The key component of buzzwords is the, well, buzz. It is important to remember that buzz only works for the first handful of people or content creators that help make it a popular term. Everyone else who tries to incorporate buzzwords into their content risks looking unoriginal. Originality is essential when it comes to captivating reader interest, particularly for social media marketing sites that feature specific types of content, such as how LinkedIn specifically hosts professional profiles.
Putting Your Own Flame Out
To help users stand out and create more original online resumes, LinkedIn combed through their 187 million profiles and reported a list of ten words that appeared too often in profiles of members America and were unanimously agreed upon to be trite:
- Creative
- Organizational
- Effective
- Motivated
- Extensive Expertise
- Track Record
- Innovative
- Responsible
- Analytical
- Problem Solving
The most disconcerting thing about this simple list is realizing you have probably used at least two of the words on your latest self-description. Employers and human resources specialists have seen these words so often than they generally skip over any content that contains them. Without realizing it, you could be destroying your own chances of being noticed by using all-too-popular words that actually bore your audience.
Alienating Your Audience
Although popular, buzzwords are still considered jargon, so you’d have to know where the reference originated in order to appreciate it. While using them in your online content makes you appear up-to-date, you also run the risk of alienating any readers who don’t know what the word means, or those who don’t quite understand the joke behind it. The key is to have your content understood by as much of your audience as possible, particularly when writing content for information delivery or online reputation repair.
When used appropriately, buzzwords can liven up a site’s content and provide entertainment to the reader. However, for content that is meant to be straightforward but should still pique audience interest, it is better to steer clear of hackneyed terminology. To be safe, if a buzzword can be replaced by a more common or simpler term, opt for the latter.
TAGS: buzzword, trending, online reputation, social media, privacy, social networking
SOURCES:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/brettnelson/2013/02/05/business-jargon-bracketology-which-annoying-corporate-buzzword-cliche-or-euphemism-will-win-forbes-ncaa-style-tourney-vote-now
http://www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2012/12/04/ten-buzzwords-to-cut-from-your-linkedin-profile-2
– See more at: http://www.onlinereputationmanagement.com/when-buzzwords-backfire/#sthash.rYztTLCf.dpuf