Oops, You Just Killed Your Reputation!
Posted by Lucas under General Business, Internet Marketing, Random Thoughts 18 commentsAs an internet marketer myself, I firmly believe that the amount of clients/sales we’re generating and our profits highly depend on our reputation. I can say this with confidence because I’ve met reputable people online, and not-so-reputable ones. Comparing the amount of sales that they generate, I can attest that the latter do not produce as much as the former!
I am writing this post because I want to help you — I want you to avoid ruining your reputation, while it is still possible. You see, once you “kill” your reputation, it’s dead. I doubt that you can ever get back what you lost. Well… maybe some can, but it would prove to be very difficult!
Just How Important Is Reputation?
I know, some people don’t see reputation as an important factor in internet marketing success. They take it for granted. Hence, I am going to give a situation which will serve as a concrete example that reputation is a determining factor to achieve success in IM.
Let’s have “Person A” and “Person B”. Both of them run competing web design companies. Person A is highly respected, and a lot of people recommend his service. Person B, on the other hand, has a habit of bad-mouthing his clients. As a result, his ex-clients warn others that Person B’s company is not recommendable.
Supposing that they both have the same skills and pricing structure, who would get more client work, and, in the end, more profit? Surely, it’s Person A!
Now you see how important reputation is. I want to delve deeper into this topic by talking about my experiences on people who (seemingly) are murdering their reputation unconsciously.
Unconscious Murder of Our Own Reputation?
What Things Usually Happen…
There are times when people do things just for fun, not knowing that those things could possibly hurt their “perfect” reputation! Fake bids. Swearing at clients. Not honoring bids/not sending payments promptly. Do those phrases sound familiar? Well, unfortunately, a lot of people do those acts. What’s more unfortunate about this is, they’re killing their reputation by doing so.
A Brief Yet Interesting Experience
Allow me to share an anecdote. 
Last week, I was on the Digital Point Forums and I recently sold a small website there. The bid was $165 and it was a private bid. I was told that I would be receiving the payment last Tuesday, but then up until now I see no signs of any payments made. I am not whining or whatever. Besides, it’s not the money, it’s the principle of keeping your word. It’s the principle of speaking with honor!
So, what does this experience tell me about the bidder? He’s a liar, he doesn’t honor his bids, and he’s not worth my time. To be honest, I gave him an allowance of four days already. He had been reading my private messages (I know this because I was asking for read receipts through vBulletin’s system.), yet he didn’t even have the courage to tell me ANYTHING at all! At least now I know that I MUST avoid him/not accept his bids, should I sell any more sites on Digital Point.
Well, I pity him because he’s not getting any more business from me, nor from my entire network.
How to Prevent This from Happening
Always think before you act! This is a very important rule that everyone should follow. Don’t be tactless; always use your head before doing anything! Before promising a client something, make sure that it’s possible for you to do it. For example, don’t tell your client that you can come up with a marketing plan in an hour after he pays you if you really can’t.
Speak with honor… all the time. I hate it when people say something with full confidence, and then take it back in the end when they know they’ve said something unfavorable to them. If you say something, then be sure that you can back it up, and defend it until the end!
Act professionally. Shame that there are a lot of bad-mouthed, morally impaired, and ethically challenged people who call themselves professionals. In this world of business, we should all act professionally so as to avoid pointless arguments and loss of heaps of revenue. Don’t resort to using cuss words just to get your point across. Don’t disrespect anyone you’re dealing with. Just be polite and remember that having a great reputation depends on how well you know your values.
Summary
People tend to kill their reputation unconsciously. Whether it’s through scamming, not honoring their words, or even cussing at clients, it’s still a riotous act that could ruin your reputation for your entire life. To prevent this from happening, always see to it that you’re acting professionally, and you hold true to your word. A great rule to remember is, “ALWAYS think before you act.”
Readers have left 18 comments on "Oops, You Just Killed Your Reputation!".
Haha I like the term unconscious murder of our own reputation! You are right, people are the ones killing their reputation when they do those stuff. Nice post, Lucas. If I may ask, who was that person on DP? Maybe I can kick his a$$? Ha ha ha.
I’ll IM you about this issue. No need to publicize everything here, heh.
Many people think that they can do anything since its the internet and that they won’t get discovered. But what they’re doing is ruining their professionalism. Good post.
I like the idea of being as professional as possible. I feel if someone pays me money for something, then I have to deliver, and deliver well! From the two websites I have sold I have receievd amazing feedback because of this, so I whole heartedly aggree with you on this
Yeah, reputation is big online. That’s why I always make a big deal about the iTrader things on forums like DigitalPoint. The greener it is, the better off I am
I concur.
You have a great principle, Dan.
Haha yes. People on the net depend on things like iTrader so it would be better if you’ve got a great iTrader rating.
Hi Lucas,
You wrote - “Before promising a client something, make sure that it’s possible for you to do it. For example, don’t tell your client that you can come up with a marketing plan in an hour after he pays you if you really can’t.”
I completely agree that honesty is SO important in client relations. If I don’t know how to do something or need to do some research, I tell my clients. They usually stay with me because they appreciate that I am honest and know that I’m not going to deliver a shoddy product.
Wow! Believe it or not, I have not read an article on this before. Very well constructed, and I don’t think many people reading NetStrife will lose their rep.:)
Excellent article. I write about this often myself
You can hide all you want behind the mask of internet and forsake your reputation but you’ll never be long enough to survive in the world of internet marketing.
I’m amazed at the kind of things people do that “kill their reputation” and one of my buddy is a victim of such bad scam.
YS
That’s great to know! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Hehe, yes, I do believe so too.
Seems like we have the same principles.
Lucas,
Reputation is huge even online. That is right even online. The internet is so inherently anonymous that people might believe since they are never meeting their clients, or never seeing anyone face to face that they don’t have to be as professional. But you just proved that wrong. No matter over what medium you conduct business you always to act professionally because word of mouth can make you or break you.
Hey Lucas,
I’d rate this one as one of your best posts. Reputation is something that is quite important, whether offline or online. It is something which imparts the belief in your prospect customers.
It can’t be built in a day though, it’s build with passing time.
Well done!
Thanks for that, Swastik.
“No matter over what medium you conduct business you always to act professionally because word of mouth can make you or break you.”
Yes, well said Adam!
In my opinion, reputation is THE biggest factor in determining whether or not a business will succeed. If word gets around that you scam, provide a bad service or something like that, then you will have to start right over because, lets face it, no-one wants to do business with someone like that.
Reputation is everything, which is why I’ve always honored my parents and never committed any crime, and tried to live a law abiding life, something they would be proud of. Of course it will also kill your business, but if your pride means nothing to you, then business won’t either.
true. am amazed at the number of posts or comments out there where the author does not act in a professional manner. all manner of insults are hurled, tantrums are thrown. not very conducive to confidence building.
This is another that came through again…I won’t comment on them all
What do you think? Have your say!