The LEADERS Dispatch: Episode IV

Not such a  long time ago, in a galaxy so close as to be this one, we discussed ways to capture and save the elusive green-back for the benefit of your business. Now, in this fifth month, it is a period of prospective growth and potential.

Pursued as ever by that most sinister agent of our Galaxy, Time, we offer you 5 tips for faster marketing that will help you win a victory against that Galactic enemy. We also provide information on check services in an effort to help you save your business from the threat of bounced checks and maintain your business's success.

Read on for details. And may the force of May be with you. 

Maverick Marketing: 5 Tips for Top Gun Tweets (and Other Speedy Updates)

Sometimes you can't help but feel the need; life gets busy, business gets busy (not that that's something to complain about), and you're being pulled in so many directions, it's hard to get to all the things you need to do for your business done. And that's when you feel it: the need for speed.

While we don't have a solution for all of your time management issues (life can be hectic, which keeps things interesting at least), we can help you manage your online presence. With these five tips on updating like a Maverick (or Ice Man if you prefer), you'll be in and out with time to spare:

1. Tweet. Twitter was built for flash statements. With only 140 characters available for a single tweet, brevity is a requisite. Not sure what to tweet? Mention a deal, a sale, or even just share about how busy you are! Example: "Super busy today! Stop by for 25% Off All Winter Merchandise." You'll be in and out of Twitter in no more than 2 minutes.
2. Update Your Facebook Status. Like Twitter, Facebook status updates on your business page are perfect for informing your followers about specials going on, or if you want to get people engaged, ask a question about your business-what they like, how you're doing, thoughts on your latest product, anything-and get a conversation started.
3. Blog About Something Someone Else Did. Creating good content for a blog post can be time-consuming, but you don't always have to deliver every message yourself. Pop in with a hello, mention how wonderfully busy you are, and then proffer your readers a link to a helpful (or entertaining) article or video. Not only does this tactic maintain your presence, it shows your readers that you were thinking of them.
4. Sync Your Twitter Account with Your Facebook Page. Looking to down two enemy planes with one strategic dive? Syncing your Twitter and Facebook accounts will let you automatically post your Tweets to your business's Facebook Page. So not only are you engaging your Twitter followers, Facebookers can also comment and like your Tweets. To link the two, go here (you must be signed in to Facebook to see the page): http://www.facebook.com/twitter/.
5. Get Hootsuite (or Something Like It). Did you ever see that episode of The Office where Ryan shows off his "Woof/WUPHF" innovation? If not, here's a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB-KjL1VfUE.    

 Well, Hootsuite and competitor services like TweetDeck and Seesmic are kind of like that. You can manage all of your social media channels from one source and make one update that will then be sent to all of your preferred networks, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Wordpress. To sign up or find out more, check out http://hootsuite.com (for TweetDeck, click here, and here for Seesmic).

If you're looking to jump start a lifeless online presence with little time to spare, using any of the above tactics is a surefire way to bring your audience up to speed on your business and get the engines revving.

Check It Out: Check Services for Your Business

You might be surprised at how many people still insist on paying for purchases by check; you'd be even more surprised at how many of those people aren't octogenarians stubbornly set in their ways and refuting the confounding new technology as something bene-ficial.

So what does this tell you and why should you care? Other than illustrating some people's strange resistance to methods developed to simplify the processes of our daily lives (conspiracy theorists and commies, no doubt), it is an indication that your business could be losing money if it doesn't accept checks.

If you're worried about the extra hassle of dealing with customers' checks, wondering if the check will bounce or be returned as fraudulent, worry not. Unlike those check-paying customers, you don't have to be stuck in the Dark Ages when it comes to handling checks.

Take a look at the various check guarantee options available to you and the different ways they make check handling easier for you.

Electronic Check Conversion (ECC):

ECC lets you process checks the same way you process credit cards. Simply slide the check through your check scanner, which creates and saves an image of the check in the scanner and transmits an electronic transaction request for approval (the same thing that happens when you swipe a credit card). And, in the same fashion as a card transaction, a receipt is printed for the customer to sign, and that's that! Alternatively, you can use a check reader which does not save an image of the check, but reads the check data and electronically transmits the information.

What makes ECC better than accepting checks the traditional way? Let's make a list:

• No bounced checks; payment is guaranteed
• It saves time by eliminating trips to the bank to deposit checks, and eliminates worry of the check deposits being lost or stolen
• No deposited checks and face to face approval means no bounced check charges or individual deposit fees
• It reduces cash flow delays as funds reach your account within 24-48 business hours

Check Guarantee Services:

1. Traditional Check Guarantee: Traditional Check Guarantee provides instant verification of a check writer's standing by completing an instantaneous database search and assessment of the customer's check writing history. All you have to do is enter the customer's driver's license information into your point of sale terminal or slide the check through the check reader, and wait for split second authorization.
2. Phone Authorization: Phone Authorization offers the same benefits of Traditional Check Guarantee, but over the phone. Phone Authorization is available 24/7 and allows you to verify checks without the use of a machine, making it an excellent solution for internet merchants and merchants with mobile businesses.

expressCheck21:

expressCheck21 enables you to electronically process and deposit checks with the use of a check scanner. The scanner transmits data for clearing and allows check payments to be electronically deposited into your bank account. While expressCheck21 is electronically processed, it differs from ECC in that the bank still treats it like a paper check. Benefits of expressCheck21 include:

• Enables acceptance of all types of check (consumer and non-consumer) at point-of-sale
• Highly secure data transmission and easy web-based set-up
• 24/7 access to your check image database and payment status
• Speeds up both the check handling and processing aspects of accepting check payments
• Eliminates the need to physically deposit paper checks, saving you countless trips to the bank

With so many check processing options and the convenience that all of them offer, not accepting would be a folly indeed.

To find out more about LEADERS' check processing options, please visit www.rockbottommerchantaccounts.com/services/check-guarantee.html.

Testimonials

I called a number off the internet a couple of weeks ago and left a message about needing help with credit card processing. Within a few minutes a Sales Representative called me back. He asked me questions, explained what he could do for me, told me rates and then told me about a few things that would save me some money. I feel he was very thorough and helpful. The next day he contacted me when more information was needed so that everything could get processed very quickly. Right now he is in the process of helping fix something that needs to be fixed. People are always very quick to complain if something is wrong, but I believe people should be complimented and praised if they do a good job. This Sales Representative does a good job. I appreciated his assistance. Sincerely, J Krueger, KIRKWOOD, MO.

I would like to thank Leaders and their excellent customers care services. I have had the pleasure of working with one of Leaders most qualified representatives who totally cares about the quality of service he presents to Leaders customers and potential prospects. He offered the best services he could according to my qualifications, he was also patient and kept in contact with me frequently. Once my application was FINALLY received the process was actually pretty quick. This was one representative that I have had the pleasure of working with. I hope that in the future all my customer representatives at Leaders or anywhere else will provide the same amount of excellent quality as this Sales Representatives. In life you run across millions of workers who work for companies just to receive a paycheck and provide little or no quality of service. Then you have those like this Representative who care about his reputation and  the quality of services he provide, not only for his clients but for his company also.  - V, Milwaukee, WI