---
id: "action-encourage-transparent-flaws"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ Transparency: From Flawless Messaging to Real-World Reactions"]
tags: ["messaging-strategy", "authenticity"]
related: ["concept-transparency", "claim-negative-info-reduces-uncertainty", "entity-victoria-magrath"]
action: "Permit influencers to mention minor product limitations or competing products in their sponsored content."
outcome: "Reduces consumer uncertainty and makes the positive claims significantly more believable."
sources: ["attention"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-attention"
originDay: 4
articleStem: "hbr-foci-65-influencer-marketing-trust"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2025/12/how-to-do-influencer-marketing-that-customers-actually-trust"
sourceTitle: "How to Do Influencer Marketing That Customers Actually Trust"
---
# Encourage Transparent Product Usage

**Action.** Stop demanding flawless messaging. Allow influencers to admit **minor product flaws or limitations**, or even showcase how they use **competing products** alongside yours in their real-world routines.

**Expected outcome.** Reduces consumer uncertainty and makes the positive claims significantly more believable (see [[claim-negative-info-reduces-uncertainty]]).

Operationalizes [[concept-transparency|Transparency]]. Positive template: [[entity-victoria-magrath|Victoria Magrath]] using [[entity-dyson|Dyson]] alongside her sponsored [[entity-redken|Redken]] promotion. **Caveat:** keep negatives minor, relevant, and placed after strong positives; test type and placement, especially for higher-risk credence goods.