What information are clients privy to?

workpoint

no need send all info...

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

As much as I respect your opinion on saying to send all the information out, I wouldn't agree with you because there are some information that would hurt your business interest if it becomes public knowledge. So, on this note, there are some sensitive information that it's best kept out from the general public.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jeffreyjose48

I agree with you. Don't tell him or her how much you would profit. Also don't tell your sources. They might go directly to the source to get higher discounts and forget you.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Jeane

For people who sell organic food stuff you'd need to inform you customers where you buy what you are selling to them. That's just so they can, if they want to, find out if what you are selling isn't merely labeled "organic."

Such a disclosure shouldn't worry you though because you are making it convenient for them (your customers) to find what they need when they need. It can be a daunting task to travel long distances to buy something even if it might cheaper there.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

amelia88

I think most stuff I base on a "need to know" basis, if that makes sense. I give out the basics to start with. If they ask for additional info on certain things, I base it on whether or not it's something that relates to the work I'm doing for them.

If there's no good reason that they shouldn't know it, I don't see the big deal, but I do think it's better than laying out every piece of info on the table for them.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Kakashi2020

I would have to agree that clients should only give relevant information and shouldn't give out company secrets and other private business information. It's always a need to know basis thing.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Martinsx1

"... I think most stuff I base on a "need to know"... "

Exactly, this is how I believe that information about one's online business should be made available to the clients and staff members as well.

Clients should be given all the relevant information that they need to make the best decision on what they want and nothing more than that. Information is power, so it should be minded who it's given to.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Corzhens

I think it is better to withhold information to the clients because the more they know, the more they will be nosy or inquisitive. When I have a chat with a client what I do is to veer away from the business talk and divert the discussion to personal matters. Talking about personal matters is better because you can cultivate your relationship with the client and you don’t go to the risk of divulging a business secret.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

vhinz

Sharing information is great. But if you give all, I think there will be nothing left for your business, unless you really want to give all for free. Like SEO, many are sharing their ideas to beginners on how to start optimizing their content and become an SEO specialist. But the complete details on how good SEO is really done, they reserve it for themselves because that's their business. If information is you business, then you must protect your business.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

nrnlss

I agree with you, if you give all you don't have something special in your hands. No surprise that will shock people and you will be transparent ti your competitors.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Martinsx1

This is exactly what I'm trying to point out for most people to grasp and understand. Information is power and how it's used goes a long way in determining how far what you are using the information for takes form.

From all indications, clients are not given all the information about one's business, what's made available for them is what they need to know at that point in time and nothing to deal with the core secrets of the business.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaymish2

I think that you should give your client's just enough information to know what kind of services that you can offer them. Apart from that you should keep your insider trading secrets to yourself. There is no reason why you should tell someone our business secrets. They have no reason to want to know what your business secrets. I would find that abit suspicious. Why would they want your trade secrets do they want to steal them from you?

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Martinsx1

Some people can get on your nerves with the kind of questions they put forward at you which points at divulging your business secrets which would be the worst decision made by any business owner. Making such sensitive information available to those who seek it would put your business at risk of getting copied.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

In my opinion, as long as you don't play dirty, it's not that bad to be a little bit secretive about your business. It is because playing the most transparent one in the industry doesn't really do you good at all, especially if you have tough competitors. Putting everything in front of you may cause your competitors to know your weak side and up to what extent you can only do. So even though it's exclusively for your clients, you never know.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Barida

In a competitive market, we should not be trying to show every information that concerns our business as this is not the best way to make things work. The need to put some other things into perspective is necessary so as not to allow those rivals taking advantage of things that concerns our business.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Jeane

I think that considering the fact that most of the information your competitors can use against you is already on the internet, we shouldn't concern ourselves too much with what they can find out and focus instead on retaining the customers already acquired.

As for disclosing information, you need to anticipate the questions your customers might have about your business and answer them honestly. You could have a FAQ section on your site and provide this information, updating it regularly as the questions come.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Kakashi2020

For SEO purposes, I think all relevant info should be given and that shouldn't include business secrets and other classified information with regards to products and services.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

mitan143

I agree. If it is relevant and not too risky then it is best to share those information. And yes, I believe it also depends on the purpose. The person should also consider different factors of giving out information such as security breach and privacy. There are also rules and procotols of how much should we share information to other people.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

I agree with you. You cannot always open up completely. Most people don't even completely open up to their loved ones, how much more with people whom you are just having business with? It's great to let your clients know the information that they have to know, but don't go too much as it may affect you and your business.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Youngshark

It is always important to attach the basic plus the most relevant stuff if you want people to believe in you and trust all that you will offer. I mean there is absolutely no need to have a blog where you do not offer people the right information as they will be lost when they try to contact you and even verify the content.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

overcast

I think clients and the worker both needs to have boundary on what information to be shared and what to be said. I have seen my share of the issues with the freelancing. Make sure clients are on the right track for the same. You can see that some of the time it may not be that easy. But if the information is properly managed then it may be easier to work with the clients on that note.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Barida

The truth is that some of those clients can be working as a spy for those people that are your competitors in that line of business, so it is not always cool to spit out every information that concerns your business to clients and potential clients as well.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

NerdIndeed

Good point. For instance, you got hired to work as a product researcher for a drop shipper, but at the same time you are working as a virtual assistant at an e-commerce store, never disclose the products or techniques used by your current employer to the new one.

Does it make sense? What I'm trying to say is just practice discretion and be careful with the information you share.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

You also have a very good point. People should know that the world nowadays is very daring. Many people don't even care if they break the rules. What's iportabt to them is their own benefit.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

NerdIndeed

The funny thing is your employer will know if ever you do share sensitive company information. Maybe not at first but eventually they will.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Martinsx1

".. some of those clients can be working as a spy..."

In the kind of world we live in today, this is very possible and one of the easiest ways to letting your guard down to your competition thinking you are discussing with your loyal clients only to have your secrets being sold to the highest bidder. My watch word is not to trust people easily.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

mitan143

I think the concern of this topic is to remind everyone that we should always consider first the possible outcome of giving out all information to the clients. Whatever industry we are in, we must inform ourselves about the importance of sharing of information we have. We must be very careful with the possible risks. Sharing of information depends on the purpose and we should analyze it first.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

NerdIndeed

I do agree with what you said. But I have seen proposals from freelancers on Upwork where they already give suggestions and ideas to clients (on the proposal itself) as to what they should implement on the project before even getting the job.

In your opinion, do you think this is good practice?

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jpk0007

Well, any information that is necessary to be given must be shared with your client. it's always better to be very honest and transparent with your client to avoid unnecessary complications that may arise if the client understands that you have willfully concealed some information regarding your business from him. However, any information that is strictly confidential and unrelated to the contract between you and your client can very well be kept to yourself and the client has no reason to know it.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Youngshark

There are details which you obviously cannot share with your clients or anyone else for that matter. This includes things like passwords and financial information. You should never trust anybody with details that have to be kept in secret.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

NerdIndeed

I don't think my client needs to know about my personal life, that one thing is for sure. All he has to know is my rate, my portfolio and work experience, where I live (maybe), that's about it. If you work for two employers simultaneously under the same niche, you must, and I mean you MUST practice discretion. One thing can lead to another without you knowing that you might lose both jobs.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jaybee19

Of course a businessman should be an honest businessman, however I don't think that a good businessman should be very open/transparent with all the things that are happening in his business. Like for example, his personal life (except for the basics). After all, at the end of the day, the clients' concern will always be about the accomplishment of the jobs/services requested and not the personal life of the service provider/employee.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

theresajane

I agree with you. It's not bad if you don't want to share you very personal information. As long as you don't commit crimes and you don't break rules, then, you are a good employee.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

jayjaydimson

Well, you also need to have some secrets regarding with your business, because we are in the world that is full of villains, you still need some privacy with some of your private information so it won't get licked and make your business down.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

stbrians

Exactly what I will do. I hate villains who are after destroying you and your business. If you give out information to all it may be used for your downfall

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

HappyLady

Honesty is important. That said, I cannot imagine any business that told all its secrets getting far. Nor can I imagine clients wanting all their information spread about. If you are a rival company, aren't you always trying to work out what the competition is doing to beat it. New ideas, client information and development plans all need to be under cover for safety and also to prevent others stealing what you have. Anything that must be publicly available by law should be.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

stbrians

I only withhold information that can be used to destroy your business.

I used to make and sell homemade yoghurt and withheld the recipe and how used to make it. People in my area like aping others and soon push them out of business

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

Corzhens

It depends on the kind of client that you can give more information. When the client is on the level and the information is relevant to his purchases then I guess there is nothing wrong to give him some details about your style of management or the way you operate your business because he can be considered a valued client. But for those nosy clients who are suspected of having plans of the same business then you just evade their questions about the business.

6 years ago

Are you sure you want to delete this post?

SEOClerks

What information are clients privy to?

What information are clients privy to?

Comments

Please login or sign up to leave a comment