Building credibility as a beginner service provider

If you've got a new service, or product, or if you enter a new vertical, even if your partners are ushering you into their market, expect skepticism. Even with the best partners advocating for you, decision-makers may hesitate and many companies will put you at the bottom of their priority list until you can prove your value. It’s crucial to get traction quickly, or risk being overlooked. Here’s what I would do to break through that initial skepticism and gain momentum: 1. Pilot Programs: Offering a limited-time trial can help, but only if it's designed to deliver clear value from day one. - Set clear success metrics with your customer before the pilot begins. Establish measurable outcomes like improved productivity, user engagement, or cost savings. - Don’t just give them the product—ensure their teams are trained and equipped to use it effectively during the trial. This maximizes the chance of success and measurable impact. 2. Feedback Loops: Regular, structured communication with your partners and customers is key to refining your offering. - Set up bi-weekly check-ins to gather both quantitative data (usage rates, performance metrics) and qualitative feedback (user experience, pain points). - Use this feedback to adapt your approach in real time. Whether it’s tweaking features, adjusting pricing, or improving support, make sure you’re iterating based on what you hear. 3. Case Studies: Success stories build trust and reduce uncertainty for potential customers. - Create detailed case studies highlighting real results from your pilot programs or early adopters. Focus on specific benefits—whether that’s operational efficiency, cost savings, or user satisfaction. -Share these case studies with future prospects to showcase the value and credibility of your service. Timely, relevant examples can turn a hesitant prospect into a committed customer. Gaining traction with a new service takes time, but with the right strategies you can overcome skepticism and build momentum.

From a 41-year-old homemaker to an agency founder with 25+ retainer clients—it's been a journey. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned: Build slow. Build solid. Build in sync with who you are. In a world of loud marketing, building quiet credibility through content, clarity, and consistency is a superpower, especially for professionals transitioning into solopreneurship or service-led businesses. Grateful to have shared my story at the Get Known Masterclass alongside Avi Arya, Dimpy Udhani, and Arunachalam S. Here are the takeaways I shared—lessons that shaped not just my business, but me: ✅ Productize your offering. Clarity sells. A fixed deliverable, outcome, and price build trust and make selling seamless. ✅ Make peace with your pace. Chasing scale is tempting. But sustainability is power. Focus on your personal best, not someone else's. ✅ Calculate your time value. When you know what your hour is worth, you price with conviction and show up with confidence. ✅ Trust over tools. I burnt ₹2–3 L testing shiny platforms. Today? Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms. Simple. Seamless. Sustainable. ✅ Team over tactics. No freelancers. Just a solid team that’s empowered, transparent, and trusted with every client touchpoint. ✅ No discounts. No confusion. Fair, consistent pricing = strong positioning + repeat referrals. ✅ Let your content do the outreach. 3–4 posts a week = 3–4 inbound leads. No cold DMs. No emails. Just value, visibility, and trust. Outreach is essential to scale, but closing happens faster when people already trust you. To every professional trying to build visibility without burnout, this conversation is for you—so do join these sessions next time." Which one resonates most with you? Or what’s one lesson that shaped your own path? #personalbranding #thoughtleadership #knowledgesharing

Some of the worst advice out there... not only can you smell it a mile away, but it actually sets you back more than in propels you forward. “Fake It Till You Make It." The mentality might seem harmless... or even empowering. but here’s the truth: it’s a strategy that holds you back in the long run. When we rely on posturing or “faking it,” we create temporary value... a shaky foundation that breeds uncertainty and self-doubt over time. This approach can chip away at genuine confidence, leaving you second-guessing your abilities rather than embracing your true strengths. If you’re “kind of” believing in what you can do, it will lead to “kind of” results. And let’s be honest: no one invests in that. Here’s a path that builds lasting impact and real credibility: 1. Embrace Where You Are Right Now. Actionable Step: List out the top 3 strengths you bring to the table today. Focus on where you already add value. Use this clarity as your guide when you’re in new or challenging situations. This way, you’re building on a solid, authentic foundation... not pretending to be somewhere you’re not. Starting with a clear view of your strengths gives you a confidence rooted in reality... and equips you to approach each opportunity with authenticity. 2. Get Clear on Your Unique Value. Actionable Step: Identify one specific problem you can solve that aligns with your skills and expertise. Write it down in one sentence (e.g., “I help teams bridge strategy and execution gaps to drive measurable results.”). Use this as a go-to when you’re speaking with potential clients or partners. This clarity around your value will set you apart, making it easier for others to see why they should work with you... not just anyone who fits the role. 3. Bridge Your Gaps Authentically. Actionable Step: Acknowledge a skill or area you’re actively developing. Take one concrete action toward growth each week... whether that’s: - reading - building relationships - mentoring Share this journey with trusted colleagues or clients... without underselling yourself... so they experience your commitment to excellence and your drive to evolve. Owning both your strengths and areas for growth builds long-term credibility and shows others that you’re committed to being the best version of yourself. It’s how true leaders inspire and foster trust. And trust accelerates EVERYTHING.

If you’re a new service provider then this is my only advice for you: Overdeliver and undervalue yourself for at least 1 year. I know that in an age where every business guru is teaching you how to get “high ticket clients”, this might be polarising advice. But as someone who is building three profitable businesses with a current MRR upwards of $25k, I can tell you honestly that this is the only way to grow ethically. When you’re the new guy on the block, the only way you can get new clients is by making some noise. Now you can create this noise by either: - Standing out with your marketing or,  - Standing out with your value proposition. If you’re focusing on marketing yourself, you’re doomed to fail. In your initial days, you need to JUST focus on delivering so much value that you become irreplaceable for every client. To create this much value, you need to build processes to provide quality output and systems to quantify your impact. Now this takes time. Once you start working, you’ll realize there are a number of issues you have in your delivery right now. It might be skill level, client communication, time management, effective delegation, good hiring, meeting deadlines, and so on. And there is no one right way to solve these problems. Business problems have divergent solutions. There are multiple right answers for every problem and you can only adopt the ones that make sense to you through experience. So in a way, your initial set of clients is your tuition. They are taking a chance on you. Return in kind by offering your services at a competitive price point. But once you have an undeniable stack of proof with a battle-tested delivery system, start charging your worth. And it’ll be easy to calculate your worth because now you will know exactly how much value you’re bringing to the table. Now unlike most “influencers” I’m not just saying this. I'm actually practicing it. In my latest venture Flowtsy we’re literally providing unlimited web design and development support in a monthly subscription at a price point that’s lower than the cost of hiring one senior designer. We’re operating at razor-thin margins because I know that we’re the new kids on the block once again. And we’re here to prove our worth before we demand it. 

Hardware plus healthcare is a credibility minefield. You can’t just look good with a flashy website, you have to prove that your product genuinely works. Early on, though, I had no giant PR team or marketing war chest. What I did have was a scrappy approach to establishing trust. I leaned into storytelling. Rather than splashing money on ads, I posted honest videos of families who tested our prototypes. Some of these were simply filmed on a smartphone. Parents would detail how their child was calmer, safer, or even experiencing fewer nighttime incidents. Those firsthand accounts worked a hundred times better than any ad campaign could. We also made sure to attend small industry gatherings, occupational therapist conferences, special-needs parent meetups, local medical expos. I couldn’t afford a big booth, but I could show up with an actual unit, walk people through its features, and answer questions in person. This hands-on approach led to countless word-of-mouth referrals, especially among clinician networks. Another underrated tactic is that I took every chance to speak at local events for free. Libraries, business associations, schools, wherever they’d have me. Even if only 30 people showed up, that was 30 new people who heard the story directly from the founder. Over time, that added up to a decent following. Before we knew it, thousands of professionals and parents were sharing our message in their own communities. You don’t need a million-dollar ad budget to gain traction. In a niche field, genuine credibility often grows better person-to-person than campaign-by-campaign.

I have been in the corporate space now for 3 yrs and here are 5 things I have realized especially as someone early in their career 1. If your role and your position title do not give you credibility, build it in other ways, whether it’s through social media, through social impact initiatives as the firm, taking leadership in terms of community at the firm etc which enables you to create visibility for yourself And when that visibility is consistent in relation to one theme, it’s builds credibility And now the credibility you create at that one place even though unrelated transfers to credibility in other spaces as well (some even if not all) 2. Do not be intimidated by someone’s role or title Have INTENTION and be GENUINE especially when it comes to building relationships with people at the company whether it’s juniors or even senior leaders When you get intimidated, you end up not showing up as yourself but isbtwfa as someone you think you should show up as well and trust me that does no good They are people at the end of the day too and if you are genuine and show curiosity and interest in what they do, ask the right questions and look out for them and support them going out of your way, you have now found yourself not just a connect but a mentor/sponsor But you got to be consistent and showcase gratefulness as well 3. Always under promise and over deliver, it helps build credibility and trust. So if you think you will take 5 days to do something say 7 so if you get it done in 5 it will leave a positive impression Vs you saying 5 and taking 5.5 days etc which can spoil first impressions and thus reputation 4. Be honest and show initiative If you don’t know something say you don’t, instead of pretending to know and then messing it up, there will be a lot of people willing to help you out You don’t need to know everything but you got to show your willingness to learn and showcase initiative in learning 5.Don’t react but respond to feedback I see how a lot of people get offended when given feedback and start becoming defensive and when you do that it’s the worst There may be times where you may not have exactly done something how it’s being said it was done, and while you should not let someone mistreat you but in this case instead of reacting to it and mentioning reasons or clarifying things All that does is in fact is make you seem as someone who who does not take feedback well and react and so instead, always just listen, acknowledge and respond with a plan of action and maybe how you also ready started acting towards it instead of reacting Share with someone who needs to read thiss..Pt2 coming soon #advice #tips #students

This one piece of advice from my father which I absolutely hated at the time ended up helping me make more than 10 lakhs rupees. He said, 'When you're just starting out, don’t chase money; chase trust. Offer your service for free, deliver insane value, and collect testimonials. They are your assets. Back then, when I started teaching yoga, I had no idea how much to charge my clients. I thought, ‘Why should I work for free?’ At first, I didn’t get it, ‘Why would anyone value my time if I don’t?’ But I still did it. I taught free sessions , to friends and family and made sure I gave them my best. But looking back, those first few unpaid projects built my confidence, sharpened my skills, and gave me proof that I could deliver results. What I got in return was testimonials, feedback, transformation stories, and the social proof I needed to build trust. Those testimonials? They opened doors I couldn’t have imagined. Clients started trusting me. My inbox started filling with yoga classes inquiries. So if you’re starting from scratch, here’s your reminder: Sometimes, giving first is the fastest way to grow Giving value first isn't losing out, it's investing in your future.

When I started out 12 years back, nobody trusted me. We were a new brand. I still remember those early sales calls—excited to pitch, thinking my offer was solid… only to get hit with: “Never heard of you before—why should we trust you?” “How do I know you’ll actually deliver?” “We usually work with bigger, established names.” I knew I could help them, but they weren’t willing to take the risk. Ever felt this way? At first, I tried convincing them. I soon realized that it was a big mistake. Because, the more I explained, the more skeptical they got. Then I switched my approach: ✅ Acknowledge the doubt – “I get it. Any new business has to prove itself.” ✅ Remove the risk – “Let’s do a small trial. No commitment, just see the value first.” ✅ Build small proof, not big promises – “Here’s how we’ve already helped others — check out these results.” And slowly, the we turned the tables in our favor. One deal led to another. Then referrals started coming in and today we have worked with over 150 brands. If you are starting out new. Here is a lesson for you: If they doubt you, don’t argue—minimize the risk, make it easy for them and in the process build your credibility. Don't let someone's doubt hold you back from dreaming big and shining bright. #sales #selling #winning #mindset #startup #entrepreneurship

You’re not the go-to *yet* ⤵️ But how you show up today determines when you will be. My first year on the job, I was in a case with a new (to me) surgeon. We had early rapport, but not much track record. And when the case took an unexpected turn, he looked at me and said: “Can you call [rep] and put them on speaker?” It wasn’t rude. It wasn’t personal. It was tactical. He wanted confirmation from someone he already trusted. In that moment, I realized: I hadn’t lost credibility. I hadn’t earned it yet. And that’s the hard truth about being new: Your clinical knowledge isn’t always enough to carry the room. So how do you build trust early on? + Know who your customer already trusts + Align with them behind the scenes + Frame your recommendations with intention Going back in time, I would've said: “In this case, I’d recommend X. I’ve already connected with [rep], and they’re aligned.” That one sentence would’ve: Positioned me as prepared. Anchored my plan in someone he trusted. Created confidence in the path forward. Because how you present your recommendation matters just as much as what you say. Early in your career? You can’t fake credibility. BUT you can borrow it until you earn it. And that's smart strategy. 👇 What’s one move you’ve made to build trust with your customers? #MedicalDeviceSales #Credibility 

Remember this one thing about building your reputation and you’ll never build a bad one… When I started out in this business, I thought I built my own reputation. False! You don’t build your reputation… Other people do. This was one of the lessons I learned that benefitted me more than most. It doesn’t matter how good I think I am or how good of a reputation I think I have… The people I speak to or work with are the ones who contribute more to my reputation than anything or anyone else. One well-connected person can make or break your reputation. This is why I treat everyone with respect. Now, respect doesn’t mean treating them like Gods regardless of how they treat you. But it means being on the same level as the ones who respect you. Take clients for example… I built my business on the concept that the customer/client is always right. When you start speaking to a client as if you have all the answers and they know nothing… You’ve lost them and also affected your reputation. Your job is to solve problems and your client knows more about their own personal problem than you could ever know. That’s the mindset you need to have. Sure, you’re an expert on their problem and how to solve it… But you’re job is to solve it how they want it solved. That’s how you get a reputation built around being a problem-solver instead of someone who sells a service.