Author: Maria Sparagis

Maria Sparagis is President of DirectPayNet, where she's spent over 20 years helping businesses scale to six-, seven-, and eight-figure revenue through optimized payment processing. She works hands-on with business owners to solve merchant account challenges, reduce processing costs, and implement payment strategies that support real growth. Maria is a regular speaker at fintech conferences and writes about practical approaches that help businesses break through revenue plateaus.

FTC v Automators AI: A Guide for Business Opportunity Merchants and Coaches

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In this new era where artificial intelligence (AI) has become the golden ticket in e-commerce, a recent ruling by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sends a powerful message across the bow of all business opportunity merchants and coaches: integrity is non-negotiable. The case in point? The owners of Automators AI, a once-promising AI-driven e-commerce scheme […]

From Hang-Up to Hooked: The Strategy Behind Successful Cart Recovery Calls

woman smiling on the phone at a call center with bar charts and line graphs

This week, we had an interview with one of the best people from HelpGrid, Jeannie Mai about how phone support is one of the most powerful tools to use today, even with AI advancing so quickly and seemingly taking over…everything! Below is a recap of the episode as well as the YT link. But if […]

Capital One’s Acquisition of Discover Reshapes the Payments Landscape

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In a move that could significantly reshape the landscape of the financial services industry, Capital One Financial Corp. is considering an ambitious acquisition of Discover Financial Services in a deal valued at $35 billion. This all-stock transaction isn’t just a mere business maneuver; it’s a strategic play aiming to catapult Capital One to the forefront […]

Is Shopify Worth It? Pros and Cons of Shopify

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Choosing the right platform to host your online store isn’t just a decision—it’s a declaration of your business’s future. If you’re on the brink of launching your ecommerce journey or contemplating a strategic pivot for your existing online empire, you’ve likely encountered the big question: Is Shopify worth it? Shopify, with its sleek storefronts and […]

Mastering the Customer Journey: A Comprehensive Guide for Direct Response Marketers

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Today’s marketplace demands not only attention to the immediate needs of the customer but also a deep dive into the entire lifecycle of customer interaction. From the initial touchpoint to post-purchase engagement, every moment holds the potential to deepen loyalty, encourage referrals, and significantly impact your bottom line. Join us and our guest Jason Fieldman, […]