Is nothing sacred anymore? I’m starting to think it isn’t! Thanks to social media and the evolution of ‘go anywhere’ technologies everyone has the ability to bear witness and broadcast their views on a global scale. The result? An unforgiving trend towards the concept of transparency. Yes, it’s nothing new and it’s probably common sense that open and honest communication leads to a credible reputation. However the difference nowadays is that those who don’t consider it to be fundamental do so at their peril.

Sites like Facebook probably have a lot to answer for when it comes to girlfriends rowing with their boyfriends. Many of us can relate to a time when he claimed he was only going a ‘couple of drinks’ but there’s pictures plastered all over your Facebook news feed that say different. Well something similar is happening in the business world…

In 2010 the debate over privacy was a reoccurring theme which was highlighted by the colossal WikiLeaks disclosures. These were rarely out of the media spotlight as private and classified corporate documents were distributed via the internet. This surge in user generated content is responsible for brands, organisations and even artists losing control of their agenda as the power of influence shifts towards the hands of the public.

The wall created by technological limitations that many of us are so used to hiding behind no longer exists. Social media has dramatically increased levels of scrutiny and as artists begin to develop their online presence they should understand how transparency can work in their favour:
- Present a human face in the digital space An element of transparency comes from being more ‘personal’ and it’s important that your fans are able to relate to you. Make the most of social media channels by speaking in an authentic voice and sharing words of encouragement or stories as well as promoting your music.

- Monologue has changed to dialogue Remember your fans are discussing you, what you do and your tracks with or without your engagement. Impressions formed online have the potential to cause long lasting reputational damage so don’t miss out on the opportunity to hear their thoughts on what they like (and more importantly don’t like). Be ready to participate in the conversation.

- Time to embrace the chaos Knowledge nowadays is very difficult to destroy. It’s packaged, passed, stored and accumulated on thousands of comps and accessible in a myriad of ways. Remaining transparent from the outset will provide a framework for good practice and has the ability to alleviate negative perceptions.

The bottom line is your reputation whether it’s personal or professional is built on trust and belief. By refusing to communicate and disclose pertinent details you run the risk of sabotaging relationships with your peers. Telling the truth is hard and can make you feel vulnerable at times but something I do know is in today’s networked society, honesty is no longer the best policy – it’s the only policy.