Business Alone

It seems to me to be a little weird. There are lots of daily searches for the phrase "business ethics" but there are very few products that deal with the subject.

I'm guessing it's a function of supply and demand - no body is willing to purchase products about this subject so the demand is being met with freely available material.

Maybe folks believe they already have the subject mastered (or at least under control). Others probably believe in being ethical but that's about as far as they go - no sense delving into a subject that doesn't directly bring money into the business. (Or does it?)

Most would probably say the study of ethics is boring, old school, and not worth the time for the busy business owner.

So what are business ethics and why is it an important subject?

You've probably noticed over your lifetime that companies dealing in quality products and services tend to remain in business over a long period of time.

Others that prefer to push inferior products - and sometimes just good or average quality offerings - usually have a much shorter life cycle.

Why is it? Wouldn't you logically think that cheaper and more affordable items would outsell more expensive ones if they both performed the same basic functions?

Every new technology faces the same uphill battle when it comes to public acceptance and dispelling people's fears that something bad will happen to them as a result of some unknown or unanticipated problem.

Many people say they are hesitant to make a purchase online because the either fear the process or they fear that their money will be lost forever because the seller will "take the money and run."

I'm too young to remember the early days of inventions like the car, the radio, and the telephone, but there were great fears among the public about what these new devices would do to society.

Many people were slow to adopt and embrace change. It wasn't until they actually saw and understood the advantages and noticed other folks were using the inventions without harm that they decided to give them a try.

In every business it is critical that both customers and prospects trust the business owner.

He must be trusted that he will represent his products and services in an honest and fair manner.

The owner must be trusted that he will live up to his claims of service, guarantee, and product quality.

The owner must be trusted with valuable personal information and honest use of checks or credit cards.

In a very real sense, the customer must find the business owner beyond reproach.

This past week has been an especially difficult one for those of us who subscribe to many of the largest Internet Marketing mailing lists.

Some of you can relate, I'm sure.

It seems that every would-be guru trying to hawk his wares decided to flood the niche this particular week with junk product launches and phony money-making products that are designed for just one thing: sales to unsuspecting and eager consumers that have the misfortune of having their names on someone's email list.

I feel sorry for the masses that are trying to carve out a spot for business online.

Yea, yea, I know that most of us gave up our virginity (innocence) without being forced and we offered our email addresses in exchange for a delectable freebie in a moment of weakness.

Sure, no one is forcing anybody to make a purchase or even read a 30-page direct sales letter.

We subscribe to mailing lists to learn how the big boys build their relationships with prospects, right? We subscribe because we want to keep our finger on the pulse of the IM online world. We are all waiting for that easy, automatic, and fool-proof system that floods our bank account with non-stop Franklins.

All small business owners will be faced with the decision to use less than truthful advertising and promotional strategies in their sales letters, email communications, ads, and other promotional material.

How do I know? It seems to be the way business marketing has evolved on the Internet.

Deceptive practices include all those little white lies, half truths, and marketing tactics that many feel are perfectly legal, excusable, and appropriate in this day and medium.

Some, I know, would question why we are even discussing this topic as they feel anything is game as long as you don't cross the line of outright lying in your presentations.

I don't see it that way.

I believe that Internet marketers has a responsibility to their prospects and customers that includes being upfront, honest, and ethical in everything they publish, say, and do.