馃攳
How to Create a Code of Ethics for Your Web Design Business | The Journey - YouTube
Channel: GoDaddy
[0]
- Welcome to The Journey.
[1]
Today, we're talking about
how to create a code of ethics
[3]
for your web design business.
[11]
If you're a website pro like a
designer or developer like me,
[14]
it can be tempting to think
[15]
you have unlimited responsibility
[17]
for that build of a client site.
[19]
But that might not be the
best way to think about it
[21]
from a business perspective.
[22]
Beyond describing details
[24]
as to what the professional
shall and shall not do,
[27]
having a code of ethics also describes
[29]
how problems are approached and solved,
[31]
decisions are made, standards are upheld,
[33]
and how you put your values
to work in your business.
[37]
- As a fairly unregulated industry,
[39]
web pros are not
generally held accountable
[42]
to a formal code of ethics,
[43]
as there is not one universal
code currently in place.
[47]
Why not articulate your own?
[50]
So let's talk about why have
a code of ethics in detail.
[53]
If there's no one to
dictate the code of ethics
[56]
and no one to enforce it, why bother?
[59]
Well, think of it as doing the right thing
[61]
even when no one is watching.
[63]
But equally important,
[64]
you can educate clients
to better understand
[66]
how to evaluate who they
partner with on their website.
[70]
And this demonstrates
[71]
that you take pride in running
an above board business,
[74]
and that you differentiate
from your competitors.
[76]
- So why should web professionals care?
[79]
Certainly we should all
be familiar with the laws
[81]
pertaining to businesses
[82]
as they relate to working on the web.
[85]
The legal standards around
digital world are evolving daily
[88]
as issues are taken to court and resolved,
[90]
and as legislation is introduced.
[92]
However, just like the physical world,
[94]
many practices appear legal,
[96]
but aren't necessarily ethical
[98]
based on professional
standards of behavior.
[101]
All web professionals should strive
[102]
to promote our industry
[103]
as one that is honest, trustworthy,
[105]
and willing to be held accountable
[107]
to acceptable standards of conduct.
[109]
And when someone individually
[110]
displays unethical or deceitful behavior,
[113]
it hurts all of us via
generalizations and assumptions.
[117]
- Why should clients care?
[118]
Well, there are universal expectations
[121]
when hiring specialists or experts
[123]
in many fields and professions.
[125]
And whether you're talking
about doctors, lawyers,
[128]
auto mechanics, hairstylists,
caters, DJs, or landscapers.
[132]
Now you want to trust service providers
[134]
that they will treat you fairly,
[137]
communicate honestly,
charge you appropriately
[140]
and deliver work meeting
professional standards
[143]
and your expectations.
[144]
And in the case of web design,
[146]
clients are putting their
reputation on the line,
[149]
and engaging with the wrong person
[150]
can have a catastrophic effect
[152]
on one's business and reputation.
[155]
- Exactly.
[155]
And let's talk about what to consider
[157]
in setting your own code of ethics.
[159]
So one simple approach to
creating your own ethical code
[161]
is to create just a bullet list,
[163]
outlining commitments you will make
[165]
and the steps you'll take.
[166]
So thinking about the expectations
[168]
that you have with other professionals
[169]
and you'll realize many of them
[171]
also apply to web
designers and developers.
[173]
It helps to break them
down into a few categories.
[176]
- Starting with,
[177]
what will you do while
acquiring and managing clients?
[180]
Well, you'll honestly
present your qualifications
[184]
and what you're capable of delivering
[186]
and offering fair pricing in return.
[188]
You'll also make every effort to meet
[190]
budget and schedule constraints
[192]
spelled out in proposals and contracts.
[194]
And will communicate
promptly with clients,
[197]
if those commitments can't be met.
[200]
- You will have reasonable contracts
[201]
that treat both parties fairly
[203]
and do your best to ensure clients
[204]
are satisfied with your
delivered solutions.
[207]
And if not, will take
steps to resolving issues.
[210]
Now what you will not do
[211]
while acquiring and managing clients.
[213]
Well, you will not sell
or share client info.
[216]
You will not artificially
inflate information
[218]
reported to clients,
[220]
and you're not going to
promise to deliver something
[221]
you know you can't control.
[223]
For example, even the best SEO experts
[226]
can't a hundred percent guarantee
[227]
first page Google placement
for every desired keyword.
[230]
- So what will you do when
designing, developing,
[233]
and maintaining sites?
[234]
Well, you will not use
unlicensed or pirated software,
[238]
you will not use black hat
SEO methods, link farming,
[242]
web rings, or other
questionable activities
[244]
specifically designed
to artificially improve
[247]
search engine ratings.
[248]
You will not knowingly publish
or spread malicious code.
[253]
You will deliver original work
[255]
created specifically for each client,
[257]
which doesn't infringe on or violate
[259]
the copyright or intellectual
property ownership of others.
[263]
You will not resell products or services
[265]
at prices with unreasonable
inflated profit margins.
[269]
Now, if a client requests something
[271]
you're unable to deliver,
[272]
you will say so and help them
find the appropriate resource
[276]
within your network of
skilled professionals.
[279]
And you will make sure you
use standard approaches
[281]
and include appropriate documentation,
[284]
so a site could be handed off
to be maintained by others.
[287]
- And once you take the time to create
[289]
your personal code of ethics,
[290]
be sure to work it into your collateral.
[292]
So add a page or a
section of your website,
[295]
add information in your proposals,
[296]
and reiterate key
concepts in your contract.
[300]
- So, what would you do?
[301]
Well once you've identified
items important to you,
[304]
consider possible situations
you may find yourself in,
[307]
and think about what would you do.
[310]
This is great life advice.
[312]
It's best to prepare for these
scenarios before they happen.
[316]
Now you provide a quote
and finish the project
[319]
in substantially less time.
[321]
Would you be willing to
explain this to the client
[324]
and offer a price adjustment?
[326]
- Or a client presents
content or materials
[328]
that you know to be plagiarized,
[330]
would you be willing
to help them paraphrase
[332]
and substantially rewrite
[333]
in order to produce original content?
[336]
And last, would you accept a client
[338]
whose product or service
promotes politics or causes
[340]
you don't support or agree with?
[342]
Or what if the product
or service is acceptable,
[345]
but the client has expressed a view
[347]
that you don't agree with?
[349]
No matter how much you prepare,
[350]
you will encounter situations
you had not anticipated.
[353]
- That's a wrap!
[354]
You have refined what you stand for.
[356]
Now go out there, put it to work,
[358]
confident that you're
better serving clients,
[360]
living your values,
[361]
and bumping up the overall
level of legitimacy
[365]
of the web profession.
[366]
Be sure to comment below and
subscribe to our channel.
[369]
- And don't forget to ring that bell
[371]
so you get these episodes first.
[373]
This is The Journey.
[374]
We'll see you next time.
Most Recent Videos:
You can go back to the homepage right here: Homepage