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If you're looking for how to add a PayPal button to your Squidoo lens, here's how. Please be aware of the risks involved, as you will have to disable the Encryption feature.
Contents at a Glance
How to Add a PayPal Link
- Select one of the following types of buttons to build:
- Buy Now Buttons
- Subscriptions & Recurring Payments
- Donations
You will be required to enter in your PayPal details.
Please check that the address bar is correct before you login! - Fill in all the details for the item you are selling.
- Under "Security Settings", select No to "encrypt your payment button".
Read about what this means below. - Go to "Add More Options" if you need to, and then click on "Create Button Now".
- You will see two pieces of HTML code. The first is for web pages, and the second is for emails. It is the second piece of code that you need to copy.
- Paste the link into your lens, wrapping it up in suitable HTML tags.
(If you don't know how, read up on Making a Hyperlink).
If you want a graphic button, then there are some instructions further down this page on how to do that too.
Explanation of Link Encryption
PayPal recommends that you encrypt your payment button. Doing so increases the security of both your transactions and the entire payment network, by ensuring that the item's details cannot be changed by a third party. However, encrypting the button code limits the options you are able to add to your button-option fields and other dynamically-generated options from the 'Add More Options' page will be unavailable. You will also be unable to change the button's HTML code after it has been encrypted.
If you opt to have PayPal links that are not encrypted, then you run the risk of people editing your link, and getting your product for less than they should. This is easier to catch and deal with if you process all of the orders manually.
Also note that your email address is visible to others, if they look closely enough. There is also the possibilty of automated spam-bots finding your email address, and adding you to lists that you would rather not.
These warnings should not prevent you from using this style of link, but these are things that you should keep in mind if you do decide to use them.
Advanced: Creating a PayPal Button
A plain link for your PayPal Web Payments is rather boring, so here's how you can get a pretty button for your visitors to use, much like the one that PayPal generates for websites (example on the right).- Select a different button image when you are on the first page of the creation wizard.
- When PayPal generates the HTML code for you, look though the HTML version of the code for a line beginning:
- Copy the URL of that image.
- Create your own piece of HTML using the template below, and insert the URL from the Email Link in the HREF="", and the URL of the button image in the SRC="":
<A HREF=""><IMG SRC=""></A>
- Expand your HTML further with appropriate TARGET, WIDTH and HEIGHT and ALT elements, if you wish.
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Reader Feedback
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clouda9
Good information, I'll have to weigh the good and not so good when I decide to do this. Thank you for sharing. Posted May 11, 2008 |
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EelKat
nice! Posted April 03, 2008 |
