Webmaster Ethics And the Importance of Global Image

This is for the discussion of the article Webmaster Ethics And the Importance of Global Image, what do you guys think about this? Should all webmasters follow this?

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 couldnâ€™t have foreseen you can make sure it isnâ€™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 isnâ€™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 doesnâ€™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 Iâ€™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 Iâ€™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.
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Webmaster Ethics And the Importance of Global Image

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