The Internet is a unique beast when it comes to payment transactions. You need to accept credit cards on your site, but there is a problem given the nature of credit card protection.
The Catch-22 with Accepting Credit Cards
The number one method of payment in transactions on the net is credit card payment. You must accept credit cards or you will get nowhere with your site. While this sounds like an obvious statement, accepting credit cards raises a host of issues.
The first issue to consider with credit cards is security. Unless you have been living under a rock, you know identity theft is a major problem. Your potential clients or customers know this as well, which means you have a problem. You must convince them that they are not risking anything by paying you with a credit card. To do this, you must use secure transaction systems or a well known online payment source that has credibility. You should also offer alternative payment methods such as mail in orders and placement of orders over the phone.
An even bigger problem is the protection given by credit card companies to consumers. You have probably seen the television commercials wherein...