Being Authentic: How to Find People and Businesses to Trust

In an era dominated by digital landscapes and an abundance of platforms vying for our attention, the significance of authenticity and trust cannot be overstated when navigating the vast online realm.

Whether you're an individual seeking a recommendation or a business aiming to establish a digital presence, the platforms you choose serve as the foundation for your virtual identity.

In a world where information flows incessantly, the need for genuine connections and reliable interactions has become paramount.

Here we explore why authenticity and trust are not mere buzzwords but essential criteria for selecting the right platforms and relationships, emphasizing the profound impact they have on personal well-being, business success, and the overall integrity of our buying experiences.

Credit: Unsplash.

Who would you do business with?

People want to hire and buy from those they know, like, and trust. That’s a universally held truth and the best way to earn trust is to be authentic in how you present yourself. This is true both in our working lives, how we decide to make bigger purchases and the people we choose to surround ourselves with.

What is authenticity?

Other than being a commonly used term, authenticity means being your true self in both words and actions. Your words and actions should match; your passion should be evident but not looking like it’s an act. Your honesty and integrity should be evident when speaking to you. And your online persona should match your offline persona when people meet you in person.

Some business people argue that there’s a subtle nuance to authenticity that really means being yourself in the correct setting. For instance, wearing shorts or a business casual outfit to a corporate meeting where the other attendees are in formal suits could be seen as a sign of disrespect, even if that’s what you wear at your beach house.

No matter how you define the word authenticity, it’s an important trait when it comes to company branding and associating yourself as your company’s spokesperson.

It really comes down to your values and if you act with these in mind.

Who should you work with or use for services?

The poor used car salesman stereotype gets a bad rep but it’s a good example as most people wouldn’t know in this type of industry if the information they give is truth or just wanting to sell you a car.

Someone who’s authentic would have a genuine interest in wanting to help you, in this example, by selling you a reliable used car that actually works. They would answer any questions you might have and would find the answers if they didn’t know them right off the bat. They would be honest about the inner workings of the car and would be disappointed if you walked away from the deal, but you wouldn’t feel pressured to buy something you’re not ready for.

Authenticity & transparency

When looking for a certain service or company to purchase from the variety and amount of options can be daunting. You need reliable recommendations or evidence of consistent good service. Great reviews and no bad press!

Be sure to follow the social channels of the companies you are considering. They should be active, positive and include testimonials. You should also check forums such as Reddit and Trustpilot for reviews. These often give an instant answer as a company purposefully not acting in the customer’s best interest will have a lot of comments.

Those with ‘behind the scenes’ videos or ‘meet the owner/team’ posts are trying really hard to make you understand the story of their business and will be much more likely to treat you well.

Lastly use a little intuition, if something seems off it usually signals an underlying issue. Luckily now due to the online world being so developed we can often find out these positives and negatives for ourselves.