As a forward-thinking business owner in the Middle East with an online presence, June 30 deserves your attention. It is observed as the Social Media Day and for good reason. Besides blurring geographical boundaries and connecting friends and families, social media platforms entertain, inform, and even ease business nowadays. In fact, penetration of active social network in the UAE is currently at 115%. Hence, apart from forging and strengthening relationships with potential and existing customers through channels like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, it is a smart idea to sell your products directly on these social pages. Through a suitable gateway for online payment integration, you can also simplify and speed up the checkout process without the customer having to head to your online store.

So, this Social Media Day, let’s see how you can make the most of social commerce in the Middle East and how PayTabs can help.

Ways to Capitalize on Social Commerce in the Middle East

Listed below are some effective hacks to thrive in the social commerce landscape. Based on the size and nature of your business as well as budget, try one or more of these this Social Media Day.

• Upsell Strategically: Social media channels are most appropriate for advertising modestly-priced products that customers are more likely to buy on an impulse. And once they buy an affordable item, you can upsell something relevant but pricier.
• Leverage User-generated Content (UGC): Nowadays, customers believe what others like them say or endorse rather than what brands claim, which makes UGC one of the popular social commerce trends. So, encourage current users of your products to create content and share the same on your social media pages to inspire others. In fact, the best stories can act as Social Media Day highlights on your page.
• Enable Livestream Shopping: In this, you can post short, engaging, and live videos that allow customers to purchase the showcased items directly. Since this format is highly interactive, you are likely to drive more sales.
• Join Hands with Micro-Influencers: Influencer marketing and commerce is on the rise in the Middle East, just like anywhere else. Similar to UGC, it can help you brand earn the trust of potential customers and boost conversion. So, connect with micro-influencers to promote your products, their usage, and the aspirational values associated with them.
• Use Augmented Reality (AR): With AR, you can make the social media shopping experience more immersive, interactive, and engaging for customers. They can get a realistic feel of clothes, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics, homeware, and other items this way and become more interested in making a purchase.

Apart from the above tips, you need a secure and efficient system to accept social media payments quickly. Let’s understand the role PayTabs can play in this regard.

How PayTabs Simplifies Social Commerce

Paymes is one of the innovative PayTabs payment solutions you can use to sell easily and earn instantly on social media platforms. Effective across popular channels like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Paymes allows you to get paid without going through any documentation hassle. Here are the other advantages:

• No Need for a Website: Even if you don’t have a website, it is easy to set up shop pages or mini ecommerce pages with Paymes and customize them anyway you want. You can add, remove, or update products via a single platform and manage what you exhibit to customers effortlessly.
• Works on All Devices: You can access and use Paymes on all devices as well as collect social media payments without any hiccups. So, whether you are in your office, physical store, or travelling, you can manage your business and earn from anywhere and anytime.
• Ease of Accepting Payments: Using the Paymes dashboard, you can create a product link and send it to customers via social media channels, chats, emails, or texts. The link will contain a product’s photo, description, and price. By clicking on the same, customers can make the payment in seconds. Another option is to create a static QR code and share it with customers to scan and make payments. They won’t need to register or download apps to go through with the transaction.
• Multipurpose Dashboard: The Paymes dashboard is a unified platform that allows you to do everything from setting up a store and creating payment links and QR codes to managing turnover and cash flow, and tracking product details and buyer information. In other words, you will have every single crucial data point at your fingertips round the clock. You can analyze the same, identify gaps if any, and strengthen your unique selling points.
• Cybersecurity: Like other PayTabs payment solutions, Paymes comes with robust security measures to keep customer and transaction data safe. It makes it easy to spot and prevent frauds, which helps you earn customer trust.
• Seamless Order Tracking: It is easy to track packages on any device with Paymes, which means you can manage your logistics efficiently. By ensuring that customers receive the right orders on time, you can keep them satisfied enough to shop from you again in the future.
• Affordable Pricing: Paymes’ pay-as-you-go pricing model is convenient for most businesses and the commission rate is easy on the pocket, even if you own a startup. Installation is free of cost and there are zero hidden charges.

Make June 30 Social Media Day Celebrations Special

By now, you have a fair idea about the strategies that can give you a competitive edge in social commerce and how adopting PayTabs’ Paymes can help you get paid quickly, safely, and without any friction. So, keep this guide handy to take your business to new heights this Social Media Day, reach out to more people (especially Gen Z), improve engagement, earn customer confidence, sell more than ever, and boost revenue. The social commerce ecosystem is growing rapidly in the Middle East and the time is right for you to make the most of it.

The market for event tickets in the UAE is expected to rake in revenue of USD 267.10 million by 2028 after growing at a steady pace and the number of users is likely to hit 2.1 million. As per event industry trends, music and sports events are likely to be especially popular. So, if you are running an event planning business, now is a good time to attract and convert your target audience in a strategic manner. And since the ticket booking process plays a pivotal role in determining whether a potential customer will go ahead with the purchase or give up halfway, you need to make it as simple, safe, and efficient as possible. Event, an innovative feature from PayTabs’ Paymes, can show you the way. Here’s how to use it and how Paymes Event can help boost your revenue.

Get Started with Paymes Event

Whether you are selling workshops, seminars, concerts, exhibitions, or shows, you need payment integration solutions that allow customers to locate and pay for tickets quickly and easily. This is the reason why Paymes Event is just what you are looking for, as it turns ticket booking into a single-page experience. Getting started takes just a few steps:

• Sign up with Paymes by providing necessary details. You will usually need to supply your bank account details, trader certificate, and Emirates ID as documentation. Expats need to provide their passport and visa details too.
• List events along with images, locations, and time slots. Images play a crucial role in grabbing eyeballs and giving customers a quick peek into what to expect. For online events, you can provide the joining link instead of location.
• Start selling tickets and get the list of participants on a single file post sale.
• With Paymes, you can also sell monthly and annual tickets at attractive prices.

Now, let’s see how using Paymes Event in the UAE is one of the best strategies for event planning businesses.

Boost Revenue with Paymes Event

Paymes Event can not only enhance your revenue, but also benefit your business in other ways:

1. Easy Payments: Customers can pay by simply scanning a QR code or clicking on a secure link. It will not only make the experience frictionless and fast for them, but you will also receive the revenue securely.
2. Zero Paperwork: By taking the entire event listing and payment process online, you won’t have to worry about storing and managing physical documents. Data will be safely stored on the Paymes platform, making it easy for you to access and study the same in the future. Zero paperwork also means lower carbon footprint, which will create a positive impression on customers.
3. Data Security: Advanced encryption and robust security measures will ensure that no transaction is vulnerable to cyberattacks or frauds. Both you and the customers will have the peace of mind necessary for participating in online business.
4. Improved Conversion: As an event planning business, driving customers from the consideration to decision-making stage depends on how easy you make it for them to explore events, make a choice, and buy the tickets. While the quality of events surely matters, how you present them is also important. Paymes Event makes it simple by displaying your listed events with vital details in a neat manner and customers can even filter them based on different parameters if required. Once they make a choice, payment takes just a few seconds. Hence, the overall customer satisfaction improves, boosting the conversion rate.
5. Affordable: Using Paymes Event is highly cost-effective and allows you to maintain the profit margin you desire. No matter how big or small your business is, this platform can help you scale and thrive.
6. Enhanced Revenue: Revenue optimization is easy with Paymes Event as you can convert more, sell more, and receive payments on time. In fact, you get notified about upcoming payments as well, which means you can predict the future financial health of your business.
7. Data-backed Decision-making: With Paymes Event, you get to collect the data of participants for any particular concert, workshop, lecture, or show. By analyzing the same, you can get an idea about customer preferences, purchase behavior, and their budget. This can help you tailor marketing materials strategically in the future based on the type of customer and reap more revenue.

Make the Most of Paymes Event

The event landscape in the UAE is on a roll currently, which means you need a powerful competitive edge as an event planning business. So, signing up with Paymes is one of the smartest moves you can make. Not only will customers love the experience, convenience, and flexibility, but you will be able to sell more tickets than ever, maintain a healthy cash flow, and grow your revenue fast. Affordable fees and minimal documentation imply it is easy to get started with Paymes Event and enjoy the desired profitability.

Rapid digitalization and growing acceptance of remote work are among the key reasons why the Middle East has been witnessing a sharp rise in the number of freelancers or gig workers recently. In fact, in Saudi Arabia, the number of registered freelancers increased by a staggering 157% from 2020 to 2023. The gig economy is also expected to flourish in other Middle Eastern countries like Qatar, Jordan, and UAE. So, if you are planning to become your own boss, land new clients with your own mettle, set your preferred hours and fees, and scale your freelance business just the way you want, now is the time. However, remember that payment processing for freelancers can get tricky unless you have a proper system in place.

A tech-powered solution is essential for you to receive timely payments, maintain a healthy cash flow, plan finances smartly, and offer clients a frictionless experience. Payment leaders like PayTabs can also facilitate easy financial management in one place, protect sensitive information, and help you work with clients from different countries seamlessly, even if you are new to the gig landscape. Let’s learn more about the effectiveness of freelance payment gateway solutions and how you can do your part to receive payments without any hassle.

Get the Basics Right

Foraying into freelancing means you have to watch out for yourself unlike a regular employee who usually has the employer taking care of all formalities and legalities. While the gig economy is growing fast, be wary of clients who try to avoid or delay payments by citing quality issues or complaining that they never received the deliverables. They might mention problems with a particular mode of payment as well. You might also have a tough time tracking and handling payments from clients situated in different parts of the world, owing to different local currencies.

So, consider the following to get started on the right foot, maintain professionalism, ensure transparency, prevent conflicts, minimize errors, focus on core tasks, and attract repeat business:

1. Know Your Client

Apart from checking the client’s website thoroughly, go through the reviews and testimonials left by past freelancers or independent contractors to get an idea about their reliability and timeliness when it comes to payments. Check their social media pages to gauge the company’s reputation and make sure they actually exist.

2. Draft a Contract

Before starting work, put together an agreement that is legally binding, so that both you and the client can stick to the necessary terms and conditions. It should cover your services, the hourly rates or lump sum amount you will charge, work delivery timelines, the payment schedule, and ownership rights. The contract should include the consequences in case either you or the client fails to oblige with the terms as well as any upfront payment required. If you intend to bill per hour, include the tool you will use to track the time spent on different activities, so that the client has complete visibility into the process.

3. Choose a Robust Payment Solution

The best payment gateways for independent contractors simplify life for both you and the client by offering multiple payment modes, accepting payments in multiple currencies, and processing them quickly, safely, and efficiently. In fact, advanced gateways enable clients to pay easily even without a bank account or credit card. Top payment solutions help you organize and manage everything from proposals and contracts to invoices and payments on a single platform for a streamlined experience.

Things to Look for in Freelance Payment Solutions

Picking a payment solution or gateway that aligns with your freelance business model might seem daunting, given the many options available today. So, to make an informed selection, consider the following:

1. Ease

It should be easy to get started with the gateway or integrate it with your website. Request the provider for a demo before taking a call and find out what kind of technical support they offer in case of glitches or confusions down the line.

2. Safety

The best payment methods for freelancers use advanced encryption technologies and comply with PCI-DSS to keep cyberattacks at bay. So, choose a gateway that protects data related to both your and the client’s accounts as well as transactions.

3. Automation

Pick a payment solution that automatically sends invoices and payment reminders to clients when a job is done or when a due date gets close. This way, you won’t have to stress about outstanding payments or get into awkward conversations in case of delays. You will also be notified when a payment comes in.

4. Flexibility

Freelance payment solutions that accept multiple currencies eliminate your hassle of tracking exchange rates and committing calculation errors. Plus, you receive the payment in your base or home currency. Such gateways also allow clients to pay via credit or debit cards, electronic transfer, digital wallet, QR code, etc. So, not only do you get to grow your venture beyond geographical boundaries, but clients also enjoy flexibility and freedom.

5. Visibility

The payment solution should provide complete visibility into all the transactions, along with dates, client details, etc. This will help when you are calculating your total earnings, checking sources, doing your taxes, or applying for a loan and providing proof of your financial stability. If you outsource certain jobs to other vendors, you can track your outflow and profit as well.

Taste Success with Smart Payment Processing

To wrap up, automating and simplifying payment processing for freelancers is the key to earning client trust, making a good impression, and getting paid on time without running into security or efficiency issues. It is the key to thriving in an increasingly competitive gig economy and tackling your personal bills, scaling confidently, and improving client experience. Choosing reputed payment gateway providers like PayTabs also means low fees and reduced overall transaction cost. Through financial automation, you can save precious time and effort and channel the same towards your actual tasks for enhanced client satisfaction.

More than 5 billion people worldwide now use social media platforms daily. An average person sits in front of a screen for 6 hours and 37 minutes daily, with 2 hours and 31 minutes spent scrolling through social media platforms. People stay connected with their close ones, gather local or international news, or just look at the photos and videos uploaded on the platforms of their choice.

With such a rise in social media usage, it has become a powerful tool for businesses to promote and sell their products or services. Merchants are setting up their business accounts and leveraging these platforms to establish their online presence and connect with customers. As a result, social media sellers have emerged as a significant force in the e-commerce landscape.

To effectively monetize their online presence, these merchants need reliable and secure methods to accept payments from their customers. Setting up a dedicated e-commerce website might look like the right way to go, but not every merchant has the budget or resources to manage a full-fledged website.

However, this doesn’t mean social media sellers can’t sell their products online. This article explores various social media payment options available to sellers and highlights the benefits of accepting payments on social media.

Different Options for Accepting Payments on Social Media

Social media sellers have several payment options at their disposal to facilitate online transactions. Some popular methods include:

Direct Messaging

Merchants can engage with customers directly through messages and accept social media payments. Customers can share their debit/credit card details directly with the merchant, and they process the payment. While convenient, this method may not offer the same security level as others.

Mobile Payment Apps

Sellers can leverage several digital payment apps like PayPal, Venmo, or Cash App to accept online payments. Sellers can create payment requests or invoices through the app and share them with the customers. This allows customers to complete the payment process using their preferred payment method within the app.

E-commerce Platforms

Another method is setting up your own online store or e-commerce platform. Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce are popular e-commerce platforms allowing users to upload and sell their products online. They also support a range of payment integrations so merchants can accept payments securely through whichever method they prefer, be it cards, wallets, or bank transfers.

Benefits of Accepting Payments on Social Media Online

Accepting online payments offers numerous advantages for businesses offering their products and services on social media. Let’s look at some advantages.

Enhanced Professionalism

Accepting social media payment online gives businesses a more professional look. It shows that the seller is serious about the company’s operations and customer satisfaction. Since online payments have become the new norm, customers are more likely to trust and engage with businesses that provide secure and convenient online payment options.

Improved Sales Opportunities

Online payments open up new sales opportunities. Since there is no need to accept cash payments, the seller can cater to a wide market worldwide, promote the products online, run targeted marketing campaigns, and engage with customers directly to complete the transactions. Customers can purchase with just a few clicks, increasing sales and revenue.

Streamlined Inventory Management

Efficient inventory management is paramount for any e-commerce business. Merchants can integrate their online payment systems with inventory management tools to monitor inventory levels in real time. It gets automatically updated once a purchase is made, which helps ensure accurate stock management. This integration helps prevent deadstock or overstocking, enhancing customer satisfaction.

Access to Customer Data

Analyzing customer data can be a great way for online businesses to improve their sales and generate more revenue. Through the payments done online, a business can extract valuable customer data, including their purchase history, preferences, and contact information. This insight helps the business in improving sales performance by personalizing marketing efforts and creating targeted campaigns to improve overall customer engagement.

Reduced Operational Costs

Handling cash or physical payments and maintaining an updated ledger can be a burdensome task for growing businesses. Online payments, on the other hand, are much easier to handle. Not only do they take less time to process, but the ledger also stays automatically updated, and the operational costs get reduced. There are no rental or maintenance costs associated with online payments as well.

How Businesses can Accept Payments Through a Payment Link

A simple way for sellers to accept payments on social media online is by using payment links. It is a unique URL that directs customers to a secure payment gateway where they can complete their transactions. Here’s how businesses can set up and utilize payment links:

Choose a Payment Gateway

The first step is choosing a reputable payment gateway that supports payment link generation and has advanced security features. Some of the most commonly used payment gateways are Stripe, PayPal, and Paymes.

Create a Payment Link

Once you’ve registered with the payment gateway, it’s time to generate payment links for your products or services. The link is completely customizable, and you can add details like the price, item description, and quantities in the link itself.

Share the Payment Link

Now you can start accepting payments online. Just share the payment link of the product with the customer through their preferred channel, and ask them to complete the payment through that link. Customers can click on the link, securely enter their payment details, and complete the transaction in just a few minutes.

Advantages of Using Payment Links for Collecting Online Payments

While established businesses and merchants can set up their own e-commerce platforms, run marketing campaigns, and accept payments through multiple methods, unregistered or small businesses don’t have that many resources or infrastructure in place. For them, creating and sharing payment links can be very beneficial. Let’s consider some aspects that prove to be advantageous for such businesses.

Simplicity and Ease of Use

Payment links are quite easy to use. They eliminate the need for businesses to have complex integrations or an e-commerce platform in place to start selling. Small businesses can create a space on social media platforms and share payment links with customers. Unregistered businesses or social media sellers can generate payment links quickly and start accepting payments without extensive technical knowledge or resources.

Flexibility in Payment Collection

One of the biggest advantages of payment links is their flexibility. Sellers can create individual links for specific products or services, making it easier for the customer to understand how much they spend on everything. This helps the customer and rewards the seller with information that can be used to create a better-targeted campaign.

Seamless Integration with Social Media Platforms

Payment links can integrate with any platform. As a seller, ensure that every link is integrated with social media platforms so users can get notified if anyone’s made any transactions. Social media is the primary marketing and sales channel for many unregistered businesses or social media sellers. So be sure about what you post or keep on your device.

Cost-Effectiveness

For small or unregistered businesses with limited budgets, payment links offer a cost-effective solution for accepting online payments. They eliminate the need for investing in expensive e-commerce platforms or payment gateway integrations, making it a budget-friendly option to start accepting payments online.

Also Read: Integrating a Payment Gateway into Your Website – A Guide

Conclusion

Accepting online payments is essential for social media sellers to capitalize on the opportunities presented by e-commerce. However, it’s crucial to prioritize security when choosing a payment gateway. Reputable platforms like Paymes offer secure payment solutions specifically tailored for social media businesses. Using a secure payment gateway, social media sellers can build trust with their customers and protect their financial information. In an increasingly interconnected world, leveraging secure payment methods is vital for social media sellers to thrive in the digital marketplace.