Decency And Your Tribe

Decency And Your Tribe

Posted on 24. Aug, 2009 by Michelle in Work From Home Online

If you’re starting out in business, online or offline and you’re keen to make money quickly it can be tempting to cut corners. You might talk up something that really isn’t going to do what you’re promising, copy other people’s work and pretend there’s no such thing as copyright, sell your customers things that actually breach trademark laws and basically twist the truth to a point to almost guarantee a sale.

I don’t know about you but when I get treated like that as a customer I sure as heck will eventually find out I’ve been jibbed and will tell people about it. It goes without saying that I would never trust you again. The opposite is true if you over deliver on your service, what you sell me does more than I expected and you pretty much showed me that you operate with a good deal of decency. I’ll tell plenty of people about you, show my friends what I bought and become a devoted customer who trusts you.

Operating your business with a level of decency centered around how you would want to be treated yourself will certainly help you set yourself apart from the average person who is willing to sell at all costs. Short term gain is a recipe for long term pain or in this scenario, a not so successful business.

Treat your customers as you yourself would want to be treated and you’ll go a long way toward building a tribe of loyal followers.

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11 Responses to “Decency And Your Tribe”

  1. ForestNo Gravatar (25 comments)

    24. Aug, 2009

    Hey Michelle,

    Excellent post. I have always tried to stay decent and honest in some ways it can hinder your earnings when you first start. However down the road it seems to have helped me build a much more robust and strong bond with clients and readers.

    Thanks very much.

  2. RebeNo Gravatar (13 comments)

    24. Aug, 2009

    Couldn’t agree with you more, Michelle. Recently a rather big name/site owner offered a pricey PDF training on copy writing and after purchasing and reviewing I determined the product was not as touted or expected and greatly overpriced (a 50% affiliate commission). My request for a refund has been going on for more than two weeks…if they had the decency/ethics to honor their 30 day refund policy, I might continue to review future material et al. As it stands now…once the refund is issued (and it will be one way or another) not a chance that I’d continue with these people.

    BTW..your newly designed site looks terrific!

  3. Lisa GergetsNo Gravatar (3 comments)

    24. Aug, 2009

    You’re right, Michelle, It is tempting, but I’ve always found (in business and in life) that honesty is returned to you a million times over in repeat business, money, and just an excellent feeling of having done something good for someone else!

  4. simply stephenNo Gravatar (18 comments)

    24. Aug, 2009

    Michelle…grace, decency and ethical conduct in both business and life are often elusive. In the end they pay off and is why I return to your site (for example). Many other traits – sincerity, integrity and passion can only have a positive impact on a business or project.

    I try to simplify everything but not with shortcuts, a complex task, and insist my actions are green and ethical. My tortoise approach works, because I’m in it for the long haul. My connections are built on TRUST, which ultimately creates quality.

    In short (and we’ve heard it before) – do unto others as you would like done unto you!

    Thanks for doing your part to create quality internet content and practices.

  5. MichelleNo Gravatar (309 comments)

    24. Aug, 2009

    @Forest Yes you’re right, it can slow down progress at the outset but in the long run that bond you mention will always remain. :) I know you’re an honest marketer and that’s why you have a great following.

    @Rebe Oh I know the type of thing you’re going through. It’s examples like that where you can learn exactly what not to do. I hope you get your refund but it’s a bitter sweet outcome when what you really wanted was a great product to sink your teeth into.

    Glad you like the new look. :)

    @Lisa For me you touched on the most important aspect which is the feeling you get when doing something good for someone else.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    @simply stephen I like your application of the tortoise approach especially to your connections and the trust you speak of. You really are the epitome of working ethically on all fronts, thank you for the constant inspiration!

    I’ll be stopping by your blog again soon and getting that KreativAward page up here too in the not too distant future. :)

  6. Web Career GirlNo Gravatar (11 comments)

    24. Aug, 2009

    Morals are easily left behind on the internet, probably more easily than in real life. I must admit that a couple of days ago I got really distracted simply because I was thinking about how people mislead others all the time. The reason it makes me feel so bad is that, at times, I feel like I’m literally sending customers away by being honest and helping them for free (which is fine) only to see them fall prey to someone who doesn’t want to help. And many newbies think that paying for something means you’ll be getting something more valuable than free advice – sometimes true but sadly definitely not always. (I hope that makes sense)

    Some of the things I see online upset me a lot, and what’s worse is that I just stay quiet because I know I can’t necessarily get things to change. But you’re right, it’s about the way you personally do things – and both you and your customers know what’s right. I’ve definitely seen a lot of evidence of this on Flippa, for example.

  7. MichelleNo Gravatar (309 comments)

    27. Aug, 2009

    I know how you feel. I used to spend quite a bit of time and energy thinking about how some people happily mislead others. I’ve realised now that it’s better to focus on delivering my best to my followers and direct them to other ethical marketers also.

    Some of what I’ve seen on Flippa is what prompted this post, you’re right in that there is a lot of evidence there of how some people offer junk and others over deliver.

    Great service, over delivering on your products and generally being decent will go a long way toward you being successful.

    Web Career Girl, you are an honest marketer, I’ve seen your work and I would recommend you without hesitation, keep up that ethos and you’ll do well.

  8. yinka olaitoNo Gravatar (1 comments)

    02. Sep, 2009

    Everyone enjoys decent treatment, courtsey, compliments. This aid loyalty. keep it up

  9. shaneNo Gravatar (2 comments)

    12. Oct, 2009

    If you cannot earn an honest living, then you should seek out some help living an honest life. I dont mean all churchy and stuff like that but do go read some books and other things. Theres lots out there. Do what you love, love what you do, if you dont know what you love doing, then ask yourself , or ask another person. Best way to live an honest and decent life is by doing what you love.

    MichelleNo Gravatar (309 comments) Reply:
    October 14th, 2009 at 1:18 am

    Shane I agree that doing what you love and loving what you do is key! Interestingly I have found it much more difficult than I expected to really discover what I love doing. More questioning in that regard might help, thanks for your thoughts. :)

  10. Mike TaylorNo Gravatar (2 comments)

    02. Nov, 2009

    Great blog! I will be back!