Do you know how to show your credibility in business?
There’s a LOT of noise in the online & business world these days. Everyone is making mind-blowing claims about their products, services, and income achievements. Every time you look around, it’s in your face, from your Facebook feed to your inbox.
How do you know if someone is the real deal? And as an entrepreneur looking to make your way in a crowded space, how do YOU stand out as the most legit go-to person in your area of expertise?
It all comes down to one thing: credibility.
Having credibility in business means that you’ve proven yourself trustworthy. You’ve shown that you have the skills, and you have the results to back it up.
As author Richie Norton puts it, “Credibility comes from results. Everything else is just marketing.”
Now, I’m not knocking the marketing piece. You need to spark someone’s interest to get them on the phone. But once you’ve done that, it’s up to you to follow through on what you promise.
Because in the age of Google, claims are easy to verify and reviews are a breeze to find.
That means that you can feel free to say whatever you want online. But if you don’t have the chops to back them up, claims are just words. And sooner or later, people will find out if you’re NOT who you say you are.
In other words, credibility in business can be hard to earn…and easy to lose.
So how do you earn that ever elusive “street cred” that proves you’re the real deal?
Obviously, the more raving fans and glowing testimonials you have, the better. But what if you’re just getting started? How do you show that you’ve got skills when nobody knows who you are…yet?
My friends, there is more than one way to prove yourself a winner. In fact, I’ve got four “outside the box” strategies that you use right away to position yourself as legit.
They’ll work wonders for you whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur with a huge network or you’ve just launched your first bootstrap startup. Let’s get into them right now!
Admit that you don’t know it all. What is my zone of genius? Working 1:1 with people to help them love the sales process, help more of the RIGHT clients and make more money. But when it comes to lead generation? NOT my forte. I can help entrepreneurs rock their sales…but finding the people who need me in the first place? That’s when I reach out for help from the experts in that arena.
I know what I do best. But I also own up to what I don’t do so fabulously. And you know what? People appreciate the truth. They love it when you not only share your talents but also when you don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.
There is nothing more refreshing than honesty. And with honesty comes credibility in business.
Be good for your word, no matter what. It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But surprisingly, people miss the bus on this more than you might think. Being good for your word is GOLD, from showing up on time for a sales call to delivering to your client what you promised.
I like to say, “Under promise and over deliver.” Don’t verbally commit to something unless you know that you can follow through. And if what you deliver just happens to be above and beyond, so much the better! Your clients are even happier, they’ll sing your praises, and before you know it, you’ll have a glowing testimonial.
By the way, I’m not talking about forcing yourself to be a people-pleaser. It’s just about setting a standard of integrity for YOURSELF. That’s a huge credibility in business booster in itself.
Set your prices, know your value, and stick to them both. You might recall a story I shared about a pair of clients that I had to let go, even though conventional wisdom would have advised me to take them on.
We got on a sales call, we discussed the offer. Then they decided that they wanted to bargain with me for a lower price.
I explained the details and timing. I gave them a solid deadline to a scholarship opportunity that I had offered which was to help them make a decision. I was perfectly explicit about what the offer entailed. And not only did I tell them over the phone, but I also put it in writing.
They decided that they weren’t sure, and told me they wanted to do more “research” before committing. And in the midst of all that, they missed the window for the scholarship. Then they went back to trying to negotiate with me on price.
Did I give in and lower my price, or give them an extension on the scholarship offer? NO.
The only way to keep my credibility in business at that point was to stand by what I promised and stay true to my word.
Sometimes getting into massive negotiations puts your credibility on the line. If you give in for one client, eventually it’ll trickle down to all your clients. It’ll eat away at your integrity, and before you know it your credibility will be damaged big-time.
How do you avoid all of this? Remember your worth. Once a price and a standard is set, don’t negotiate. Which brings me to my next point…
Set clear boundaries, and make them stick. Recently I was working with a client. She was a CPA, and she was looking to help a prospect save serious money on their taxes. She came up with a pretty mind-blowing setup that could potentially slash their tax bill by almost $90,000. Who wouldn’t say YES to that possibility?
She couldn’t wait to share the exciting news with her clients. But when we got on the call, the prospects told us that they were on vacation. They seemed distant, disinterested, and otherwise unengaged. Clearly, saving nearly six figures on taxes wasn’t a big deal to them.
Did she go back to the client, try to reason with them, or beg? NO.
She followed my advice and sent them an email. She thanked them for their time, told them she was sorry she wasn’t able to help them, and that they probably wouldn’t be a good fit. She wished them the best for their tax planning and left it at that.
What is the subtext of that message? It tells the client that you’re not afraid to let go. It shows them that you aren’t interested in pushing them, convincing them, or “selling” them. All you are doing is showing up, sharing your skills, and owning your worth. And the rest of the deal is up to them.
Set your boundaries, and don’t be afraid to walk away if you have to. It’ll send your credibility through the roof.
(And by the way, guess what happened with my CPA client? The very next day after she let go of that first prospect, she got a brand new prospect who reached out to her. Magical, right?)
We all want the world to know who we are. And now more than ever, credibility is crucial for long-term success in business.
Testimonials and reviews are gold as far as credibility in business goes, so round up as many of those as you can get. But also keep these not-so-obvious but no less potent credibility boosters in your arsenal.
Not only will they help you show the world that you’re more than worthy of being known, liked, and trusted, but they’ll also upgrade your integrity as a person.
YOU are the foundation of your business. Make sure that you’re being the most honorable and credible YOU that you can be, and you’ll be that much farther ahead of the curve.
How do you rise above the noise of the online & business world and show everyone that YOU are the real deal? Increase your credibility, of course! Whether you’re brand new to the business world or you’ve been out there for years, the steps to up your “legit” factor never go out of style!
Grab my NEW Checklist, “7 Steps To Legit: A Checklist To Up Your Credibility (And Make More Sales)” right HERE and start showing the world that you are all that…and MORE!
