Novera Payment Solutions

Get Social and Get Found

One of the biggest changes online we have seen over the last 24 months is the way that Google is factoring social reach as it ranks websites. Your website may be perfectly optimized for the keyword phrases your business needs to rank well for, but if you are not continually developing great content and consistently working to build your social reach, your competitors may be dominating you in the Google rankings.

Steps To Take Today

According to Social Metrics Pro, there are 25 social signals that Google is tracking. Considering these factors and improving your efforts in each can help optimize your web presence for better search visibility. Check out the article for all 25 signals, but here are four steps you should take today:

1. Get on Google+
   This platform is weighed by Google whether you have many people in your circles or not.  Google+ is weighing heavily the social signals from its own social network.
2. Facebook Rules...Grow Your Following
   The number of fans, comments, shares, and likes may influence search rankings more than Google+ or Twitter
3. Don’t Ignore Twitter
   The number of followers, tweets, retweets and mentions will make a difference with this social media giant.
4. Reach Out on Other Social Channels
   Don’t forget about Pinerest, Reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon and FourSquare.  These all have the ability to help your rankings and Google does measuring signals from these channels.

Quality Content is King

Google eats up GREAT content.

When developing content, Social Metrics Pro recommends that you:

1. Focus On User Experience
   Provide interesting and relevant content. Include relevant keywords where it makees sense, but write for the end user, not for Google.
2. Get Social
   Engage your visitors by asking them to share your content, replying to their comments or Tweets, and organizing on-line events
3. Build Connections
   Associate with other people and websites who are leading authorities in your business field.  Become the local expert and become part of an established social group.

Take One Bite at a Time

We all know the joke about how to eat an elephant. While social media is technically "free", it takes time ... it's the elephant. Start with one channel at a time, be consistent and provide top notch content to grow your fans and followers.  Link back to your website when appropriate, but don't "sell". Instead, provide value. The sales will come as a result.

With a consistent effort, over time, you will be amazed at how your content and social strategy will improve the search engines rankings for your business website.

The bottom line ... better search engine rankings lead to more traffic across your web presence ... which, in turn, grows sales!

About Novera Payment Solutions

Novera Payment Solutions is well known as a leader in the credit card payments industry and is committed to helping businesses improve their bottom line by providing significant savings on credit card processing fees through our innovative flat fee merchant account pricing model.

Novera Payment Solutions Advantange

• Novera Payment Solutions's consultative approach allows us to thoroughly educate our clients, equipping them to better understand this complicated industry.

• We take the mystery out of the credit card processing business.

• We work with all types of businesses across the country.

Contact Novera to learn more about how we work with businesses  to provide the most fair and transparent pricing structure available on the market today for credit card processing.

Did you know that as of January 27, 2013 it became acceptable for merchants to impose checkout fees on credit card purchases made by their customers using Visa and MasterCard credit cards? The decision was a result of a class action law suit, and the idea is that it allows merchants to offset the cost of their credit card processing fees by passing a percentage (in the form of a surcharge or checkout fee) through to the consumer.

Is this the right move for your business?

There are advantages and disadvantages to implementing a checkout fee.

The basic advantage is pretty clear. You may improve your bottom line by passing a percentage of the processing fee to the customer as a surcharge or checkout fee.

The disadvantages should be weighed carefully, however. With credit card use so prevalent, additional charges for their use may turn your customers away, especially if your typical transactions are higher dollar amounts. As an example, a consumer may not think twice about a 4% surcharge on a cup of coffee, but if they are purchasing a vehicle or paying for a pet surgery it's a different story entirely.

Even if your typical transaction fees are lower dollar amounts, consumers using credit cards tend to spend more per transaction than those paying with cash. If you incentivize customers to pay with cash, you may offset the credit card processing fees but your total sales volume may decrease.

Know the Laws & Requirements

It's important to know State laws, as well as requirements set by VISA and MasterCard if you do decide to implement checkout fees in your business.

If your business operates in CA, CO, CT, FL, KS, ME, MA, NY, OK, TX, state laws prohibit checkout fees on credit card transactions. If you operate your business in multiple states, you can surcharge the credit card transactions in those states where the practice is not illegal only. More states have legislation pending banning checkout fees, so be certain you know the current law for each state in which you operate.

Additionally, VISA and MasterCard have their own requirements of merchants who intend to charge checkout fees. You must notify both VISA and MasterCard of your intent, as well. Both require 30 days advance notice. It's important to know and understand all requirements.

• MasterCard's Merchant Surcharge Rules
• VISA'S Merchant Surcharge Rules

Ask for Help

Novera Payment Solutions is a leader in the credit card payments processing industry. If you are unsure if surcharging is a good move for your business, don't hesitate to contact us. A possible alternative to surcharging is to take control of your credit card processing costs and take steps to reduce them.

Novera Payment Solutions is well known as a leader in the credit card payments industry and is committed to helping businesses improve their bottom line by providing significant savings on credit card processing fees through our innovative flat fee pricing model.

Novera Payment Solutions Advantange

• Novera Payment Solutions' consultative approach allows us to thoroughly educate our clients, equipping them to better understand this complicated industry.

• We take the mystery out of the credit card processing business.

• We work with all types of businesses across the country.

Contact Novera to learn more about how we work with businesses to provide the most fair and transparent pricing structure available on the market today for credit card processing.

FREE educational webinar on Oct 15, 2013 @ 2:00 PM EST

Join Us - It's Free!

Please join us in an educational webinar on October 15, 2013 @ 2:00 PM EST designed to help you understand the in's and out's of the credit card processing industry. This valuable free webinar will be 45 minutes or less and we guarantee you will learn practical information to help you make better choices when shopping around for processing services.

As an attendee of this webinar you will gain the following:

• Ability to understand Visa/MC/Disc. true underlying cost which in turn will help you negotiate better pricing
• Knowledge on how to make sure you are getting a truly fair deal for payment processing services
• Awareness of the latest in technology available in the market place today
• Tips for keeping processing costs down
• Best practices for keeping cardholder data secure and maintaining PCI compliance

A Case Study Demonstrating How the American Physical Therapy Association Private Practice Section Achieved Savings with Flat Fee Merchant Accounts & Novera's Revenue Maximizer Technology

APTA Private Practice Section Mission

The mission of the APTA Private Practice Section is to Champion the success of physical therapist-owned businesses. As leaders and innovators in the health care system, PPS members are empowered to achieve management excellence and financial success. PPS always explores new models of practice, innovative ways of doing business, and ways to leverage opportunities in the changing health care environment.

About Novera Payment Solutions

Designed to bridge the gap between the tremendous brand and buying power of WorldPay combined with the sales and service experience of your smaller home town business, Novera was founded to bring the capabilities and commitments from a large service provider, and the reality of what is actually experienced from a merchant service provider to their clients. Novera specializes in partnerships that create a triple win -for the partner, the partner’s member and Novera.

Background

Among other priorities, the PPS offers discounts on the section’s regional education, webinars, publications, business and insurance programs, the section’s premier annual conference and exposition, administrator’s certification educational programming, and key affinity partners. The Association prides itself on proprietary relationships not available through other sources thereby creating added value to a membership in the PPS.

The PPS was constantly approached by merchant services providers committing the “best rates” and “the lowest fees”. PPS board members were always skeptical of such claims and for years, decided NOT to have a merchant services partner.

The Challenge

Novera approached the PPS in 2011 with a unique pricing program and a technology suite of payment tools designed to help reduce individual practice receivable’s and increase cash flow right at the POC.

The Executive director informed NPS of the board and associations skepticism and declined any offer to promote a “me too” product such as payment processing to its members because of a strict policy that only offers not available to the public be promoted to PPS members. In short, the PPS wanted programs over and above traditional offers available anywhere else.

The Value Proposition

Novera created a Flat Fee merchant account pricing program that when compared to a traditional tiered rate and fee structure produced monthly savings on credit card processing that NPS representatives would direct toward investment in new payment collection technology.

Revenue Maximizer

The Revenue Maximizer, a HIPAA compliant virtual payment terminal designed specifically for healthcare providers, allows you to tie the patient account, provider, location, and department and claim ID to the payment transaction. You can also view payment activity for multiple locations on one system, from just one merchant account.

Features Include

• Processes major credit and debit cards (VISA®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Discover®).
• Maintain a Card on File for one time payments or recurring payments plans.
• Ability to send emails to patients regarding transactions.
• Supports direct debit from patient’s checking or savings account and converts paper checks to electronic funds transfers.
• Generates detailed transaction reports by patient, office location, provider and date.
• Protects patient information using standard security and operational standards to protect card and account holder data and processes all transactions with PCI Level One Certified partners.
• Replaces your current credit card terminal... no more expensive dedicated phone lines. Best of all, the Revenue Maximizer can be up and running within minutes—without any expensive equipment, lengthy training or change to your billing or practice management system.
• Manage payments with online reporting.
• Allow patients to make payments online via the Patient Payment Portal.

Revenue Maximizer Plus

The Revenue Maximizer Plus offers all of the credit card payment and reporting functionality of the core product, the Revenue Maximizer, and adds critical tools necessary for providers to accurately estimate patient financial responsibility at the point of service:

• Web-based, real-time health plan eligibility verification at the point-of-care
• The system features “Advanced Payer Logic” providing customers with customized STC control resulting in a superior patient estimate.
• Determines in minutes what the patient owes, rather than days.
• Shows remaining deductibles, co-pays and coinsurance.
• Calculates patient charges against contracted rates with national and regional payer’s
• Produces a patient-friendly estimate of the patient responsibility.
• Ability to send emails to patients regarding transactions
• Integrates with leading Practice Management Systems to create true interoperability

After the solution was demonstrated and proposed, The PPS board approved the partnership and agreed to promote Novera Payment Solutions and the technologies to its membership at large for flat fee credit card processing.

Members can gain access to the program by visiting www.noverapaymentsolutions.com/pps .

Today Novera Payment Solutions is the exclusive recommended provider for merchant service accounts to the APTA/PPS membership!

Advances in technology have turned simple mobile phones and tablet devices into powerful computing tools. Today, comsumers are using their phones and tablets for everything from getting directions, finding the cheapest gas, sharing photos and videos in real time, reading reviews, and paying for purchases. 

If your business has not yet entered the realm of accepting mobile payments, here are five reasons why you should start accepting mobile payments now.

1. The proliferation of mobile phone across the globe will drive mobile commerce. According to Cisco, by 2015 788 million people will be using smart-phone only browsers.
   
   
2. The growth in mobile payments by 2015 is expected to explode.
   According to Juniper Research, $670 billion worth of global mobile transactions is expected. Yankee Group projects that number at $1 trillion.
   
   
3. More adults than ever own tablet computers.
   According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, more than 30% of US adults own a tablet-based computer, such as the Apple iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, or other model.
   
   
4. Market indicators show nothing but growth in the future of tablet-based eCommerce.
   comScore estimates that tablet-driven ecommerce sales account for approximately 12 per cent of eCommerce this year. Additionally, eMarketer estimates that tablet-based eCommerce could surpass $24 billion in the U.S. by the end of 2013 and surpass $50 billion 2016.
   
   
5. Tablet Owners are Grown Gen-Xers & Gen-Yers, Affluent, and Educated.
   Again, according to Pew Research, “...almost half (49 per cent) of adults ages 35-44 now own a tablet computer, significantly more than any other age group.” College educated adults topped the largest percentage of tablet owners, and households with incomes of $75,000+ own at least one tablet device in their household.

Clearly, the time to get started with mobile payments is now.

Novera Payment Solutions is leading the way in helping businesses get setup to accept mobile credit card payments. As a leader in the credit card payments industry, Novera is committed to  businesses improve the bottom line by providing significant savings on mobile credit card processing fees through our innovative flat fee pricing model.

The Novera Advantange

• Novera’s consultative approach allows us to thoroughly educate our clients, equipping them to better understand this complicated industry.

• We take the mystery out of the credit card processing business.

• We work with all types of businesses across the country.

• One of our specialities is mobile payment solutions.
  

Contact Novera to learn more about how we work with businesses to provide the most fair and transparent pricing structure available on the market today for credit card processing.

Novera Payment Solutions LLC is announcing an awarded contract position with The Veterinary Club LLC to help provide critical cost savings measures for payment processing services. The new contract position  allows Veterinarians to receive credit and debit card payments via various gateways  virtual terminals, tablets and from their web site. An available QuickBooks plugin and posting tool ensures a seamless interface.

It’s all part of Novera’s suite of merchant services.

Many merchants don’t fully understand their card processing rates. In truth, the majority of the cost to accept credit and debit cards is the same for all merchants, and is comprised of the non-negotiable Interchange fees and processor costs. Variable service fees drive most of the difference in rates and are where most processors make substantial profits.  Under the new contract with The Veterinary Club, (TVC) members can receive a transparent and easy to understand, flat fixed monthly fee that remains in effect for the life of the account says John Wisniewski, Novera’s VP of Business Development. “We’re excited about joining TVC in their efforts to provide their member’s solutions that help them grow and succeed while saving them money.  To learn more, go to: www.noverapaymentsolutions.com/TVC

 "The Veterinary Club, the leading Group Purchasing Organization serving Veterinarians in the United States, is pleased to announce a new contract with Novera Payment Solutions, LLC. Novera was selected to guide members through the complicated world of credit & debit card acceptance. Novera delivers a unique combination of value, integrity and price transparency to our members that is unparalleled throughout the payment industry."  Bryan Benitz, Managing Partner, The Veterinary Club LLC   www.TheVeterinaryClub.com

Novera Payment Solutions, LLC (Novera) based in Atlanta is a registered Member Service Provider (MSP) of WorldPay, and a registered Independent Sales Organization (ISO) with Visa & MasterCard.

The Veterinary Club (TVC) based in Nashville and Middleburg, VA, is a national Group Purchasing Organization focused exclusively on the Veterinary market.  TVC is an entity that helps veterinary organizations realize savings and efficiencies by aggregating purchasing volume and using that leverage to negotiate discounts with manufacturers, distributors and other vendors.

Autotask Corporation provides the world's leading hosted IT business management software to streamline and optimize business processes for technology solution providers. The software integrates a broad range of critical business systems, including:

• Customer relationship management (CRM)
• Service desk
• Tech scheduling
• Project management
• Billing and reporting
• Real-time service delivery intelligence to help users understand the factors that drive their business and profitability

Autotask is accessible from virtually any computing or mobile device connected to the Internet and features a world-class API that seamlessly integrates with other systems and tools that providers rely on to run their businesses.

Autotask Subscribers Can Now Accept Credit Cards & Debit Cards

Through a new strategic partnership with Novera Payment Solutions (NPS), subscribers to the Autotask product suite will have the ability to receive credit and debit card payments via an easy to understand flat fixed fee or flat rate pricing program which integrates with Quickbooks via a plugin. Additionally, Novera will provide Autotask clients the opportunity to access innovative tools and strategies like virtual terminals and specialized mobile payment technologies that will enable anyone to accept payments via mobile device or website portal.

“Our partnership with Novera is another example of our commitment to providing innovative technology solutions that help our customers provide superior service to their clients,” said Len DiCostanzo, Senior Vice President of Community and Business Development, Autotask. “We know how critical it is for our customers to process secure payments in real-time and  Novera delivers this capability in a unique way across multiple devices.”

Novera Payment Solutions provides Autotask clients with a way to process payments which can result in saving money and time. Novera will help your business run more efficiently.

• SIGNIFICANT ANNUAL SAVINGS WITH OUR INNOVATIVE FLAT FEE MERCHANT ACCOUNT PRICING
  
  
• IMPROVE CASH FLOW AND TURN RECEIVABLES INTO IMMEDIATE PAYMENT
  

• STREAMLINE THE CREDIT CARD ACCEPTANCE PROCESS WITH A DISCOUNTED WEB BASED TERMINAL AND QUICKBOOKS PLUG IN

Novera Payment Solutions is well known as a leader in the credit card payments industry and is committed to helping IT Solution providers and other businesses improve their bottom line by providing significant savings on credit card processing fees through our innovative flat fee pricing model. For more information visit http://www.NoveraPaymentSolutions.com/AutoTask.