Q & A — Two Burning Questions Re. PayPal and ClickBank
Today's Q & A answers two specific questions related to using PayPal or ClickBank to accept payments on your website.
If you have any questions about this — or anything else — leave a coment using the form below. Don't forget, you can include your URL so you also get a free link back to your site!
Q. I sell my ebooks via PayPal and I want customers to be taken straight to the download area after they order. I know this can be done, because I see it on other sites. Please tell me how to set this up.
Here's the procedure for setting up your PayPal order button so that the customer is taken to the download page after completing the order…
Firstly, log in to PayPal. Now, click on 'Merchant Tools' and then click 'Buy Now Buttons' which is under the heading 'Key Features'.
Now, enter the details of your product order button on this page. (Be sure to leave the radio button under 'security settings' set at 'yes'). When you're finished on this page, click the 'Add More Options' button.
Scroll down to the "Customize your buyer's experience" section. Here you can enter a 'Successful Payment URL'. Enter your download page (thank you) page URL for your ebook here. (If you want to enter a URL for a cancelled payment you can — I usually enter the sales page URL here).
Now, when the customer has completed payment on PayPal, there will be a 'Continue' link or 'Return to Merchant' button on the confirmation page. Clicking this link will take the customer directly to the download page URL you entered above.
Q. I'm using ClickBank to sell my ebook. Now, I'm launching a second ebook and want to use ClickBank too. The problem is, the standard ClickBank affiliate link will only point to one specific page. What can I do so that I have a different affiliate link for each of my products?
There are two possible ways to get around this issue…
Firstly, there are a number of scripts available such as CB Multi-Item Manager (which includes resale rights) which will enable you to sell different products via one CB account, while still being able to give your affiliates separate links that point to individual product pages.
Secondly, you could simply open a new ClickBank account for each new product. Until recently, your first account with ClickBank cost $49.95 and all subsequent accounts were free. Now, however, subsequent accounts are no longer free, but are available at a discounted price of $29.95.
For more information on how to set up automated delivery of your ebooks using ClickBank, PayPal or other payment processors, read my tutorial here.
Okay, I think that covers it for now. If you have a questions, please leave a comment below.
All the best,
Michael
P.S. Don't forget to check out Richard Wing's sale that I mentioned in my email. It includes a nice range of products with master resale rights — including an ebook compiler. And the price is definitely right. You'll find the details here.
April 25th, 2007 at 11:17 pm
A very interesting article, as I am just a new to clickbank, I was surprised to see that the second product costs a further $29.95 to set up. It did used to be free, I wonder why this new charge. If this is going to be the norm then I will stop using clickbank to sell my products. The biggest benefit I see with Clickbank is that all other affiliates get to see your product thus getting us all more coverage.
I have found another place that seems very good as well but just off hand I can not remember who they are, I sell a couple of products through them. I know they have something to do with paypal
once again good article
Anthony Hosking
April 26th, 2007 at 12:18 am
Holy sockeye, Michael!
I was having a rotten day until I read your email, followed the links, and printed out your tutorial on Clickbank and how to set up your autopilot ebook delivery system.
You gave me more solid information FREE than I got in an ebook (about creating ebooks) that I just bought.
You are the ebook MAN, Michael! Thank$ a million!
Jack Zavada
http://www.inspiration-for-singles.com
April 26th, 2007 at 12:44 am
Good info Michael, I just went through that yesterday
at paypal for my ebook “How to interpret your Dreams”
http://www.newsoftwaresite.com/Dreams
I also enjoy your Ezine when I receive it,you always have somthing interesting in it.
Thanks
Mel
April 26th, 2007 at 12:57 am
Hi,
So does using Clickbank multiple script, allow us to sell 2 different products on different web address?
John
April 26th, 2007 at 7:53 am
In the Philippines I cannot use clickbank. Is paypal the only alternative?
April 26th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Thanks Michael. Clearly written with lots of helpful hints to help marketers with delivery of their ebooks.
I thought the tutorial was very helpful as well.
Keep up the good work.
April 26th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Hi Michael,
You say that “your first account with ClickBank cost $49.95 and all subsequent accounts were FREE”. I dont think this was the case. Yes, your first CB account cost $49.95, but extra accounts were NOT free.
I know this because i contacted CB directly (because of the 50 item limit) and was told the only way to list more than 50 products was to purchase a second account (at $49.95).
Oh well, at least the secondary account price has been reduced.
Just my 2 cents….
RobJean.
http://www.RobJean.co.uk
April 26th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
This has been very helpful. I just started with Clickbank and your explanations have really benefitted me. Please keep up the great work.
Tony
April 26th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
These are great advices, Thanks
April 26th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Paypal does not make thing easy for us. Is there a way to see the buttons you have made in the past to update them. Or do you have to make new buttons to send them to your thank you page or download pages?
Rick
April 26th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Thank-you very much. I have been trying to figure this out.No one has explained as you have. Thank you again. I am going to try this now to get my site working properly. Frank http://www.1pizzasecrets.com. Ps this site needs a rework anyone you can recommend? I don,t have much money(yet).
April 26th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Hi Michael, the basic PayPal delivery buttons are very good. Another option I use is to host with Thirdsphere.com. Their Automation Station does all the work for you, provides the encrypted buttons and includes a 24 hr download window.
Regards Ken Trueman at Myesoft.com.
April 27th, 2007 at 3:43 am
Hi Michael
There is a problem with the link to Richard Wing’s sale page. This is what you get when you click on the link:
Invalid URL- This Pordouct Needs To Be Purchased Before Promotion
(Doesn’t he use a spellcheck??)
I hope this is of some help.
Keep up the great work.
Regards
Alan
April 27th, 2007 at 4:42 am
I am looking for a PHP script which creats payment buttons paying instant commissions to buyers who want to be affiliates AND for an up-charge gives them the option to sell through their own sub-affiliates. The script shouldn’t require MySQL.
April 27th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Hello:
Just a small note to tell you that you’ve a great blog.
I have been to your website and reviewed many of the interesting softwares that you offer.
I’ll recommend your products to my friends and associates.
Keep up the good work.
I-key
April 28th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Just wanted to say a great big thank you from all of us. Keep up the great work you are doing in helping those who don’t know all the answers.( me, by a long way)
Thank’s again
Adrian
May 22nd, 2007 at 12:06 am
These are great advices. Thank.
Keep up the good work
Nash
May 24th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Customers often do not see the link in PayPal back to the merchant. Also, PayPal does not always let you know a sale has been made. The first you hear of some sales is when a customer writes to complain they have no download info!
What do you have to say about PayDotcom.com ?
May 24th, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Thanks for all the feedback — greatly appreciated!
Here are replies to some of the questions/comments above…
Q. I have found another place that seems very good as well but just off hand I can not remember who they are, I sell a couple of products through them. I know they have something to do with paypal…
A. This is probably PayDotCom. They have a setup that combines the best of ClickBank and PayPal. The MarketPlace is not nearly as heavily trafficked as ClickBank (to my knowledge) but it’s a pretty easy way to introduce an affiliate program to your PayPal sales process.
Q. So does using Clickbank multiple script, allow us to sell 2 different products on different web address?
A. Yes. You can set up any number of indicvidual products at any number of URLs.
Q. In the Philippines I cannot use clickbank. Is paypal the only alternative?
A. It’s probably not the ONLY alternative, but it’s probably the best alternative (mostly because people are so much more familiar with PayPal than other processors). If you’re interested in operating an affiliate program, you might want to consider the PayDotCom option. You’ll find some details of other 3rd-party processors here, together with a link to an extensive list of other options.
Q. You say that “your first account with ClickBank cost $49.95 and all subsequent accounts were FREE”. I dont think this was the case. Yes, your first CB account cost $49.95, but extra accounts were NOT free.
A. I don’t want to get into a “oh, yes they were” and “oh, no they weren’t” match here but, well… oh, yes they were!
Q. Paypal does not make thing easy for us. Is there a way to see the buttons you have made in the past to update them. Or do you have to make new buttons to send them to your thank you page or download pages?
A. PayPal doesn’t include any way of storing your buttons. You could, however, use a tool like PayLock Generator instead. That way you CAN save your button settings. You can download it here.
Q. Ps this site needs a rework anyone you can recommend? I don,t have much money(yet).
A. No, I don’t have anyone to recommend. However, if you go to scriptlance.com or elance.com, you’ll probably find someone to do it for you at a reasonable price. It costs nothing to run a project if you don’t hire anyone — and, aside from the price of the project itself, there are only nominal costs if you DO hire someone. Be sure to check out previous work of those who bid.
Q. There is a problem with the link to Richard Wing’s sale page. This is what you get when you click on the link:
Invalid URL- This Pordouct Needs To Be Purchased Before Promotion
(Doesn’t he use a spellcheck??)
A. Yeah, I noticed that a few days after the message went out. It worked okay initially. He must have had some kind of issue with the script. Anyway, it’s finished now (I think), so not to worry.
Q. I am looking for a PHP script which creats payment buttons paying instant commissions to buyers who want to be affiliates AND for an up-charge gives them the option to sell through their own sub-affiliates. The script shouldn’t require MySQL.
A. I don’t know of any script that meets that spec. Again, I’d recommend trying scriptlance.com or elance.com and you’ll get exactly what you need (probably as cheap as any ‘off-the-shelf’ script).
Q. Customers often do not see the link in PayPal back to the merchant. Also, PayPal does not always let you know a sale has been made. The first you hear of some sales is when a customer writes to complain they have no download info! What do you have to say about PayDotcom.com ?
A. I agree that PayPal should make a better effort to make the ‘Return to Merchant’ button more obvious. It’s happens a lot that people just don’t see it. (And it happens twice as much when you’re away from the office for a few days…)
PayPal, however, DOES send an email notification when you receive a payment. You might want to check your account settings (or verify that you don’t have an over-zealous spam filter that’s sending those notifications to your bulk email folder). I don’t use PayDotCom myself because I have my own PayPal/ClickBank affiliate system in place using the script available at http://www.ultimate-marketing-center.com. However, I believe it works very well and I’ve heard no complaints from those that use it. I certainly think it has to be better that just PayPal alone.
All the best,
Michael
May 25th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Hello Michael,
how can I get a hop link to sell the CB Multi-Item Manager script as an affiliate?
Thanks,
Franto