Webmaster Ethics
And the Importance of Global Image
About
This isn’t going to be the longest article I’ve ever written, but to me it is by far the most important. It is all about ethics, one of the things that I’ve actually been complimented on by web employers when I was much younger and filling several moderator roles. I’d like to take all of you on a metaphorical journey to show you how you look on your own website, how you look when you are interacting with a website that considers you a friend, and how you look on strange websites. I intend to show you how your actions can bring consequence, and how to properly interact with the world online to gain respect and even loyalty.
As always, to introduce myself, I’m a veteran webmaster as well as entrepreneur. I enjoy the most the community aspect the internet has to offer, and participate in several forums and social networks. I’m a huge fan of sitting back and watching my peers make a fool of themselves, but fear not, because I like to use that information to make those people better at what they do in an effort to not do it again.
Also, try and keep an open mind, as all of my articles (unless stated otherwise) are my personal opinion. Take what you want from them, but keep in mind what you don’t, and question if that was your best decision.
This article is exclusive to Drake Technologies and The Admin Zone, but if you would like to use this article for your own website, be sure to leave a source link from where you got it. I hope you enjoy reading this article, and most of all I hope it gives you something to think about.
Section 1: Your Website(s)
This section is a little more dedicated to being viewed as a professional than anything ethical, but there will be certain points that will be on topic and rather important.
Your own website is obviously the most important in showing your users and guests what kind of person you are. How you interact with your guests and members is a direct reflection on how you handle your website, and how professional you make yourself look can open doors to new opportunities, and can help your site grow by improving the environment. There are several things to look at when it comes to looking over your own website and how you are perceived on a professional level.
On your website, it is important to include some written form of a terms of service agreement, a set of rules, and even a privacy agreement. Reason being, if someone goes against these agreements, you have good reason to revoke any privileges to view or interact with you. It also makes you look more structured, as well as one of the magic words of this article, professional. It is also important that you make it clearly stated that these terms can be changed at any time in case a new problem arises that you couldn’t have foreseen you can make sure it isn’t a problem in the future.
Now for the ethical part of things. I consider it to be bad for an administrator to punish someone for something that they feel is wrong, but isn’t clearly stated in the websites FAQ, rules, etc. It is even worse when others do something, and then one person gets singled out and is made a martyr. You want to maintain an unbiased and fair environment to all members and staff included.
Being fair doesn’t necessarily revolve around punishment. It can also be evaluated within staff promotions, and even any form of praise. It could also be defined on your typical interactions with your members. Over time, you will find members who just make your skin crawl, and others who you sincerely enjoy their company. Regardless of their demeanor, you still need to interact with all of them equally, making them feel welcome and possibly even at home. A website that members can cling to for even one likable member (possibly you!) will show increases in traffic, simply because those members will appear on a near daily basis.
This last little point is purely my own personal way to run things, but I’ve had good luck with it in the past and have found that it works well in getting your staff and even your community to have a lot more respect for you. When making decisions, make them democratically with your staff. Allow even the smallest voices to be heard and acknowledged. If it is a huge decision that will affect the entire community, see how your community feels about it before you implement it. Some people might have the dictator approach to things and I’m not willing to say they are wrong for operating in that fashion, but I can say that encouraging a high amount of communication and ownership of your board inspires loyalty, respect, and above all can increase the integrity of you, your staff, and your website itself.
Section 2: Your Friends Website(s)
This is a section that a lot of people are going to enjoy reading a lot more than I am writing, because I’m going to spend nearly the entirety of it bashing my own ego and pointing out mistakes that I still consistently make because I’m just too proud to acknowledge them.
If a friend of yours invites you to their website as either a real friend or as a peer / colleague in the webmaster community, the first thing you need to do is go over their rules and / or TOS. If you are posting on their community, post in the fashion that they would want you to, or risk making yourself out to be a pompous ass. Some webmasters are picky about even the most slight of things, so be sure you are aware of them. If you do make a mistake and unintentionally break a rule, don’t be arrogant about it, simply apologize and refrain from repeating the same mistake twice. Also, don’t post on the forums like you are high and mighty because you own your own forums and they are more successful or they are doing something you feel is incorrect. Showing arrogance is only going to make you, and your own website, look bad.
Also, there is almost no reason to go on your friends website for the intention of promoting your own exclusively. When I build a fresh new site or I make a new acquaintance and want to show them my website and they get on just to add a URL, the first words that pop in my head is ‘Douche’ and ‘Bag’. I gave you my URL to get feedback or perhaps because I thought you might be interested in the topic being covered or the product being offered, not because I felt that it would be a good place to make everything about you (unless, of course, I state otherwise 
).
Lastly, try and enjoy your time there. Consider it a much needed vacation from your own website and try to get to know his/her users. You never know, you might have stumbled upon a community that you really enjoy and fit in with and can actually be a good quality asset and really help your friend out. These kinds of friendships are what make this game so to speak so rewarding. Personally, if you get on my site and are extremely helpful, I’m far more likely to do the same for you.
Section 3: Other Website(s) (Marketing Mayhem)
Finally, I get to the section I really wanted to discuss, ethics in marketing. The first point I’d like to mention is one that I’ve added in my recent articles, and that is don’t make yourself out to be something you’re not, because we can all see through it, and we can all see that behind that cloud of ego is a pathetic and insecure child. What I’m saying, is that unless you can back the statement up, don’t bother using it as a selling point. Don’t go to every website directory listing and advertise your website as being ‘The largest webmaster resource forum on the internet’ unless either you can prove it on the fly or I can’t disprove it by a simple Google search. I wouldn’t go as far as using descriptors as ‘The best’, ‘The largest’, or ‘The friendliest’, as they are so vague and easy to dispute. These types of advertisements just make you look unprofessional. Try and go for descriptors like ‘A large’ or ‘A friendly’. Another reason that saying ‘The largest’ is a terrible way to describe your site, is because even though it is true today, it might not be that way tomorrow. Be modest when selling yourself to the increasingly biased critics we so lovingly call internet junkies. It just makes for a much cleaner sales tactic. Just as a note, however, I’m advertising my gaming site as ‘The first forum dedicated to my niche’ because it’s true, and can easily be proven. It isn’t an opinion oriented claim, it is factual. Perhaps that’s a better way to describe the point I’ve been trying to make.
Another thing to avoid when advertising for your site would be slander. Don’t use an advertising campaign strictly trying to make your lead competitor look bad. You aren’t a politician; the web doesn’t work that way even though I unfortunately see people trying to pretend it does on a regular basis. Usually all you are doing is making yourself look immature, unprofessional, and to me it makes your website far less appealing and even less friendly. On the flipside, if someone starts a negative campaign in your expense, enjoy the publicity but for the love of god don’t act on it. All you will be doing is fueling the fire and making things worse for all parties involved. Just wait it out, and let it go away. Of course, if the negative feedback from the competitor is true you might want to work on fixing the problem as soon as possible if not yesterday.
Lastly, I want to make a brief statement about flooding. Don’t post your advertisement repeatedly on the same website or to the same group of people. I’m personally peeved when people repeat themselves over and over again in real life, and I’m just as peeved when people do it on forums, article directories, blog comments, etcetera. First off, if you are posting in an advertising forum, don’t post a second thread when we can see your first thread right there on the first page. Not like it’s going to matter as only webmasters look in those forums anyway. Secondly, don’t go into an article directory or blog post and post your index. If you are going to advertise, advertise with relevant content as not only does it make you look better, but it seems to convert a lot better for both revenue purposes as well as turning that focused traffic into contributing members.
Conclusion
When you are online, you are basically a unanimous user that nobody has ever really met, and chances are will never meet. Behind your screen name, however, is a persona that brands your personality with that screen name, and everyone who likes or hates you will remember you in one way or another. Sure you can change your name if you completely make yourself look bad, but a persona that has built up a friends list over a matter of years is going to accomplish a lot more than someone who literally had to change their identity for being a complete nincompoop. Generally I would say my best advice is to just be yourself, and be personable. Of course, everyone has flaws, just try to acknowledge your own and try and make your virtues outweigh them. Every action has a reaction, and whether it is a positive or negative one is entirely up to you and how you handle yourself, how you interact with others, and how you allow others to perceive you. Remember, perception is reality, especially in a world where we interact with thousands of millions of people a day in manner that isn’t face to face, so you want that perception to be as positive as possible. If you make a mistake, own up to it and apologize. If you do something good, don’t hang it above everyone’s head like you deserve a cookie. Just be yourself.
I hope this article brought to light some things about yourself and how you act. As stated in the majority of my articles, this is strictly my opinion, although I’d hate to think I’m the only person out there that views things like this. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message either at The Admin Zone or at Drake Technologies. Please be sure and add the title of the article in your subject line.
