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PODCAST

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis

Maria Sparagis has spent 20+ years helping online businesses find the revenue they didn"t know they were losing. As president of DirectPayNet and a payment solutions expert, she knows that the difference between a good business and a great one often comes down to how you handle payments and conversions. On Click & Convert, Maria shares the strategies, tools, and insider knowledge that ecommerce founders and online entrepreneurs need to scale to 6 and 8 figures — from optimizing your checkout flow

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

14:02

#231 Why Your Best Launch Month Could Be Your Last

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/04/16

Most product launches don’t fail because of marketing. They fail because of how payment processors interpret sudden revenue spikes.If you run an online business, big revenue spikes from a product launch or a new course can create problems with your payment processing. Sudden increases in transaction volume can trigger risk flags, reserves, or payout holds. Understanding your business strategy and implementing a smart launch strategy can help avoid these issues.In this episode, Maria breaks down why

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10:08

#230 What Are You Actually Paying For? Your Merchant...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/04/09

What if you’ve been overpaying on your merchant statement without even realizing it? Most businesses don’t actually read their merchant statements — they just pay whatever shows up and move on. But buried inside those statements are processing rates, compliance charges, and other line items that quietly eat into your margins every single month.In this episode, Maria breaks down how merchant statements actually work, what different fees actually mean, which costs are set in stone, where you have room

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13:41

#229 5 Subscription Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/04/02

What if you could increase subscription revenue without spending more on ads? When revenue stalls, most businesses try to fix it with more ad spend. But real subscription growth comes from optimizing your payment processing, subscription billing, and the funnel you already have in place. In this episode, Maria breaks down 5 fixes that increase subscription revenue by improving acquisition, conversion, and retention — using tools and settings inside your payment gateway that most businesses never

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16:02

#228 Stripe Is Shutting Down AI Businesses — Is Yours...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/03/26

YourAIbusinesscouldbeoneriskreviewawayfromlosingeverything.StripehasbeenshuttingdownAIcompanieswithlittlewarning—freezingfunds,disablingpayments,closingaccounts.Andit'snotjustStripe.PayPal,Square,evendedicatedmerchantaccountprovidersareallstartingtotreatAIbusinesseslikehigh-riskmerchants.Why?LawsuitsagainstmajorAIplayers,newregulationsliketheEUAIAct,FTCcrackdowns,realcasesofAIcausingharm—processorslookatallofthisandwantnothingtodowiththerisk.TheworstpartismostAIfoundershavenoideatheiraccountisevenind

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17:59

#227 Scaling Your Business? Stripe Might Shut You Down

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/03/19

Your sales are scaling, ads are working, orders are flooding in — then Stripe freezes your account. It happens more than you think, and Maria shows you exactly why and how to prevent it. Stripe's risk algorithms are designed to flag sudden volume spikes, high chargeback ratios, and unpredictable sales patterns. When your business starts growing fast, that growth can look like fraud to Stripe's automated systems — leading to payment holds, account reviews, or a full Stripe account shutdown right when

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15:16

#226 Business Identity Theft and the MATCH List (What...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/03/12

Your business identity could be stolen — and you won’t even know until your merchant account application is declined. In this episode, Maria explains MATCH Code 14: Identity Theft, how businesses end up on the Mastercard MATCH list, and why you can’t just say “that wasn’t me” to get removed. She breaks down how identity theft happens, how to respond step-by-step, and what you can do to protect your business and avoid getting flagged in the first place. If you’re a small business or high-risk

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22:14

#227 How to Get a Merchant Account FAST (High Risk...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/03/05

Applying for a merchant account online doesn’t have to take weeks. Most delays happen because applications are incomplete, inconsistent, or unprepared.In this episode, Maria explains how to apply for a merchant account the right way, especially if you run a high risk business. She breaks down exactly what you need to prepare before applying—required documents, matching business information, website readiness, and common mistakes that slow down approval when underwriters request follow-ups.If you’re

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17:18

#224 Stripe Restricted Business List: Avoid Frozen or...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/02/26

Stripe Restricted Business? Payments Frozen, Paused, or Held? Even legal businesses can trigger a Stripe risk review, leaving funds inaccessible.Small spikes in chargebacks, refunds, or unusual processing patterns can trigger a Stripe risk review, leaving funds inaccessible and businesses scrambling.In this episode, Maria explains the Stripe restricted business list and which businesses are prohibited, how Stripe flags accounts, and what patterns can cause payments to be frozen or held. She also

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19:36

#223 Shopify Payments Isn’t Your Only Option (Keep...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/02/19

Shopify Payments ≠ Shopify. If Shopify Payments isn’t right for your business, you don’t have to rebuild your store. You can keep your Shopify storefront and connect your own 3rd party payment gateway to take payments your way.In this video, Maria busts the myths: Shopify Payments isn’t the only option, and it’s not built for every business. Whether you’re selling subscriptions, running a creator business, dropshipping, or just want more flexibility, she shows how to add a 3rd party payment gateway

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15:32

How to Add ACH Payments to Boost Your Sales

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/02/12

More ways to pay = more money in your business. ACH payments lower processing fees, reduce chargebacks, retain clients longer, strengthen your checkout, and handle recurring billing or subscriptions with ease.In this episode Maria busts the myths: ACH is no longer slow, clunky, or outdated—modern ACH is fast, reliable, and cost-effective. She walks through the top benefits of offering ACH and gives you 4 quick steps to start accepting ACH on your cart, so you can set it up fast and start winning on

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20:24

#221 The Hidden Reason You Can’t Get a Merchant Account

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/02/05

Merchant account applications denied over and over? You might be on the MATCH / TMF blacklist. MATCH / TMF list is the payment processing blacklist that can silently block individuals from opening merchant accounts. In this video, Maria breaks down what the MATCH list is, why people get placed on it, and how it impacts your ability to process credit card payments. She explains how to find out if you’re listed, what steps you can take to get removed, and what to do if there’s no way off the list

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24:19

#220 The Best Payment Setup For Your Business

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/01/29

Merchant of Record, Stripe, or your own merchant account — what’s the real difference, and why does it matter?In this video, Maria breaks down the key differences between using a payment service provider like Stripe, a Merchant of Record setup, and having your own merchant account. While all three allow you to accept credit cards, they are fundamentally different in how risk, liability, control, and scalability are handled.Maria explains how each option works, when each makes sense, and why the “as

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15:52

#219 Too Good to Be True? Payment Processing Red Flags

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/01/23

The FTC has proposed $52.9 million in penalties against Cliq Bank, alleging the company failed to comply with prior court-ordered payment processing safeguards.Maria breaks down what the FTC action against Cliq Bank means for merchants — and why “too good to be true” payment processor claims like instant approval, no reserves, and ultra-low rates are red flags, especially for high-risk businesses.Payment processing isn’t instant or effortless when done correctly. Legitimate processors follow strict

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19:37

#218 How to Get a US Merchant Account as a Non-Resident

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/01/22

Non-US residents are rejected by payment processors every day — even with an ITIN.Maria explains why platforms like Stripe approve non-resident businesses quickly but shut them down just as fast, and why an ITIN alone doesn’t solve the real risk issues processors care about. From chargebacks and collections to credit exposure and compliance, Maria breaks down what actually determines whether a non-resident can keep payment processing long-term — and what to do if you don’t qualify

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16:17

#217 Subscription Churn Starts Earlier Than You Think...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/01/15

If customers are canceling after month one, your subscription isn’t failing — something in your setup is. Early churn usually comes from attracting the wrong buyers, confusing checkout experiences, or billing details customers don’t recognize. Maria breaks down why subscriptions lose customers fast and what you can change — from pricing and buyer alignment to checkout flow and billing clarity — to keep the right customers longer.🟩 Key ConceptsCustomer Avatar – The type of customer your subscription

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24:52

#216 Fix Your Checkout to Unlock Growth in 2026

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2026/01/08

If you’re serious about scaling in 2026, your payment stack and checkout flow can’t be an afterthought. Outdated payment setups lead to cart abandonment, unnecessary declines, and lost revenue for online businesses.Maria breaks down the exact steps to modernize your payments for the new year — optimizing checkout, expanding payment options, and building a setup that supports growth, stability, and higher approvals.____________________________________________📌Must-Read Resources to Upgrade Your 2026

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16:54

#215 Don’t Let Stripe Kill Your Holiday Sales

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2025/12/30

Your holiday sales are booming — but what happens when Stripe freezes your account right in the middle of peak season? You’re not imagining it: Stripe is more sensitive during the holidays. Spiking fraud, unusual transaction patterns, and seasonal chargebacks make accounts more likely to be flagged.In this video, Maria breaks down why Stripe freezes happen, how to spot early warning signs, and the proactive steps you can take to keep your payments flowing and your holiday revenue safe.Whether you’re

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27:55

#214 Holiday Payment Declines Are Killing Your Sales

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2025/12/18

If you’re running an ecommerce store, subscription business, or online shop, you’ve probably noticed December declines spike during the holiday season. Banks tighten risk in Q4 because disputes, chargebacks, and fraud claims historically rise in Q1 — which means more transactions can get declined right when you’re trying to maximize holiday sales.In this video, Maria breaks down:✅ Why declines spike during December and the holiday rush✅ Most common causes of payment declines during this season✅ How

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24:40

#213 Do Not Honor, Pick Up Card & Other Issuer...

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2025/12/11

If you’re seeing “Do Not Honor,” “Pick Up Card,” Code 05, Code 04, Code 07, or “Issuer Decline” in your transaction logs, this video breaks down exactly what they mean — and how to fix them before they wreck approval rates and revenue.This video uncovers what these decline codes actually signal and why banks trigger them. Whether you run subscriptions, upsells, or a high-ticket funnel, these declines can quietly kill revenue if you don’t know what’s behind them. Maria explains what merchants can do

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13:20

#212 Order Insights: The Only Alert That Saves the Sale

Click & Convert with Maria Sparagis ·

2025/12/04

Most “chargeback alerts” still make you refund the order, so you lose the sale anyway. RDR, CDRN, and Ethoca only notify you after a dispute is filed. Order Insights is the only alert that stops the dispute before it exists, giving the bank enough info to verify the charge instantly.Most alert programs (RDR, CDRN, Ethoca) don’t actually save the sale — they tell you a dispute happened and push you to refund it. That kills your revenue and can even hurt your VAMP ratio.Order Insights works

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233 results

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