Comments on: How to Boost your Business by Developing Bulletproof Trust

By: umar

umar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 22:34:38 +0000

we should admit when we don’t know

By: Kathleen, The Savvy VA

Kathleen, The Savvy VA — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:35:53 +0000

Hello Johnny B,

Point #7 especially rang true for me. My biz is building WordPress sites and I have steered people away from having one created because I know they will never do anything with it.

I talk to people almost daily who are encouraged to “get a WordPress site”, but they aren’t told that these sites are not self propagating and aren’t the Shangri-La or Nirvana or even the Taj Mahal, and that they require work–lots of work. I can’t take their money.

I like what Seth Godin had to say on the subject too:

My rule of thumb is this: every person you turn away because your product or service isn’t right for them turns into three great customers down the road. Every bad sale costs you five.

Thanks for the great post!

By: netzwerkkabel

netzwerkkabel — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:56:00 +0000

Great post, I also follow this particular word called ” Trust” for my business because it’s a common thing needed to achieve the target as well to complete the work. I think it’s a usefull post to read to achieve a successful business…

By: Pete | The Tango Notebook

Pete | The Tango Notebook — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:52:55 +0000

You may not want to venture this route, but a lot of my readers are local and I have met in person. Since my blog is about Tango, and I'm a teacher, If they have a question that I know requires personal instruction, I'll meet them at the dance studio and iron out the details for them. I don't charge them because I'm usually there teaching anyway, but those satisfied readers/clients have sent me paid work time and time again. Help is the gift that keeps on giving :) Pete | The Tango Notebook

By: rajput

rajput — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 09:32:46 +0000

Hi Johnny B,

Thanks for the article. For building a trust we need to be trustworthy. Be a Good person and you will be a better person.

By: Reza Winandar

Reza Winandar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:03:01 +0000

Hey Darren, I want hear your article, not many guest post.

By: Amit Mehta

Amit Mehta — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:58:28 +0000

I think the biggest step most marketers and other business people miss online is #2: Admit when you don’t know something.

The words “I don’t know” make life so much easier; I wish more people were willing to admit when it is the best phrase for the situation!

By: Johnny B. Truant

Johnny B. Truant — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:52:12 +0000

Thanks to everyone who dug this. I really think it’s a very simple, very obvious… yet very unheralded and unrecognized truth.

People like to do business with people they like and trust. Period. Think of the people you trust. Why do you trust them? Take notes.

@Rebecca… it’s amazing, that’s the sort of thing I’ve done. Do stuff for free, and it feels good but like a waste of productive time when bills hang over you. Yet one day, you get a sale you would never have gotten without that good will in the past.

By: Bibokz

Bibokz — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:27:09 +0000

Giving trust is awkward.. but in online business you need to. I always ask money in advance, 50% to be exact… and 50% upon completion. I guess that’s fair.

By: Seth W

Seth W — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:36:53 +0000

Being human is so important to succeeding online. Otherwise people think you are trying to rip them off! Usually its because robots really are.

By: Jeff Ramos

Jeff Ramos — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:18:42 +0000

This is some great advice. The really funny thing about it is that on paper, this advice seems sort of weak. But, that’s because most people are taught to believe the “old” system of marketing and interaction.

Most of these ideas are at the core of a few sets of materials and classes I am going to start teaching in the NYC area to under 30s who are indie artists or business owners.

This is a great post, thanks!

By: Jamesf

Jamesf — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:29:16 +0000

Nice article Johnny! It seems you’re everywhere these days!

“Trust no one unless you have eaten much salt with him.”

By: Michelle {Brown Eyed Baker}

Michelle {Brown Eyed Baker} — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:27:30 +0000

This is a fabulous post. I do many of these things already, but look forward to implementing the others.

By: GR Passwater

GR Passwater — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:22:06 +0000

Great post. I totally agree that without trust, why would anyone want to associate with you or do business with you. I always work to build relationships and trust first then sales second.

I really like the be human and responding in private. I love to communicate as myself to everyone. If they don’t like communicating with me, how will they like doing business with me?

By: Lydia, CluelessCrafter

Lydia, CluelessCrafter — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:53:26 +0000

I am totally attracted to testimonials, ratings, thumbs up of any sort. When I see a blog with these plus the enthusiastic interaction of the blogger with his/her readers, I’m hooked. Good tips.

By: Jeremy Mckay

Jeremy Mckay — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:07:55 +0000

Notable, Remarkable. I am printing and framing above my studio and meeting room. Thanks this is what I need this morning.

By: Paul Hassing

Paul Hassing — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:55:36 +0000

I like this post very much, Johnny. That’s two on the trot! What a bonus it is to find your stuff in here. Best regards, P. :)

By: fas

fas — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:37:40 +0000

Its a good thing to disclose about your affiliate links, this way you dont cheat them and nor do you cheat yourself by acting secretive.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:56:11 +0000

Excellent points. About a year ago my grandmothers car broke down in the middle of a busy street. She had no idea what to do – money was already tight and several of her friends depended on her to help them with shopping and other tasks which required a vehicle. But then a youngman stopped and pointed out the tiny little garage nearby that he was part owner of telling her that he would have some of his mechanics roll the car to the shop and fix it for her for free. When she asked him why he didn’t want payment he explained that his small garage couldn’t afford the expensive advertising that larger garages could but that he knew that once he fixed her car she would tell all of her friends and family about them and that at least some of those would come to him for service.

Today though it seems most businesses are far more interested in the hard sell than they are in the more important parts of business such as those your article has demonstrated. Thank you. I think I shall go read your own home blog and see what other great advise you might have there.

By: Carl Ocab

Carl Ocab — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:02:30 +0000

It’s kinda what you do too when interacting with women on pickup (please bear with me, just bought couple of awesome videos about pickup :-)

You have to humanize, connect on a personal level, tell stories (free information), WIIFM if I talk to you and give social proof.

Great article Johnny.