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This is different than PayPal or a very old product call CheckFree I gather from this post?
Looking good CB
And thanks Chris for posting.
To answer Albert. We are not like CheckFree or any other payment option out there. eBillme does not have, access, store or keep any of your finacial information as Chris mentioned. You do not sign up or provide any information to us.
The best way to describe it, is like using your banks online bill pay to pay any utility bill. The first time you pay a utility bill you set up the utility as a payee in your bank account, then every time you make a payment you login to your bank account and pay.
eBillme is like that, when you make your first purchase, we send you an eBill with a unique account number. Then you log in to your bank add eBillme as a payee using that number. From that point on you just pay just like paying a utility bill. Simple, easy and secure. Your finical information stays with you bank.
Samer Forzley
www.ebillme.com
When you purchase online with eBillme, we believe that you should have total peace of mind with your transaction. That is why we include our Buyer Protection service free of charge.
The eBillme Buyer Protection, includes Price protection, Satisfaction grantee and Shipping protection. For example, if you buy something from say www.etronics.com with eBillme, and within 90 days the price drops or you find it cheaper anywhere else online or offline, let us know and we will give you the difference back.
you can check out the buyer protection program at https://www.ebillme.com/index.php/community2/sh...
Thanks
Samer Forzley
www.ebillme.com
No eBillme is not offered in India at this time
I think is quite disturbing all the disclaimers you made about this paid post.
Don't take me wrong, I'm agree that bloggers have the right to have sponsored content, also I'm in favor to disclose the affiliations and show that this is a paid content...
But, I trust you... and I don't need all those explanations. I want to read your opinion, that's all, and the 10% or more of this article are excuses... that I don't need or I don't care.
Is like it hurts you to publish it. Why ? if it hurts, don't publish, and if not, simply place a link to a page with all this explanations, that I don't need.
Personally I think
If the opinions in the post are yours, not need to say that is a paid article, because it's your article and can be missunderstood
If the post is written by the sponsor, simply say "Advertorial" and sign it by one of the writers ;-)
Well it's an opinion from a colleague!
Best Regards
I guess I need to think about this one a bit. Odds are the way we all increase revenue will change and this is one component of making that happen.
At any rate, the post is as informative and honest as every other one you've written Chris. So trust me, any criticism in this comment is partially resistance to change as much as it is curiosity of the same.
The service itself sounds intriguing, and I hope they succeed. It's great to see innovation in any industry - especially when it's put to use in a way to help individuals and in the end, the economy.
Think of the difference. I could stuff a banner up on the sidebar and no one would really see it. After a while, you'll shrug and say there are ads on Brogan's site. Whatever.
In-content, it gets scarier. Because this is that merge of "editorial" with "advertorial." Mind you, MAGAZINES do this all the time. You turn a page and you're looking at an ad that looks like an article. Right? Pick up ANY magazine and you'll see that these days. Know why? It's the only way you'll MAYBE see an ad these days.
So, in mags, they just write "advertisement" lightly at the top and bottom of the pages.
In my case, Joduba says I've fallen on my sword too much.
What works?
Because remember, I've done something that community managers must do: found a way to make money while not asking my community to pay. Free content all around, and I have found someone who values YOU so much that they'll pay me to get in front of you.
If I'm respectful, does this relationship work? I think so, but that's up to you to tell me.
I'm grateful for every opinion, including dissent.
Maybe you could just have a page, somewhere on your site, that explains your policy, and leave it out of the posts? (It didn't bother me, having it in the post, but I can see how some people would hesitate because of it....)
As for the service itself, it sounds like a great idea! My only question is: how long does all of this money-sending take? Is it going to slow down shipment of my purchase? (It sounds as if it's treated more like a check than a credit card transaction, which is instant.) CAN I use this with credit cards, or only my bank account?
This may not be a popular opinion, but would it hurt to just have the normal blog title/post and say whatever you need to at the bottom of it? Maybe this is just my personality, but something like:
"eBillMe is a paid sponsor of chrisbrogan.com. Check them out!!"
No more need to be said, as far as I'm concerned. I expect bloggers to bring me great product info for those they like and endorse. To put the disclaimer after the post actually would have helped the company more because I wouldn't have discounted them automatically (mentally.) And now I will go back and read about them, because this does indeed, sound like a great solution!
"Because remember, I’ve done something that community managers must do: found a way to make money while not asking my community to pay."
I totally disagree with that. First of all, I don't think that paying money and community need be anathema. When I go to a conference, I pay an entry fee. When I go out to dinner with my friends, we split the check. Paying money and community go hand-in-hand.
Second of all, since when did making money without asking your community to pay become the task of a community manager/leader? In fact, I would argue that direct pay is the best way to pay a community leader.
For example, if a full time union leader cannot exist on their union salary, then he/she should find another occupation. They should not be looking for "a way to make money while not asking my community to pay."
That's interesting. You make a good point about magazine ads posing as articles. It was a new way for advertisers to gain attention, and provide more information about their product.
While I'm open to the concept of in-content advertising, I wonder how it will be perceived by new subscribers. Obviously a reader-base that knows you and understands your objectives will find the piece informative and as many of the comments above indicate - rather helpful.
It seems to me that it becomes a comfort level with change. After all, we've preached about the openness and transparency of social media for a couple years. We like to believe that things really can be free, with no strings attached. We've talked that up as an attribute of social media.
However, your post above is quite transparent. You pointed out the reason for the post, and the relationship with the company. Doesn't that fit with the spirit and intentions of openness and transparency?
While I like as much as anyone the idea that we can continue with a free model, the reality is that times are changing. With those changing times, the attitudes and perceptions about these things will change.
Sorry for rambling, as I said in my comment above, I'm still thinking these things through. I guess that's what this comment really is - thinking out loud about it.
The money is transfer is treated just like a bill payment from your online bank, no different from paying a mortgage or a phone bill. Your bank will tell you how long the transfer takes once the payment is made, the transfer does vary a bit by bank (depending on how the bank does their payment processing) but we see most payments come within a business day.
You can not use eBillme with a credit card. You must pay with money you have in your bank account.
You can't make everyone happy all of the time. What you can do is be true to those you're working with (or for a blog, presenting/commenting to).
In the heard of the rural community where I live, a lady recently bought the local "greasy spoon" cafe. Talking to her then, she told me about her plans. Fresh ground coffee, a bakery, upscale foods, etc.
I stopped in last week and asked her about the construction they were doing. I assumed it was for the bakery, but I was wrong. They were putting in a video lottery/poker room.
I was so dissappointed. My hopes for a great wifi boutique cafe were gone.
"I guess a girl's got to make a living," I said.
She sighed.
I used to use CheckFree and was very satisfied. I trust PayPal now. I don't see the issue.
Money isn't evil, but then, that's why I joined your advisory board, to say that loudly.
You said it best: "I, for one, am glad to see the disclaimers - it helps me to know that you didn’t enter into this “arrangement” lightly."
That's exactly what I was thinking. I know that Chris had to be thinking long and hard about this kind of post. It's a post that walks a fine line about a topic that has been debated for a long time - anyone remember PayPerPost and the backlash it received?
The difference here is a product that Chris believes in and how the post came about. Did Chris go looking for a product to get paid to write about, or did the product find him and speak for itself? That is the crucial distinction that I guess I'm trying to get at.
While I've still got to think about this more - the way Chris has done this fine by me. The ensuing dialog on the topic is as great as the post!
Sorry, that's a different Ted Murphy. All I can say is that I've been around longer than him -- I own tedmurphy@aol.com and tedmurphy@yahoo.com. I assume he owns tedmurphy@google.com and tedmurphy on twitter. You snooze you lose, I guess. I apologize for the confusion.
An unglossed rave write-up (presumably all you'd give sponsors, since you say you personally endorse all their products/services) alongside an ad for the story subject is a great way to kill authenticity --- or at least the appearance of authenticity.
The disclaimer language, frankly, doesn't get you off the hook altogether -- it'll be a while before I, for one, decide whether to stick around, based on how "commercial" your posts are, etc. But the disclaimer at least kept me from bailing at the first whiff of potential editorial shilling.
1) Where does eBillMe fit in in terms of adoption for major online retailing? Do retailers have to do work to allow eBillMe on their sites? Have many merchants started using it, and of those how many are having success they can directly tie to it?
2) Do you have any data that shows an impact to key metrics retailers would look for when deciding whether to add eBillMe as an option? This could include an increase in conversion (number of visitors who make a purchase), a reduction in shopping cart abandonment, or increase in AOV (average order value), among others.
I like the innovative concept (and the buyer protection program) and see some big potential as shoppers look for trustworthy, secure ways to make the online experience valuable - I'm wondering if online shopping sites are ready to make the option available.
Thanks!
Adam
I followed your tweet: I was glad to see the disclaimer, it did make me feel that you were aware of the pitfalls and potential bad reactions to a change like this.
The elements of your blog that keep me coming back are:
-useful ideas, links, concepts, people, in space I care a lot about.
-realistic, near-future thinking.
-the particular voice that you write with (in?), which helps me to build a picture of who you are, and trust you based on that.
As long as those elements are still the blogs's main fare, I have no problem at all with this kind of advertising.
I'm giving it a go though, I've got a bunch of junk/necessities to buy today anyhow.
Would love to chat with you in detail, will DM you to follow up. Taking the conversation down a merchant point of view here but to answer your questions.
Merchants are using it and with great results. We are available on many of the Internet Retailer top 500 list, including, tigerdirect.com, buy.com, shoebuy.com, crutchfield.com, etronics.com, etc...
Yes there is an integration process, but we have done independent study by Glenbrook Partners and the study showed that out of the alternatives we are one of the easiest to implement especially since merchants don't have to deal with issues like NSF, chargebacks, etc...
We have case studies form merchants showing discussing higher AOV, etc... And happy to share those as well.
The data from the surveys we have done with Jupiter and Javelin shows a clear shift away from credit instruments. People want to pay now, with cash, but also don't want to give companies their bank numbers and permission to draw from them, and the Buyer Protection program we have in place help merchants with conversion because it removes the hesitation at the checkout.
Samer
I totally appreciate, just how much you care about your
readers. It is obvious. Thank You.
You, just as the rest of us, need to make a living.
You are at the far end of the spectrum for integrity
in presenting anything with a financial interest.
Just how much great content-/scratch that old description/-
Just how much of your highly evolved understanding,
of navigating today's and tomorrow's internet
personally, for our boss, or as entrepreneurs,
are you supposed to give away as a volunteer?
Maybe folks don't notice what's happening to them?
Subtly, the very thoughts you provoke,
and answers you provide are KEEPING people in the game!
Where else in our daily lives,
do we experience a tier 1 professional providing
the equivalent valuable service you do, without
billing large numbers in retainer?
We don't.
We have to improve this model.
While I agree with Fred Wilson's "Freemium" model,
and Ed Dale saying;
"Why NOT give and teach
your market everything to get up and going.
They'll not only remember it,
They'll remember how good you are, and be back."
Hopefully they'll share you with thoughtful
comments to many friends.
But we can't just hope
one of our sharees keeps our critical services in business.
@Samer *What* your service does,
is very much something I want. But I have questions.
How It Works:
"You buy something from Buy.com. For a payment method, you select “eBillMe.” When filling out the form to buy whatever, the merchant gets your email address, and so does eBillMe. Then, eBillMe sends you an email with a special code.
Take that code to your online bank of choice. You know where you pay bills, like the electric bill? Go there and put in that code and make eBillMe the payee. Then, just complete your purchase that way.
Then, eBillMe pays the merchant, and you get your stuff, without much fuss, and with lots more security." -CB
Is that process every transaction?
Start the buy, wait for the emailed code,
enter/pay from online banking/wait for fedex?
Helpful feedback. You have to make it less cumbersome.
I've been searching for a more anonymous (secure)
payment system, YET even a click less than folks
signing into Paypal.
A lot of folks have told me they'd pay $5 to $(large),
if it was quick and simple and secure, but admit the
steps stop them. And a lot of these folks would
repeat the process.
Somewhat as often as you tip big at your favorite joint.
Well, 1000 people X $5 or $50, daily, weekly,
monthly. I don't want to lose that anymore.
But even Paypal has been a click too many.
Also, add certified trust safety badges more visibly.
Hope this rant added to it for all, or anybody.
That process of the code and setup happens the first time only. From that point on, every time you shop at any of our merchants, you get a bill with the amount, you log into your bank and pay it.
Sounds like a better system but unfortunatley better does not always win.
Great to see more competition in this area seeing as we have a long way to go to improve the online payment systems.
Very interesting way for them to promote themselves.
Anyway I have been following Chris for a while now and have found him to be are a great contributor of useful information and have no problem with this post.
I DO like the idea of not relinquishing your personal info, but I wonder if one thing would disrupt eBillMe from being an immediate hit: the Online banking sites themselves; personally for moi, my bank's site isn't all that intuitive, and consequently, I don't do a whole heckuva lot of online billpaying there. However I DO buy a lot online and use PayPal whenever I can, simply because of its no-muss-no-fuss way of getting a transaction done.
Hopefully banking online will standardize in much the same way that online purchasing has. Then I think this will be a wave we all could be riding in the future.
In Canada all of the major banks are set up for easy email money transfers so I'm a bit surprised this isn't available with the Canadian retailers I've looked at so far.
Thanks for the Question, eBillme is currently only available on US merchant sites.
Thanks
@sforzley
@sforzley
http://delaware.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?sit...
I'm still undecided on the sponsored post idea.
Too much display advertising annoys and distracts. Advertorial doesn't sit well with many.
Taking some inspiration from the trade mags cluttering my desk I think a dedicated paid review section could be something of an imperfect solution.
It would be separate from main blog but still highlighted via twitter et al so as to provide value for the advertiser.
Just a thought ...
(By the way, I'll check the service out and come back with a review)
The reason we pick one or two players that we can trust (such as our credit cards and PayPal) is to avoid the cumbersome steps that would otherwise be required (as with eBillMe). I think for those that are truly concerned about these issues, this is a viable option though it is unlikely to be useful for the general web user / online buyer.
@Chris - These type of articles are completely acceptable in my opinion. A short notice at the top and a link to more info on your policies is more than enough.
"The reason we pick one or two players that we can trust (such as our credit cards and PayPal) is to avoid the cumbersome steps that would otherwise be required (as with eBillMe)."
If I understand the point of eBillMe, trust for Paypal or your bank isn't the issue; it's a matter of trusting e-retailers' ability to protect your card number (and PIN, for debit cards).
Card numbers are at some risk of interception during transmission to retailers over the Internet (though they are likely encrypted with a highly degree of security). The numbers may be at greater risk of theft when stored on retailers' servers -- during payment approval, and afterward as needed to process returns and payment disputes, etc. Card issuers (MasterCard, VISA, Amex et al.) have security guidelines aimed at protecting stored card numbers, but crooks are constantly looking for -- and finding -- end runs around them.
Theft of card numbers from point of sale systems has been rampant in the last couple of years. Google "credit card" and TJX (ticker symbol for TJ Maxx) or Hannaford Bros.-- the latter of which, at least, was in full compliance with card issuer security guidelines when scads of card numbers were hijacked.
I haven't used eBillMe and am not endorsing the service, but in theory, using eBillMe to avoid placing your card number in e-retailers' computers is a way of reducing risk of fraud and identity theft.
I wanted to prefer googlecheckout as an alternative to paypal, but the google buttons always produced a huge amount of whitespace on the web page. Not finding a reference to this in their faq, I finally sent the question in to google and got, in response, a long list of links which seemed unrelated to the question. So, I no longer use googlecheckout.
An alternative to paypal would be welcome, but I'd like to see a little more info for the as yet unsigned, and smaller, merchant.
If i understand your Question, eBillme is not P2P, it can be used to facilitate a transaction between a consumer and an online retailer, not Consumer to Consumer.
@sforzley
I wonder what % of online buyers are so paranoid and have so much time on their hands as to add these extra transactions to their lives.
This is a genuine question, not just a musing so will appreciate some data. Thanks.
@Peter
Small merchants can implement e-payment facilities using Worldpay or Bibit amongst others. Then people can use their credit cards as normal; the info does not get sent to the merchant and is only used to authenticate the customer and confirm the transaction.
On average a merchant converts at around 2%, that means for each 100 People on the site, Only 2 buy. What happened to the other 98? Cart abandonment at the checkout page is about 50%. Those who are surveyed continue to say security is top concern. Data from Javelin, Jupiter, Forrester, etc... is consistent 80% of those surveyed say security is the key issue at the checkout.
eBillme is not just about security but about a combination of things,
1) yes security
2) We believe our buyer protection program helps consumers who hesitate at the checkout be it for price, satisfaction worries, fraud or other.
3) eBillme helps people stay in control over their fiances, you authorize the transaction, you push it down the pipe, you don't give anyone your finacial information and authorize them to access your bank account
4) eBillme is convenient. With your CC you have to have your card with you to start with, then every time you transact you have to enter all your card numbers, name, expire date, CVV on the back, then depending on the merchant your Verified By Visa. Then when you are all done, you have to go to your bank account and pay your CC bill. With eBillme you just pay the bill. Its cardless you can shop without your wallet, all you need is an email address, and the eBill is mailed there, you then login and pay.
@peters_web
For one, I'm stoked to find an alternative to PayPal. The fact that Samer's been responsive to your readers, in contrast to my unanswered help request from a month ago to PayPal speaks volumes to me. I'm glad you shared this with us!
Personally, as a broke blogger, I often check to see if there is an affiliate program for a product I'm linking to (I also disclose this on my blog). I don't lose an ounce of sleep over it! Granted, I've not been approached for an endorsed review, but I'm of similar vein - if I'd use it and would recommend it, why not?
Bottom line, I trust your judgment and know you care about your readers. The three sentences you started this post further illuminates this. If I didn't like it, I could opt not to read it and wait for your next post!
And as for having sponsored posts, I think Chris is doing it more as a way to experiment and see 'what works'. I'm not sure what he gets for this, but I'm guessing his motivation isn't as a viable income source, but moreso as a way to experiment, and report the results back to his readers.
BTW I think that blog monetization possibilities is an area that needs more exploration, and I appreciate Chris pushing the boundaries. I'm not opposed to bloggers monetizing their content, but think that it should be done smartly, and in a way that benefits the blogger AND their readers.
This post might have been sponsored, but I think it was actually pretty damned valuable. And that's value completely detached from the product itself(Which may or may not be valuable to the readers on an individual basis). Good deal, Chris.
Thanks for answering my question. I think the 98% abandonment rate is very high and I am still unsure what % is due to security and what due to things like unclear T&Cs and sticker shock associated with delivery costs (it is better now than it was in 1997 but it still is the case for many).
Someone in my family runs the world's largest credit card processing business. I shall check with them and see how the numbers tally. They have tons of data too and they may be interested in this post and your business as well.
Thanks, Samer. Truly appreciate it.
Two things however. Would you have bothered mentioning it even if it wasn't a sponsored post? Basically would you have brought it up under "online payment options" any way? I'm willing to bet you would have. So again, no worries.
Sadly with all the fear, judgment and loathing that seems to go with anything that is sponsored and not declared you need to clearly point out that it was a sponsored post. But I think it was a little overkill. It's almost like running an ad to advertise an ad ;) Should really just create a little icon that readers can associate with sponsored posts. Clearer but smaller.
In any event, that's my 2 cents worth. Regardless, I enjoy reading you blog and will continue to do so sponsored or not. Thanks.
thanks for the post and reply
Everyone else. Thanks to all who asked and commented so far. I appreciate all the comments.
If you have any questions that i have not addressed please let me know, on twitter @sforzley or drop me an email sforzley@ebillme.com
As for the sponsored post, I would say this, that as the sponsor, I am thankfull that Chris stated right upfront that this is a sponsored post. Our intention is to have a discussion with Chris's readers, we thank him and you for the opportunity to do so.
Samer.
I am wondering if this service will be available to international merchants, specifically Canadians, etc. The reason why paypal and companies such as 2checkout.com do very well and have spread very fast, since the inception of the internet, is because they have paid attention to the fact that the internet is a global market place and they make the transactions available almost universally.
I am wondering if your company has any plans to make this service outside of the U.S.? If not it's not really worth my time to spread the word to friends, family or other retailers for using this as an alternative payment method. I should add many new service gain popularity on the basis of word of mouth.
I look forward to hearing from you.