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Social Media Rule 1: If you are NOT transparent, the world will see right through you!

2009 June 5

An article in yesterday’s issue of Adweek announced that the company that a company that already offers a program which pays bloggers to write about products is getting ready to offer that same opportunity for advertisers willing to pay others to “tweet” on their behalf.

Those who send this paid and non-authentic spam over the Twitter platform will get paid based either on the number of clicks they receive or on a flat fee per Tweet.

To quote Bill Gates, “that’s the STUPIDEST idea I’ve ever heard”!

Social Media and Social Networking thrive through transparency, being authentic, listening before speaking, and offering relevant information in a non-obtrusive manner.

Think of Social Networks, including the micro-blogging site Twitter as private gatherings for invited guests.

Now, as an advertiser, think how well your brand would be received if you sent a paid emissary into a private party with a bullhorn who screamed at the top of his lungs “My hemorrhoids don’t itch anymore because I use Preparation H”!  The message seems a bit out of place, don’t you think?

Not only will “pay for blogs” and “pay for tweets” backfire for your brand, it will also drive away followers from the blogs or Twitter accounts that are participating in this “authenticity fraud”.

In the world of Social Media (which includes search, social networks, blogging. micro-sites, photo and video sharing and more) news travels fast!

Ian Watt is a realtor in Vancouver BC Canada.  Ian uses video blogs to connect with his customers and potential customers.  He speaks his mind, and won’t trade money for an opinion.  He states his case very well in this recent You Tube video post.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc2JDGvRh18]

Social Media = Transparency.  I know this sounds paradoxical, but in the Social Media space this is Rule #1:

If you are not transparent, the world will see right through you!

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