 Welcome to The Journey. Today we're talking about how to create a code of ethics for your web design business. If you're a website pro like a designer or developer like me, it could be tempting to think you have the limited responsibility for that build of a client site. But that might not be the best way to think about it from a business perspective. Beyond describing details as to what the professional shall and shall not do, having a code of ethics also describes how problems are approached and solved. Decisions are made, standards are upheld, and how you put your values to work in your business. As a fairly unregulated industry, web pros are not generally held accountable to a formal code of ethics, as there is not one universal code currently in place. Why not articulate your own? So let's talk about why have a code of ethics in detail. If there's no one to dictate the code of ethics and no one to enforce it, why bother? Well, think of it as doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. But equally important, you can educate clients to better understand how to evaluate who they partner with on their website. And this demonstrates that you take pride in running an aboveboard business and that you differentiate from your competitors. So why should web professionals care? Certainly we should all be familiar with the laws pertaining to businesses as they relate to working on the web. The legal standards around digital world are evolving daily as issues are taken in court and resolved and as legislation is introduced. However, just like the physical world, many practices appear legal but aren't necessarily ethical based on professional standards of behavior. All web professionals should strive to promote our industry as one of that is honest, trustworthy and willing to be held accountable to acceptable standards of conduct. And when someone individually displays unethical or deceitful behavior, it hurts all of us via generalizations and assumptions. Why should clients care? Well, there are universal expectations when hiring specialists or experts in many fields and professions. And whether you're talking about doctors, lawyers, auto mechanics, hairstylists, caters, DJs or landscapers. Now you want to trust service providers that they will treat you fairly, communicate honestly, charge you appropriately and deliver work meaning professional standards and your expectations. And in the case of web design, clients are putting their reputation on the line and engaging with the wrong person can have a catastrophic effect on one's business and reputation. Exactly. And let's talk about what to consider in sending your own code of ethics. So one simple approach to creating your own ethical code is to create just a bulletless outlining commitments you will make and the steps you will take. So think about the expectations that you have with other professionals and you'll realize many of them also apply to web designers and developers. It helps to break them down into a few categories. Starting with what will you do while acquiring and managing clients? Well, you'll honestly present your qualifications and what you're capable of delivering and offering fair pricing in return. You'll also make every effort to meet budget and schedule constraints spelled out in proposals and contracts and will communicate promptly with clients if those commitments can't be met. You will have reasonable contracts that treat both parties fairly and do your best to ensure clients are satisfied with your delivered solutions. And if not, we'll take steps to resolving issues. Now, what you will not do while acquiring and managing clients? Well, you will not sell or share client info. You will not artificially inflate information reported to clients. And you're not going to promise to deliver something you know you can't control. For example, even the best SEO experts can't 100% guarantee first page Google placement for every desired keyword. So what will you do when designing, developing and maintaining sites? Well, you will not use unlicensed or pirated software. You will not use black cat SEO methods, link farming, web rings or other questionable activities specifically designed to artificially improve search engine ratings. You will not knowingly publish or spread malicious code. You will deliver original work created specifically for each client, which doesn't infringe on or violate the copyright or intellectual property ownership of others. You will not resell products or services at prices with unreasonable inflated profit margins. Now, if a client requests something you're unable to deliver, you will say so and help them find the appropriate resource within your network of skilled professionals. And you will make sure you use standard approaches and include appropriate documentation so a site could be handed off to be maintained by others. And once you take the time to create your personal code of ethics, be sure to work it into your collateral. So add a page or section of your website, add information to your proposals and reiterate key concepts in your contract. So what would you do? Well, once you've identified items important to you, consider possible situations you may find yourself in and think about what would you do? This is great life advice. It's best to prepare for these scenarios before they happen. Now you provide a quote and finish the project in substantially less time. Would you be willing to explain this to the client and offer a price adjustment? Or a client presents content and materials that you know to be plagiarized. Would you be willing to help them paraphrase and substantially rewrite in order to produce original content? And last would you accept a client whose product or service promotes politics or causes you don't support or agree with? Or what if the product or service is acceptable, but the client has expressed a view that you don't agree with? No matter how much you prepare, you will encounter situations you had not anticipated. That's a wrap. You have refined what you stand for. Go out there put it to work confident that you're better serving clients, living your values and bumping up the overall level of legitimacy of the web profession. Be sure to comment below and subscribe to our channel. And don't forget to ring that bell so you can see these episodes first. This is the journey. We'll see you next time.