Microsoft loves Paypal
I was very surprised the other day to learn that, unlike Google AdWords, Microsoft’s adCenter now accepts PayPal as a payment method. Of course, like most things Microsoft, it is a nice-to-have that takes a little bit of work to, eh, get it to work. But if you are with me and agree that it’s worth a couple of clicks, here’s how to use PayPal to pay for adCenter traffic:
The difference: If you are used to AdWords, you know all too well that most billing information (with the exception of the credit card info) is set in stone. Not exactly the case with adCenter where you can switch your payment methods pretty easily, including switching to PayPal.
Add PayPal in adCenter
To add PayPal as a payment method:
1. Click the Accounts & Billing tab.
2. Click the Payment Methods tab.
3. Under Payment Methods, click Add PayPal. You will need to fill out this form (see screenshot) to proceed:
PayPal adCenter form
4. Under PayPal details, type a name for the account.
5. Under Billing address, enter the required information.
6. Click Next. Microsoft adCenter redirects you to PayPal’s secure site.
7. Either create a new PayPal account or sign in to your current PayPal account.
8. Before using PayPal, review and agree to the Microsoft adCenter billing agreement.
9. PayPal redirects you back to the adCenter Accounts & Billing page, where PayPal now appears under Type.
Notes
* You can edit active accounts only. You’ll find the account status on the Account List page in the Status column.
* You need to associate a payment method with an account to be able to change a payment method (duh!). After you associate a new payment method with an account, all pending charges are transferred to the new payment method.
* A single credit card, debit card, PayPal account, or invoice can be associated with up to three accounts.
* You cannot change the currency settings of an account after you set it up. However, you can create a new account by using a different currency setting.
