Digital marketing is one of the essential elements in business and technology development. It has grown tremendously over the years, and its importance continues to grow. Although this field is still developing rapidly, more people are entering it compared to other areas such as finance, healthcare, education, etc. According to Statistics Canada, Canadians have access to high levels of information. This can be a significant contributor to these new businesses entering the market. If you plan on joining any digital marketing firm, start familiarizing yourself with some of the best ethical principles before starting your career.
1. Respect others' time.
Always make sure to respect the clients' time. Be available when they need you. Allow them to finish working tasks as soon as possible. Keep the client's work as long as necessary. Learn how to communicate quickly, solve problems, and resolve disputes effectively. Treat everyone fairly according to their position in the company.
Avoid making decisions based on your personal experiences. Stay clear and concise while delivering your messages. Use all the required channels to communicate with the clients. Only advise if you know about the topic discussed. Never force anyone to sign anything that they do not want to do.
Get permission to give out your email address or phone number, but always follow up after receiving the message from the client. When using the Internet, take advantage of the privacy policy and do not share confidential data without obtaining consent. Never put yourself at risk to get another person involved in sensitive matters without their authorization. Disseminate harmful rumours or false information in a forum.
Speak honestly with colleagues and avoid being biased when handling different kinds of cases. Don't disclose private information about yourself. Take only actions that contribute to achieving corporate goals. Acknowledge both sides of every disagreement, including both parties' opinions. To work together and achieve common goals, support each other and be willing to compromise. In case of conflict, support the decision of one party unless there is no alternative. Give people the freedom to express themselves without fear of reprisal.
Make sure employees understand the policies and procedures regarding conflicts. Follow the rules. Violate laws and regulations if found to be violating them. Defer to an employee's judgment. Remember that even minor mistakes may bring serious consequences. Do you believe your behaviour falls within ethical limits? Never violate the terms of service, terms & conditions, and privacy policies. Help people solve problems by removing obstacles. Ask questions, be interested, listen, and consider others' points of view.
Listen to others' ideas instead of following your own. Have integrity. Know your responsibility. What you say will be taken seriously. You must not make statements and engage in discussions that contradict the organization's values. Conduct yourself properly. Your conduct must reflect what you believe in. No matter how much or little power you have, never misuse it. Never deceive others for personal gain. You might lose valuable contacts and have negative publicity about yourself. Ensure that your emails are professional and professional. Be sure about your tone. Talk straight and try to avoid flattery. Please be aware of your reputation if you meet someone who doesn't like you. Maintain confidentiality
2. Protect yourself.
Do not post sensitive material online. Create private accounts. Use secure sites that require you to sign in. Store important documents safely. File the paperwork and submit them as per your instructions. Send your bills via email instead of mailing them back in an envelope. Never disclose addresses. Never send unsolicited packages. Notify your employer if you need to leave the job. Pay your bills promptly. Never spend money on things that you do not need. Instead, ask friends and family for help. Accept any task without delay.
Get along with your boss. There are times when you will need to report your opinion. Try to cooperate with them. If something goes wrong, notify it immediately, so everyone understands what happened. Report any incident of harassment. Avoid making assumptions and speaking negatively about other people. Encourage teamwork. Work toward improving coworkers' relationships under normal circumstances and in difficult situations.
Do not complain about others in front of your manager or other staff. If your manager gives you feedback and you like it, thank them. Refrain from criticizing the work of others. Seek ways to improve outcomes. Consider offering incentives to your subordinate. Manage expectations professionally. Make sure you always complete everything on time. Do not give up easily. Recognize your accomplishments. Thank the supervisor for their efforts. As soon as you feel comfortable asking the boss for assistance, do not hesitate to take action. Do not let your ego get the best of you. Never blame anyone for other people's misfortunes. Share knowledge with the management. Communicate freely with coworkers.
Please make sure that appropriate information is shared with them. Take responsibility for your actions. Sometimes, mistakes can cost others or damage your reputation. Show empathy and forgive those who hurt you. Remember to keep track of deadlines. Make changes only when it is necessary. Monitor the performance of your team. Check all incoming memos and reports. Never criticize or make fun of your teammates.
They should be treated on equal footing as colleagues in other departments. Care about customers and community. Investigate issues regarding customer complaints. Develop ways to collect feedback from them. Promote positive social impact by participating in charitable activities. Participate in organizations that care about society. Organize volunteer hours. Do not lie about anything—honesty and truthfulness count. Say No! Do not accept gifts offered to you or your children. Even if you are not getting something, decline it politely. If you refuse to receive something, say why or offer alternatives. Do not participate in the sale of drugs or alcohol within the workplace. Any unauthorized purchase of alcohol and tobacco products does not permit you to continue your employment.
3. Focus on results
"Focus on results" is a fundamental digital marketing principle. It means that digital marketers should aim to achieve measurable outcomes through their marketing efforts. This can include generating leads, increasing website traffic, boosting sales, enhancing customer engagement, or improving brand awareness.
To effectively focus on results, digital marketers must set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. These goals should align with the overall business objectives and be regularly monitored and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the digital marketing campaign.
Moreover, digital marketers should use data-driven approaches to optimize their marketing strategies which will help them to achieve better results. They should leverage analytics tools to track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) such as click-through rates, conversion rates, bounce rates, engagement rates, and return on investment (ROI). By doing so, digital marketers can identify areas for improvement and make data-backed decisions to enhance their marketing efforts.
However, focusing solely on results should not come at the expense of ethical considerations. Digital marketers should avoid using unethical tactics such as clickbait, false advertising, spamming, or misleading claims to achieve short-term gains. Instead, they should prioritize delivering value to their target audience through transparent and honest marketing practices.
4. Stop gossiping
Stop gossiping and do not spread rumours about competitors or other brands. Put into consideration your image. Value what others say about you. Believe it or not, you are a significant part of the company in which you work. Don't let a lousy reputation ruin your future career. Do not break any agreements or contracts you agree to when entering a contract. Don't commit fraudulent acts during negotiations.
Always keep records of all deals. Act promptly. Make sure all business expenses are paid if you need to be reimbursed. Never lie or exaggerate on behalf of clients. Undersell and underwhelm your clients with low prices. Over-sell and underwhelm your clients with excess goods. All workers and companies must abide by various government regulations. Always maintain ethical standards.
5. Offer honest and fair treatment to customers.
Be polite. Respond to inquiries and concerns when they arise. Be open-minded when dealing with customers. Refrain from complaining if you do not get what you need. Apologize for your shortcomings and minimize your errors. Offer sincere apologies for your mistakes. Could you solve the problem when it arises? Do not allow others to humiliate your character or reputation. Resign immediately when faced with intolerable circumstances.
Deal effectively with conflicts without blaming everybody else. Do not argue or fight for an advantage. Stand by what you believe in. Be loyal to your customers' needs, preferences, and wishes—compromise when necessary. Be faithful to your word and never commit fraud or misrepresentation. Confidentiality. Never release confidential information to third parties without the data owner's consent. Strive to maintain trust in all dealings. Negotiate with other sellers of your products before accepting orders. Sign contracts that protect your interests. Be responsible for maintaining proper inventory control.
6. Remain calm and remain objective during crisis moments.
Do not lose your temper to save yourself, at least when you need to. Let's face reality when facing a challenge; you must react immediately. Prepare for emergencies and prepare quickly. Set realistic objectives and stick to them. Do not let people intimidate you; use intimidation to get what they want.
Choose words wisely. Stick to the script. Handle objections calmly. Keep calm and maintain objectivity during disagreements. Reject unwanted suggestions. Never give away too much power. Walk away gracefully. Assertive behaviour helps you win people's confidence. Do not take undue advantage of others. Do not take unfair advantage of others or themselves. Do not be selfish or evil in doing what you do. Reward hardworking people, encourage team building, and motivate workers to excel. Do not make unnecessary payments or promises.
Demonstrate professionalism in your language. Do not behave in a way that could offend others. Sit down. Don't indulge in small talk. Keep your cool when things go against you. Do not interrupt others during conversations. Wait until they finish speaking before responding. Adhere to agreed-upon procedures. Avoid being assertive or aggressive when dealing with clients. Maintain composure when dealing with customers. Being rude and abusive could lead to your dismissal, especially when you are talking to people who are your colleagues, clients, or customers.
