How to build brand trust

What is a brand?

Is it a fancy logo? No.

Is it a sleek Super Bowl commercial? Nah. 

Is it a catchy tagline? Not quite.

A brand isn’t just what a company SAYS it is but rather what people BELIEVE it is. 

It’s the gut feeling customers have when they see your name, the expectations they hold, and the trust you’ve either earned or lost.

At its core, brand is trust and in a world of infinite choices, trust is the only real moat.

But how do you build trust as a brand? How do you make sure people truly know what you’re REALLY about?

Bestie, I’m glad you asked.This week on the pod, we had on Marcus Sheridan, founder of PriceGuide.AI and he broke down exactly how trust is built in 2025 with what’s working, what’s outdated, and what brands NEEDto start doing yesterday.

Buckle up, because this one is a RIDE.

1️⃣. Don’t Do SEO, All Alone 

Marcus’ Take: 

“If you’re building your house on Google search, that is a very slippery slope.”

Brands that rely solely on Google search and ads are playing a VERY risky game.

One minute everything could be going alright, the next a new AI feature comes out and your traffic is effectively DOA.

Brands need to diversify their strategies, build direct relationships with their audience, and embrace transparency to stay ahead.

Takeaway:

Your email list is an asset. Your SEO rankings are a liability.

Stop relying on an algorithm that doesn’t care if your business survives. Start owning your distribution.

Today, set up an email capture on your site. Even if it’s a simple pop-up or a footer form. Start collecting first-party data.

Then, repurpose your content beyond Google. Post it on LinkedIn. Chop it into Twitter (X) threads. Test TikTok.

The brands that own their audience will outlast the ones playing Google roulette.

2️⃣. Say “The Thing”

Marcus’ Take:

“The first pillar of trust is saying what others in your space aren’t willing to say.”

There’s a dirty little secret about every industry that everyone knows and no one is willing to say.

The brands that win are the ones that aren’t afraid to tell the truth.

Takeaway:

Write the post that makes your competitors uncomfortable.

Call out the industry’s biggest problem…The thing everyone knows but won’t say.

Today, sit down and write one bold take. No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just truth.

Maybe it’s an outdated strategy that needs to die. Maybe it’s a lie customers have been fed for years. Post it.

The easiest way to build trust is to stop talking like a brand and start talking like a human.

3️⃣. Be Radically Honest About Your Product

Marcus’ Take:

“Buyers want honest reviews. Not just the good ones, but the bad and ugly too.”Perfection is never believable.

But you know what is?

Honesty. 

Takeaway:

Run at your product’s flaws, not away from them.

Buyers don’t believe in perfect. They believe in honesty.

Today, update one piece of content to address a common hesitation.

Maybe it’s an FAQ on your site. Maybe it’s a social post. Maybe it’s a case study that highlights real customer challenges.

Flip the script. Own the imperfection, and show why the right customers still choose you.

Confidence sells.

4️⃣. Be Open About Your Pricing

Marcus’ Take:

“All buyers would prefer to have a seller-free sales experience”There’s no reason that, in the BIG year of 2025, anyone should have to get on a call with a sales person to know your pricing.

All this does is push unqualified leads through your funnel, waste marketing dollars, and cause headaches for everyone involved. 

Takeaway:

Pricing shouldn’t be a scavenger hunt.

If your customers can’t find it, they’ll assume it’s either too expensive or not worth their time.

Today, check your site. If your pricing isn’t obvious, fix it. Add a range. Show a starting point.

If your model is too complex to explain simply, it’s too complex. Fix that too.

Transparency doesn’t scare buyers away. It attracts the right ones.

5️⃣. Quick To Respond = Quick To Close

Marcus’ Take: 

“If you get back to leads within five minutes, you get a 900% increase in the possibility that they become an actual contact”

When a prospect reaches out to you, they don’t want a solution an hour, a day, or a month from now.

They want it RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

With this being the case, you need to HUSTLE with your leads.

Takeaway:

Speed is a sales weapon.

Leads don’t wait. They buy from the first brand that shows up.

Today, set up an instant auto-reply for inbound leads.

If you’re already doing that, take it further. Add live chat or set up a system to respond to hot leads in under five minutes.

If your competitors are slower, they’re handing you deals on a silver platter. Don’t waste the opportunity.

IN A MEME