The Official Bit: Posting Policies on Your Web

The Official Bit: Posting Policies on Your Web Site

You can kick your professionalism up a notch by posting your company policies visibly on your web site. You should create separate policies to deal with returns or refunds, security and privacy, and guarantees if you provide them.

Be sure you word your policies carefully, using professional language that is clearly understandable. Because internet security and privacy policies are virtually universal (no pun intended), it is all right to use other web sites' privacy policies as a guide for yours. However, you cannot copy them word for word because you would be plagiarizing, and therefore subject to all sorts of unpleasant legal and personal ramifications.

Policies for returns and refunds are generally individualized to suit your business. In creating your return or refund policy, be sure to take into account how generous you can be without jeopardizing your company. Most returns for physical products have time limitations, generally 30, 60 or 90 days. Virtual corporations tend to offer longer return windows in order to factor in shipping time. If your company is service-driven, you may offer refunds in case clients are dissatisfied with the results. Here, too, you should offer a time window for requesting refunds. In the case of services, you must clearly define what constitutes dissatisfaction, so you don't end up refunding everything you earn. In wording your refund or return policy, you can look for a company whose procedures are similar to what you have in mind and model yours in a similar fashion, without plagiarizing or copying.

Guarantees are similar to refunds and returns, but many guarantees offer longer time frames and may offer product replacement rather than refunds. For service providers, you might guarantee certain results from your service and offer either a partial or full refund, or additional free services if the guarantee is not met. For example, if your business deals in web site optimization, you might offer a guarantee to your clients that their web traffic will increase by a certain percentage or number of unique hits. Consumers are often more willing to purchase guaranteed products or services, and as long as you word your policies clearly and post them visibly, you will find you'll have more satisfied customers than dissatisfied ones.

It is always advisable to have a lawyer review your official policies, particularly in a virtual corporation where there is little physical interaction with customers. Look for a lawyer who specializes in business or e-commerce, either locally or online. Protecting yourself against potential law suits is more important than ever, and once you've had your policy professionally reviewed, you can rest assured you've fulfilled your disclosure obligations as a business owner.

HELPFUL HINT: You can give your company a global image by using web translation software to offer versions of your policies or your entire site in other languages. There are several internet companies, such as Babelfish, that provide free translation codes you can install on your site.

How to Be a Consummate Professional