Comments on: Do People Really Want Transparency and Authenticity? http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/ Copywriting and Content Marketing Strategies Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:39:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: To thine own self be true: 12 steps to authentic blogging | Confident Writing http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-846242 To thine own self be true: 12 steps to authentic blogging | Confident Writing Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:11:06 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-846242 [...] been on mind since the start of the month, prompted by some discussion at Copyblogger on where we draw the line on authenticity and transparency, and some challenging questions at Word Sell Inc on whether authenticity and sales copywriting mix. [...] [...] been on mind since the start of the month, prompted by some discussion at Copyblogger on where we draw the line on authenticity and transparency, and some challenging questions at Word Sell Inc on whether authenticity and sales copywriting mix. [...]

]]> By: Perspective is the Core of Leadership Communication http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-811998 Perspective is the Core of Leadership Communication Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:57:03 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-811998 [...] persona and their home life.  It is important to know your boundaries.  CopyBlogger discusses personas in regard to blogging-  but ther is value in the comment  ”If you are a [...] [...] persona and their home life.  It is important to know your boundaries.  CopyBlogger discusses personas in regard to blogging-  but ther is value in the comment  ”If you are a [...]

]]> By: Fiona Fell - websitePROFITS http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-619937 Fiona Fell - websitePROFITS Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:02:10 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-619937 The often loaded questions: “Do these pants make me look fat?” has little to do with finding out if the pants make them look fat. I find more often that not it is a way to open a discussion about how the other person is attracted to, appricates or values the person in the pants. Honesty is what I desire. Brutality and malicious intent is never welcome when sharing that honesty. <a href="http://www.websitePROFITS.com.au" title="Fiona Fell: websitePROFITS: Profit Boosting Tips in 37 words or less!" rel="nofollow"> websitePROFITS: Profit Boosting Tips in 37 words or less!</a> The often loaded questions: “Do these pants make me look fat?” has little to do with finding out if the pants make them look fat.

I find more often that not it is a way to open a discussion about how the other person is attracted to, appricates or values the person in the pants.

Honesty is what I desire. Brutality and malicious intent is never welcome when sharing that honesty.

websitePROFITS: Profit Boosting Tips in 37 words or less!

]]> By: Personal Transparency http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-511463 Personal Transparency Sat, 27 Sep 2008 07:59:48 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-511463 [...] found some material on the subject, specifically pertaining to blogs. This is from Brain Clark, and Do People Really Want Transparency and Authenticity? That’s the difference between conversational marketing and corporate robo-speak, and yet you see [...] [...] found some material on the subject, specifically pertaining to blogs. This is from Brain Clark, and Do People Really Want Transparency and Authenticity? That’s the difference between conversational marketing and corporate robo-speak, and yet you see [...]

]]> By: Starting to write with authenticity | Confident Writing http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-471129 Starting to write with authenticity | Confident Writing Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:01:44 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-471129 [...] And then I realised that something else was getting in the way: the fear of setting myself up as an expert.  As if deciding to go for a focused, themed approach was like declaring myself the expert on this subject, while all the time I have as many questions as the next person.  Like why we should think twice about how much we reveal of our public face, or the relationship between authentic writing and sales copy, or the importance (overstated or otherwise) of authenticity and transparency in social media. [...] [...] And then I realised that something else was getting in the way: the fear of setting myself up as an expert.  As if deciding to go for a focused, themed approach was like declaring myself the expert on this subject, while all the time I have as many questions as the next person.  Like why we should think twice about how much we reveal of our public face, or the relationship between authentic writing and sales copy, or the importance (overstated or otherwise) of authenticity and transparency in social media. [...]

]]> By: Speaking in Voices « Creative Spark http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-441911 Speaking in Voices « Creative Spark Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:48:48 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-441911 [...] people, like Brian Clark at CopyBlogger, associate transparency with not pretending to be someone or something you’re not. Ever since [...] [...] people, like Brian Clark at CopyBlogger, associate transparency with not pretending to be someone or something you’re not. Ever since [...]

]]> By: KatieMac http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-433238 KatieMac Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:36:07 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-433238 Such and interesting topic, and the first comment by Jeff is on the money. Reciprocity is about authenticity and transparency in that it demonstrates one's ability to comprehend context. Truth as we know it, is complex. By definition it requires a semantic teeter totter, balanced on some mutually agreed upon fulcrum. Anyone who has ever had an argument knows the truth rests somewhere in between dueling opinions, which are expressed with various objective facts for supporting evidence. And anyone who says "I just want the truth" has some factual information to lead them to believe they are being deceived. Or they're paranoid. Either case, they already feel as if they are on the low end of the teeter totter. When someone is perceived as authentic and transparent there is a belief that they are capable of stepping outside their own interests enough to appreciate alternative information presented by the environment. They are trusted. Anyone who has been at a dinner table with someone who monopolizes the conversation understands that no matter what the verbose drunkard said, "truth" also came out in the from the awkward silences and lack of eye contact from all of the other diners throughout the meal. You don't have to be a genius to know that transparency and authenticity is not the goal of the car salesman, but his inability to appreciate the context of the situation, calls his credibility into question. His client doesn't need truth about him, his client needs truth about cars. Acting as an advisor in that capacity, acknowledges the context of their relationship. Note that context is a dynamic entity. A car salesman selling to another car salesman will no doubt interact differently when selling to the hot blonde or the MIT graduate. It changes with each individual, each environment, each social exchange. Depending on his sensitivity to the context he will either succeed or offend miserably. This is the premise of "pitch." Know your audience. Which is why the same conversation on a tennis court is not the same conversation in the board room, even if the words are identical. Transparency and authenticity are matters of perception, and in order to be genuine it is necessary to be as human, which allows for connecting on the most universal of principles. Start there. And build. By distilling a concept to its essence, starting from that center point you offer up the possibility of building an authentic dialogue between parties by taking a stand within a known or anticipated context. To concern oneself with authenticity and transparency implies that the effort is contrived, and is thus by nature self defeating. It is the Koan of writing and marketing. How to be more authentic...? You cannot. You just have to be. The question you pose at the end is significant... what if no one likes the real you? And that is why we concern ourselves with this at all... what if no one likes us for who we are? Then we must make an effort to be likeable if only in order to have the opportunity to be known as our Self. We create a social self to parallel our essential self. But it is based on the general principle of being human. To the point on manners made earlier, we do NOT develop manners to attain social status. We develop manners out of respect for other human beings. We say please and thank you not for personal gain but to honor the time and effort of others. We clean up after ourselves so that those who come behind us do not have to deal with our messes. The RESULT is veneration from others with whom we are connected, and arises naturally as a byproduct of understanding reciprocity and context. We disagree to resolve a problem and create a third thing...a solution...not to hurt someone by using their vulnerabilities against them. When it comes to marketing, we often exploit frailty to expound upon product benefits. You NEED the airbags of a Volvo or your 4 year old will die is the implication, but sets a context for advertising safety. Obviously no one wants to shop out of fear. The absence of that understanding would be very awkward. Which is why most used car salesman (as described) "feel" threatening, poorly mannered and inauthentic...and are ultimately disliked. We respect people who are capable of finding the balance... someone who blurts out every detail, is not a truth-sayer, there is no honor in that. There is no honor in using your mouth. We might admire their guts momentarily, until they regurgitate some fact about us that is contextually inappropriate. Then we dismiss them as thoughtless and hurtful, because they didn't take our feelings into consideration. "You'll need an SUV because you're fat." Do people really want transparency and authenticity? People want trust. And trust is an extension of good faith. And faith only works in the absence of evidence. You cannot prove yourself to be transparent or authentic. You CAN be understanding. You can be yourself to the best of your ability, in the moment, and to recognize that we are all connected. If we do that, we are likely to find common points naturally, and we will also notice that we are never alone. Such and interesting topic, and the first comment by Jeff is on the money. Reciprocity is about authenticity and transparency in that it demonstrates one’s ability to comprehend context. Truth as we know it, is complex. By definition it requires a semantic teeter totter, balanced on some mutually agreed upon fulcrum. Anyone who has ever had an argument knows the truth rests somewhere in between dueling opinions, which are expressed with various objective facts for supporting evidence. And anyone who says “I just want the truth” has some factual information to lead them to believe they are being deceived. Or they’re paranoid. Either case, they already feel as if they are on the low end of the teeter totter. When someone is perceived as authentic and transparent there is a belief that they are capable of stepping outside their own interests enough to appreciate alternative information presented by the environment. They are trusted. Anyone who has been at a dinner table with someone who monopolizes the conversation understands that no matter what the verbose drunkard said, “truth” also came out in the from the awkward silences and lack of eye contact from all of the other diners throughout the meal. You don’t have to be a genius to know that transparency and authenticity is not the goal of the car salesman, but his inability to appreciate the context of the situation, calls his credibility into question. His client doesn’t need truth about him, his client needs truth about cars. Acting as an advisor in that capacity, acknowledges the context of their relationship. Note that context is a dynamic entity. A car salesman selling to another car salesman will no doubt interact differently when selling to the hot blonde or the MIT graduate. It changes with each individual, each environment, each social exchange. Depending on his sensitivity to the context he will either succeed or offend miserably. This is the premise of “pitch.” Know your audience. Which is why the same conversation on a tennis court is not the same conversation in the board room, even if the words are identical. Transparency and authenticity are matters of perception, and in order to be genuine it is necessary to be as human, which allows for connecting on the most universal of principles. Start there. And build. By distilling a concept to its essence, starting from that center point you offer up the possibility of building an authentic dialogue between parties by taking a stand within a known or anticipated context. To concern oneself with authenticity and transparency implies that the effort is contrived, and is thus by nature self defeating. It is the Koan of writing and marketing. How to be more authentic…? You cannot. You just have to be. The question you pose at the end is significant… what if no one likes the real you? And that is why we concern ourselves with this at all… what if no one likes us for who we are? Then we must make an effort to be likeable if only in order to have the opportunity to be known as our Self. We create a social self to parallel our essential self. But it is based on the general principle of being human. To the point on manners made earlier, we do NOT develop manners to attain social status. We develop manners out of respect for other human beings. We say please and thank you not for personal gain but to honor the time and effort of others. We clean up after ourselves so that those who come behind us do not have to deal with our messes. The RESULT is veneration from others with whom we are connected, and arises naturally as a byproduct of understanding reciprocity and context. We disagree to resolve a problem and create a third thing…a solution…not to hurt someone by using their vulnerabilities against them. When it comes to marketing, we often exploit frailty to expound upon product benefits. You NEED the airbags of a Volvo or your 4 year old will die is the implication, but sets a context for advertising safety. Obviously no one wants to shop out of fear. The absence of that understanding would be very awkward. Which is why most used car salesman (as described) “feel” threatening, poorly mannered and inauthentic…and are ultimately disliked. We respect people who are capable of finding the balance… someone who blurts out every detail, is not a truth-sayer, there is no honor in that. There is no honor in using your mouth. We might admire their guts momentarily, until they regurgitate some fact about us that is contextually inappropriate. Then we dismiss them as thoughtless and hurtful, because they didn’t take our feelings into consideration. “You’ll need an SUV because you’re fat.” Do people really want transparency and authenticity? People want trust. And trust is an extension of good faith. And faith only works in the absence of evidence. You cannot prove yourself to be transparent or authentic. You CAN be understanding. You can be yourself to the best of your ability, in the moment, and to recognize that we are all connected. If we do that, we are likely to find common points naturally, and we will also notice that we are never alone.

]]> By: The Best of Copyblogger in 2007 | Copyblogger http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-237418 The Best of Copyblogger in 2007 | Copyblogger Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:09:02 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-237418 [...] Do People Really Want Transparency and Authenticity? [...] [...] Do People Really Want Transparency and Authenticity? [...]

]]> By: BlueLine » Blog Archive » Recent Stuff I Found http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-122906 BlueLine » Blog Archive » Recent Stuff I Found Tue, 11 Sep 2007 15:53:51 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-122906 [...] Do People Really Want Transparency? [...] [...] Do People Really Want Transparency? [...]

]]> By: Jake W. http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-122180 Jake W. Mon, 10 Sep 2007 14:14:42 +0000 http://www.copyblogger.com/transparency-authenticity/#comment-122180 Thought provoking post! I'm turned off to the idea of becoming what people are looking for simply to gain something from it in the end. I agree that it's better to show interest in others and really listen to them versus the actions of the used car salesman. But its even better to REALLY CARE about people and empathize with their story because its the loving thing to do. If you have a solution or product to meet the need - then great. But whether you can meet their need or not should be secondary to listening and loving other people as though they were your best friend. Thought provoking post!

I’m turned off to the idea of becoming what people are looking for simply to gain something from it in the end.
I agree that it’s better to show interest in others and really listen to them versus the actions of the used car salesman. But its even better to REALLY CARE about people and empathize with their story because its the loving thing to do. If you have a solution or product to meet the need – then great. But whether you can meet their need or not should be secondary to listening and loving other people as though they were your best friend.

]]>