The best businessperson is an honest one, right? Of course, and that's easy to say, but is it as easy to practice, day in and day out?
When you're running a business, you're neck deep in the pressure and stress of ensuring you're profitable at all times. If you're falling a bit short in revenue, might you be tempted to promise a little more than you can truly deliver to customers to make a sale? You needn't resort to dishonesty to keep your profits flowing.
In fact, the honest approach is the easier of the two paths you can take for your business to keep your sales on the steady and upward trend. Here are some things to consider about honesty in your business, not only in regard to how you present your products and how you serve your customers, but also in regard to how honest you are with yourself every day.
Business values are important
The entrepreneurial journey is a fascinating experience largely because it paves the way toward the realization of your dreams, goals and aspirations. Shortly after having launched your business venture, though, it becomes apparent that this will become a game of survival.
It's important you define what honesty and integrity mean in your business and how you'll demonstrate those values
One of the most important elements within your business' foundation to persevere and prosper are your business values, the principles and practices that will define your mission and methods, hopefully to attract customers seeking a reliable product, service and experience.
It's important you define what honesty and integrity means in your business and, most important, how you'll demonstrate those values in your day-to-day operations. When seeking financing, attracting talent and building a customer base, your expressed ethics will quickly communicate if your business is running on a solid code of conduct. This alone can make or break your ability to move your business ahead.
Project honesty about your products
From the dawn of online selling—think eBay, Amazon and the other platforms that enabled each of us to open our own businesses over night—full disclosure and faithful representation have been the keys to attracting and satisfying buyers.
With more shopping choices than ever, shoppers are looking not only for the best bargains but also for the best value in what they buy. What the customer agrees to buy online is what the customer expects to receive (and likely a bit better than expected). To this end, you're responsible to provide all the information about your products so customers can make an informed and confident purchasing decision. Here's how you can help:
Describe your items fully, fairly and accurately. Whether you offer one-of-a-kind goods or mass-produced items, you need to describe exactly what the customer can expect to receive. Leave nothing out, especially if there are defects or deficiencies inherent in the item, as is the case with collectibles, factory overruns and used items.
Open your business and yourself to questions, suggestions, criticisms and praise
Show photos of the actual item. These days, many online selling platforms provide stock images of products. If what you're selling differs in any way, skip the canned picture and provide your own photo. Buyers are becoming increasingly wary of catalog images and some are even avoiding purchases when they know that what they're seeing isn't truly representative of what they'll be receiving. If you do use stock images, indicate it and reassure buyers the item they'll receive is identical to the photos provided.
Make it easy for customers to ask questions. This is essential in providing an honest representation of your goods. If ever a customer has a question or doubt, it should be as simple as sending along an email or making a direct phone call to clarify whatever might concern them. When you're responsive and engaging to their queries, customers will know you're interested in doing good business at all times.
Be honest with your customers
This follows closely to your honesty in product presentation. Customers want their shopping experiences to be worry-free, and are actively seeking out sellers who can provide that reassurance upon first interaction.
You can effectively present your commitment to your customers when you do the following:
Answer their questions before they ask. Whatever you sell or service, there are usually common questions customers want—and need—answered such as payment options, delivery expectations, guarantees and so on. Be proactive in providing this sort of information and be sure that what you promise is what you deliver.
Invite your customers to provide feedback. Customer testimony is powerful in helping other might-be shoppers understand how your business runs from another customer's perspective. Open your business and yourself to questions, suggestions, criticisms and praise. Many entrepreneurs have turned to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook as the platforms that allow customers to chime in about your business, what they like about it and what they'd like to see improved. Allow them to chat among themselves freely and be sure to provide your responses to their discussion points along the way. When you're open to their opinions, they'll likely develop a better opinion about you and your business.
You can avoid having to look over your shoulder when you stick to honest methods every day
If you make a mistake, own it! Plain and simple, if you make a goof, admit to it and set about to correct it. Avoid getting into back-and-forth squabbles with customers (especially in a public forum) choosing, instead, to satisfy them as quickly as possible.
Be honest with yourself
And it comes down to this: If ever you feel the temptation to overstate anything about your business to make a sale, stop! You might need to reassess your business expectations, and you could need to remind yourself of your stated code of conduct.
Yes, there are challenges in keeping your business running profitably yet dipping into a bit of dishonesty now and then is the sure road to ruin.
In business, there are no "white lies" that can be excused in how you deal with your financiers, suppliers, partners and customers. You can avoid having to look over your shoulder, fearful that you might be caught in a moment of less-than-honest behavior, when you stick to honest methods every day. That level of integrity is what will help you achieve highest levels of success as you go forward in your business, honest!