Little-known storytelling tricks that make people trust you

Hey friend!

Most people don’t realize this, but the way you tell a story determines whether people trust you… or tune you out.

A while back, I met someone at an event who wanted to grow his brand online. He was posting daily. Writing long, “value-packed” captions. Doing everything the gurus said.

But nobody was engaging.

So, I asked him to tell me his story.

He started listing his credentials, his experience, the usual blah blah blah.

I stopped him mid-sentence.

“Tell me about the moment you realized you wanted to do this.”

He paused. Then, he started talking about how his first business failed. How he was stuck, broke, and had no clue what to do next. But one conversation changed everything, someone told him to start sharing what he already knew. That’s when things clicked.

By the time he finished, I could see it. The shift.

That story? That’s what people needed to hear.

Because here’s the truth: trust isn’t built through credentials. It’s built through connection.

Three storytelling tricks that build trust fast:

1. The “Imperfection Drop”

Nobody trusts people who seem too perfect. So, show a flaw, early.

Instead of:
“I grew my coaching business to six figures in 12 months.”

Try:
“When I started coaching, I charged $50 a session and still struggled to get clients. One year later, I had a six-figure business. Here’s what changed.”

See the difference? One feels like an ad. The other feels like a human.

2. The “I Thought X, But I Was Wrong” Setup

People trust you when they see you change your mind.

Example:
“I used to think posting daily would grow my audience faster. Turns out, engagement and conversions went up when I slowed down. Here’s why.”

This works because it shows growth, not perfection.

3. The “One-Person Lens”

People don’t connect with crowds. They connect with one person’s experience.

Instead of:
“Hundreds of people struggle with content creation.”

Try:
“My client, Sarah, spent six months posting daily with no results. We tweaked one thing and she tripled her engagement overnight.”

See how much more trustworthy that feels?

Now, here’s how to put this to work today:

• Write down your biggest “aha” moment in business

• Next time you post, lead with a real struggle

• Show where you were wrong, and what you learned

Because if you want people to buy from you, they need to trust you first.

And trust? That starts with storytelling.

See you tomorrow,

Stephen

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