Check your facts!

Been involved in an interesting discussion on a LinkedIn forum. Not relating to Virtual Assistance at all but rather my passion, photography. However, what has been taking place there is something we all need to be mindful of  as Virtual Assistants and therefore often as advisors to our clients.  I thought I should share my thoughts here.

The discussion related to Copyright requirements for photos, but this can also apply to other items we deal with for our clients. So it need not be Copyright but also other things.

What I am driving at is the information we provide, especially at forums, via blogs and our websites.  It is VERY important that we spell out the information we’re sharing relates to a particular region or country and that readers/members should check for themselves for their relevant locations.

What works in one country might not be the case for another and no-one should take for gospel, information shared on a forum or a website as being correct and legal for their requirements.  A solicitor once told me (when discussing another matter relating to a problem I was having with someone) that ignorance is no excuse.  If you’re at fault, or not doing something in the correct way, then chances are you could lose out in one way or another.  It’s not worth the chance if whatever that thing is, is really important to you or your client.

So, check your facts, do the research and be prepared to give the evidence of that research to your clients so they can make qualified assessments.  Don’t make assumptions and don’t work on hearsay.