Tools for E-Book Authors who Sell via ClickBank and PayPal

This article contains older information. Go here for newer information on shopping carts and transactions.

ClickBank and PayPal are popular with e-book authors. Neither requires a merchant account and both offer low e-commerce start-up costs. But each can create problems for merchants selling digital download products.

ClickBank Tools

ClickBank (www.clickbank.com) specializes in selling digital goods and provides a full-blown affiliate program. Customers can pay by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Eurocard, Bravo, Visa Debit, MasterCard Debit, and Novus, plus online checks from the USA and Canada. Cost per sale is a $1 transaction fee plus 7.5% of the sales total. There is a one-time activation fee of $49.95 with no monthly fees.

However, ClickBank merchants have some problems that can be solved by a host of third party programs. Here are a couple. If you have some favorite ClickBank tools (whether listed here or not) -- or some dogs you know about -- please let me know. (www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=51675168116)

ClickBank Gateway Script (www.widexl.com/scripts/clickbank/), from Widexel.com Internet Solutions. Perl script includes htaccess password protection. After payment, the script validates the transaction and generates the member name and password. You do not have to leave your product in a public-accessible directory. It is placed in a password-protected area, so only paid customers have access. $17.95.

ClickBank Toolkit (www.wilsonweb.com/afd/cb_toolkit.htm). Various scripts solve problems for ClickBank merchants. Generates affiliate URLs for different products on different websites, using only one ClickBank account. Encrypts affiliate URLs so commissions can't be easily diverted by tech-savvy customers. Protects thank you page from those who haven't paid. Automatically creates links for affiliates. $67.

Sales Guard CB from Software Programs, Inc. (www.wilsonweb.com/afd/salesguard_cb.htm). Creates self-expiring dynamic thank you pages, sends username and password to customer. E-mail message can be used to offer up-sell products. $47.97

PayPal Tools

PayPal (www.paypal.com) provides an international payment system (currently in five currencies) and a crude hosted cart system. Cart order buttons include the URL of a thank you page where digital products can be downloaded. No set-up fee, merchant account, or payment gateway required. Cost is 2.9% of sales total, or 2.2% over a threshold. PayPal has recently introduced a rather sophisticated Instant Payment Notification (IPN) system that programmers can use to release paid-for products for customer download. If you use PayPal as is, be aware that order buttons should be encrypted to prevent unscrupulous shoppers from going to the thank you page directly and downloading your softgoods without paying.

You can find more about PayPal e-commerce and IPN in the "PayPal in E-Commerce Applications" issue, Web Commerce Today, Issue 65, December 15, 2002. http://www.wilsonweb.com/wct6/issue65.htm

Here are some third-party PayPal tools. If you have some favorite PayPal tools (whether listed here or not) -- or some dogs you know about -- please let me know. (www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=51675168116)

PayLoadz (www.wilsonweb.com/afd/payloadz.htm).  Provides ASP hosted digital download delivery service. Merchants use PayPal payment with Instant Payment Notification. Once payment is complete, products are delivered instantly. Affiliate program. Accounts from $15/mo. (up to $1000 transactions) to $75/mo. (up to $5,000).

PayPal Encryptor, Stealth Promotions (www.wilsonweb.com/afd/paypal_encryptor.htm) "Encrypts" in hexadecimal code the elements of your PayPal order button URL, so unscrupulous customers can't just find your thank you page URL and skip payment. $37.95.

PayPal Download Protector - Using IPN from WebmasterInABox (www.wilsonweb.com/afd/paypal_ipn.htm). Hides the thank you page URL from customers. After payment via PayPal is verified by Instant Payment Notification (IPN), customer is redirected to a page to download the softgoods. Written in PHP. $34.95 or included with many other scripts $99.