With online marketing, there are many unwritten rules to obey, but to me, one of those rules stands head and shoulders above the rest… the rule of Integrity.

I think this cannot be underestimated, and you should make it a core value of your business. If you insist on marketing with integrity, then every other aspect of your business will flow smoothly and confidently.
Why place so much importance on integrity?

You’re Here For the Long Term

Let’s take two imaginary scenarios:

Online business owner A has a strong product, a step by step internet marketing course. He took the time to ‘road test’ the product himself before he began marketing it, found that it really did have a lot to offer, and carried an affordable price tag that offered good value for money.
Owner A has acted with integrity, he is justifiably proud to market this product, and soon he is regularly receiving glowing testimonials from satisfied customers.

His online business continues to grow, because his customers know they can expect high quality products from him.

Online business owner B is also offering an internet marketing course, but this one differs from the example above. It’s different because owner B is in a hurry to get his product on to the market. It’s a course he has put together himself, but instead of carrying out proper research, he has simply taken extracts from other peoples work and then repackaged it as his own. Owner B didn’t bother to check the validity of the content, and some of it is less than accurate. Even though he realises this to be true, the thought of some fast money is more important to him than acting with integrity.

Shot in the Foot

Despite this, the product sells well initially, thanks to some slick marketing techniques, but soon there is a steady stream of requests for refunds, and Owner B is even on the receiving end of negative comments on forums and in chat rooms. If you were looking to invest in an internet marketing course, which of the above examples would you rather buy? With online marketing, the easiest test of your own integrity is this; if you were a customer buying YOUR own product, would you be happy with the content, and would it represent value for money?

If the answer is yes, congratulations. If the answer is no, then change things until the answer is yes, and then congratulate yourself!