2Checkout is happy to announce the re-launch of our demo store, ACME Online Books.

The new ACME Online Books provides both basic and advanced code samples that show how to create 2Checkout purchase links on your site.

The “basic” examples show some of the possibilities of our Plug and Play parameter set, for vendors with relatively simple purchase needs.

The “advanced” examples are intended for vendors with more advanced requirements and web developers adding 2CO compatibility to their shopping carts. We’ve even included a downloadable sample return script.

In the future, we will be unveiling even more resources for our vendors and third-party developers, so keep an eye on our blog for more announcements.

One day last May, we offered free vendor accounts to anyone signing up in a non-US currency. It was such a success, we’ve decided to do it again, but this time, we’re opening it up to everyone, regardless of currency.

To claim your free account, just sign up any time between 12:00AM and 11:59PM Eastern Time on Monday, February 16th. We’ll refund all signups made during this time, within the next week.

This is a great opportunity for small businesses and those in emerging markets to get started in ecommerce and save $49 USD at the same time.

Have something you want to sell online? Thinking about using 2Checkout to allow you to make those sales? It is, as they say, “easy as pie”. But like pie (or cake, or tarts). there are a few steps until the desired results. Here is a brief step-by-step explanation of what you can expect between the moment you click on “Start Selling” and receiving your first payment.

1. Start Selling – the selling wizard. This collects the basic information we need to create your account. We make our policies and conditions available and require that you agree to them. Then we collect contact and banking information so we know who you are and where and how to send your payments. Then, we have you create your account user name and password and use that information to connect to your brand new 2Checkout account.
2. Risk Document and site review – You may be sent a copy of our Risk Document to complete, so we can verify who we’re doing business with. The site review lets us make sure that your site is operating within our terms of service. The vast majority of sellers pass shortly after we receive their documents, but from time to time we need to request clarifications or suggest changes before a site is approved.
3. Validation – On the statement of the credit card used to pay the initial signup fee, you will receive a code. Use this code to validate your account from within your account, or by calling the telephone number listed after the code. This is quick and easy and can also be sent via fax or ticket if voice/telephone contact cannot be made. UPDATE: As of March 25, 2009, validation is no longer required.
4. Verifications – Once you start to sell your products this last phase of our signup process begins. We will contact some of your customers to verify that they have received and are happy with their purchase(s).
5. We send you your money – This is the best part! After the Account Reserve is applied and you meet the account’s Release Level we will send you your money.

If you can’t “meet” someone here, you’re toast!

Last week, two of us from 2Checkout attended the Internet Dating Conference in Miami, and of course, the puns are seemingly endless describing the number of interesting people we “met.”

So, go ahead and laugh at the fact that an online dating conference even exists, but keep in mind that this industry is highly profitable and professional, very popular with consumers and becoming more mainstream everyday. But, I know that those of you who are not entirely familiar with the online dating and matchmaking industry are asking the question — what could dating industry professionals discuss for two and a half days?

The fact is, i-Date varied little from traditional internet marketing conferences. Exhibits included typical services such as insurance and fraud protection, but also included a mix of industry-unique companies selling products such as security monitoring services designed to make follow up calls to women to ensure they have returned home safely following a date, and white label dating sites designed to make the “do-it-yourself” as easy as possible.

Breakout sessions included standard topics such as search engine marketing, newfound revenue, and fraud fighting. However, industry specific discussions focused on date screening background checks, making sites more female friendly and reviewing new DNA matching systems.

While listening to a fraud-fighting panel featuring industry experts such as Elena Kolyasnikova from Russia’s Pilot Group, we were pleasantly surprised to hear panelists agree that 2Checkout vendor Stop-Scammers.com was an excellent resource to verify potentially fraudulent dating site customers. Stop-Scammers lists thousands of known scammers involved in dating fraud with photos, scam reports, media files, fake documents, scam scenarios and warning signs that industry professionals can share to protect their collective interest. Hearing unsolicited praise for one of our valued vendors was very rewarding.

2Checkout is proud to provide an ecommerce option for dating sites and services around the globe and when it is time for i-Date 2010, we will be there… “it’s a date!”

So many people want to start a home-based, “spare-time” business. I receive e-mails telling me that I can “make millions while I sleep by using the Internet”. While I am sure someone at some time has made millions while sleeping it is hardly common, standard, or expected. In reality the “big names” in e-commerce took years to become profitable. With the right attitude and a little help you can make consistent sales as well as turn a profit. I will list some common, often over-looked, problems with start-up e-businesses. Where applicable I have listed how 2Checkout can be a partner in helping your company grow.

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