Ethics and morals - am I niaive?!

[Moongazer]

Hi

I'm very new at the whole 'business' thing, having only just established an on-line retail site, selling things I make. I've set up a blog, to help me boost my Google ranking, and looked at it today, to find out that someone else who does something very similar to me, is 'watching' my blog and has effectively posted an advert on my blog.

This annoyed me - is this something I've got to get used to, and expect - or am I right to be cross about this, and want to do something about it?

Thanks

[Trainer Bubble]

It's something you'll need to get used to I'm afraid. However, surely your settings allow you to choose who follows you?

[deniser]

Do you not have the option of pre-authorising comments on your blog? This would solve your problem.

In business you can't trust anyone!

People are very devious especially when it comes to diverting online customers. There are several websites who use my business name on their home pages in an attempt to divert searchers to their sites. Very sneaky but as the name is not registrable as a trademark there is very little you can do about it.

I would just delete the comment and make sure they can't be posted in future without authorisation from you.

[Moongazer]

I did think about blocking that person somehow, but I found myself thinking 'Right! I'm going to go and do exactly the same thing to her!' and then felt really disappointed with myself, because that's just not how I work.

Guess I need to toughen up...

[deniser]

'Right! I'm going to go and do exactly the same thing to her!'

Best to avoid reciprocal action as it can look bad to your customers. You did the right thing (even if instinct calls for retaliation!)

[silvermusic]

Looks like they've achieved their aim in annoying you. You'd worry them even more by not mentioning anything about it and leaving their post intact.

Also keep in mind this thought. Better to have your competition as a friend than an enemy. Something I was told many years ago and one which has proved true time and time again.

In the high street having several similar businesses near each other works to everyone's advantage as people go to a location because of it, same thing holds true on the web too.

[deniser]

Better to have your competition as a friend than an enemy. Something I was told many years ago and one which has proved true time and time again.



This is so true!

[NCA]

Keeping an eye on the compettion is part of doing business. I would guess its just her standard Blogspot blurb about herself and hasnt really thought about how it looks to you.

[Moongazer]

These are all good points I hadn't thought of, and a positive way to think about it - thank you! I'm glad I posted now