It's just like your car insurance. Your rates are better if your car is nice and safe (boring, even), is kept in a garage at night and you've never had a crash, so think of it this way.

Even if you do get accepted, you may well find that if you appear safer, rates you are offered will be better. If in doubt apply.

You might just get a nice surprise, and sources we recommend allow you to apply without paying an application fee so there's no risk to you whatsoever.

The third and final method of accepting credit cards on your website is to use a third party service.

In this case, your business itself is not granted it's own merchant ID but rather you utilise merchant account of another company.

Setting up an account with a third party processor is tremendously easy - it's a case of filling in a simple form with your name, address etc. and you're away. Some of these services are free to set up whilst others require a small "activation fee".

For new startup who have tried unsuccessfully to gain their own merchant ID, third party processing is way to go.

As with any other method there are benefits and distinct problems with third party processors.

The first benefit is clear - easy, quick and cheap setup. Many third party processors also offer additional services, some paid for, some free.

For example, Kagi can set you up with a free digital download service so customers can instantly and safely download your ebook or software after purchase.

Others such as Clickbank come with built-in affiliate software as standard. These are just two examples I have chosen from many which illustrate possible savings in terms of time and money.

However, now we turn to negative side of story. Firstly, most merchant account intermediaries deposit money paid by your customers in 24-48 hours. This means that you receive payment swiftly which helps keep your business finances bouyant and enable you to expand your operation faster.

In contrast, third party processors on average pay every 14-28 days depending on company in question. Some will even pay you mid-month, for previous month's takings - meaning you may have to wait up to 45 days for settlement of funds. Clearly this stunts your business and can leave you open to problems.

Secondly, it's fair to say that all merchant account providers, be they bank, intermediaries or third party processors charge fees. This may involve a set per-month fee and/or a per-transaction fee (such as 5% of value of each purchase). Unfortunately as you might expect, those of third party processors are generally far, far higher than those charged to businesses who possess their own merchant account.

Lastly in this argument is fact that you are far more limited in your dealings with a third party service than your own merchant account.

What I mean by this is that you have to send your visitors to their website to make their purchase, which makes you look less professional and you generally have to use third party processors designated order form, with their name on, though some level of customization is usually possible such as adding your company logo.

In this respect you're simply less in control of matters. And finally, as you are using third-party processor's merchant account, and not your own, your customers credit card bill will show up name of third party processor you have used rather than that of your company.

In general therefore, I'd regard using third party processors as a "last resort" due to their far higher fees and less professional appearance.

So which of these three methods is right for your business? Unfortunately only you can make this decision. I just hope I've clarified rather than clouded your opinions!

Best of luck to you and your business.

7. Open Loop. A good distance learning course provides resources for lots of other learning opportunties, some of which will be yours! I also pair with another coach who offers services I don't want to provide. I trust her products, she trusts mine. Once they go to her to get XYZ, her courses/services refer them back to me, for special things I offer. We both build our practices that way, help our clients, and sell more useful products.

8. The interactive aspects of your distance learning course are also great new avenues for marketing. Interactive is best way to learn and also works to your advantage. Design your courses so that students email their responses to you. In each email interaction there's a chance for you to teach more, and also to promote your products that are relevant. Make sure your sig line works for you in that respect. [See my topten "Let Signature Block of Your Email Work for You" (If link doesn't work, go to www.topten.org/public/AF/AF527.html.

9. Build relationship--the greatest marketing "tool" of all. Be giving and personal in your responses to students' assignments. The person will have a chance to get to know and trust you, and we do business with people whom we like and whom we trust. Make connection in every way you can.

10. If you know and love your subject, and love people, this will show through. You'll naturally attract a following for your services and products.

When you're a teacher, you are in a position to take advantage of teacher-archetype. Be faithful to it; use it wisely and well. A "teacher" holds a special place in our lives. We love those teachers who teach us well and with love. We naturally listen to them and look to them for guidance. Honor this archetype in all that you do, and your students will begin to look to you for other sources of learning and development. They'll also give you ideas for other products and services, and will refer you to friends. One of my students recommended my course to everyone else in his department.

There are many ways to use distance learning courses to market yourself and your products. Be a good teacher, and be creative, and opportunities are endless. This is cross-marketing at its best.