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How brands can leverage social media for greater transparency

by | Aug 22, 2018 | Public Relations

Misinformation, fake news and data privacy concerns are seeding doubt in consumers around the integrity and authenticity of today’s brands and businesses. But faced with this crisis in trust, brands are presented with a unique opportunity to restore consumers’ confidence in their values and business practices through transparency.

A new report from social analytics and management firm Sprout SocialFrom Risk to Responsibility: Social Media and the Evolution of Transparency, reveals how transparency can help brands build deeper connections, enhance customer loyalty and ultimately appear more human.

Sprout Social surveyed 1,000 U.S. consumers about their perceptions and desires for brand transparency today and social media’s role in more transparent communication. The report reveals a staggering 86 percent of consumers believe transparency from businesses is more important than ever before, and more than half say they want brands to be most transparent on social media.

How brands can leverage social media for greater transparency

As social has created a culture rooted in 24/7 communication and the expectation of increased visibility across the board, the channel is uniquely positioned to support brands as they build long-term trust through open, honest and empathetic communication.

Key findings include:

Social amplifies a call for transparency, presenting threats, challenges and opportunities for brands

Forty percent of people who say brand transparency is more important than ever before attribute it to social media. In fact, more than half of consumers (53 percent) are likely to consider brands that are transparent on social for their next purchase. Conversely, a lack of transparency on social leaves 86 percent of people likely to take their business to a competitor.

There’s a large gap in consumer expectations and brand transparency practices on social

Eighty-one percent of people believe businesses have a responsibility to be transparent when posting on social media—a higher standard than they set for politicians, nonprofits, friends/family and even themselves. Meanwhile, only 15 percent of consumers believe brands are currently “very transparent” on social.

How brands can leverage social media for greater transparency

Transparency drives loyalty

When brands develop a history of transparency, nearly nine in 10 people are more likely to give them second chances after bad experiences and 85 percent are more likely to stick with them during crises.

CEOs with a social presence reap benefits for their businesses

One third of consumers say they would purchase more from brands whose CEOs demonstrate transparency on social, with 63 percent saying CEOs with their own social profiles better represent their companies.

Millennials raise the bar for transparency best practices on social

Millennials rate social media as the communication channel where they want brands to be the most transparent, and 70 percent of millennials want CEOs to have a personal presence on social media.

“Our data shows that transparency truly makes the difference in forming lasting connections between businesses and consumers,” said Jamie Gilpin, chief marketing officer at Sprout Social, in a news release. “But being a transparent brand is much more than a singular campaign or announcement. It’s an ongoing practice that showcases the humanity of a brand and builds a relationship that’s rooted in authenticity and honesty. Social media is a prime platform for brands to build this relationship and establish unwavering consumer trust.”

Download the full report here.

Richard Carufel
Richard Carufel is editor of Bulldog Reporter and the Daily ’Dog, one of the web’s leading sources of PR and marketing communications news and opinions. He has been reporting on the PR and communications industry for over 17 years, and has interviewed hundreds of journalists and PR industry leaders. Reach him at richard.carufel@bulldogreporter.com; @BulldogReporter

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