How is Trust Factoring Into Your Business?

I just finished Chris Brogan and Julien Smith‘s book, Trust Agents about a week ago. If you haven’t heard about these guys, you should swing by there blogs and check them out. A lot of business owners (maybe you included?) are wondering how the hell to use Social Media in their business.

It’s a touchy area. It can be extremely powerful if you know how to use it, and it can be very detrimental if you don’t know what you’re doing. These two guys are among many who have it figured out very well.

The largest principle about using social media correctly goes back to trust. That one little word. It’s what all businesses should be built on (along with a good product that people actually want) and it’s what social media is definitely built on.

The most important thing to understand about social media is that it creates trust (if done correctly) which can be used as a lever (a powerful ass lever) for your business. This trust must be protected at all costs, because it takes time and sincerity to pull it off.

I was talking with someone today about their take on social media and they had an interesting (although probably not 100% accurate) analogy: Social Media is like a party. You go to the party to socialize with people you like and trust, and occasionally refer them to someone you trust if it’s appropriate. You don’t walk into the party and start selling your crap. If you do, you won’t be invited back to the party. If you play it cool, you will get introduced to other people who can become valuable resources in the future. But you have to be trusted first.

If you want the real scoop on building trust through social media, read Trust Agents. The important take away is that social media is a powerful part of building trust in business. I see it getting more important, not less important. And this is one party you don’t want to be late to. But take baby steps, when you join a social media platform like Twitter, Facebook or Foursquare, sit back and watch the action before you dive in.

If you’re unsure about how to do it correctly, find someone to help. You can always contact us and we’ll put you in touch with the right people. You can get our contact info here