No, this is not a paid endorsement. This is a completely willful shameless plug.

It just occurred to me that although I have used first-person references in this blog, I have never really identified myself to this audience. Hi. I'm Amy Fitch. I am a Mom of 4 little redheads (5 if you count their father, 6 if you count our dog--yes, they ALL have red hair). A little more than two years ago, the man in my life had what I now call "The Big Idea." He wanted to help small businesses flourish in an environment that was dominated by "big box" stores. A "former" journalist, I started out doing our Press Releases and writing the text for our website and printed marketing materials. Then, I heard about this thing called Twitter. That's when I discovered Chris Brogan.

Just six months ago, all I knew of Chris Brogan was that his post was the top result when I Googled "ways to use Twitter for business." I started to "follow" him on Twitter. And suddenly, I had a Big Idea. His posts, his daily interaction and his sheer accessibility on Twitter inspired me to make our small Merchant Processing and Customer Loyalty Business into an "all access" show. In an industry synonymous with "credit cards" and "banks," we surely needed a PR boost. What if I attempted to gain the trust of our colleagues and customers and everyone on earth who ever had a question about Merchant Credit Card Processing or Customer Loyalty Programs, by humanizing our business?

Now, I am admittedly new at this. I am still learning and I'm certain that I'm not yet completely "doing it right," but just as with Yoga, I am committed to the practice. I genuinely want to help small businesses. So today, I am giving the best advice I can possibly give: Buy the book Trust Agents. The Authors, Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, are the experts at "Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust." In fact, I dare say that their ideas are what makes Twitter at all useful to businesses (of any size).

If you want to know how the web should be used to help your business, Buy the book, you won't be sorry. For good measure, join their discussion on FaceBook. Trust me. You'll be so glad you did.

Want to talk about Trust Agents, or anything else? Find me here @AmySwipeRite

Loyalty isn't just for dogs

Loyalty. We use this word freely when we discuss concepts like love and marriage. We show loyalty to our "home teams," and to our employers. We boast about how loyal our dogs are to our family. But how does loyalty affect the way we shop or do business?

My car battery died recently. My neighbor helped get the car "jump-started," and when I mentioned that it was probably just time for a new battery altogether, he suggested a mechanic around the corner. He made it abundantly clear that this mechanic was not the cheapest or the fastest in town, "but he always gives it to you straight, and when he fixes something, you can bet it's fixed," my neighbor added. This mechanic created a loyal customer in my neighbor through the most uncanny method-- by building trust.

My guess is that these trust relationships are what fosters customer loyalty in most people. I shop at Hy-Vee for groceries because I know their meat is top quality, their produce is always fresh, and they allow me to "drive up" for my groceries (especially great when I have the kids in tow). I have another friend who only wears Nike Brand shoes, after an unfortunate incident with a pair of Adidas sneakers more than 20 years ago...whe she was 8 years old.

In this volatile economic sea, small businesses are relying on loyalty more than ever, just to stay afloat. As an industry trendsetter in customer loyalty programs, Swipe-Rite and SaveSome Solutions can help your business develop a "smart" loyalty program that will help attract and retain customers now, and evolve to meet your customer needs as your business grows.

We believe that creating trustworthy relationships with your customer base is the best way to ensure the strength of your business. Why? Because we have seen it work by applying the principal of "trust" to our own business.

How is your business fostering trust and loyalty? Tell me: @AmySwipeRite

Let us show you how we can help your business today (877) 465-8033

In Iowa, the corn is always sweeter

A little variation this week, in honor of Iowa's signature crop.

It's corn harvest time in Iowa, and little stands are popping up on every corner. I bought our first helping of Iowa corn this week, and could hardly wait to get it home.

Having grown up in Tucson, Arizona-land of arid desertion, I am in complete amazement every time I see a corn field. I must sound like a broken record, pointing out my car window like a tourist telling the kids "look at that field, look at that barn, WOW!" Each field is so meticulously manicured, a point of pride amongst Iowa farmers.

But who has the sweetest corn? I dared to ask that very question of a native Iowan in my pursuit for the best corn in the Cedar Rapids area. The response, short and sweet- "In Iowa, all the corn is the sweetest." This "all for one" attitude is very indicative of the Iowa mentality.

With this in mind, I stopped at three different stands, buying a half dozen ears at each. At home, I shucked two ears from each bag, and prepared them all the same way (boiled and topped with butter and Cookie's Seasoning). My Iowan friend was right- all the corn in Iowa is sweet. This fabulous feast reminded me that I am truly blessed to call this land of bounty "home." Whether you are growing a business, growing a family, or growing corn-there is no better place to be than Iowa.

Where do you buy Iowa corn? Have a favorite recipe? I want to hear from you! @AmySwipeRite

Golf clubs on sale, aisle 10

Last week, I posted a link to our affiliate site SaveSome Solutions. There, we have compiled in-depth merchant credit card processing information in our "education center." The information is second-to-none, I assure you. But what if you are like me-and just don't have time to read all that stuff? If you fall into the category of "too busy to learn the intricacies of merchant accounts" you are not alone. In fact, other Merchant Processors count on those of us who can't speak their coded language, and don't have time to learn. So to make it a little easier, I have summed it up--in layman's terms--and illustrated my point with golf clubs.

"Interchange" is what Visa/Mastercard charges a merchant, aka, a business owner, to move money from a customer's account to their own when a purchase is made. If you are a shopper, you should know that when you use your debit card to buy those great golf clubs from Dick's Sporting Goods for $199, Dick's has to give a percentage of that straight to Visa/Mastercard (1.1225% + a .15 cent transaction fee for those of you who like math).
As if that weren't enough, Dick's also has to give a kick-back to the company...known as a Merchant Processor...who works as an intermediary. Remember the old movies where Sue calls Randy, but first she has to call the operator and ask to be connected? A merchant processor is essentially that; an operator, and we need to get paid for our services too. Which means Dick's is responsible for that fee as well. Let's say Dick's uses one of the many greedy Merchant Processors to make the connection when they "call" Visa/Mastercard. Dick's could end up paying an additional 3 or even 4% MORE in "batch fees," "authorization fees," "statement fees," "Executive car-wash fees..." and the list goes on. And if the golf club buyer wants to use a credit card, one where he/she earns rewards or cash back on purchases--Dick's pays even MORE to the Merchant Processor. Each fee, each seemingly little charge, reduces the profit Dick's makes on those golf clubs.

But Dick's can't afford to reduce profit margins by 4-5% and expect to stay in business, right? So they have no choice but to pass this on to the shopper. Sure, the golf clubs are a steal at $199, but in this day and age-wouldn't it be great to get them cheaper? Wouldn't it be great if Dick's used Swipe-Rite for Merchant Processing, took advantage of our "Fee Free" Interchange-Plus pricing, and passed the savings along to their loyal customers?
Swipe-Rite specializes in the transparent structure of Interchange-Plus, also known as "cost-plus" pricing. That means that instead of paying exorbitant fees, the rates of which are impacted by (seemingly) everything from the weather to the time of day, Dick's (and every other merchant) would pay a single, low flat-rate no matter what. There are no monthly minimums, no batch/authorization or swipe fees, and we pay for our own car washes (company consensus is that Guppy's Auto Spa in Cedar Rapids is our favorite).
If Dick's Sporting Goods used Swipe-Rite, those golf clubs could go on sale. Dick's would increase their bottom line and their customer flow. And the proud new golf-club owner could afford golf lessons, to boot.

Interested in learning more? I love to answer questions, ask me here: @AmySwipeRite

Your high school guidance counselor was right: Education pays

In these revolutionary "days of Googling," where the answers to most of life's questions are only a few keystrokes away, you'd think it would be easy to get the truth about Merchant Credit Card Processing. Unfortunately, there are many well-lined pockets in the industry who prevent the really important information from being discovered. Through our valued affiliate SaveSome Solutions, we are able to offer this revolutionary "Education Center," specifically designed to teach small business owners (and whomever else is interested) about the process of Merchant Credit Card Processing. It's simple: If you have ever used a credit or debit card, if you have ever sold anything and accepted credit or debit cards as payment, whether online or in person-you need to know this information. Why? Because becoming an educated shopper and merchant SAVES YOU MONEY. So cast aside those days of teenage rebellion and give in to the advice of your high school guidance counselor: Educate yourself- it pays.

How do you save money? I want to know! @AmySwipeRite

What I gained, by losing everything

In June of 2007, I was preparing to move into a new home. All of the household belongings my family and I had collected over more than a decade’s time were temporarily stored in an off-site storage facility. I chose one that advertised “24 hour camera surveillance,” thinking that my “stuff” would be safer if it were constantly being watched. Alas, I was wrong. A few days before the move, I went to assess the contents of my storage unit. As I drove through the gate and toward my unit, I started to notice little “Lincoln Logs” on the pavement in front of me. “Funny,” I thought, “those look just like the one’s from the kids’ rooms.” Suddenly, instinctively, I glanced toward my unit door to find the lock was gone. Every material thing I owned was inside…(including, but not limited to, couches, entertainment armoires, dressers full of kids’ clothes, dishes, pots and pans, family photos and videos, even my late Grandfather’s ashes); And now it was gone. Stolen.

So I called the owners of the facility and said “I have been burglarized, can you please review the security tapes.” The knowledge that someone obviously would be caught and I might be led to, at the very least, my home movies and other “priceless” mementos was the only thing that kept me thinking clearly in this moment of shock. To my horror, the owner, quite without empathy, said “Oh, those? Well, the cameras haven’t been working for months. They broke, and we just never replaced them.”

Rather than get into the legalities surrounding this, or the deluded way that home owner’s insurance policies cover (or rather, don‘t cover) “off-site” belongings, let me make a long story short: Nothing, not a single bit of what was lost, has ever been replaced. From that day on, it has been a process of starting over from scratch, buying a little at a time, and never getting attached to any “things.”

And, although I was not personally affected by the Cedar River Flood of June, 2008, I feel a certain camaraderie with those who were. I, too, know what it is like to lose things you worked so hard to earn. This is why I relish working for a company who is helping Cedar Rapids and the surrounding community rebuild, by helping small businesses reduce operating costs and generate additional revenue through the goods and services we provide.

What I gained by losing everything is what the City of Cedar Rapids has known all along: Appreciation is paramount. The residents of this city understand it so well, in fact, that “Appreciation” is the so-called “Fifth-Season” in the appropriately dubbed “City of Five Seasons.” What a wonderful place to live.

What do you appreciate? Tell me here @AmySwipeRite

5 Better Ways to Spend $100

Assuming you are a relatively small business (doing around $5000 in credit card sales per month) , you could be overpaying in Merchant Processing Fees by $100 (or more) every month. Maybe in the grand scheme of things, that doesn’t seem like a lot of money. Here are 5 better ways to spend the money you can save by switching to Swipe-Rite:

1. Buy a Goat. Okay, I concede that sounds a bit ridiculous. Before images of an out-of-control animal eating your herb garden enter your head, let me explain. PositivelyAfrica.Com offers “goats” for $100. The website states: “These goats are for AIDS Orphans in Zimbabwe….The goats provide a source of pride, milk (protein) and income in a country where unemployment soars over 90%.”

2. Save it. This may be an obvious answer, but I really like Suze Orman’s “SaveYourself” plan with Ameritrade (www.saveyourself.com). Through Suze’s promotion, if you deposit $100 a month into a “Save Yourself” account for 12 consecutive months, TD Ameritrade will give you $100 in month 13. According to Suze (in a message to me via Twitter), "the rate for the SYA account- is about 15.5% just for that 1st yr if you put in $100 a month for 12 cons months u have $1300." What a great return, clearly well above the rates offered at most banks.

3. Match your savings with an additional $99, and buy a laptop. Through “One Laptop per Child” (http://laptop.org), $199 buys a laptop for a child in a developing country. Their website states “Most of the more than one billion children in the emerging world don’t have access to adequate education. The XO laptop is our answer to this crisis…Almost everywhere the XO goes, school attendance increases dramatically as children begin to open their minds and explore their own potential. One by one, a new generation is emerging with the power to change the world.”

4. Splurge on something. Have you had your eye on a really great ink pen that lets you write upside down and in zero gravity? Indulge your inner astronaut, just this once. It’s good for you! Just read this great article from the St. Petersburg Times, dated November 21, 1956 (http://tinyurl.com/nyvtj2). Writes the author “We all need to be foolish once in awhile- to buy a bit of perfume instead of a new broom.”

5. Buy the person who manages your company Blog a really great massage. Or a maid for a day. Or a year’s supply of ear plugs so she can work at home with better efficiency. Ok, so perhaps this isn’t the most “socially responsible” use of $100. And yes, I admit it is almost entirely selfish for me to throw this in at the very end. But hey, it’s still better than wasting money on inflated merchant processing fees.

How would you spend $100? Tell me here: @amyswiperite