Business Operations

We have seen the impact of the breach in the form of an increase in certain declines that indicate a closed account or potentially fraudulent activity. When viewing data from Paul Larsen Consulting merchants in aggregate, for a mix of credit and debit cards, the rate of Invalid Account Number declines more than doubled over the same time prior year, from just over 9% to 19%. Also on the rise were restricted card and pick up card declines.

With the recent spate of data breaches at major retailers, exposing credit card and personal information for an estimated 110 million Americans, the payments sphere is in a whirlwind of activity.Card not present merchants are already feeling the impacts, and a change or review in best practices and current processes is certainly a good idea. So, what can a CNP merchant expect?

When you're conducting online surveys, whether it's for market research, customer satisfaction polls or other ends, there are a number of best practices that can help boost your response rate and produce more dependable findings. In this How-To, we outline what you need to keep in mind, from survey creation to dissemination to data collection -- all with an eye on making analysis easy. Discover 10 best practices to creating useful surveys, the 3 types of questions to use, and 6 tactics for boosting your response rate.

Did you know that US companies are responsible for collecting and remitting VAT payments to any consumer subscribers in Europe -- even if you're selling digital content? Find out how much you owe and how to set up the most effective system to remit this online sales tax.

If you're using behavioral targeting or interest-based advertising, you'll need to follow the self-regulatory principles put forth by the Digital Advertising Alliance. In this on-demand video, Genie Barton (VP and Director of the Online Interest-Based Advertising Accountability Program of the Council of Better Business Bureaus) presents a clear and concise explanation of how you can be in compliance -- from including the right language and opt-out procedures to why transparency helps marketers in the long run.

The advantage to online content is that global distribution is logistically easier and far cheaper than any other medium. However, there are still laws, payment processing and marketing considerations to take into account when expanding into international markets. In this Laws & Regulations briefing, we discuss three factors critical to selling subscriptions in the UK and Europe -- Value Added Tax, Direct Debit and marketing differences. Plus, find out what laws and regulations may be changing that could affect your bottom line.

Wondering if old-school telemarketing tricks will help you sell online subscriptions? The answer is Yes! and industry veteran Randy Greenberg will tell you how in this 50-minute video. Find out how telemarketing can support lead gen efforts, especially for B2B sites, why telemarketing is great for saving form abandons or converting trial-takers, how to evaluate whether your potential sales will justify the cost of telemarketing efforts (and when NOT to use telemarketing) and what you should do after hanging up the phone. This is a great instructional video for both B2B and B2C sites!

Insider Editor Minal Bopaiah was recently a guest speaker on a Webinar for the Specialized Information Publishers Association (SIPA), titled "Profitable Subscription Websites: How to Build and Improve Them." Watch this playback to learn about the strategy involved in creating an online subscription business. Includes tips on hiring, payment processing, tech requirements and management and content creation. GenomeWeb Publisher/COO Greg Anderson is also a guest speaker on this Webinar hosted by Dan Brown of Xponential Publishing Consultants.

Change can be hard…especially when it involves payment processing and integrated SaaS systems. But changing your payment processor could make a big difference to your bottom line. In this How-To article, we help you decide if (and when) you should change payment processors, what to look for in your new processor, and how to plan for the transition. Plus, find out why many of you have been stymied when inquiring about Account Updater!

Social media is the ultimate Catch-22 - it can drive tons of traffic to your site, but it can also corrupt your paywall, threatening your bottom line. In this one-hour video, Social Media Maven Rachel Yeomans will help you:* Figure out which social media platforms serve you best* Protect your premium content* Develop HR policies that benefit your strategic goals and your employeesA must-view for anyone even considering using social media to promote their free and/or paid content!