I think it’s fair to say that the most common misuse of Social Media is using like it’s just another advertising channel… it’s NOT. In advertising you’re PUSHING out your message about YOU. But social media is viral because it’s based on real people with real dimension; social media is about relationships and reality. So my caution to you is to drop the polished, perfected brand you’ve worked hard to refine and get real through being transparent with your social network.

Transparency is ease of connection. In marketing terms, it suggests that the really meaty part of your offering be front and center. If you’re in a service-related business then that offering is YOU, including your perspective and insights.Being transparent suggests that what you express should be direct and, above all, clear. Taking on the Naked Marketing Method demands that you no longer hide or bury who you are and what you bring in the pages of your website. The faster you can relay the essence of your message, the higher your conversion rates and profits will be.

Transparency informs the way in which you construct your web site using shallow navigation and highly consumable content delivered consistently. It also asks that you be willing to share what you stand for without having to forfeit your privacy. Communicating what you stand for aligns you with affinity groups that share your values and creates opportunities with under-served markets or for dominating the niche market of your choosing.

Your collective perspective and solutions expressed through the Naked Marketing MethodSM equal your brand. And the value of your brand (or any other brand) is the extent to which the buying public identifies with the values represented by that brand. Values = value… Aaaaa haaaa!

By being “out there” in front of your audience, and having the moxie to go beyond your comfort zone, you step ever closer to claiming and finally achieving your highest good and long-sought success. Being authentic, visible and transparent will clearly distinguish you from the countless glossy but faceless corporate and utterly dead websites with whom you’re competing for traffic. So, if you’re looking for a competitive edge, look no further than the nearest mirror.