An experienced SalesWoman attempts to define her current job, and how competitors affect a merchants perspective, and services her company provides.

It is my understanding that at least 15 or so people exist out there that are not computer savvy or on the Internet. I know because I spoke to one of them today. I’m in sales, that’s what I get paid to do, is talk to people. You would think, well that is a job made in Heaven for just the right woman. So you would think. However not all contracts make it to Heaven, where they become signed instruments. Oh NO. Some people have the nerve to want to play and fine tune the instrument before signing. But that is half the battle. It still remains that I Must talk to all prospective clients, and today I realized exactly what that means.

What do I sell, you ask? Well it’s a mystery to many prospects, because I receive those same questions, even after prospects claim to have read through the entire site, FAQ, and product descriptions. I know exactly what you are thinking, and I agree. That is impossible! I think our Web Designer had envisioned the sales team being quite busy, as he made it illegal for prospects to understand exactly what our company does. It mentions in broadstrokes,on our homepage credit cards, gateway and payment solutions .
Yet everyone seems to know what a merchant account is,yet they quizically look into the phone and ask, what is a gateway? Thereby calling or emailing sales staff armed with questions daily. I think every company should hire this guy, because if you are looking to create new jobs, or keep your sales staff busy with leads, well your sales director will love him ! I have digressed.

I have read everything on our corporate Website, but I use the Demo and Merchant areas, quite successfully with prospective clients. You should see me go ! However I do know that surfing through the site, will lead one to various conclusions. One of them being that my company, Plug'n Pay, has something to do with the Internet and something to do with solutions. What kind of problems does this company solve, you ask? Well now you are beginning to think like our prospects. That is the beginning of solving the mystery of not just my job, but how I earn my daily bread , and drive up sales and obtain signed contracts. I admit, I am experienced in the world of Merchant Business and Banking and Credit Card Regulations. Thirteen Years of understanding complex regulations, Chargebacks, business accounts, merchant accounts, technology and programming those little credit card machines. Yes those machines have to be downloaded and programmed by people. But that is what I used to do. Again I have digressed. It must be the constant telephone ringing that silently signals my subconscious to change course. I offer an apology.


Earlier last year, when I first began working for my current employer,Plug'n Pay Technologies, just reading several Website pages,I had an inkling this company had something to do with E-Commerce. A Better translation: Online Payment Processing Solutions for your Online Business. Or, try this : A Gateway Solution using Modern Technology that Protects and Grows Your Business with Online Solutions. In a nutshell, that is what I sell and this is why I must talk to my prospective clients, to explain all the techno bells and whistles and how they keep a merchant secure and prospering. So how hard can that be you ask? Now you are thinking, well that should be simple enough, if the client likes the presentation and needs the service, it’s a cakewalk. You match the client with the correct product, and Boom! Internet Heaven! You have made the right deal and the contract is signed. Simple! So one would think.


Some prospects enjoy giving us as much detail and asking questions on their inquiries, which become our leads. Some include phone numbers, some require all contact by email, which makes it harder to give more detailed explanations. I can also tell, by the type of questions, what my prospective client, has misperceived about our company’s suite of services. Granted, we are a technology company, first and foremost, so clarification is one expectation I meet , every single contact. The rarity is when professional “tech” people reach me, like designers, programmers,
hosting companies, web masters, and they understand it all . I think it is secretly hardcoded into our website pages, that Plug'n Pay's products interface very well, with their alien species. You don’t think so? Try having a conversation with anyone of their breed, and countdown the seconds until they mention words like “robust” “verbose” and “API ”.

Also, since the Internet is International , you cannot assume that because the question arrives in English, that the person who sent it, understands English or wrote it in English. There are ‘translators” utilized by search engines, like “Google” for one, that decipher your work or
website pages and translate your business into the prospects’ language. This has also worked handsomely in reverse for me, when my Spanish translation fails in connection with my motor recall for detail. This is a great possibility, because it affords a company like my employer, the opportunity to explain products and services, with potential clients that would normally be unreachable. This is one of the great successes of the Internet, expanding markets and obtaining new clients within the new Global Community. This is another reason why Business to Business connections, are consistently the number one growth on the Internet. Fantastic ! Well, yes I think so!


Now I am sure you are wondering, like many prospects, as the mystery of what I do and ECommerce, in general, unravels, how hard can it really be ? Given my penchant to talk and explain, clarify and qualify prospects,
and honed ability to talk sales and can make a good pitch. That is a good question. Well if our plug'n Pay Gateway services are good ( they are ), downloads work well (none required), interfaces work seamlessly (absolutely), we include a shopping cart (yes), allow acceptance of all major proprietary and credit cards (even JCB), online Check Acceptance (yes), provides 128 byt encryption of all transactions on our servers, In REAL TIME (yes, sometimes as fast as 6 seconds), provides additional fraud and detailed risk management features (hot seller), offers Digital Downloads, Password Protection and Recurring Billing, all working for you 365 days a year, 24/7, well how can I miss? The answers are all yes, and you begin to see how our products should have any merchant jumping for joy. Do we deliver all of this? Absolutely, I have even written our guarantee of satisfaction, into contracts, with 100% refundability of fees. That should bring me to Internet Heaven, with heavenly contracts every second, and tons of signed new businesses daily. I would concur with your thinking, except for a few minor details . Let me offer a further explanation.


Remember our Web Designer friend? I was employed after the new design was created, and it does use complex language, more so than other sites than I have visited. It can be a little overwhelming with its detail. That is another success for the Internet, you can research and read material, at any time, befitting your timetable. However, you have to be able to understand
the complexities involved. Not all companies offering payment solutions are the same, some are merchant banks, some are processors working with merchant banks, some are Gateways offering multiple solutions and partners, and some are resellers selling services for all of the above. Well known competitors like Verisign, have recently fell into harsh financial problems, with their stock having recently fallen to an all time low of $5.50/share. Its been announced they will be selling their Domain registration ability for “.org” and “.net” . They have reduced their workforce by as much as 700. Does this affect my job? Yes it does. Will it make my company more competitive? Yes. Does it make it easier or harder to conduct our company business? Now you are beginning to grasp the other intricacies involved. How does my employer distinguish itself from all the other competing companies, vying for your Internet business ? This is the heart of my job, believe it or not.


Questions? contact me directly :
Donna.plugnpay.com

Copyright (c) 2002
Donna Maris