Partner or No Partner, A Signed Agreement Says It All

Internet marketing has grown enormously in the past few years but has taken an amazing jump since the economy began to falter in the past two years.  Along with that growth became increasing risk when it cam to working with and/or for someone doing any kind of marketing or web development.  What has been increasing as well is that there are instances when work is being done but the appropriate reimbusment is not taking place.  Is one of these people you?

Well, one of them happened to be me in the past few months and I mistook someone's word for trust and ended up getting burned. The reward was a lesson well learned but the risk was not getting paid to do the business development because of one simple flaw.... a signed agreement.  I had created a logo, uploaded a website, developed a new autoresponder and campaign, created business card and flyers and maintaining the Twitter account before getting my signed business agreement.  And yes you guessed it....I not only did not get paid to do these things, I was told I was out of luck because I was not covering my partners back. Go Figure. 

Fortunately, I was able to get the website down, remove the Twitter account and withheld the card templates.  So my recommendation is to either prebill and get paid prior to even starting to engage in internet work or get a signed document before releasing and work created to market for someone else.  It is easy to be left high and dry without documentation.  But you will also learn the character of the individual in the process. 

The internet is an outstanding interim to do business and meet new people.  But it also,without proper presentation can be a place where others are being taken advantage of and not realize it until it is too late to correct the situation.  So especially if you are a Newbie in the world of internet marketing, be aware that the vastness of the internet can not only make you successful, it can also swallow you up as well.  Pay attenteion to the people you are dealing with and their manner of dealing with certain issues.  Their actions will speak much louder than their words and their character will emerge and you will see what principles they do or do not value.  But most of all, be aware that succesful people in any business do not work for free, that is why they are successful.

Comments

[Cate Harris]

A written agreement enables us to stand in our integrity, with ourself and with partners. Signing it takes the agreement one step further, making it a legal agreement. If all persons involved are in integrity, the signature would not be necessary! As you said, not everyone is standing in their own integrity.

I hope that the person who taught you this lesson reconnects with their personal integrity and clears their unfinished business.

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