On January 6, 2009 the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Columbus changed their business rating system from a satisfactory/unsatisfactory model to a graded A+ to F model. This new model should provide consumers with a more detailed tool to compare businesses. Frankly, I feel that the new system provides a more nuanced ability to judge a business and its practices and products.

When I heard about the new system, I checked our BBB profile. I was very pleased to find out that 2Checkout has achieved an “A+”. This is based on past resolution of complaints as well as general business practices. This rating shows the level of commitment to fairness and excellence that is observed at every level and every department within 2Checkout.

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While upgrading our SSL certification, 2Checkout turned to loyal customer and reseller, SSL 247 for the service.

SSL 247 is a reseller of Thawte, a certificate authority responsible for authorizing SSL Certification. Through this newly established relationship, SSL 247 will be responsible for providing 2Checkout with an extended verification certificate.

According to Warner Moore, Senior Systems Administrator for 2CO, “SSL 247 was an easy choice not only because they provide the Thawte certification we were looking for, but because they are experts at customer service and a first rate organization. All of our dealings with them, on the customer and vendor level, have been positive experiences.”

SSL 247 is a one-stop-shop for SSL solutions operating around the clock, making it possible for customers to install SSL certificates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They have strategic relationships with GlobalSign, VeriSign, GeoTrust, and RapidSSL providing customers access to the industry’s leading solutions. A new security benefit SSL 247 will provide 2Checkout is Extended Validation (EV) identified by a highlighted Green address bar. Customers purchasing suppliers’ products via 2Checkout.com will see the address bar highlighted in green, providing more confidence and the highest industry standard identity authentication.

Years of hard work and tireless dedication pay off in business management and our CEO and Founder, Alan Homewood is a true testament to that statement. We are happy to announce that Alan was recognized by the Columbus Chamber and Small Business Council with the 2008 Small Business Leader Award this afternoon at the organization’s annual luncheon.

Starting in 1999, Alan meticulously built 2Checkout from the ground up while striving to help small businesses sell online and apply a secure e-commerce platform to their websites. His hard work has paid off in many ways including today’s recognition from industry peers.

Making the award even more meaningful, a number of highly successful Central Ohio small businesses competed for the 2008 award and four seemingly unbeatable entrepreneurs remained as finalists along with Alan and 2Checkout. While graciously accepting the award, Alan took the time to thank the chamber for its service to the small business community, recognized the quality of this year’s competition and then was quick to reflect the attention away from himself by crediting the entire 2Checkout family by stating, “this is not a ME award… this is a WE award!”

Congratulations Alan! We appreciate your leadership as well as the time and dedication you have put into the business that we have all grown to love.

The Small Business Marketing Unleashed (SBMU) conference, produced by our friends at Search Engine Guide covers a wide range of issues surrounding search engine optimization (SEO). The conference provided an excellent crash course on testing site optimization and adding new social media tactics to online marketing strategies.

As most of you know, well managed SEO transcends all business websites, small and large. Since SBMU focused on small businesses, a smart group of small business owners and SEO strategists gathered in the collective home of Search Engine Guide and 2Checkout — Columbus, Ohio — for the organization’s second event.

So, what was the take home? In my case, 21 pages of notes filled with hundreds of tips, and a number of new friends. Here are six bits of advice you will find helpful in your quest to improve SEO, site readability, and ultimately convert more sales.

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Last week, I traveled to Boston to sample Affiliate Summit East and in the process, the New England Clam Chowda’. “Summit” was good, but the chowda’ was great!

Affiliate Summit provides updated educational sessions and networking for professionals in the affiliate marketing business. When I entered Summit’s signature networking session — the Meet Market – my jaw hit the floor. Can you say, “baptism by fire”? Wow! Affiliates walk from table to table in a fury to strike deals with individual merchants and networks. It looked and sounded like the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. In many cases, you had to almost scream to be heard! The interaction between merchants to find affiliates willing to market their products was a feeding frenzy. The Meet Market was an impressive introduction to the aggressive nature of the business, as well as the thriving heartbeat of affiliate marketing.

Educational sessions were packed with topics such as incorporating more video into affiliate sites, how social marketing is impacting the industry, and what the increase in mobile ecommerce means to the business. A majority of the topics were a bit recycled from “how-to” lists posted daily on industry blogs, but I guess you can never be reminded enough about the fundamental building blocks of SEO, analytic tracking, and quality networking.

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