| Each day I read the headlines and often learn | | | | about your business and using zero exaggeration. In |
| something new and valuable. But, the other day, as I | | | | my opinion, understanding what "transparency" means |
| was looking over the headlines of the day, I came | | | | in a business environment goes way beyond being |
| across a post, What social media words do you want | | | | truthful in your business practices. |
| to retire? I found the content of this post to be a bit | | | | Many business owners and entrepreneurs often don't |
| off. The author of this post, Danny Brown, discusses | | | | understand exactly what it means to be "transparent." |
| five of his least favorite social media words and | | | | The truth is, transparency can come in a variety of |
| phrases and why he dislikes each. | | | | different forms. A face behind a brand, a strong and |
| One of his disliked phrases, which actually stuck out to | | | | clear business message (on all marketing materials), |
| me as an important phrase, was "Transparency is | | | | and even a credo or philosophy section on a website |
| key." | | | | are all forms of transparency. These elements enable |
| Here is Danny's reasoning behind why this phrase, out | | | | your prospects and current customers to connect with |
| of many others, should be "put into the social media | | | | the brand on a personal level. |
| retirement home." | | | | And, often, strategically expressing your business |
| "Transparency is key. Unless it's okay for us to lie | | | | transparency is an acquired skill. In fact, transparency is |
| about ourselves and make us sound more interesting | | | | a branch of marketing. Is everyone educated in the |
| than we are with tall tales and over-hyped statistics, | | | | effective practices of marketing? Probably not. So |
| then isn't this a given in everything we do, and not just | | | | then, why is being transparent in our business practices |
| restricted to social media?" | | | | "a given," as Danny says. |
| Now, I understand that when people throw this term | | | | When you throw "Transparency is key" around |
| around without understanding what this phrase truly | | | | without understanding the defining aspects of it, you |
| means, it can be frustrating. But, by no means do I think | | | | are setting yourself up for speculation. In other words, |
| that "Transparency is key" should be thrown into the | | | | transparency is not something you say you are. |
| social media retirement home, and here's why: | | | | Rather, it's something you illustrate through effective |
| I most definitely see Danny's point about overused | | | | brand messaging. |
| social media phrases and words. Many people have | | | | Respectfully, I think to say that "transparency is a |
| the same exact point of view. Sometimes it can get | | | | given" is an incorrect assumption. |
| extremely annoying when people throw around | | | | |
| phrases without understanding the true meaning behind | | | | Discover simple marketing strategies to attract and |
| them. | | | | convert prospects. My bimonthly ezine, Sumer's |
| However, I do think that, if used in the correct context | | | | Secrets is packed with tips on how to improve your |
| and backed by intelligent ideas, "Transparency is key" | | | | web copy, promote your website, and market your |
| holds true. I would have to strongly disagree that | | | | brand. Sign up and receive a FREE report on |
| transparency is a given in everything we do. | | | | creating web copy that will increase sales and site |
| Transparency is much more than simply telling the truth | | | | traffic. |