Stripe Payment Gateway
Consumers demand both security and speed when shopping online. They expect their financial information to be protected and the payment process to be quick and straightforward. Any compromise on security or unnecessary delays can quickly lead to frustration and cart abandonment.
Thankfully, slow and risky transactions are things of the past. With top-notch payment gateways like Stripe, every transaction is securely shielded from data breaches, and a process that used to take hours now occurs instantly.
This guide explores the powerful and customizable Stripe Payment Gateway. We'll discover how its seamless API, machine learning, and cloud infrastructure make setting up a payment page straightforward and effortless, simplifying your online transactions.
How to Add Stripe Payment Gateway to Your Online Shop
Whether you're new to online selling or have an established brand on major platforms, you need a payment gateway that can guarantee secure transactions for your customers. Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up a payment page and maximizing Stripe Payment Gateway's advanced features.
Step 1: Create a Stripe account.
- Go to Stripe.com.
- Click "Start now."
- Enter your email address, full name, country, and password.
- Click "Create account."
- Verify your email address.
- Click "Activate payments."
- Fill in your profile to start accepting payments.
Step 2: Choose how you want to get paid.
When integrating the Stripe Payment Gateway into your online shop, you can offer a one-time payment or a subscription where customers pay monthly, depending on your business model.
You can also let your customers buy now and pay later. Stripe has a specific configuration for that as well. With each integration method available, you can start with a free trial or subscribe immediately.
Tip: If you've just launched your online business and are testing your options, consider setting up your payment gateway with a free trial. Then, you can switch to the paid version when you're confident that the Stripe Payment Gateway suits you.
Step 3: Create the link.
In your Stripe dashboard, go to "Create" in the upper right corner and select your preferred payment method: Invoice, Subscription, Payment Link, or Payment. This article will focus on the simplest and most commonly used method: Payment Link. This method involves sending your buyer a link detailing where and how they should pay.
On the left side of your screen, you'll see two features that need configuring: a payment page containing the payment instructions and a confirmation page telling your customers that their payment went through. You can choose not to show a confirmation page to simplify your process further.
Under the payment page, add a product. Simply click "Add new product" and follow the subsequent instructions. Once your product is set up, decide whether to collect your customer's address or to require them to provide a phone number. All these commands will appear on the payment form they must complete.
Lastly, click "Advanced Options" to display the drop-down menu. Here, you can allow promotion codes, enable business customers to provide tax IDs, and save payment details for future use. All this data can come in handy during remarketing or when you want to automate the process for previous customers down the road.
Once your payment page is ready, click "Create link" in the top right corner.
Step 4: Copy the link and send it to your buyers.
Stripe will generate the payment page and a link you can copy and send to buyers. You can also paste this link on a sales page, and your buyers can click on it when they're ready to purchase. It's like a Buy Box, but instead of a button, you give them a link, and unlike a Buy Box, your buyers can access your link through any channel.
You can also send your buyers a QR code instead of a link if they prefer that. This option is located beside the "Copy" button. Scanning a QR code is a much easier way to make a payment because it often doesn't require additional actions like switching to a confirmation page.
How to use your payment method to boost conversion
Some customers won't click your link immediately because they're not ready to purchase. Instead of letting them abandon their cart, why not offer them an alternative like "buy now, pay later"? Stripe allows you to include this option on the payment page you've created.
On the right side of your screen, you will see a list of tips for effectively using your links. One of these tips suggests activating additional payment methods with a link to the page where you can check for other payment methods you haven't used yet.
You can enable wallets like Link, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. Many online buyers prefer these options because they don't require entering their card details directly. There are also bank redirects and debits, which appeal to some. And then there's the "buy now, pay later" option. Your buyers will see this option on the same payment page you'll send them.
The other payment methods are just as easy to set up. For instance, if you prefer a subscription payment model, you only have to enter the information for each subscribed customer, add a product, and choose a duration for the subscription.
What's great about the subscription model is that you can set up a free trial version first to see if it suits your business strategy. Just make sure to adjust the subscription schedule accordingly to avoid being charged before the end of the subscription period if you decide to discontinue this method.
So, at what point does Stripe Payment Gateway enter the transaction sequence?
Setting up a Stripe account and creating a payment page are all part of the payment process. However, money can't move from Point A to Point B without the banks or credit card providers approving it through a payment gateway. In addition, this movement won't happen unless Stripe is fully integrated with your store.
Stripe has extensive APIs and software development kits (SDKs) that you can use for the integration. It supports integration with various programming languages and platforms, offering pre-built libraries and plugins for popular e-commerce systems like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.
Once your payment gateway is established, customers can access the payment page you set up through a link or QR code. After clicking the link or scanning the QR code, payment details are sent to Stripe servers. For security, this data is sent directly from the customer's browser or app to Stripe via HTTPS, bypassing the business's servers. This approach minimizes the business's exposure to sensitive data, reducing its compliance burdens.
Stripe converts the sensitive payment data into a token. This token represents the card but is not sensitive itself, meaning it cannot be used outside of the specific transaction context. This tokenization process is a core element of Stripe's security measures.
The token is then used to make a payment request to the card networks and the issuing bank. The bank checks the transaction for fraud and confirms that the cardholder has enough funds or credit. This verification process typically involves communicating with multiple financial entities, all facilitated by Stripe's backend.
Once the transaction is approved, Stripe communicates the outcome (success or failure) back to the business and, consequently, to the customer. If the transaction is successful, the funds are transferred from the customer's bank to a Stripe-controlled bank account.
After the funds settle, Stripe transfers the money to the business's bank account. The timing of these payouts can vary but is often configurable in the Stripe dashboard, allowing businesses to choose daily, weekly, or monthly transfers.
Transform Your Checkout Experience with Stripe Payment Gateway
Stripe Payment Gateway is an essential tool for online businesses. It makes every step, from browsing to buying, seamless and secure. With its strong security and fast processing, Stripe meets the modern consumer's need for speed and safety, enhancing the shopping experience and fostering customer loyalty and repeat visits.
Integrate Stripe to unlock a world of payment possibilities for your online store. Cater to global and local customer preferences, reduce cart abandonment, and boost conversion rates. Whether launching a new venture or scaling an existing one, Stripe's versatile and robust services equip you with everything you need to streamline your online payments and drive your e-commerce success.