Offering your customers a seamless payment process to complete their purchases, is one of the most important aspects of any e-commerce and online business sales funnel. It’s the last stage that turns a page visitor into a paying customer, and the less friction they experience here, the higher the chances they will convert.
To cater to the diverse preferences and needs of customers, it is essential to offer a variety of payment methods. However, with the growing amount of payment methods available on the market, it can be a challenge for businesses to choose which ones to include on their website. We present some of the most essential options to include and reasons why they should be offered.
Credit and Debit Card Payments
As one of the most common and traditional payment methods online, credit and debit card payments are a staple for any kind of online transaction and therefore a must-have for online businesses. They have a large user base and offer a convenient, fast, and safe way to pay.
Online shoppers nowadays expect businesses to accept major credit and debit cards like Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Businesses that don’t offer this online payment mainstay, risk missing out on business and losing potential customers who prefer to pay this way. No matter what industry your business is in, accepting credit and debit cards is almost mandatory as a universally recognized and trusted payment method.
Bank Transfers
Bank transfers are another traditional and widely known way to pay online. It allows users to make payments directly from their bank accounts, which has its benefits but also some drawbacks. Depending on your customer base, this payment method proves especially convenient to users who don’t own credit cards.
It is oftentimes also a preferred method for international transactions or larger purchases. Bank transfers are generally considered a secure payment method, as they are direct bank-to-bank transactions and customers don’t have to share their credit card information with the seller. Drawbacks are that it is less convenient as customers have to manually initiate the transfer, and transaction times tend to be longer.
PayPal
As one of the most popular digital wallets in the world, PayPal has become a payment option most online businesses offer their customers at check-out. Providing an extra layer of security for online transactions, it is widely used and trusted by customers globally. As you don’t need to enter long credit card numbers and only need your login details to authorize the payment, PayPal is a fast and convenient way to pay.
While it has been a staple for e-commerce businesses especially, it has become an even more widely used payment option in various industries in recent years. From subscription services and gaming offers to flights and holidays, nowadays, you can pay for almost anything using PayPal. Businesses who don’t want to miss out on this massive market should accept this widely used digital wallet.
Other e-Wallets
PayPal, however, is not the only e-wallet out there that customers want to see as an option when checking out online. Many other alternatives have emerged over the years, with many providers specializing in certain markets and countries to tailor their payment services to specific customer needs. To be able to tap into markets and customer segments where these methods are preferred, you should consider accepting other e-wallets as well.
Alipay, for instance, dominates the Chinese market and is popular for its extensive range of features for all kinds of payments, ranging from mobile payments to investment services. Venmo, on the other hand, is especially popular in the US and is widely used for touchless payments in-store as well as online and in apps.
Skrill is available globally, but especially popular in Europe and the UK, where it has made a name for itself in the gaming market. As one of the most popular online casino deposit methods, besides other options such as bank transfers and other e-wallets, Skrill allows users to add money to their user account to then use that prepaid credit to play online safely. It’s especially popular for players as they don’t have to share their bank details with the site they’re playing on.
Businesses nowadays have a variety of payment options at their disposal to offer to their customers. Make sure to choose your specific payment methods wisely according to your target audience and the regions you serve to reduce friction during the payment process and ensure customer satisfaction.
