Transparency in business is not a new concept. It just isn’t. Everyone knows that in any industry, there needs to be transparency so that there can be trust between all parties. That being said, transparency in business can easily be underemphasized during day-to-day operations and especially in marketing. It affects your business practices, your crew, and your audience. In 2021, transparency is something that businesses just can’t afford to be under-emphasizing and forgetting about.
1. Be transparent with your crew
Being transparent internally with all of your employees, whether that be your executives, janitors, or maybe even third-party suppliers, is incredibly important. Transparency in this setting will always work in your favor by earning the trust of your team. By earning their trust, they will inherently take everything you say at face value. You will be automatically trusted and respected because you have no history of withholding any truths. To run a smooth business and maintain a happy crew, transparency is absolutely paramount.
Not only will transparency will improve your relationship with your crew, but transparency will also give your team a clear idea of their personal work goals, your expectation for them, and overall company goals to work towards. Working towards the same goals as your business will not only keep everyone feeling productive with the proper milestones in place, but it will also ensure that whatever projects your team is working on, big or small, will generally be headed towards the same direction. At the end of the day, ensuring that your crew understands their goals and the goals of your business will ultimately save you time and money.
2. Be transparent with your audience
If you’ve spent any time on social media during 2020 and 2021, you know that there has been an inherent shift in the way people are perceiving content. Being stuck at home and overwhelmed with the noise of social media has put a clear emphasis on putting out content that is not only educational, but that is meaningful. Not just the crap they’re seeing all of their feeds anyways. Good, quality content that leaves people feeling better than before they saw it is what you’re aiming for.
So, transparency plays a huge role in this delivery of content. Offering clear value and not pushing out “fluff” content is appreciated now more than ever and it all comes back to transparency of your brand. Content that shows clearly who you are and displays your values and mission will earn the trust of your audience and will build a better, higher quality community surrounding your brand.
3. Be transparent is all business transactions
We have all been there before when in negotiation for a new deal. Not wanting to say no and feeling like you have to say yes. It’s not a great place to be and honestly, it’s a huge waste of time for both parties involved. However you’re feeling in a situation like this, just know that saying no isn’t a bad thing. Saying no is probably one of the best things you can actually do for yourself and someone else.
To all the business owners out there reading this, you’re probably nodding your head vigorously. To all the customers out there, you might be feeling bad about saying now.
At Blackwood we like to say that you shouldn’t be afraid to have bold loyalties. If you’ve worked with someone for years and have enjoyed their services, wear that badge proudly. Say no quickly. This is appreciated for any business who is trying to work with you. You’ve saved their time, you’re happy with your services, and whoever you have loyalty to is getting a free shout out in the process. If you’ve been with the same person for years and it’s time for a change, then that’s great. Make a change plan, weigh out your options, and embrace the change. There’s no shame in that. There is, however, shame in not being transparent about your intentions. More often than not, transparency will help every party involved.
If your current marketing strategy just isn’t cutting it anymore and you’re looking for an agency based on transparency, you’ve come to the right place. Our team of experts here at Blackwood Creative would be more than happy to work with you and help you meet and exceed your business goals. Whether is be building transparency on your socials or building transparency through a rebrand, we’re in the business of building remarkable brands – yours could be next. Reach out to us today!
