Feature Articles
An Ethical Approach to Global Tech Staffing
One thing my 24-year career as a technologist working to support the online adult entertainment industry has taught me about is the power of global staffing. Without a doubt, I have achieved significantly more business success as a direct result of hiring abroad.
Finding the Right Payment Partner
Whenever I am talking with businesses that are just getting started, one particular question comes up a lot: “How do I get a merchant account?” It’s a simple question, but it has a complicated answer.
The Taxman Cometh for Every Business
February may be the month of romance, but it is also a time when we need to think about something that inspires very little love: taxes. April is not far away, and the taxman is always waiting. This year, federal and most state income taxes are due Monday, April 15.
The Continuous Journey of Legal Compliance in Adult
The adult entertainment industry is teeming with opportunity but is also fraught with challenges, from anticipating consumer behavior to keeping up with technological innovation. The most labyrinthine of all challenges, however, is the world of legal compliance.
New Year, New Tools for Tackling Chargebacks
Happy New Year! Looking back, 2023 saw some important developments for the industry. Visa lowered the limit on credit card surcharges to 3%, AI continued growing fast and Mastercard published an update to its Business Risk Assessment and Mitigation (BRAM) program.
The Next Frontier in Computing, Storage Is Here
While I typically steer clear of diving too deeply into the technical nitty-gritty, in this month’s column I’m making an exception, because there’s a technological evolution underway that has the potential to fundamentally enhance technical outcomes and, more importantly, grow revenue.
Raising Awareness and Taking Action Against Financial Discrimination
While foes of the adult entertainment industry often focus on “moral” concerns and perpetuate social stigmas, another form of attack can be equally or even more damaging: financial discrimination.
Beyond DMCA Takedowns: Exploring Alternative Avenues
Most content creators recognize that inevitably, their content will be leaked on pirate sites, forums and file lockers. The most responsible and successful creators have therefore implemented a strategy to protect their valuable intellectual property.
The Mainstreaming of Pleasure Products: Boom or Doom?
Not all that long ago, the idea that you might pick up a sex toy at the same drugstore or big box store where you do the rest of your shopping seemed unlikely at best. But today, with attitudes toward sexual wellness shifting, our category has hit the mainstream.
The ABCs of KYB and KYC
As a payment processor, we devote a lot of time and energy to applying two crucial principles: Know Your Business (KYB) and Know Your Customer (KYC). If you’ve engaged in this process, you know how difficult it can be, but we go through it to be sure we are onboarding a good merchant.
Navigating the Ever-Evolving Needs of Your Customers
Since it’s your customers who keep you in business, understanding as much as you can about them should be at the core of your strategy. That’s true whether you’re marketing to attract new customers or making logistical improvements to ensure your current customers are satisfied.
Guard Against Credit Card Fraud During the High Season of Sales
Along with the spike in sales, however, December also sees an unfortunate increase in credit card fraud. In this article, we will explore why that is, as well as provide tips on how to safeguard your business and customers against potential threats.
Beware of Social Engineering Hacks
In case you’ve never heard of social engineering hacks, they are cyberattacks that prey on individual people. The intent is to get victims to divulge private information or take actions, precisely planned by the attacker, that will lead to a security breach.
How to Stay Off the Compliance Naughty List
No reward comes without a little work. For merchants taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by payment processing, that work includes the underwriting and compliance processes — which can be a bit of a challenge.
Ensuring Subscription Billing Is a Win-Win for Businesses, Customers
Subscription billing is one of the fundamental cornerstones of our industry. Marketing practices and processing technologies have evolved, but the basic concept has remained unchanged.
The Importance of a Modern Tech Stack
You’ve built your website or platform. It is a fantastic piece of software, it works — and even better, your customers love it. You’re done developing, so now you can fire all your developers and not renew your contractor agreements. Right?
Unpacking Mastercard's Enhanced Communication Path
Sharing information is important between card associations and service providers like payment facilitators and independent payment operators. In those relationships, information typically flows from the card brands to the acquirers, and then to service providers.
A Steady Pace & Realistic Goals Are Vital for Empire Building
I’ve seen countless websites and businesses fail to launch because the project exceeded the budget for development, and nothing was left for marketing or building a team. The dreaded cash crash.
Unveiling the Future With Mastercard's New AI Rules
As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving innovation across industries has become crucial. The financial services sector, in particular, has recognized the potential of AI to improve efficiency, accuracy and customer experience.
Eyes on the Site: Strategies for 24/7 Website Monitoring
Back in the 1990s, there were all sorts of companies that would scan your website and let you know if and when it ever went down. Ah, the memories. Site monitoring has since advanced far beyond those humble beginnings. Today, most websites are more complex, and checking whether one is online or not is not as simple as it used to be.