Paying online usually brings to mind an e-commerce website, a shopping basket and a checkout page.
But not every business sells that way.
Sometimes you simply need to give a customer a quick, convenient way to pay. That is where a payment link can help.
A payment link is a secure web link that takes a customer directly to an online payment page. Businesses can send the link by email, text message, messaging apps or other digital channels, allowing the customer to complete their payment without going through a traditional online checkout.
For businesses that take payments remotely, over the phone, through invoices or away from a standard ecommerce website, payment links can make the process considerably simpler.
What is a payment link?
A payment link is a unique URL that connects a customer to a secure payment page.
The business creates the link for a particular payment or amount and sends it to the customer. The customer clicks the link, enters their payment details and completes the transaction.
The customer doesn’t need to manually enter bank details or navigate through several pages on a website.
Payment links can be particularly useful for businesses that:
- take orders over the phone
- send invoices directly to customers
- sell through social media or messaging
- take deposits or balances
- provide services rather than physical products
- need to collect payments remotely
They can also work alongside an existing website rather than replacing it.
How does a payment link work?
From the customer’s point of view, the process is straightforward.
1. The business creates a payment request
The business enters the relevant payment information into its payment platform.
Depending on the situation, this could be a fixed amount for a particular order, an invoice balance, a deposit or another agreed payment.
The system then generates a payment link.
2. The link is sent to the customer
The business can share the link through the channel that makes the most sense.
For example, it could be included in:
- an email
- a text message
- an invoice
- a WhatsApp or other messaging conversation
- an online chat
- a social media message
The customer does not need to visit the business’s website first.
3. The customer opens the payment page
When the customer clicks the link, they are taken to a secure online payment page.
They can then enter their payment details and follow the instructions to complete the transaction.
Depending on the payment platform and available options, customers may be able to pay using methods such as cards or digital wallets.
4. The payment is completed
Once the transaction is approved, the customer receives confirmation, and the business can see that the payment has been made.
A process that might otherwise involve phone calls, manual bank transfers or chasing payment details can therefore be completed in a few steps.
Why do businesses use payment links?
The main advantage of payment links is flexibility.
A traditional online checkout works well when a customer visits a website, chooses a product and completes their purchase immediately.
But many payments do not start on a website.
A customer might call to make a booking. A sales team might agree on an order over the phone. A business might need to collect a deposit after sending a quote. An invoice may already have been issued and needs to be paid.
A payment link lets the payment process follow the customer rather than forcing them into a particular buying journey.
Do you need an ecommerce website to use payment links?
Not necessarily.
One of the biggest advantages of payment links is that they let businesses accept online payments without building a full ecommerce checkout.
A business may have a simple website, take orders by phone or operate primarily through direct customer relationships and still need an easy way to collect payments online.
A payment link provides the payment page without requiring the business to build an entire online shop around it.
For businesses that already have an ecommerce website, payment links can still be useful for payments that happen outside the normal checkout process.
When are payment links useful?
Payment links can support a wide range of payment situations.
Taking deposits
Businesses that require a deposit before confirming a service, booking or order can send the customer a payment link for the agreed amount.
Paying invoices
Instead of asking customers to transfer money using bank details from an invoice manually, businesses can provide a direct route to payment.
Telephone sales
If an order is agreed during a phone conversation, the business can send the customer a link so they can complete the payment themselves.
Remote sales
Businesses selling through email, messaging or social media can use payment links without needing to direct every customer through a traditional ecommerce journey.
Collecting outstanding balances
If part of an order has already been paid, you can send a payment link for the remaining balance.
Events and bookings
Payment links can also make it easier to collect registration fees, reservations, deposits or other one-off payments.
Payment links vs bank transfers
Bank transfers are familiar and useful, but they often require more effort from the customer.
The customer normally needs to open their banking app, enter the recipient’s account details, add the correct reference and confirm the amount.
That introduces several opportunities for mistakes.
With a payment link, the amount and payment destination can already be connected to the request. The customer follows the link and completes the payment.
Payment links can therefore be particularly useful when convenience and speed matter.
Payment links vs an online checkout
Payment links and online checkouts solve slightly different problems.
An online checkout is usually part of a wider buying journey. The customer selects products or services on a website and then proceeds to payment.
A payment link can be created after the purchase or payment has already been agreed.
For example:
A customer browsing an online clothing store would normally use a standard checkout.
A customer who has agreed to a £200 deposit for a service over the phone could instead receive a payment link.
Businesses do not necessarily need to choose between the two. Payment links can provide an additional way to collect payments when a standard checkout is not the most convenient option.
Are payment links secure?
A payment link should direct the customer to a secure payment page provided through a reputable payment platform.
Businesses should avoid requesting card details directly through email, text messages or messaging apps.
Instead, the payment itself should take place within the secure payment environment reached through the link.
Customers should also clearly understand who they are paying and what the payment relates to before completing the transaction.
Security matters, but so does trust. A payment process that looks clear, professional and familiar can help give customers confidence when making a payment.
Can payment links improve the customer experience?
Potentially, yes.
Customers increasingly expect payment to be one of the easiest parts of buying something.
If someone has already agreed to purchase a service or product, adding unnecessary steps between that decision and payment can create frustration.
A payment link shortens that journey.
Rather than telling a customer to visit a website, find a particular page, enter an invoice number or manually make a bank transfer, the business can provide a direct path to payment.
That can be particularly valuable on mobile, where customers may be completing the transaction while travelling, working or doing something else.
Payment links are really about removing friction.
The technology behind payment links is useful, but the bigger benefit is much simpler.
They make it easier for businesses to ask for payment and easier for customers to pay.
Not every transaction fits neatly into an ecommerce checkout.
Businesses increasingly sell across websites, phone calls, email, messaging and social channels.
Payment methods need to work across those journeys too.
A payment link gives businesses another way to connect the moment a customer decides to buy with the moment they actually pay.
Payment Links with NetCollex
NetCollex brings together card payments, digital wallets, payment links, QR code payments and recurring payments within one streamlined payment platform.
With NetCollex Payment Links, businesses can give customers a simple way to complete payments remotely without relying on a traditional online checkout.
Whether you are collecting an invoice payment, deposit, outstanding balance or payment following a direct customer conversation, payment links can provide a convenient route from request to payment.
Make It Easier for Customers to Pay
Payment shouldn’t be the complicated part of the customer journey.
With NetCollex Payment Links, you can send customers a simple, secure way to pay wherever the conversation happens, without relying on a traditional online checkout.
