
Uncensored Direct Marketing
Hosted by Maria Sparagis, president of DirectPayNet, and payment solutions expert for entrepreneurs in the high risk industries of supplements, dating, business opportunities, gambling and more. On this podcast, Maria shares her knowledge on how to reduce decline ratios, add thousands of dollars to your bottom line with a few simple conversion hacks, and maximize revenue while keeping your high-risk merchant accounts happy and healthy. As a cryptocurrency advocate since 2012, Maria will also share her knowledge on the digital currency markets.
Maria has worked with several high level entrepreneurs in Direct Marketing including Christian Hudson, Julian Reyes, Jeremy Schoemaker “ShoeMoney”, Mike Chang and many more.
She has been featured in American Banker, Vice, Inside Bitcoins, Coindesk, and Yahoo.
Connect with Maria mariasparagis.com or directpaynet.com
Latest episodes

Nov 28, 2023 • 12min
Increasing Subscription Revenue with Ease
Looking for more from your subscription business? Cart abandonment and subscription cancellations are growing among consumers, but your business doesn't have to suffer. In this video, I cover 4 ways to increase your subscription revenue without spending more on marketing, customer acquisition, or chargebacks.✓ Need a merchant account? Get in touch!🔗 Maria Sparagis Website: http://mariasparagis.com🔗 DirectPayNet Website: https://directpaynet.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasparagis🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariasparagis.directpaynet🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directpaynet_paymentsolutions🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/directpaynet

Nov 22, 2023 • 12min
Turning Negative Reviews into Money Makers
You can make money and improve your brand name through negative reviews.No one trusts a brand that only has 5-star reviews. Likewise, no one trusts a brand with only 1-star reviews. There is a happy medium, and for all the less-than-stellar reviews you get, they're an opportunity for growth and showcasing your customer service skills.

Nov 16, 2023 • 12min
Why You Shouldn't Use Shopify's Default Shopping Cart
Shopify offers a default shopping cart, but you don't need to use it. When you're just getting started and you want to get your store open quickly, default carts are great. The same is true for WooCommerce and Square.But you need a shopping cart that fits your business, not a one-size-fits-all option. The fact is that Shopify and other platforms make money from you the more you use their services. So of course they want you to use their shopping cart. Instead, here are some ways to find the best one for your business without overpaying.

Nov 13, 2023 • 8min
Getting the Most from Stripe as a Non-US Resident
Are you a startup or business owner outside the US but want to target the American market?Stripe is an excellent payment facilitator, offering easy-access services across the globe. But when it comes to selling to the United States from abroad, the waters get murky. Stripe isn't so keen on new businesses, those that don't sell more than $25k/month, nor ones that aren't incorporated in the US.Here's how to use Stripe as a non-US resident and what else you can do to boost your business in overseas.

Oct 31, 2023 • 8min
Preventing Shopify from Holding Funds on Black Friday, Cyber Monday
Holiday shopping is approaching. It's the biggest time of year for most businesses, which means Shopify (both the platform and Shopify Payments) is about to feel a surge of cash flowing through its many circuits.But Shopify Payments doesn't support all business types. Don't let Black Friday be when you discover your business isn't supported by their processor. This episode covers when to use Shopify Payments, when not to, and a few tidbits of info between.✓ Need a merchant account? Get in touch!🔗 Maria Sparagis Website: http://mariasparagis.com🔗 DirectPayNet Website: https://directpaynet.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariasparagis/🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariasparagis.directpaynet🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/directpaynet

Oct 23, 2023 • 9min
Preventing Shopify from Holding Your Business Captive
Shopify is a world-leading ecommerce platform. With it comes Shopify Payments and Shop Pay to make getting a business started easier than ever. The caveat? Shopify Payments is Stripe in disguise, and you know what that means: closures, freezes, and withheld funds.Shopify also provides a way out. You can use a wide variety of payment processors and gateways with Shopify. In this episode, I'm going to explain to you why you should use an alternative and how it will protect your business.Need payment processing for your Shopify Store? Get in touch! maria@directpaynet.com

Oct 16, 2023 • 12min
Stripe Account Suspended - Avoiding Permanent Shutdown
Payment processing is the lifeblood of your business. If you can't accept payments, there is no revenue, there is no profit, and there is no business. Stripe provides payment processing in (basically) 3 easy steps, but that ease of access comes with major pitfalls.This episode covers what happens what you receive the "Stripe Account Suspended" notice, how to keep your business running, and when it's okay to use services like Stripe.Looking for more content? Check out my YouTube channel! https://www.youtube.com/@uncensoreddirectmarketingNeed payment processing that supports your business? Email me! maria@directpaynet.com

Oct 3, 2023 • 10min
"I'm labeled as Stripe High Risk, but how does that affect my business?"
If you've been notified that you're a Stripe high risk merchant or you know that your business falls into a high-risk merchant category, this video is for you.Stripe doesn't play nice with high-risk businesses, and just because you're high risk doesn't mean you deserve to be shut down or pay twice as much!In this episode, I'm sharing everything you need to know to keep your business steady and even keep using Stripe, if you want to, as a high-risk merchant.

Sep 25, 2023 • 9min
How You Can Save Big on Credit Card Processing Fees
Credit card processing fees add up quickly, especially if you're working with the wrong processor. In this episode, you'll find 4 ways to save on processing fees with guaranteed results.Don't let your business drown in fees. Learn exactly what to do to keep those numbers rising.Need a merchant account? Get in touch!Maria Sparagis Website: http://mariasparagis.comDirectPayNet Website: https://directpaynet.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaspar...Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariasparagi...Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directpayne...Twitter: https://twitter.com/directpaynet

Jun 1, 2023 • 40min
"There's only ONE WAY to make millions on YouTube." - YouTube Expert Rohan Sheth Shares All
"We're managing $150 million in paid advertising this year." - Rohan Sheth, CEO & Founder of GrowRevRohan Sheth is a content creation and business growth expert who's helped Russell Brunson and ClickFunnels eclipse 1 billion views on YouTube, among countless other achievements. In this video, he shares his wealth of knowledge, having worked with industry giants like ClickFunnels, the Mikkelsen twins, Mastermind.com and many other uber-profitable online sales entities. He founded GrowRev, a Full Stack Content and Media agency, which has generated the following numbers for its clients over 10 years:-1.2 BILLION ad views-Over 8 BILLION clicks-Over $200 million spent on paid adsWith a background in direct sales, Rohan quickly became a top performer in Canada and caught the attention of leading sales companies in North America. He then transitioned to digital marketing, specializing in Google ads and founding his own agency. Rohan's expertise extends beyond traditional marketing methods as he harnesses the power of AI to produce high-quality content. Very few are better at using AI to create a large volume of premium content.In this interview, Rohan addresses key topics such as:- Creating content with AI- Organic growth on YouTube- The differences between B2B and B2C content strategies- The importance of when to post for maximize organic reach on YouTube and other social platforms - The ideal length for YouTube videos- The impact of posting frequency- How to attract and engage ideal clientsHe also reveals how to leverage podcasts for business growth and provides valuable tips on building an online audience. With his data-driven approach and deep understanding of viewer psychology, he has successfully generated impressive results for both his clients and his own ventures.Learn from Rohan Sheth's expertise in content creation, marketing automation, and business scalability. Watch the full interview to gain actionable insights that will empower you to take your content and business to new heights.Enjoy the full convo and leave your questions in the comments!Time stamps:00:21 Who is Rohan?03:45 How to use AI to create quality content11:05 Can you still grow a YouTube channel organically?14:05 B2B vs B2C on YouTube19:00 Does it matter when you post?22:20 How long should YouTube videos be?25:28 Can you post too much content?27:30 How to attract an ideal client?31:30 How to grow your business with podcasts35:50 How to build an online audienceMentioned in episode:GrowRev: https://growrev.com/ClickFunnels: https://www.clickfunnels.com/blog/author/clickfunnels/Russell Brunson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellbrunson/Russell Brunson website: https://www.russellbrunson.com/Mikkelsen twins: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG-mhrxX8teJvYb-kQ33D0QMastermind.com: https://mastermind.com/Connect with Rohan:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rohan_sheth/?hl=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdtLywU65Iwl0mls5vHeEUQLinkedIn:vhttps://ca.linkedin.com/in/therohanshethTwitter: https://twitter.com/therohansheth?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rohanshethgrowrev/Learn more about GrowRev: Website: https://growrev.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growrev/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growrev/?originalSubdomain=caConnect with Maria:Maria Sparagis Website: http://mariasparagis.comDirectPayNet Website: https://directpaynet.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaspar...Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariasparagis.directpaynetInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/directpaynet_paymentsolutionsTwitter: https://twitter.com/directpaynet