Let’s be honest—establishing brand trust today is more difficult than it once was.

There’s simply too much noise. Daily, people are confronted with headlines, sponsored content, and dubious “facts” on the internet. It’s little wonder many of us are wary of whom to trust.

If you’re attempting to establish strategies for building brand trust, you’re not the only one. The good news? You can still do it. You just need to be more authentic, more consistent, and more deliberate about how you present.

Here’s how to do it—step by step.

7 Solid Strategies for Building Brand Trust in the Era of Misinformation

1. Be Transparent (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)

People can smell BS from a mile away. Especially nowadays.

So if your brand screws up? Own it. Don’t spin, don’t bury. Just be upfront.

Consider how you feel when a company puts up a clear apology and does something about it. It’s different, right? Like, “Okay, they understand.” That sort of reaction creates long-term trust.

What you can do:

1. Share your decision-making process whenever possible.
2. Post behind-the-scenes updates—yes, even the ugly stuff.
3. Own up to when something went wrong, then demonstrate how you’re making it right.

Example: When a trendy outdoor apparel brand was called out for greenwashing, they responded in public, revised their site content, and published more robust sustainability reports. They didn’t promise “we’ll do better”—they demonstrated it.

That’s how trust is earned.

2. Stay with What You Know

This section is important.

If you’re operating a skincare brand, don’t dive headfirst into politics unless it does impact your customers or field. When brands begin to discuss issues they obviously don’t comprehend, people tune out—or worse, lose admiration.

Specialize in what you do well. And if you do comment on complicated issues, do so with expert commentary. Real sources. Real human beings.

Why this works:

1. It demonstrates you’re serious and consistent.
2. It keeps your message simple.

It happens to be aligned with the EEAT framework (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)—which Google currently uses to evaluate content.

EEAT is not just an SEO buzzword. It’s what human beings desire. They desire to understand: Do you know what you’re discussing? Can we trust you?

So remain in your lane—but be familiar with it profoundly.

3. Get Your People Visible

Looking to establish brand trust? Begin to reveal the humans behind your brand.

It’s strange how many companies attempt to remain faceless. People trust people, however, and not logos.

Show your people. Discuss their jobs. Let them represent the brand every now and again. This does not need to be elaborate.

This works:

1. Team members’ Instagram stories
2. Brief video or first-person blog articles
3. Profile pages with genuine photos and bios

Even a hasty selfie-quality video of your founder breaking down a decision earns more trust than a slick press release ever can.

Remember: folks want to feel like they know the people they’re doing business with. Don’t conceal that.

4. Consistently Back Up Your Words and Actions

This is easy, but too often overlooked.

If you claim to support local communities, demonstrate how. Often. Don’t say it once and forget about it.

Inconsistency erodes trust. It’s like you’re not sure if you’re saying what you mean.

How to remain consistent:

1. Utilize a shared brand voice guide (even a Google Doc)
2. Establish straightforward internal values and go back to them frequently.
3. Go through your social media and email regularly to scan for tone.

Little things count here. If you’re selling sustainability but continue to ship your goods in layers of plastic, you’re sending the wrong message. People do notice stuff.

5. Display Actual Reviews and Feedback (Yes, Even the Negative Ones)

Many brands still suppress negative reviews. But guess what? Most people can spot when all your reviews seem too perfect.

Instead, own up to the actual ones.

If a bad review is left, respond politely and promise to make it right. That’s stronger than any good recommendation.

1. Improved methods for building trust via feedback
2. Integrate third-party reviews from Google or Trustpilot
3. Post screenshots of real customer DMs or emails (with permission)
4. Record video testimonials from actual users

The more authentic it gets, the higher the chances people will trust it.

And here’s a strange fact: a combination of good and mediocre reviews builds trust. Stop pursuing perfection—it doesn’t pay off.

6. Invest in Clear, Honest Content

Content is not just for traffic. It’s also for trust.

If your YouTube channel or blog is full of filler, people won’t return. They’ll bounce, literally and emotionally.

Good content is respectful of people’s time. It educates them on something. Assists them in making a choice. Or simply answers a simple question.

Why is content credible?

1. Supported by actual data or first-hand experience
2. Readable (no jargon, no fluff)
3. Written by someone who has first-hand experience

Example: If you own a fitness company, a post such as “How I Healed My Knee Pain Without Surgery (3 Actual Things That Worked)” will do so much better than “5 Scientifically Supported Knee Health Tips” from a generic content writer.

Give others your opinion. Write about what worked for you or your clients.

That builds EEAT. And that’s what brings people back.

7. Be Where Your People Are

If you ghost your people, they won’t trust you anymore.

So be there. Not once a month with a discount offer. But regularly, where your people congregate.

You don’t have to be everywhere. You simply must be somewhere regularly.

How to stay in touch:

1. Respond to DMs and comments (not only the good ones)
2. Subscribe to the subreddits or Facebook groups relevant to your niche.
3. Send messages that feel like they’ve been written by a human.

The secret? Get it to feel like a conversation, not a broadcast.

And sure, that takes time. But trust is not overnight—it’s earned through tiny transactions, repeated again and again.

People Want to Trust You—You Just Have to Let Them

That’s the part that gets lost.

Most customers want to believe in your brand. They want to feel good about spending their money. They’re just tired of being let down.

So give them real reasons to trust you:

1. Show your face
2. Share your process
3. Admit when you’re still figuring it out.

Trust comes from being real, not from being perfect.

And in a world full of misinformation, being honest is honestly one of the best marketing strategies you’ve got.