@TweetLessons Twitter account hit it’s 2000th follower a short time ago. If you are a Follower, thank you! We solicit your comments!
We started this account initially to become more involved more in Social Media, and to research Twitter Automation as it related to using it as a medium to market services, information, and goods.
We needed to expand our reach, meet new people, and network with those with connections or interest in our areas of expertise.
The Economy had taken it’s toll on part of our market segment and we had to expand our sphere to gain new clients. Twitter became a must that we HAD to do right.
We wanted to leverage followers interest through engaging content and giving direct reply to any comments or mentions @TweetLessons might receive. We wanted to be more than an automated account spitting out “Make Money At Home” opportunities or drone on about useless information.
We had to hit a very narrow target.
Since we started creating accounts on Twitter for Individuals and Businesses, what everyone is unanimously telling us is that their end goal is for some gain, monetary or other, but they are not on Twitter simply for the sake of Twittering.
You have to build a REAL Twitter following to expand the reach of your business.
By a REAL following, we mean Twitter accounts that follow you, with a human reading your content from time to time, influencable, and are not just on automatic and programmed to follow you when you follow them, or by automatic follow utilities like http://www.twollo.com that can follow thousands, but YOU have to take the time to get an idea who is real and who is not.
High Follower counts mean NOTHING if no one is reading what you publish on Twitter, or if what you publish is always for the sake of selling.
Real Followers want REAL content, not a bunch of ”get rich quick” garbage. We all have spam folders for that on our computers. Do we really have to deal with that on Twitter too?
Twitter has really cracked down on pages build solely for marketing, and perhaps that will rid them of many of the spammers that have migrated to Twitter from MySpace and Craigslist.
When the sellings starts, most Followers simply tune you out or say “Bye-Bye!
If you use Automation for your content, make sure it is targeted content that your Followers will want to read.
If you advertise on your Twitter account, make sure your ads are brief, well timed, and interesting to the niche you are following. All it takes is one or two complaints to get your account suspended.
If you send Direct Messages (DM’s) to new Followers, LOSE THE MARKETING PITCH! Tell them thanks and let that be that. Don’t start selling to someone you have never met until you have the chance to interact with them.
DO interact with your Followers. Comment on things they Tweet that interest you and RT (Re-Tweet) those posts they make that are really good. That will show your Followers that you are REAL and INTERESTED in more than your content and selling.
The human side is the key (in my opinion) to building a base of Followers that reads what you Tweet. Losing that human touch is a sure way to get Un-Followed or Blocked.
Last - Watch who you follow. If I am a serious business, interested in what you have to Tweet about, and I see that you have Mary’s Brothel following you, I am going to wonder if all you want is warm bodies (no pun indended) or if you are serious about your niche.
Auto-following software will get those types of users, so make it a habit to go in from time to time and purge the “bad elements”.
Take the time to fine tune what you Tweet and keep in touch with the people that follow you, and show a human side to a service that has become filled with Robot accounts. The positive effects on your business or personal goals will surprise you!
Your mail is here, and in it is a blue envelope from your Merchant Processor informing you that you’ve got a chargeback from a fraudulent order.
Emotions run the gamut, and you are justifiably angry that someone has stolen from you.
Here’s some tips to keep it from happening again.
BEFORE YOUR SHIP - ALWAYS:
1. Verify - Call the customer. Bad phone number = Red Flag
2. Verify - Email the customer. No reply = Another Red Flag
3. Zip Code Matches AVS, but not the Address = Yes, Another Red Flag
4. Billing Address is a Match, but Shipping Address is Different = Red Flag
If you have a suspect order and any of the above criteria comes into play, you need to stop and DON’T CHARGE THE CARD until you complete further verification.
In many cases the “Fraudsters” will communicate with you and try to get you to complete their order.
A good method to verify a customer you are worried about, but with otherwise good address and contact info is to charge a low, odd amount (like .76 cents) and have the “Customer” tell you the amount of the charge and in that way you know that they have access to the highest levels of the account.
Feel free to contact us at 323-482-1251 for further ways to combat fraud, verify or identify suspect orders, and to learn how to take action to apprehend those that commit fraud against you.
Written by Bob Bryant
Interchange Merchant Services
Merchants that accept credit cards for E-Commerce and Retail applications need to understand the problems they can cause with authorizations made on Debit (Visa/MC Branded) Bank Cards.
Unlike a “normal” Non-Debit, “Credit Card”, an Authorization on a Debit Card ties up the funds in the Card Holder’s bank account for as long as 96 hours.
This can cause Merchants lots of headaches when customers that have used a Debit Card want to cancel an order they just placed, and they think you have charged them when it is actually only a pending authorization.
Learn that the easiest way to explain this to customers is to be very direct … “I’m sorry for the inconvenience. When you purchase with your Bank Checking Card, the Bank holds those funds as unavailable for up to 96 hours while they wait on the merchant to close the batch and capture the sale.”
IF your Merchant Processing Bank will call the customer’s bank, in some cases they can drop the authorization and free up the customer’s funds, but in most cases they will have to wait for nature to take it’s course.
Authorizing a Debit Card TWICE will get most Customers angry enought to throw a rock through your shopping cart, so make sure you are CAREFUL when dealing with Debit Cards.
Here is a non-complete list containing the prefixes of some Debit Cards you might encounter. Print the list for referencee.
Have a question? Call Bob Bryant at 323-482-1251 for honest/no nonsense answers about Merchant Services and Accepting Credit Cards .
All my readers qualify for our Retail and ECommerce Association Rates - more info at:
While not complete, this can help you tell the difference between some credit and debit cards. Debit cards are in red.
This is a response to the discussion regarding debit/checking card authorizations tying up customer bank accounts.
CARD PREFIXES
112956 - Room access card, Fairfield Inn (Marriott)
2000 : The Source by Circuit City - credit card (issued by VFC)
260413 - The Sharper Image gift card
356210 - HSBC Hong Kong issued JCB
3712 - Platinum Cash Rebate from American Express (Credit Card, grandfathered) (US)
3713 - JetBlue from American Express Credit Card (US)& Blue For Students American Express
3717 - American Express Charge Card (US)
3723 - American Express Credit Card (US)
3725 - American Express Credit Card
3727 - American Express Credit Card
3728 - American Express Credit Card
3732 : American Express Canada
3733 - American Express Charge Card (Canada in CAD)
3735 : American Express Canada
3742 - American Express Charge Card (UK in GBP)
3743 - American Express Charge Card (UK in Euros)
374388 - American Express ICC Centurion Charge Card (UK in Euros)
3745 - American Express Charge Card (UK in USD)
374588 - American Express ICC Centurion Charge Card (UK in USD)
374630 - American Express card issued by MBNA
3749 - American Express Charge Card (France)
3750 - American Express Charge Card (Germany)
375082 - American Express Platinum Charge Card (Germany)
3758 - American Express Charge Card (Switzerland)
3760 - American Express Card (Australia)
3770 - American Express Credit Card (South Africa)
3778 - American Express Credit Card (New Zealand)
3790 - American Express Travellers Cheque Card (UK)
3791 - American Express BA Credit Card (UK)
3794 - American Express Corporate Charge Card
400610 - META Bank, (Rewards 660 Visa) Credit Limit Between $200 & $2000 4060 - Bank One (Chase) Debit Card
4063 - Guangdong Development Bank (China) VISA Credit Card 4097 - Bank Mandiri (Indonesia) Visa Debit Card
410636 - Columbus Bank & Trust Company, (Aspire Visa Gold Card)
4112 - Lloyds TSB Visa Credit Card 4117 - Bank of America (formerly Fleet) VISA Debit Card
4121 - Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union (PSECU) Credit Card
4143 - Capital One Visa
4159 - Sovereign Bank Visa Debit Card
4170 - Bank of America (Formerly Fleet) Business Visa Card
4190 - U.S. Bank WorldPerks VISA Credit Card
4213 - China Minsheng Banking Corporation VISA Debit Card 4217 - Bank of America VISA Debit Card
4218 - China Minsheng Banking Corporation VISA Credit Card 4254 - Washington Mutual (formerly Fleet) VISA Debit Card
4256 - Bank of America GM Visa Check Card
4264 - MBNA Platinum Visa Credit Card
4266 - Bank1One (Chase) Visa Credit Card
4305 - Bank of America (formerly Fleet) Visa Credit Card
4313 - MBNA Preferred Visa & Visa Signature Credit Cards
431732 - Plains Commerce, (Total Visa), Small Credit Limit, Credit Repair Card 435688 - Bank of America, Visa, Platinum Check Card, Debit
435760 - Compass Bank, Visa, Business Check Card, Debit
435760 - Compass Bank, Visa, Personal Check Card, Debit
4366 - Chase
4392 - China Merchants Bank Visa Credit Card
4408 - Chase (AARP)
4432 - US Bank 4492 - Vista Federal Credit Union (Walt Disney World) Visa Debit Card
449352 - Nationwide Building Society Visa 449533 - Bank Of America, National Association - Classic, Debit, Visa
4500 - Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Visa & MBNA Quantum Visa Credit Cards
4500 : CIBC Premium Visa cards ($5000+ limit)
4500-050 : CIBC Bizline Visa
4500-60 - CIBC Aerogold (VISA credit card)
4501 - CIBC VISA
4502 - CIBC VISA
4503 - CIBC VISA
4504 - CIBC VISA
4505 - CIBC VISA 4506 : CIBC - debit card
4510 - Royal Bank of Canada VISA
4512 : Royal Bank Visa - gold & platinum cards except Avion
4514 : Royal Bank Visa - low rate, Avion, Starbucks
4515 : Royal Bank Visa - low rate, Avion, US dollar (?)
4516 : Royal Bank Visa - business cards, Avion 4519 - Royal Bank of Canada Debit Card
4538 - Scotiabank VISA 454313 - Nationwide Building Society Visa Debit Card
454434 - First Trust Bank Visa Debit Card
454605 - Citibank VISA
4551 - TD Canada Trust VISA
455701 - National Australia Bank VISA Credit Card
455702 - National Australia Bank VISA Credit Card
456462 - ANZ Bank VISA Credit Card
4565 - ABSA VISA
462785 - Egg plc VISA
4600 - ABSA VISA
4640 - Bank One (now J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.) Amazon.com VISA Credit Card
4715 - Wachovia VISA 4744 - Bank of America Visa Debit
4760 - Bank Niaga (Indonesia) Visa Debit Card
479293 - Abbey International Visa Debit Card 479213 - TD Banknorth Visa Debit Card
4800 - MBNA Gold Visa Credit Card 4828 - Wachovia Bank Visa Debit Card
482870 - Wachovia Bank Visa Debit Card
4862 - Capital One Visa Credit Card
4888 - Bank of America Visa Credit Card
490847 - Parex Bank Visa Credit Card
4920 - Luottokunta issued VISA
496604 - HSBC Hong Kong issued Visa
492940 - Barclaycard VISA Credit Card
504507 - Barnes & Noble gift card 5113 - JPMorgan Chase Bank Mastercard Debit Card
512607 - Continental Finance, M/C, $300 limit card
5140 - TiVo MasterCard Credit Card 5141 - Banco Popular North America Mastercard Debit Card
516319 - Virgin MasterCard Credit Card
5176 - China Minsheng Banking Corporation MasterCard Credit Card
5179 : GE Money MasterCard
5181 - PC Financial MasterCard Credit Card
5187 - China Merchants Bank MasterCard Credit Card
5191 - Bank of Montreal MasterCard
5200 - MBNA Quantum MasterCard Credit Card
5221 - MasterCard Credit Cards in South Africa
522276 - Chase Manhattan Bank MasterCard Credit Card
5243 : HBC - MasterCard 5262 - Citibank MasterCard Debit Card
5264 - Bank Negara Indonesia MasterCard Debit Card
529930 - Marks & Spencer Money MasterCard Credit Card
5316 : CUETS MasterCard
5329 - MBNA Preferred MasterCard Credit Card
532902 - Wachovia Bank MasterCard Credit Card
535316 - Commonwealth Bank MasterCard Credit Card
535318 - Commonwealth Bank MasterCard Credit Card
5407 - HSBC Bank GM Card
543122 - HSBC Hong Kong issued Mastercard
5424 - Citibank MasterCard Credit Card (Dividend, Diamond and others)
5434 - MasterCard credit cards from UK banks
544156 - AIB Gold MasterCard Credit Card
5446 - Canadian Tire MasterCard Credit Card
5452 - MBNA Canada Mastercard
5457 : Capital One Canada secured & gold
5466 - MBNA & Chase World MasterCard Credit Cards
548955 - HOUSEHOLD BANK (NEVADA), N.A, (Orchard Bank M/C, HSBC Card Services)
5490 - MBNA & Chase Platinum MasterCard Credit Cards
5491 : MBNA Canada - Platinum Plus
5491 : Capital One Canada Platinum
558158 - Paypal MasterCard Credit Card, Chase Bank, Formerly Bank One 587781 - Bank of America ATM Card
589297 - TD Canada Trust Debit Card
6002 : HBC - credit card
600649 - Lowe’s Home Improvement Center gift card (also Radio Shack)
601056 - ValueLink stored value card (Starbucks, Borders Books, et. al.)
6011 - Discover Bank Discover Card Credit Card
602700 - Wichita State University “Shocker Card” [2] (a stored value card)
6035 - Citibank (Home Depot) Card
603753 - McDonald’s Gift Card (serviced by ValueLink)
622126 - 622925 China UnionPay Card
627397 - Wild Oats Gift Card
63191 - British Home Stores - Bhs credit card
63354099000 - Argos Card 6725/6726 - Maestro debit cards (Germany)
6759 - Maestro (formerly Switch) debit cards, followed by the two digits of the bank’s assigned sorting code prefix.
6767 - Solo, a sister debit card to Switch.
When I first started with Twitter I read everything I could find in regard to getting more followers who would actually read and act on my “Tweets”.
My largest hurdle was finding the “niche” I was trying to reach, and then getting that niche to “follow” me back and READ what I was “tweeting” about.
There are many tools available for Free that will allow you to really increase your following rapidly and professionally. The problem is FINDING the tools that really work and then learning how to use them by trial and error.
Check out “Twitter Traffic Machine” - It’s popularity is high because it performs as advertised. YOU do the work, but it helps automate some tasks that are otherwise time consuming.
It is produced by Bill Crosby, who personally has over 30,000 followers on Twitter.
Very direct, to the point, and accurate - 5 Stars!
One note - All these courses seem to key on “Making Money” … I’ll tell you now that if you only Tweet about nonsense and send “buy it” links every time you “Tweet” that your followers will be GONE rapidly.
No one likes a Spammy Tweeter, so PLEASE.. BUILD VALUE in your Tweets.. don’t always be trolling for sales.
Give Value and you will Get Business, Reach a Personal Goal, Get A Job, Fund Raise, You Name it.. Be a PROFESSIONAL!
Twitter settings give users the ability to change the look of their home page and offer an infinitely changable combination of Text, Link, Background, and Title fonts and colors, yet only have a handfull of backgrounds that are a little DULL!
It’s simple to create a custom background image for Twitter to reflect your personality or your business.
@TweetLessons created the background image on Twitter to reflect our blog design and did it from scratch in less than 30 minutes with “basic” graphics skills.
You can easily create your original Twitter Background Image with information provided by LockerGnome’s Chris Pirillo in this informative video.
It’s worth your time!
Comment with YOUR Twitter @ID to show us YOUR custom Twitter background.
@TweetLessons Twitter account hit it’s 2000th follower a short time ago. If you are a Follower, thank you! We solicit your comments!
When I first started with Twitter I read everything I could find in regard to getting more followers who would actually read and act on my “Tweets”.
To some, Social Networking is a mystery that begs great explanations before many reach that “AHA!” moment, where they finally “get it”.
