13 Buzzwords That Need To Die In 2013

Well, I started this last year, and seeing how there is still no shortage in buzzwords and phrases (<insert sadface>), I figured I would revamp the list for 2013. For the love of all things holy, here’s 13 more words that you should stop using in 2013.

1. Content Marketing

This is probably the biggest buzzword right now. Although to be totally truthful, I’m not sure why. You see, content marketing didn’t just arise out of the blue, with the advent of social media.  It’s something great companies have been doing for over a century. It’s about finding a way to “market” and tell your brand’s stories in a compelling way.

2. ROI/ROR

Oh good ole’ ROI, ROR, ROE, or whatever the cool marketing peeps are calling it these days. Just because you are using this to “beef” up your pitches, decks and case studies doesn’t mean you actually found a way to measure it.

3. Social Business

I’d like to think “social business” is any business that will still be around in 5 years. Nuff said.

4. Viral/viral video

I swear to all things holy. Every time I hear “make it go viral,” I want to strangle something.  You can’t make something go viral. It’s a byproduct of creating awesome content.

5. Inbox Zero

Woohoo! Congrats you tamed your inbox. I’m pretty sure every single one of us has to read and write emails too. We all do some sort of archiving. We really don’t need another pointless productivity hack buzzword.

6. Paradigm

Yeah, just like good ole’ synergy. I still have no clue what this word even means seeing how every single time I see this in a press release, mission statement, website, etc, it is in a completely different context.

7. Dynamic

Insert vague adjective of choice. What exactly makes something dynamic? I really don’t know. But, I have lost count of the number of “dynamic” new products, new hires, and new divisions . . .

8. Brogrammer

I don’t care how awesome of a coder you are. I cannot take you seriously if you refer to yourself as a “brogrammer.” Just no.

9. Authentic/Inauthentic

Now, I don’t have a problem with the word, “authentic.” However, it is a problem that in 2013, we are still having to tell businesses to “be authentic” online.

10. Value-Add

Just a tiny bit vague, right? Still confused, just refer back to number 7.

11. User-friendly

Shouldn’t every consumer facing thing at least attempt to be easy to use?

12. Award-winning

These days, it seems like every agency and campaign is “award-winning.” So is this because you were voted, “best place to work,” won a Webby for a campaign, or because you were voted best workplace coffee. See where I’m going with this. Instead of just saying award-winning, it helps to clarify what awards you actually won.

13. YOLO

Unless you are a teenage boy, you sound absolutely ridiculous saying, “YOLO.” If you absolutely must, use Carpe Diem instead. It’s twenty million times more badass.

 

Okay folks. What other buzzwords do you want to see eliminated in 2013? Please share them in the comment section below.