Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

April 13, 2008

Bloggy Question 80: Internet Business Isn’t Credible?

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 10:20 pm

Can See Them, Don’t Know Their Address

For those who come looking for a short, thoughtful read, a blogging life discussion, or a way to gradually ease back into the week. I offer this bloggy life question. . . .

Recently, a friend made an observation about working on the Internet. It went like this . . .

He said that that the Internet contractors, developers, consultants, and coaches he’s worked with all have a problem in in common. “They’re not grounded in the brick and mortar world.”

You asked him what he meant.

He said, “My experience is that people I work with all over the world, who have employment and a regular paycheck in structures where other people work, show up when situations get difficult. People I’ve hired on the Internet disappear when projects get difficult or they get overwhelmed.”

You point to folks you know who’ve never had that problem.

He points to the situations that tie those folks to brick and mortar. He suggests that you establish local business saying that, “The Internet will always be filled with people who can easily flee their responsibilities and therefore businesses that are solely Internet based will never have complete credibility.”

How do you respond?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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16 Comments to “Bloggy Question 80: Internet Business Isn’t Credible?”

  1. April 14th, 2008 at 12:54 am
    SpaceAgeSage said

    Although it is well-established in many ways, the internet is still a new frontier. New frontiers attract people who are not tied to brick and mortar thinking or stability. In America, the wild West called to those who were footloose and fancy free or those who pulled up stakes more easily than their Eastern neighbors. The West also took a long time to become “civilized,” but when it did so, it attracted more stable or more brick and mortar types. Perhaps business dealings on the internet will become more “grounded” as internet businesses realize stability and a great track record — one equal to their brick and mortar counterparts — will give them an edge over everyone.

  2. April 14th, 2008 at 3:47 am
    amypalko said

    Strong connections will always encourage accountability whether they are offline or on, and it could be argued that the multiple ways we have for establishing those connections online actually results in stronger business relationships when they are conducted through the internet. This is why authenticity and transparency are such key concepts for online interactions. Online reputations can be fickle things, and so to jeopardize your good name with irresponsible behaviour can be the kiss of death to an internet business. Of course, the same can be said for offline business, but the mechanisms for feedback are not necessarily as effective for brick and mortar business.
    Hope that makes sense!

  3. April 14th, 2008 at 4:45 am
    Chris Garrett said

    I have had freelancers flee in the bricks and mortar world, nothing new there.

    People are people, online or off. You get people who stick to what they promised to do and you get people who when the going gets tough run away. I do agree though it is easier online.

    If this is a concern then use contracts and only hire people who those contracts will be effective with.

  4. April 14th, 2008 at 6:12 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    Online or brick-and-mortar business, it’s the trust they portrait. Like Chris I think we all know brick-and-mortar businesses fleeing the scene when things get complicated or wrong.

    Online shouldn’t be any different than how you would build your business if the good old internet wouldn’t exist! It’s a ‘tool’ - a multi functional one with that - like phone, pen, paper and face-to-face meetings.

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

  5. April 14th, 2008 at 7:28 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi SpaceAgeSage!
    I was thinking many of the same things. New frontiers tend to attract risktakers, don’t they? Each of us mitigates our risks in some way, but still we appear to take more risk by being here, doing business here, than folks who do not.

    I agree that as time moves forward, we’ll find ways of closing the loopholes. :)

  6. April 14th, 2008 at 7:36 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Chris!
    Good points all. Distance is a problem in any business relationship. Distance without ever meeting makes things harder yet.

    For me, contracts are help people agree on what the work will be. They’re almost impossible to enforce online or off, because of the cost of enforcing them.

  7. April 14th, 2008 at 7:39 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    But don’t you think that the how things “should be” and how the are haven’t quite aligned yet?

  8. April 14th, 2008 at 7:44 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Amy,
    Yeah. Underneath it all it the strength of the relationship and trust. I do find that we can think we know people online better than we do. :)

  9. April 14th, 2008 at 7:52 am
    Karin H. said

    Hi Liz

    No, not really. Brick and mortar aren’t always aligned like that. IMHO it’s not the ‘tool’ that’s being used, it’s the person using the tool.

    Karin H

  10. April 14th, 2008 at 8:23 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    Well said. Maybe I overlook the misalignments in the brick world because I’m used to where they’re usually found. :)

  11. April 15th, 2008 at 3:49 am
    Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary said

    Interesting. I am always encouraging newbies in my own industry to network both online and offline for their businesses - that it shouldn’t be entirely built via the one medium. Wonder if there’s some connection there?

    I guess anonymity is easier/greater online but realistically it’s also easier to research people and their backgrounds now too. As Karin says, it’s more the person using the tool.

  12. April 15th, 2008 at 5:46 am
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi Kathie!
    My life is now blended seamless online and off and I find that both require networking just as you propose. Yeah, it’s slightly easier to hide online, if you’ve not established a strong profile to start with.

    The problem is that is that is much easier to falsify. A 63 year old man can pose as an 18 year old girl.

  13. April 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
    Bloggy Question 81: A Nice Gesture - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] articles Bloggy Question 80: Internet Business Isn’t Credible? Bloggy Question 79: What’s a Social Media Expert? Bloggy Question 78: Like an Intriguing Blog [...]

  14. April 27th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
    Bloggy Question 82: It’s the Truth, Well, Sort of . . . - Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - Thinking, writing, business ideas . . . You’re only a stranger once. said

    [...] articles Bloggy Question 80: Internet Business Isn’t Credible? Bloggy Question 79: What’s a Social Media Expert? Bloggy Question 78: Like an Intriguing Blog [...]

  15. May 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
    whoa said

    While it’s real that some people from the internet can escape somewhat quickly… There are those who in real (offline) life do so too.

    I think that one has to develop a keen sense of who is quirky and who is not. The thing is that online you can checkout who has had trouble in the past, offline you never know.

    It’s like the “Why don’t you accept (brand) credit cards here? You would be so respected if you did”.

  16. May 30th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
    ME Liz Strauss said

    Hi whoa!
    You always bring insight to these questions. . . .
    I’m getting good — after a few years — of figuring out who’s going to stick around to do what they promise. But I’ve also gotten better at checking out my predictions.

    I love that last question.

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