Growing a business is often thought to be one of the most challenging phases of entrepreneurship. But with streamlined tools like iK Pay Link at your fingertips, we think it couldn’t be any easier!
Ever heard the saying, “Give the people what they want”?
As a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, you know that success hinges on your ability to decipher the desires of your customers. Understanding what customers truly want is key to running a thriving business in today's dynamic and competitive landscape.
So, what do customers actually want? Convenience. Flexibility. Options.
Although every target market is different and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of approach, these three needs are a very big part of the secret to success in business. And we’re not one to leave you hanging after spilling some good tea, so read on to find out just how you can stand out from the rest with the help of iK Pay Link.
Let’s Recap – What is iK Pay Link?
You don't have to be a tech whiz or have a fancy website; payment links make it simple for small businesses to embrace digital payments.
iK Pay Link is a digital tool that generates secure payment links, straight from the (free) iKhokha App. Payment links are like digital shortcuts that make it super easy for businesses to receive payments.
You can send a link to your customers via WhatsApp, email or social media, and when they click on it, they're taken to a secure payment page.
11 Reasons Why iK Pay Link Is Your New Best Friend
1. Slick Customer Experience
One of the biggest advantages of payment links is the simplified customer experience they offer. Think about how many potential customers might abandon their purchases if the checkout process is too complicated or time-consuming.
With payment links, customers can make payments in just a few clicks, whether they're on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. The ease and speed of payment increase the likelihood of completing transactions and reduces cart abandonment rates, which is a massive green light for your sales!
2. Remote-Friendly
Payment links break the barriers of traditional brick-and-mortar setups. They can be used by any business, big or small, to sell products or services online, even if they lack a dedicated ecommerce platform.
Whether you're a freelance designer, an online yoga teacher, or a restaurant owner offering home deliveries, payment links can cater to your needs.
3. Send Recurring Pay Links
Do you have regular clients who buy from you every week or month like clockwork? Or maybe you’re a tutor who has students coming in for some help throughout the year?
Chances are, you’re going to be invoicing them the same amount every month. Instead of doing all the admin over and over again, simply set up a recurring pay link for each client and all you’ll need to do is share it the pre-saved link whenever you need to.
4. Mobile-Friendly
On-the-go businesses are thriving out here (and the convenience factor definitely has something to do with it). With delivery services, mobile salons and even pet parlours on the move, the demand for mobile businesses just keeps growing.
Getting paid as a mobile business is that much easier with iK Pay Link. There’s no need to carry around notes and coins for change or a card machine charging cable (but if that’s your thing, don’t let us stop you!)
And it doesn’t even matter whether you’re at your store in Jozi CBD or on safari at Kruger National Park – you can still send a link and get paid!
5. Convenience
Now, you might be wondering, "Why should I use payment links when I already have traditional payment methods in place?" The answer is simple: convenience and accessibility. Payment links make the purchasing process a breeze for your customers, which, in turn, makes them more likely to buy from you.
Let’s say a potential customer stumbles upon your awesome product or service on social media or your website. They're impressed and eager to make a purchase, but they're hit with a lengthy checkout process involving creating an account, entering card details, and whatnot. Yikes, that’s already a barrier that could sneakily convince them that it’s not worth the trouble.
But with payment links, you're cutting through all that red tape. You send them a link, they click it, and voilà – they're taken straight to a secure payment page where they can easily complete the transaction. No account creation, no complicated forms – just a few clicks, and they're done!
6. No Website? No Problem!
So, you want to run an online business without a website? 100% doable! Instead of using a website to showcase your business, you could use social media. And instead of a payment gateway, simply send a payment link.
The world of business has evolved so much that the somewhat restrictive nature of traditional trading has essentially dissolved. Rest assured, there’s always a way to make it work.
7. For a Good Cause: Collect Donations
Did you know that you could also collect donations using iK Pay Link? It’s one of our newest features and it’s designed to make it easier to raise funds. It’s even got a section to add in a website link so that people can learn more about your worthy cause.
Whether you’re an NGO or simply raising funds to help your community, you can make positive change with the help of iK Pay Link. Simply send out one link for multiple donations or download a unique QR code to print out to put up in your store or at your organisation. You can also set custom amounts so that donors can send through as little or as much as their heart desires.
The best part is that payment links make it effortless to reach a wider audience. You can share these links through email newsletters, social media, messaging apps, and even SMS, making it convenient for customers to donate from wherever they are and whichever platform they use.
8. Safe & Secure
Online or in-person, there are always risks when money is involved. Thankfully, iK Pay Link generates encrypted pay links and is supported by a secure payment gateway. So, those looking to make a quick buck the dishonest way won’t have much success as far as we’re concerned!
9. Accept Deposits
Want to make sure you’re working with a legit customer who won’t disappear once the job is done? Get them to pay a deposit upfront! Whether you’re securing a booking or requesting payment at the start of a long project, doing it via a pay link is the fastest and easiest way to do it (and to secure the bag!)
10. Send Multiple Pay Links
Now, you might be worrying that you need to generate a new link every time you need to get paid. But with iK Pay Link, you can create multiple payment requests! That means, you can create a link for a specific product and then send it off to customers who’ve purchased it.
For example, let’s say you sell two types of candles. You can create two pay links and as customers pay, you’ll have a record of all of those who purchased that specific product from you. You can also add a delivery address if you need to ship customer orders!
11. Keep Track of Payments
Think it’ll be difficult to manage a bunch of links and monitor who’s paid and who hasn’t? Think again! Every pay link you create is saved in your profile on iK Dashboard, making it easy to filter through payment defaulters and those superstars who pay on time.
If You’re Not Ready for a Card Machine…
We get it, there are different levels to business, and you may not be ready to invest in a card machine. Maybe it’s not the right type of payment solution for your business, you’re looking for something more cost-effective or you’re just starting out. That’s why you’ve got plenty of options to choose from, starting with iK Pay Link.
Download the free iKhokha App and give it a go. You won’t regret it!
Have questions about iK Pay Link? Check out our Help Centre!