Cash processing – the ultimate insurance policy

Hardly a day passes nowadays without yet another thread being posted on the industry boards announcing the passing of another affiliate program. Times are indeed tough, especially in the new ‘freemium’ economy – surfers want and expect material for free before even entertaining the idea of parting with their money for a premium version of your offering.

What is more, even if you have managed to steer a potential customer to your join page, there are further challenges to overcome: perhaps the surfer does want to use his or her credit card online, particularly on an adult site. Or maybe they have been reading the numerous articles in mainstream media about identity theft and do not want to leave a digital trail. Perhaps they do not have a card. Or they have one, but like countless others it is maxed out and there is no credit left…

From a processing perspective, this results in several other challenges: there is pressure on the card associations from all quarters and at some point it may just not be worth the trouble or the resource drain to contend with the fraud, chargebacks, customer complaints and communication necessary to sustain adult involvement.

To this end, smart forward-thinking companies are adding every payment method possible to their options mix so if the unthinkable were to come to pass, they'd take the hit, but they would not be out of business the next day.

Of these, cash processing is one of the newest and least understood. And, no, it does not involve customers sending cash in an envelope via snail mail! Instead, they hand over their money at a local point of sale in return for a voucher which then grants access to websites that employ such billing. London based www.ukash.com is by far the largest player in this space, with an estate of over 420,000 physical issuing points in 33 countries and growing exponentially.

Cynics of such billing point out that it disrupts the sales flow with potential customers having to leave the comfort of their computer and pop into their local convenience store in order to complete the transaction. What they fail to realise, however, is that the accrued balance can be conveniently rolled over, making constant trips to the cash collection agents unnecessary. Furthermore, Ukash can also be purchased online in several territories.

Since these are cash based transactions, they are free of chargebacks or repudiations; all funds are ensured, and effectively allow webmasters to reach previously unattainable customers – the unbanked and digitally nervous.

By adding such billing to your processing portfolio, not only are you adding a healthy percentage of revenue to your bottom line, but also you are in a position to remain in business if ever card issuers were to seize the moral high ground for whatever reason.

Whilst adding additional alternative billing might feature low on your current list of priorities, there might come a day when it will suddenly have to become your top priority and it will be your turn to join the bottom of a lengthy queue.

Acting now will not only create much needed additional revenue, but also will ensure that you will still be around should the worst case scenario ever come to pass. By integrating now, you will be able to learn how the system will work for you as it may be your lifeline in the future. Meanwhile, who doesn't want a bit of extra cash in the bank?

Surfers who get as far as your join page want to become a customer - if you won't take their cash, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone else will.

Next generation dating – welcome to location-based GPS hook-up apps

Many years ago, way back in the eighties when I was still young, free and single, the only medium available to meet members of the fairer sex in a similar predicament were the personal ads that could be found in newspapers and magazines.

In the nineties, the stigma associated with meeting potential partners this way receded – indeed, a couple I know that met this way flaunted the fact by printing the advertisement that led to their union on their wedding invitations!
Then, along came the internet. By now, I was “hooked-up” and did not need the services of such sites – but they always struck me as ideal vehicle to do so if I did.

According to a recent study which pulled data from a number of sources including Reuters and The Washington Post, online dating is now worth more than one billion dollars per year. The same study claims that it even eclipses the revenues generated by online porn, and estimates the mobile dating market to be worth some $550m.
An unlikely ambassador to extol the virtues of next-gen mobile dating was the British actor Stephen Fry who British mentioned the geo-social networking app Grindr on the popular TV show Top Gear. Popular with gays, Grindr makes use of the device geolocation, which allows users to access other gay and bisexual men within close proximity.

Not surprisingly, a number of other companies are lining up to become the ‘straight’ equivalent. Of these, www.PinPointsX.com are way ahead of the pack, and have already been named #1 hoop-up app my AskMen.com and have received rave reviews from CNET, LA Times, The Huffington Post and others.

A location-aware adult social network, www.PinPointsX.com provides users with an interactive “passion map” of either their current or chosen location. The map displays private people and their sexual orientation, and adult businesses and nightlife. The user can then interact with any of these entities, using calls/messaging/emails. If the other party is online they can chat or talk, and if not, they receive an email notification. In other words, no matter where you go - the map conveniently serves the entire sexual scene around the users’ current location.

The added value of the PinPointsX.com platform over other adult social networks is that it relies greatly on the users’ location and presents all of the adult nightlife options within an immediate area. One of the more important addition is the Apple approved PPX to-go™ available in the Apple app store and in the Android Market. The app uses GPS and other location functionality on the phone or iPod to automatically update the user's location and presents new erotic options wherever he or she goes.

I just wish this technology had been around all those years ago when I was on the open market!