What is your website saying about your online integrity? Perhaps a definition of online integrity would help in understanding what it is and why website owners should possess it. True online integrity comprises the personal and professional inner sense of your online existence deriving from honesty, consistency and uprightness of character.

Doing business on the Internet whether you are an ecommerce site or a lead generation site obligates you to a few basic responsibilities.

- Being an honest business owner

- Providing useful, reputable products and services

- Caring about the needs of your target market

- Possessing a desire to correct your errors and mishaps

- Acknowledging that the customer is not always right

- Building a sound customer base

- Being willing to walk away from customers who do not have your best interest at hand

The Internet can be a dangerous place to do business. It can also be a total windfall of opportunity; it all depends on which side of the business wall you work. Building trust with online customers is becoming more and more difficult because of bad apples determined to rip off online consumers.

Many sites will display association links and links promoting the security measures taken to keep your online sales experience safe and out of the hands of hackers.

If customers are to feel comfortable working with any online company there are 10 rules they should follow and website owners should be aware of these rules:

1. Contact the company before doing business with them.

2. Email or call and ask questions about specific products or services, don’t assume anything.

3. Ask about pricing. Most websites rarely put cost for services on their site.

4. Report questionable business practices to the Better Business Bureau.

5. Don’t assume that because a company has the Better Business Bureau logo that they are members.

6. Reputable companies should supply online receipts and faxed receipts.

7. All websites should have privacy policies if they are gathering your information. Read it.

8. Avoid websites that offer no contact information other than a contact form. Look for telephone numbers.

9. Follow up with a customer in a timely manner e.g. 3-5 business days.

10. Share these ten rules with your customers so they know you have their best interest at hand.

It takes time to build trust with customers, and it matters not whether you have an online business or a brick and mortar. Maintaining integrity in your business practice is probably the single most important thing you can do for your customer. Everyone benefits from “good business.”