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What Is Google Checkout?
By Lorne Deeks
Google checkout is an online payment-processing plan that is designed to make shopping safer and easier for consumers and online stores. The principle of the system for consumers is similar to various other electronic payment processing systems. By entering credit or debt card details once into their account, online shoppers can then use their account to pay for purchases with any site or store that offers Google Checkout functionality.
For merchants and online stores the process is similar to integrating any checkout system. By cutting and pasting the HTML code provided by Google, any website can be up and running within minutes. Partially in a bid to compete with other checkout type systems and partially to offer as much usability as possible to everyone concerned, Google Checkout will also integrate with the current Adwords system.
If a merchant currently uses Adwords to display their advertisements they gain two specific benefits. First, the adverts they display will also show a Google Checkout icon. While there are relatively few merchants offering Checkout, this can be a good money-spinner when trying to win the hearts of consumers that have already signed up. The second advantage is that for every dollar spent on Adwords advertising, $10 of transactions can be processed for free.
Speaking of fees, Checkout fees are surprisingly competitive. Merchants must pay 20 cents and 2 per cent of the transaction value.
Google have already announced that they will be partnering with major financial institutions to offer consumers further incentive. Google have partnered with Citibank and created a co branded Checkout. Signing up for this gives customers $5 or 1,000 points for signing up.
When searching on the Google site there are already several sites cropping up with the Checkout logo next to their name. As with many of the Google applications already released, the popularity of the checkout system will more than likely keep increasing until it is synonymous with online shopping. As a merchant it is certainly worth considering and as a shopper it is definitely worth signing up for as and when the need arises. About the Author Lorne Deeks is an author for GITC - Your source for IT News, IT Trends and Product Reviews. http://www.gitc.ca
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/37013.html
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