Such new concepts in business - honesty and integrity

The social media space is all about transparency, integrity, honesty and trust. Well so I am told. That means we can trust what we read in blogs, on Twitter on social bookmarking and networking sites. Does this mean that all other media such as print, TV and radio isn’t? Interesting question isn’t it.

To add to this possible scenario, according to a blog I read recently, the Media Standards Trust says that the print media in the UK is more distrusted than even financial institutions are. That is a heavy burden to carry in the current economic time. One would have thought that banks could not be beaten into last place in the trust stakes.

But going back to the whole honesty thing. It almost seems that social media, and its proponents, seem to think that they have invented the word honesty. If you play in the social media space you have to be prepared to be honest because everybody scrutinises you.

Fair enough. Everybody scrutinises the traditional media players as well. Letters are written, complaints lodged, DJ’s get three months suspensions dolled out to them. What’s different in the social media arena?

I would imagine it is only that one can get caught more easily. And secondly that the number of people talking about your error is a lot more than in print where people just can’t be bothered to point out errors. Only a handful of readers, listeners and viewers ever lift up a finger to complain at an inaccuracy. I have never in my whole life. And it’s a fairly long one.

It’s so much easier online. Write a quick blog, type in 140 characters on Twitter or leave a comment on a blog. If it’s really outrageous or appeals to the common denominator it will fly around the cyber universe at a fair pace.

With other words, the only difference between social media and traditional media is that when you are caught at being dishonest you have a greater chance of a lot of people hearing about it. The consequences are more dire.

Isn’t it a shame that we only behave if there is a big stick waiting around the corner to hit us over the head if we stray off the beaten path. Only then do we adhere to the basic principles of honesty and integrity.

So what lesson would you take from this as a business person deciding on your marketing story. Not a huge one really. Shouldn’t you be conducting your business with honesty and integrity as a matter of course? If you have every intention of doing this, then you have nothing to fear from the media whether traditional or the new kid on the block: social media.

Talking social media, do follow me on Twitter, grab my RSS feed or try the e-mail option. Keep in touch. Keep me honest.