Friday, December 11, 2020
The secure networking space is reserved for sales professionals and related third-party providers in the retail services sector. Eligible subscribers can apply for membership by using this link: www.greensheet.com/forums/ucp.php?i=167 .
Kate Gillespie, president and CEO at The Green Sheet Inc., observed renewed interest in the MLS Forum in 2020, as numerous ISOs, merchant level salespeople (MLSs) and their merchant customers faced shutdowns and hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"Many of us have been working double shifts to help partners and customers adapt, compete and serve their communities," Gillespie said. "The new normal demands much of our time and resources, which can lead to separation anxiety, fatigue and frustration. The MLS Forum, Zoom and video streaming services are helping us stay, connected, entertained and informed."
The Green Sheet has shared inspirational stories of payments professionals who are helping merchants keep businesses afloat during COVID-19, Gillespie noted. MLSs, ISOs, acquirers and third-party service providers are helping merchants take their businesses online, implement mobile apps, curbside pick-up and delivery services, and contactless in-store POS, she added.
Gillespie went on to say that in addition to breaking news, features and contributed articles found in our magazine, readers can find exclusive behind-the-scenes content, recommended reading and article links in the MLS Forum. Posted guidelines and administrative oversight, designed to protect participants' privacy, help to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, she stated.
Available tools and resources in the MLS Forum include a friends and foes list, ignore and muting options, and private messaging with customizable filters and settings, Gillespie noted. From their personal dashboards, members can create avatars and set their PMs to ignore or delete any messages from specific people. Additional options can be found in rules, folders and settings.
Private messaging (PM) has long been a popular feature of the MLS Forum, Gillespie noted, and this feature has been reinstated after a brief hiatus. Members and former Street SmartsSM columnists applauded the move, touting PM benefits.
"Private messaging allows for continued direct conversation on a topic, specifically if someone was asking for product options or product usage," said Jeff Fortney, vice president, partner relations at Signature Payments and former Street Smarts columnist. "Without it, you have to couch your opinion to avoid any 'conflict' or bounce back. I found it useful before, will use it again."
John Tucker, board advisor and director at LendFlow and former Street Smarts columnist, also found the PM feature to be helpful. "I believe this tool is essential to the platform as it allows those networking to directly communicate with potential partners," Tucker said. "The private messaging tool allows members to connect on an individual level by getting real names, research individual companies, and conducting professional background searches to determine if the prospective partner is indeed who they claim to be."
Fortney, who penned the Streets Smarts column from April 2012 to March 2013, called the MLS Forum "a good place to garner information about the industry, business sources and good conversation." He encouraged payments industry stakeholders to participate by sharing their opinions on appropriate topics, answering questions and building rapport.
Tucker agreed, stating he found the forum to be an excellent networking resource during his Street Smarts tenure between April 2016 and March 2017, when the platform provided "insider information on particular trends and changes within the industry as a whole."
Tucker expects the MLS Forum to appeal to an even broader audience as MLSs rebrand from basic bankcard to specialized areas of fintech. Specialization is a critical requirement in the retail payments industry sector, he noted, especially during COVID-19, as merchants look to MLSs and ISOs for ways to continue to connect, engage and transact with customers. 
The Green Sheet Inc. is now a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals. Click here for more information.
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