Collect Payments Anywhere, Anytime With A Payment Link

Whether you’re selling online or not, more than likely you’ve invested a lot of energy into getting customers to the point of payment. So actually accepting those payments should be easy, right?

Absolutely! That’s why, in certain cases, a payment link can be invaluable—like when you don’t have access to a card swipe device or you want to collect B2B payments electronically. In these cases (and others), payment links are a great option for processing transactions quickly and easily. So how do they work? Let’s take a look.

What is a payment link?

A payment link is a way to request payment from customers who are paying for your goods or services outside of a traditional online store purchase. It’s essentially a “Pay Now” or “Pay Invoice” button sent to customers via email. Once those customers click the payment button they’re taken to a payment page showing the amount due. They can securely fill in billing and shipping information, and the process is complete.

Who would use payment links?

While some businesses could rely on payment links to collect the bulk of their payments, others may use them only occasionally. For example, if you’re a B2B company that sends electronic invoices to customers, you could embed payment links directly into your invoices for faster payment. (And if you’re still printing and mailing traditional 30-day invoices, it’s time to convert to electronic invoicing—here’s why!)

Or, you might be a small B2C company selling at an event where you don’t have access to a card swipe device or a virtual terminal. When a customer is ready to pay, you can simply email them a payment link. They’ll receive it immediately on their mobile phone and can quickly complete the payment information by entering their credit card number or choosing a wallet like Apple Pay or Visa Checkout.

Want to know how your company could use a payment link to its advantage? Get in touch to discuss the possibilities!

What are the benefits of creating payment links?

It’s easier for your customers to pay. Even when using a payment link, customers can choose from a broad range of payment methods and currencies. And for customers who have previously provided payment information to you, the page will be pre-populated with billing and shipping information—all they have to do is click “Pay Now.” Even better: The payment page it links to is mobile-optimized, so it’s easy to navigate even when opened on a phone. (Add in an eWallet payment option to make the payment process even faster!)

It’s easier for you to collect payments. With minimal IT work, you can create a payment link and customize the payment page with your own branding. It could also reduce the burden on your finance or accounting department and save them time processing checks if more payments are made by credit card.

You can collect payments faster. Adding a “Pay Now” button to an electronic invoice encourages customers to pay immediately, and by a method other than a paper check. Not only does paying by credit card speed up the payment process, it also tells you immediately if the funds are available. If not, you can display an error message that directs the customer to try another card, resolving the issue right away.

Interested in using payment links for your business?

When you use a BlueSnap payment link generator, you get all the benefits that come with our BlueSnap Hosted Checkout. You can:

• Accept all payment types around the world, including eWallets.
• Extend your global reach by offering checkout in local languages and currencies.
• Customize the fields and appearance of your checkout page to match your brand.
• Protect sales with real-time fraud-fighting technology.
• Approve more transactions with our intelligent payment routing technology.
• Maintain PCI Level-1 compliance.
• Get connected to a global network of acquiring banks with a merchant account and payment processor All-in-One.

For more information about the BlueSnap payment link and setup instructions, read our Payment Link Overview. Or, contact us and we’ll help you get going!

Related Resources: 

• Time for a New Payment Processor? [Quiz]
• The Better Way to Accept Payments Globally: 3 Questions to Ask About Your Global Online Payment Processing Solution 
• Payment Vendor Consolidation is the Key to Global Growth