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Stripe Payment Methods

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Published: Tuesday, 07 June 2022 10:51

Beginning using Stripe involves deciding how you'd like to pay. This guide will take you through the benefits of every payment method provided by Stripe.

Stripe is quickly becoming the most well-known payment processor in the world.

It is currently utilized by a variety of companies across the world. It is the most exemplary model of online payments. One of the reasons it's so well-known is the range of integrations available. It provides a broad range of payment options available from a variety of service providers.

This article will help you in determining which payment options are suitable for your specific company's model or personal needs.

Debit cards and credit cards

A lot of online businesses utilize Stripe to offer the Stripe check-out service. Customers can pay for their purchases directly using credit cards as well as debit cards. The processing of credit cards through Stripe is completely free. Customers do not require an account to make payments using their credit cards.

Many card types are accepted as well as Amex.

Stripe allows you to change the appearance of forms used to check out. You can create a unique check-out that is branded to the business that you represent!

Card Payments are For You If: 

• You would like to sell digital or physical items on the internet.

• You can issue invoices

• Your site can be configured to take credit card transactions

• You'd like to handle international credit card payments

The following list details Credit and Debit cards that are accepted by Stripe

• Visa

• Mastercard

• American Express

• Discover

• Diners

• Japan Credit Bureau (JCB)

• China UnionPay (CUP)

Key Features:

• Regular payments are supported.

• Instant confirmation of payment from both ends of the transaction

• Supports Refunds

• The amount of dispute is high.

Digital Wallets

Digital wallets are virtual money bags that are linked directly to the bank account of the person receiving them. It is among the newest payment options. However, they are becoming more well-known. They are suitable for payments in person, which are contactless, as well as online transactions.

Mobile wallets are safer when compared with credit card transactions. They generally require users to enter an identifier or swipe their finger in order to authenticate their transaction online.

Digital wallets are perfect for you If:

• You are selling physical or digital products and want to increase conversion on mobile devices

• You don't have an account with a subscription

The following list contains Online Wallet providers who are accepted by Stripe

• ApplePay

• Google Pay

• Click to pay

• Microsoft Pay

• WeChat Pay

• Grab Pay

• AliPay

Key Features:

• Helps with regular payments

• Instant confirmation of charge on both ends of the transaction

• Support Refunds

• Have lower rates of disputes than cards.

Redirects as well as Redirects, Bank Debits, and Credit Transfers

Bank debits occur when your client gives you their bank account details and consents to have money directly debited from their account.

Bank redirects add another additional step in the procedure of debiting. The payment gateway sends the client to a web portal owned by the bank that they can access to authorize debit. They don't enter their bank account details directly in the application.

Bank transfers from banks to credit cards are the kind of transfer we are most familiar with. The bank's details are provided to the buyer. They'll process your transaction using that information.

Bank Transfers are perfect for you if:

• You'd prefer to spend less on processing fees. The cost of transactions starts at 1%.

• There's no need for immediate payments. Bank transfers generally require 3-5 working days to process.

• You do have a subscription for any kind of service. 

Key Features:

• Refunds are supported.

• Only bank redirects give instant confirmation of payments.

• You can create automated payments by direct debits. Credit cards aren't able to work as periodic automatic payments.

• Bank debits are an excellent option to settle disputes, but they have the lowest rate of disputes.

Pay Now, Shop later.

Pay later, buy now options are popular among online retailers. It's quick to credit.

The entire amount is then paid by the finance provider. The customer then is responsible for the installments of the finance company in which the customer has committed to repay the full amount.

Buy Now, Pay Later for You If:

• You'd like to offer high-end items on the internet

• You don't have to be concerned about the increased costs of processing

A list of Pay-Now Pay-later Providers that accept Stripe

• Klarna

• Afterpay

Key Features:

• Reimbursements

• Doesn't support recurring payments

• Medium dispute rate.

• Confirming the payment can take a few minutes.

Important Takeaways

The Stripe payment method is part of every pie available online! Select the best payment method and get at your fingertips to shop and assist your company! Stripe can assist you in making transactions straightforward without worrying about your cash! While Stripe manages your transactions allow experts from studycrumb to do your homework and ease your life completely.

SaaS Security Risks: What You Need to Know In 2022

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Published: Thursday, 19 May 2022 08:30

In 2022, SaaS will be the primary delivery model for enterprise applications. As a result, organizations must pay close attention to the security risks associated with this new way of doing business. 

Don't worry, we are here to help! In this blog post, we will discuss SaaS security best practices for secure customer data storage. We will also outline the new risks that businesses face in 2022 and how to overcome them. Finally, we will ask the question: Will SaaS security measures slow business?

What Is SaaS?

It is a type of software that is delivered over the internet, instead of being installed on a local computer or server, often using a thin client such as a web browser.

Thanks to the growth of high-speed internet access, SaaS has become a popular delivery model for many business applications, including customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP), and human capital management (HCM).

What Are SaaS Security Best Practices For Secure Customer Data Storage?

There are several best practices that organizations should follow to ensure the security of their customer data:

• Use strong encryption methods to protect data in transit and at rest.

• Implement access controls to restrict who can access sensitive data.

• Conduct regular security audits to identify vulnerabilities.

• Use a secure development lifecycle to ensure that applications are built with security in mind.

What Are New Risks In 2022?

The rise of SaaS has created new risks for businesses, including the following:

• Data breaches: Because customer data is stored in the cloud, it is more vulnerable to attack than data stored on-premises. Because SaaS applications are hosted online, they are vulnerable to data breaches. Hackers can gain access to customer data if they can penetrate the security defenses of the provider.

• Compliance issues: Organizations must ensure that their SaaS applications meet all relevant compliance requirements.

• Vendor lock-in: Once an organization commits to a SaaS solution, it can be difficult and expensive to switch to another provider. This can lead to vendor lock-in, which can limit an organization's flexibility and increase its dependence on the SaaS provider.

How To Overcome The Risks?

Fortunately, there are several steps that organizations can take to overcome these security risks:

• Educate employees about security risks: Employees should be aware of the potential risks of using SaaS applications and how to protect themselves from them.

• Conduct regular security audits: Regular security audits can help identify vulnerabilities in SaaS applications and ensure that they are properly addressed.

• Use a secure development lifecycle: When developing SaaS applications, organizations should follow a secure development lifecycle to ensure that security is built into the application from the start.

• Implement security controls: Organizations should implement security controls such as encryption, access control, and auditing to protect their data.

• Select a reputable SaaS provider: Organizations should carefully select a SaaS provider that has a good reputation for security.

• Use encryption: Encryption is a process of transforming data into a format that cannot be read by anyone who does not have the appropriate decryption key. This ensures that data is protected in transit and at rest.

In addition, the use of SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions means that companies are reliant on third-party providers. This can create vulnerabilities if the provider is not adequately protected. As a result, it is important for companies to be aware of the new risks associated with SaaS solutions and to take steps to protect themselves.

Will SaaS Security Measures Slow Business?

No, SaaS security measures will not slow business. They may even improve business efficiency by reducing the need for IT support. Additionally, SaaS providers often offer their customers an SLA (service level agreement) that guarantees a certain level of uptime and performance. This means that businesses can have peace of mind knowing that their applications are always available and running smoothly.

While SaaS providers must take steps to protect customer data, these measures will not slow down the business. Many of the security measures that SaaS providers use are invisible to users and have minimal impact on performance.

Conclusion

So there you have it! These are the things you need to know about SaaS security in 2022. We hope this blog post has been helpful.

What Are Residential Proxies & Why Do You Need Them?

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Published: Wednesday, 18 May 2022 05:08

Residential proxies route your internet traffic through an intermediary server and allow you to choose a specific country, city, or mobile carrier where you can surf the web as a real user in that area. 

Many users prefer residential proxies as they are comparatively better and safe. With trusted internet providers, you can access their network of millions of IP addresses and perform your tasks efficiently. 

But do companies really need residential proxies? This article will walk you through the working of these proxy servers along with relevant use cases. 

How Do Residential Proxies Work? 

The internet provider assigns you an alternative IP address to process your search requests. All your search requests go from the provided IP address to the proxy server from where it reaches the resource server. 

The high-anonymity level and low block rate make them a preferred choice. The provided IP address belongs to an actual device. Due to this, the sites perceive your activity like any other regular user, yet you remain anonymous. The block rate is negligible since the IP addresses come from trusted internet providers. 

You have the option of choosing between static and rotating a residential proxy. You are provided a new IP address for every request in rotating IPs. Moreover, some providers also give access to the same IP address for 30 minutes.

Lastly, while choosing your provider, make sure you can integrate proxies with all significant automation bots.

Let’s now take a detailed look at the use cases of residential proxies: 

Make The Most Of Your Advertising Budget Through Ad Verification 

Do you know that the total cost of ad fraud is set at $34 billion, predicted to reach $87 billion in 2022? 

Ad verification is a process followed by digital advertisers to ensure their ads appear in front of a real targeted audience on appropriate sites. With time ad fraud is drastically increasing as hackers, and black hatters find ways to portray fake traffic on their sites. It’s common to run an ad bot or a fake ad site these days. 

Here are some common ad frauds you can save yourself from using residential proxies:

Impression Laundering

Some ads are solely running based on impressions which motivate individuals to practice impression laundering. They stack in a massive amount of money based on impressions that, in reality, weren’t there. The ads are generally reduced to a pixel size, hidden beneath other information or behind the main page.

Ad Click Fraud 

Automating ad clicks through ad bots causes maximum damage to advertisers. They even create fake accounts that give an idea of actual human interaction with the ads. Furthermore, their ideas are continually evolving to rob advertising funds successfully. 

Fake Website Traffic

Fake website traffic is the traffic generated using bots or software. The bots mimic human interaction and give an impression someone is viewing the website. As a result, the ad space becomes more expensive. Advertisers/marketers lose millions of dollars due to fake web traffic every year. The fraudsters achieve their agenda by inflating the overall ad views. Moreover, they create a website image that entices marketers and increases the overall website selling price.

Why Do Companies Need Residential Proxies For Catching Ad Frauds? 

Many advertising and marketing companies rely on residential proxies to catch ad frauds. Proxies are essential during this step, as a unique IP address will prevent fraudsters from blocking site access. You are likely to keep them on the radar instead of checking once. Companies can easily detect ad frauds and take appropriate steps with millions of IP addresses. 

Helps In Web Scraping

Researching your competition is one of the significant factors contributing to the success of online marketing. Web scraping is obtaining a large number of website data using bots. You can acquire all relevant data about your competition, analyze their strategies, and plan your next moves accordingly. The process is easily tackled with residential proxies as rotating proxies support mass scraping. They are preferred over other proxies as they work efficiently during large-scale scraping on platforms like Google, LinkedIn, etc. 

Maintain A Competitive Pricing 

If you are in an industry with heavy competition, pricing becomes a crucial factor in surviving in the market. To keep your sales high, you need to keep up with the current market price trends. Rotating residential proxies help businesses acquire information about the ongoing price trends. You can charge your products or services accordingly by being updated with the instant market price updates. 

Avoiding this step often leads to overpriced products people won’t purchase or recommend. Using appropriate sales intelligence software is another core factor in determining the proper pricing updates. Residential proxies allow using different software to acquire accurate information for crucial business decisions. 

Access To Snickers & Ticket Websites 

Scraping data from snicker sites is comparatively tricky due to the industry's identity theft, design copying, and purchase limitations. However, residential proxies will help you acquire all relevant information without any restrictions. 

On the other hand, residential proxies are best suited for scraping data from ticket websites. You can easily compare ticket prices among various providers. 

Achieve Exceptional Marketing Results 

You can shape your marketing strategies after acquiring relevant information about the competition. Make the most of ad automation, social media campaigns, email automation, etc., to boost your market reach and connect with your target audience. 

Social Media Management Made Easy

Social media plays a crucial role in online marketing. A strong social presence is essential to reach your targeted audience. You can easily create and manage multiple social accounts using residential proxies. In the end, making the most of the proper social channels is the way to go. 

Improve Overall Site Performance

You can improve your organic reach as residential proxies support different SEO tools. Begin by making your website multilingual and increasing your audience base. Next, work on using the right tools to create meaningful links for your site. Lastly, use audit and crawling tools to improve your overall performance. 

Final Thoughts

Residential proxies are extremely helpful for understanding your competitors, efficiently using your ad budget, and improving your overall site performance. Start researching your available options and choose an appropriate internet provider to get started today!

Best HubSpot Alternatives For Small Businesses In 2022

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Published: Tuesday, 03 May 2022 06:52

In recent years, many small business owners have been turning to HubSpot for their marketing and sales needs.

However, the rise of automation in all areas of life has resulted in an increased awareness of the importance of robust marketing automation platforms that are easy to set up.

In 2022, there will be a new set of Hubspot alternatives that are gaining popularity among small businesses.

But first, let us give you a brief about HubSpot and why you would need a HubSpot alternative in the first place.

What Is HubSpot?

HubSpot is a cloud-based marketing and sales software platform that helps businesses grow by attracting more visitors, leads, and customers. It is one of the most renowned sales, inbound marketing and CRM tools that stand competitive against the likes of Salesforce.

The HubSpot platform includes tools for website optimization, email marketing, social media monitoring, contact management, and reporting.

It integrates with 1000s of popular tools and boasts solid customer support via email, phone and live chat.

Despite all these factors, you might want to look for a better HubSpot alternative. 

Why Should You Look For A HubSpot Alternative?

One of the major drawbacks of HubSpot is its expensive pricing structure. Once your free plan gets exhausted, you might want to upgrade to a pro plan that would cost $113/month for the sales, service and marketing tool. 

And, that gives only access to the basic marketing features. If you want to get access to broad marketing automation features, landing page builders and onboarding, it would cost you over $800 a month. 

If you have tasks to schedule, you will have to automate and set up daily tasks. There is no feature of automatic recurring tasks scheduling. 

Further, the dashboard is clumsy and is hard to navigate for the newbies. 

Considering these factors, we have enlisted the 5 Best HubSpot alternatives for small businesses and marketers.

1. EngageBay

EngageBay is indeed the best HubSpot alternative because of its functionalities, stellar customer support and affordable pricing. 

It wouldn’t be wrong to say EngageBay is an affordable version of HubSpot. Hence, EngageBay is an amazing alternative to HubSpot for small businesses. 

It has an all-in-one marketing suite that streamlines your marketing, sales and support team in one place. 

EngageBay boasts various standout features such as marketing automation, drag-and-drop email builder, free CRM, landing page builder, web sign up forms and tons of others. 

Pros: 

• No need to set up recurring tasks daily. Your repetitive tasks will be automated and scheduled. 

• Engagebay has a sleek interface and provides a smooth customer onboarding. 

• You can boost its functionality by integrating it with other third-party apps such as Linkedin, Shopify, DocuSign, CallHippo, and WooCommerce. 

• Their email CRM feature helps close more deals and provides better insights into customer behaviour. 

Cons: 

• Though the templates are customizable, there are only a few email templates in the library. 

• In terms of integration, HubSpot takes the edge over EngageBay.

2. ActiveCampaign

ActiveCampaign is another reliable HubSpot alternative for small businesses. One of the major USPs of this tool is quick automation. 

You can automate follow-ups, social media posts and set conditions. 

Apart from this, the CRM functionalities include lead scoring, win probabilities and advanced segmentation. 

Pros: 

• ActiveCampaign boasts superior integration with tools like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Unbounce and more. 

• You can also sync tasks using Google Calendar, Outlook and other calendar tools and schedule them within the CRM. 

• ActiveCampaign is low-priced when compared to HubSpot. The email marketing starts at just $9/month. However, you won’t get a CRM or landing page builder with this. 

• ActiveCampaign uses machine learning capabilities to schedule emails. Thus, the predictive sending feature helps you send emails at the right time when customers are going to open them. 

Cons: 

• ActiveCampaign does not offer any free plan. 

• The lite plan costs $25/month for 1,000 contacts and it lacks various CRM features.

3. InfusionSoft (Keap)

InfusionSoft (Keap) is an easy to use sales and marketing automation tool that comes with robust CRM functionalities. Keap integrates with your Gmail or Outlook and pulls your data into CRM to close deals quickly. 

Furthermore, Keap surpasses HubSpot in terms of its robust reports and analytics. Even the newbies can analyze the metrics without wrapping their heads around it. 

You can create predictable workflows using its advanced automation builder. This automation builder creates workflows using personalized triggers. 

Pros: 

• InfusionSoft integrates with over 2,500 third-party apps of different kinds. 

• They have one of the best sales pipeline features. You can track and analyze every deal in the pipeline. 

• It gives a 14-day free trial to try its basic features and CRM. 

Cons: 

• InfusionSoft starts at $59/month for 500 contacts. This is lower than HubSpot but not affordable for small businesses. 

• It does not have an autosave feature to save your progress.

4. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is a CRM software aimed largely at sales teams from small-to-medium-sized businesses. 

Pipedrive's UI is incredibly easy to navigate and an excellent tool for all levels, despite the various customization choices and dashboard features.

There is not much difference between HubSpot and Pipedrive when it comes to reporting features. 

Pros:

• Pipedrive’s lowest plan starts at $12.50 per month which is fair enough when compared to HubSpot. 

• Pipedrive is available in 13 languages such as Portuguese, English, German, Spanish and others. 

• It has a dedicated mobile app that gives you real-time updates on your sales process. 

Cons:

• Pipedrive is good for the sales team. For the marketing, it offers integration but the options are limited. 

• There is no free plan to start with.

5. Sharpspring

SharpSpring is a less known name in CRM marketing tools. Started in 2012, this tool offers various features for marketing teams and sales teams. 

Pros: 

• It gives a 360-degree view of the customer sales cycle. 

• The tool also provides features that are customized for various industry verticals. 

• It has a dedicated marketplace that lets you add integrations to your account. 

Cons: 

• Compared to HubSpot which has a free CRM, SharpSpring costs $449/month for just 1,000 contacts. 

• SharpSpring has a complicated dashboard with so many features piling up together.

Conclusion

True that HubSpot is a market leader in CRM, but it is not for everyone. Once your company grows and you have massive data of contacts to manage, you would want to switch from HubSpot to a more reliable and functional platform. 

In our opinion, EngageBay is a perfect alternative to HubSpot that small businesses should look for. It is fairly easy to set up and you can get started for free!

You can streamline your tasks from a single place. Be it your sales, marketing or support team, EngageBay has all the features for task automation and customer management. 

And, the best part is it doesn’t get cheaper even when you upgrade.