A ‘For Dummies’ Guide to Accepting Credit Cards From Your Own Website – Part 1

Stephanie Peterson | 10 Comments

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I already asked this once, but I’ll ask it again: Do you feel like prepping a website to function as a store and accept credit cards is a way complicated endeavor?

Whether you’ve just silently agreed, swung your fist into the air, or continue to nod violently, I get it. I really, really do.

Everywhere you turn there’s an ad saying something to the effect of, “Have your own website today! Be selling in less than an hour!” Yet the idea of setting up a website or upgrading your current one to accept credit cards still elicits fear and overwhelm. Because your experience tells you it’s never quite that simple.

The problem is that there’s so many avenues one can go down in order to accept credit cards onlineand not all are good or right for you….

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Can Resolutions Be Kept? Only If You Understand The Science Behind Willpower

Stephanie Peterson | 10 Comments

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In my opinion, one of the worst things a person can be is uninteresting.

Seeing as how uninteresting and unoriginal are highly correlated, it’s in my nature to avoid speaking the obvious, parroting fluffy sentiments, or jumping on bandwagons. And, a day ago, that included these “What I’ve learned in 2012 / Resolutions for 2013″ posts every blogger’s been publishing. I planned to write one weeks ago, more or less out of obligation, but then feelings crept up about being a “Me too!” sort of blogger, and the idea was squashed.

Today I’ve had a change of heart– somewhat. Sifting through the abundance of newly-published articles full of New Year’s reflection and resolution, I pinpointed something related that I couldn’t help but write about while the topic’s still fresh, and that I think you might find very interesting as a matter-of-fact.

So the debate goes: can our resolutions to be better business owners really be kept?….

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How Not To Talk to Customers Online: Putting An End to ‘Follow Us! Like Us! Share Us!’

Stephanie Peterson | 23 Comments

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Imagine you’re strolling down Main Street of your hometown, bumping into friends, taking in the sights and sounds, making friendly chit-chat with the owners inside the most interesting-looking shops, when you pass one yelling from behind her window. “Red sweater, great gift, $48!”… “Blue beaded necklace, very stylish, ON SALE!”… “Pearl earrings!! A great vintage find! GET IT BEFORE IT’S GONE!”

Tell me, would you feel an urge to get closer?

Or perhaps an urge to get farther away?

Alternatively, imagine you’re standing just outside of a local jewelry boutique, enjoying the gorgeous display in the window. You notice the shop owner to your left, adjusting a sign on the door, so you decide to compliment her on the beautiful selection. She then responds, “Thanks for liking our jewelry! Now follow us on Twitter and Flikr and Pinterest!! And, and, tell ALL your friends!”….

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You Can Be An Entrepreneur + Not Be Stressed Out of Your Mind (Even in December)

Stephanie Peterson | 11 Comments

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Today I want to talk about freedom.

Most people who’ve never been self-employed perceive self-employment as total freedom. Those who are self-employed, however, know better.

Strengths like ambition and work ethic can turn against you just as your business gets going, trapping oneself by means of constant “I’m not doing enough”-ing and impossible targets, commitments, and deadlines. That person who spoke of “being your own boss” as a positive and delightful thing, had no idea what kind of wrath your boss-self had to unleash.

Unfortunately, December is an especially rough month for entrepreneurs and their mean bosses, who steal away all their freedom, joy, and candy canes. Which brings me to an article written a few weeks ago called,….

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Truths About Gift-ability No One’s Talking About (That Could Cost You Sales)

Stephanie Peterson | 5 Comments

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“Gift-ability” becomes a prevalent topic for business owners as the holiday season approaches, but the truth is that understanding what makes a good gift can benefit your business all year round. After all, there’s birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day… If you’re like most, you’re on the prowl for some kind of gift nearly every month.

Most blogs and magazines for business owners will tell you to offer gift wrapping or to create categories of gifts for different people (man, woman, girl, boy). But today I’d really like to go further.

See, I believe there are some truths about gift-ability that go completely unacknowledged, and it’s about time somebody brings them into the conversation!….

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Should You Pay for Advertising on Websites + Blogs?

Stephanie Peterson | 11 Comments

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Getting the word out about an online business is easier said than done. (By a lot.) So naturally, this is a topic that’s talked about all the time.

What really works when I need to get people on my site?

The experts say setting up a Facebook page and a Twitter profile is a good place to start (my experience leads me to agree), but what about buying ads? Taking out an ad in a print publication hardly seems ideal for an online business, but what about snatching up virtual– clickable– real estate on a popular blog’s sidebar?

Unfortunately, the expert jury’s split on this one….

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A ‘For Dummies’ Guide to Accepting Credit Cards From Your Own Website – Part 4

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A ‘For Dummies’ Guide to Accepting Credit Cards From Your Own Website – Part 3

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A ‘For Dummies’ Guide to Accepting Credit Cards From Your Own Website – Part 2

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A ‘For Dummies’ Guide to Accepting Credit Cards From Your Own Website – Part 1

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Can Resolutions Be Kept? Only If You Understand The Science Behind Willpower

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How Not To Talk to Customers Online: Putting An End to ‘Follow Us! Like Us! Share Us!’

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You Can Be An Entrepreneur + Not Be Stressed Out of Your Mind (Even in December)

 

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