company pioneered specialty gift card packaging and offers turnkey gift card promotional programs through its Give-A-Gift(TM) brand. Seastone also provides fully customizable programs utilized by many of the nation's largest retailers, restaurants, banks and mall groups. Additional information about Seastone's Give-A-Gift(TM) brand and customizable programs is available at www.seastone.com.

For more information, please visit our other Northern Leasing sites:
http://wiki.northernleasing.com
http://support.northernleasing.com
http://blog.northernleasing.com