If you’ve been blogging for a while and are finding success, you might be considering monetising your website. These days, the possibilities for making money from your blog are endless once you familiarise yourself with monetisation options such as sponsored posts and affiliate links. Aside from these strategies, you can also turn your blog into a gateway for people to purchase products related to your brand or pay you for your expertise through digital content. After all, the global e-commerce market is expected to reach $52.06 trillion (£42.95 trillion) by 2027, as online transactions slowly rival traditional shopping for products, goods, and services — it would be smart to jump in on these trends. Fortunately, with the widespread use of the Internet and mobile surfing today, adding payment methods to your blog has never been easier and more secure. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can incorporate payment gateways into your blog:
Evaluate what your payment provider brings to the table
Whether you are offering physical merchandise or digital content for your blog audience to purchase, they would undoubtedly have different payment methods in mind. It’s also important to note that other countries may prioritise alternative payment methods, so you should consider foreign blog readers. These days, there are payment solutions for small businesses that offer a range of accessible and secure credit card payment solutions as well as frictionless online checkouts on a hosted payment gateway. Depending on your payment provider, you may also be able to find packages that offer both online payments and physical machines if you have a storefront or handle in-person transactions. When in doubt, always inquire or check your provider’s website to ensure smooth payments for both readers and customers.
Understand the different types of payment gateways
Aside from offering a variety of payment methods, it would help if you also took the time to understand the different payment gateways available. There are two types of payment gateways: hosted and non-hosted payment gateways. A hosted gateway redirects customers to a secure site to complete the payment and then back to your blog or website. A non-hosted gateway, on the other hand, uses API that integrates the payment gateway to your blog, allowing customers to pay without getting redirected. The benefits of using hosted payment gateways include fewer costs and more advanced security. If you would like to use non-hosted gateways, you must ensure your blog or website is completely secure and not vulnerable to cyber attacks or hacks, as every transaction will store customer data and information on your website.
Set up a merchant account
After familiarising yourself with payment gateways, you should consider applying for a merchant account. Merchant accounts are specialised bank accounts for licensed businesses. Depending on your blog, niche, and what you’re selling, you may or may not need one, but there’s no harm in knowing what it’s for if you change your plans. Some payment providers may offer to set up your payment gateways simultaneously with your merchant account, so be sure to inquire so that your setup process stays consolidated and goes smoothly. With the rise of e-commerce, merchant accounts for e-commerce and other online business ventures are available. Merchant accounts are especially required if you expect customer payments to be made using credit or debit cards — a frequent occurrence in an increasingly cashless society.
If you want to start making money from your blog we hope the above tips help.