Private Investigators are killing their personal brand
I manage several online groups and PI communities and have seen my fair share of questions, answers, and arguments that make absolutely no sense-whatsoever. The only thing they are good for is to identify the professional investigators, identify who can be a liability for your company if you hire them, and identify which ones you need to stay away from for safety concerns.
Most of the questions could be answered via a simple Google search – “I’ve been a private investigator for 20 years, but I was recently told that pre-texting is illegal in my state?”
If you do not know the laws after 20 years of service, this means that you are either not doing your job right, or you are doing something that is illegal but you do not know about it yet. I am not about to be used as an example by the state.
Most answers make the respondents sound like amateur investigators – “When you get the chance, go by a party store and buy yourself a fake mustache. This is great when you’re doing pre-texts because no one can remember your face but they do remember mustaches.”
I corrected the spelling errors on the post, but that is copy and paste of the question. I had to screen shot the question when I saw it. (look below). I honestly do not know if this person was trolling the community, or if they were being serious. But just in case, please do not buy a mustache. On a second note, please learn to spell.
Most arguments make everyone involved seem like a group of high school students arguing over whose parents can jump the highest – “You’ve only been around for 15 years, I’ve been around for 22, I can dig more dirt than you or anyone else in this group” , “no you can’t” , “yes I can!”.
What kind of problem does this solve? Why would anyone continue to add fuel to a fire that is getting out of hand? Can you dig more dirt than me? Probably, but quite honestly, I do not care. I am going to do my best, but I am not going to belittle anyone else while I am doing it.
Notice that I used the word “most” freely in those three statements. That is because PI Groups, Forums, and Communities have a wealth of information and knowledge to be shared and consumed by the next investigator. They are great at answering the toughest questions in the industry and amazing at mobilizing a large group of investigators towards a cause.
As private investigators, we represent our company, affiliates and clients. If a client finds this information, they may completely block you off their vendor lists. Unless you have an established business with regional clients, insurance adjusters, attorneys, etc. You depend on all the different types of jobs that can come to your front door. Getting involved in arguments, asking basic surveillance questions, or answering a question without thinking about the consequences can have a dire effect in your professional career.
I have seen people post negative things about their employers expecting to have 100% privacy and confidentiality within a group – only to have that employer also be a member of the group and terminating the employee who in turn blamed the group for not being “discrete”.
As a fellow investigator said in a thread – I would encourage everyone to analyze the questions that are being asked, conduct your research on the member. You’ll be able to gauge a member’s proficiency based on their questions and responses. Investigators that are unable to develop answers to basic questions are less likely to produce acceptable results in the field.
How can you use this to your advantage?
Pick your battles. Find the posts that you can use use your expertise on and leave the ones that will make you sound like an amateur investigator. Understand that your name is directly associated with your business. When it comes to being part of a group, everyone remembers the arguments and fights, but only a select few will remember the Questions and Answers that matter. The ones that added value to the community. The ones that offered solid advice and helped a private investigator in need.