10 Ways to Increase Your Brand Authenticity and Build Trust
Authenticity is the name of the game if you want your business to get ahead these days. For better or worse, simply having a fantastic product or service isn’t enough to stand out.
Business owners who want to stay in the black need to be hyper-focused on increasing brand authenticity and trustworthiness in the marketplace.
Here are 10 practical strategies to help you boost your brand’s authenticity and create lasting trust with your audience.
1. Know Your Values and Stick to Them
Your brand’s values are the foundation of your authenticity. Define what your business stands for and make sure these values are consistently reflected in everything you do.
Whether it’s sustainability, customer/client experience, or innovation, make sure your values are clear and unwavering.
One very clear example of this can be seen in the outdoor clothing brand Patagonia. This company has built its reputation on the core value of environmental sustainability, which is evident throughout its product line, investments, and key decisions.
Patagonia’s commitment to environmental causes has created a loyal fanbase that is willing to pay premium prices time and again.
2. Be Transparent
Transparency builds trust. Be open about your business practices, pricing, and any changes that might affect your audience. Invite questions and solicit feedback to ensure your people feel seen, heard, and valued.
When mistakes happen, it’s best to own up to them quickly and explain how you plan to make things right. Honesty and humility go a long way in building a trustworthy reputation.
On the flip side, when an audience or customer base feels blindsided or bamboozled by a business, major—sometimes irreversible—damage can occur.
3. Engage with Your Audience
People want to see the real humans behind a brand. One of the best ways to build trust and increase visibility is through consistent, authentic engagement.
→ Connect with your customers on social media.
→ Respond to online comments.
→ Show appreciation for client/customer support.
Engaging with your audience not only makes people feel valued, but it also humanizes your brand and inspires curiosity.
4. Share Behind-the-Scenes Content
This tip is closely related to the previous one: share behind-the-scenes content.
A study in the Journal of Broadcast and Electronic Media defines behind-the-scenes content as “semi-unpolished content that shows audiences the culture, management, and everyday workings of the business.”
The term “semi-unpolished” resonates well with consumers today who are tired of Pinterest-perfect influencers and gurus selling solutions that seem way too good to be true (because they usually are).
Behind-the-scenes content can make your brand feel more relatable and trustworthy, helping to deepen the connections you have with your audience.
Consider sharing personal stories, peeks into your process or product development, day-in-the-life content, and even mishaps or mistakes you’ve made along the way.
Need some more inspiration? Check out Sprout Social’s 10 behind-the-scenes content ideas for your next campaign.
5. Tell Your Brand Story
Your brand story is unique to you and your business. It can be a particularly powerful tool for building authenticity.
Share why you started your business, the challenges you’ve faced, and your vision for the future. A compelling story creates deeper connections with your audience and helps you attract the right kind of people.
For mission-driven brands like yours, we refer to your brand story as an Impact Story: a compelling narrative highlighting the positive changes your business brings about.
The impact story isn’t just about what you do, but how and why you are making a difference.
Read more about the impact story here: 5 Strategies for Telling Your Impact Story and Captivating Your Audience
6. Provide Consistent Quality
Consistency in quality reassures your customers that they can trust your brand.
Whether it’s the products you sell or the services you provide, make sure you deliver high-quality experiences every time. Consistent quality helps in building a reputation for reliability.
A classic example of a company that is known for its consistency is McDonald’s. No matter where you are in the world, the burger and fries you order from McDonald’s is going to taste the same. How can they pull that off?
Systems.
They have a global, highly systematized process in place that allows them to deliver exactly what you expect, no matter where in the world you are.
One of the biggest mistakes we see business owners make is waiting too long to bring in dedicated support to streamline and manage your systems. When you wear too many hats, you risk delivering inconsistent quality in your processes.
If you’re feeling stretched so thin your client/customer experience is suffering, it’s time to consider hiring someone like an Online Business Manager (OBM) to help you out. Read more here: 5 Surprising Ways an Online Business Manager Can Elevate Your Business
7. Use Authentic Testimonials
Client or customer testimonials and reviews are a powerful form of social proof that can skyrocket your visibility and trustworthiness.
Encourage satisfied customers to share their experiences and feature these testimonials on your website and social media channels. They offer your audience a glimpse into your process, client experience and outcomes from a variety of perspectives.
Make sure you have a system in place to capture, retain and share feedback, reviews, case studies and testimonials. If you need help setting something like that up, we can help! You can check out our client stories here: Client Love — On A Mission Brands
8. Partner with Influencers Who Share Your Values
Influencer marketing can be effective, but it must be done in a way that feels credible, genuine and aligned with your brand values.
Perhaps you already have a network of people who can help elevate your brand, but if not, you’ll need to do some careful research to make sure the collaboration makes sense. The last thing you want is to confuse or alienate your audience with a mismatched partnership.
When you find the right people to partner with, their endorsements and cross-promotions of your business can translate into higher engagement, increased trust, and, ultimately, stronger brand loyalty.
9. Showcase Your Expertise
Establishing yourself as an expert in your industry is a powerful way to build credibility and trust with your audience.
By sharing valuable knowledge and insights, you not only showcase your expertise but also provide tangible value that can help your audience solve problems and achieve their goals.
One of the best ways to do this is by developing and sharing high-quality content that is informative, well-researched and relevant to your audience’s needs and interests. Types of content could include:
Blog posts
Informative videos
Webinars
Ebooks
How-to guides
Newsletters
You can also demonstrate your expertise by showcasing your certifications, experience, education, media appearances, professional associations and more.
Establishing your expertise is an ongoing process that requires commitment and consistency, but the rewards in terms of trust and loyalty are well worth the effort.
Need help building and executing an effective content strategy? We can help!
10. Give Back
Showing that you care about more than just profits can significantly enhance your brand’s authenticity. Support local charities, sponsor community events, or implement sustainable practices.
Giving back demonstrates that your brand is committed to making a positive impact, which is something we love to see here at On a Mission Brands.
A great example of this is Warby Parker, an eyewear company that runs a “Buy a Pair, Give a Pair” program where for every pair of glasses sold, they distribute a pair to someone in need.
This commitment to social good has enhanced their brand authenticity and built trust with customers.
Conclusion
Building brand authenticity and trust doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
By putting these strategies into action consistently, you’ll create a brand that people genuinely trust and believe in, while also building lasting relationships with a loyal fanbase.
Just remember, being authentic isn’t something you do just once; it’s about persistently sticking to your values and always delivering on your promises.
Keep at it, and you’ll start to see the rewards roll in.
As always, if you need help, our team is here to help. Schedule a free consultation today.
