As you over hear discussions in your company or clients, be on the look out for the following phrases, they could be the first warning that something is very very wrong!

1. We have always done it this way – If this is used as a justification why something is done a certain way then that means they have forgotten the reason which means you might be doing it the wrong way.
2. Let’s save money on customer service – If customer service is so low in the priority order that it is seen simply as a cost to be cut, your customers are going to go to a competitor that actually supplies a service.
3. All we need is more traffic – More traffic is often the mantra of companies who do not get the internet. Yes, traffic is good, but it is not the only metric and nor is it a silver bullet solution to a badly performing website.
4. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it - Danger! Danger! Business should be a continuous search for better ways to do things, improvements and efficiencies. How can you serve your customer better? What new ways can you reach them?
5. Nobody ever takes notice of ads – Bad campaigns are a waste of money. There is such a thing as banner blindness. That said do not let the naysayers make you believe the hype. Carefully executed and tracked ads do work extremely well.
6. We will make it up in volume – If you are not careful with this one you might sell sell sell all the way to bankruptcy.
7. This guy says he has a secret trick to get us top Google rankings – How quickly do you want to be banned from the search engines?
8. Don’t worry about sales figures, this is premium advertising – Sales is not a dirty word!
9. Don’t worry about branding, look at the conversions! – You always need to protect your brand because your brand will affect your long term success. Do not harm future value by your actions today.
10. With that venture capital we will be able to fly first class – Isn’t it funny how common sense isn’t always common practice?

Can you think of any other dangerous phrases to hear in a company? Please share in the comments …