Building trust in temporary user experiences

I didn’t win my first users with features. I won them with trust. Here’s how I built it. ✅ I don’t start with a pitch. I ask questions. “What’s your biggest struggle with content right now?” “What have you tried that didn’t work?” This helps me understand their world—before I even mention my product. ✅ I treat early users as collaborators, not just customers. Their feedback is gold. They tell me what’s confusing, what’s useful, and what’s missing. They help shape the product roadmap more than any spec sheet. ✅ I follow up personally. After someone uses the tool, I check in. “Was it smooth? Where did you get stuck? What would make it 10x easier?” These small touchpoints go a long way in building long-term trust. ✅ I’m transparent about what’s ready and what’s coming. I never overpromise. Instead, I say: “That feature isn’t ready yet, but we’re working on it—and I’d love your input.” In a world of automation, early-stage trust is still built one human at a time. If you’re building something new, don’t wait for perfection. Start conversations. You’ll build something better, and more importantly, you’ll build belief.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐔𝐒 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬: Convenience sounds like a win… But in reality—control builds the trust that scales. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 👇 We were working on improving product adoption for a US-based platform. Most founders would instinctively look at cutting down clicks and removing steps in the onboarding journey. Faster = Better, right? That’s what we thought too—until real usage patterns showed us something very different. Instead of shortening the journey, we tried something counterintuitive: -We added more decision points -Let the user customize their flow -Gave options to manually choose settings instead of setting defaults And guess what? Conversion rates went up. Engagement improved. And most importantly—user trust deepened. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝: You can design a sleek 2-click journey…  …but if the user doesn’t feel in control, they hesitate. Especially in the US market, where data privacy and digital autonomy are hot-button issues—transparency and control win. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐞: → People often disable auto-fill just to manually type things in.  → They skip quick recommendations to do their own comparisons.  → Features that auto-execute without explicit confirmation? Often uninstalled. 💡 Why? It’s not inefficiency. It’s digital self-preservation. It’s a mindset of: “Don’t decide for me. Let me drive.” And I’ve seen this mistake firsthand: One client rolled out a smart automation feature that quietly activated behind the scenes. Instead of delighting users, it alienated 15–20% of their base. Because the perception was: "You took control without asking." On the other hand, platforms that use clear confirmation prompts (“Are you sure?”, “Review before submitting”, toggles, etc.)—those build long-term trust. That’s the real game. Here’s what I now recommend to every tech founder building for the US market: -Don’t just optimize for frictionless onboarding. -Optimize for visible control. -Add micro-trust signals like “No hidden fees,” “You can edit this later,” and clear toggles. -Let the user feel in charge at every key point. Because trust isn’t built by speed. It’s built by respecting the user’s right to decide. If you’re a tech founder or product owner: Stop assuming speed is everything. Start building systems that say, “You’re in control.” That’s what creates adoption that sticks. What’s your experience with this? Would love to hear in the comments. 👇 #ProductDesign #UserExperience #TrustByDesign #TechForUSMarket #DigitalAutonomy #businesscoach #coachishleenkaur Linkedin News LinkedIn News India LinkedIN for small businesses

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.

Most startups try to sell trust. We decided to ship it instead. Literally. In a box. With a headset inside. Here’s the deal: Getting a new B2B client to place their first equipment order is hard. They’re unsure who pays. They haven’t looped in finance. They don’t know if we're legit. So we flipped the script. Instead of saying “trust us,” We say “here’s a free headset - let us show you how smooth this can be.” During our onboarding call, the client logs into the Tequipy platform, selects one item (like a headset or keyboard), enters their shipping details... and boom. 1–3 days later, it arrives at their door. No invoice. No fine print. Just a clean, fast delivery. And what happens next is wild: 🚀 Their trust goes through the roof ⏳ Our sales cycles shrink 💡 They finally get how simple global equipment logistics can be It’s not about the headset. It’s about showing - not telling - that we’re different. Because in B2B, the most powerful sales tactic is proving value before you ask for commitment. Want to build more trust in your sales process? 1. Find your version of the “free headset.” What's a small, no-strings-attached taste of your product? 2. Turn demos into experiences. Let the client do something—not just watch a screen. 3. Shorten the leap of faith. Every little “win” builds momentum. If you could give your potential clients one small “try before you buy” moment - what would it be? Would love to hear how others are earning trust in unexpected ways!

🔑 Trust isn't just a feature - it's THE product, especially in high-consideration purchases. After analyzing dozens of successful products in insurance, real estate, and home tech, I've noticed two principles that consistently drive growth: Power of Defaults: Smart defaults should optimize for user outcomes, not just conversion. Trulia nailed this by auto-creating rental resumes that increased response rates by 30%. Don't Make Me Think: Every extra decision point is a chance for doubt. When life insurance enrollment was simplified from 4 clicks + call center to one seamless flow, revenue doubled. The most fascinating example? Brilliant Smart Home They made personal photos the default screen state - seems simple, right? Result: 80% of households uploaded photos, which led to 2x device attachment per home. Key insight for product leaders: In high-consideration purchases where trust is paramount (think: life insurance, real estate, enterprise software), the fastest path to growth isn't speed - it's removing uncertainty while maintaining confidence. 3 ways to build trust into your product: • Default to the safest option, not the most profitable • Break complex decisions into smaller, contextual steps • Design for how people naturally make decisions What I see most teams get wrong: They optimize for short-term conversion instead of long-term trust. In markets where purchases impact life, family, or major assets, trust compounds. Build it into your core experience. What examples have you seen of products building/breaking trust through their experience? Would love to hear your perspectives. 🤔 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g6Mg6isq

Speed looks impressive on a dashboard. Trust looks invisible until it is the only thing left standing. In my time watching systems rise and fall across blockchain, governance, and enterprise, one pattern keeps repeating: yesterday's flashy launch becomes tomorrow's cautionary tale if people cannot rely on the system without second guessing. ⚠️🔁 Here is why trust is the real benchmark: ✅ Reliability wins. People forgive slow features. They do not forgive surprises that break their workflow or money. 🔍 Predictability compounds. Predictable behavior from your product and your team turns first-time users into habitual users. 🛡️ Safety builds adoption. Clear governance, transparent incentives, and recoverable failure modes let partners and enterprises say yes. 🤝 Reputation outlasts velocity. Reputation is earned by consistency, not by hype. A quick builder checklist you can use today: • Track trust metrics, not just usage metrics. Examples: time to first value, repeat actions, governance participation, dispute rates. • Design for observable failure modes so partners can audit and accept risk. • Make promises you can keep and communicate those promises plainly. Plain language builds credibility. • Invest in education and onboarding. Trust is taught more than it is coded. Fast can win rounds. Trust wins decades. If you want something that lasts, build for the latter. 🔥 Share one sentence about a time trust saved or broke a project you care about. I will highlight the most useful examples. 👇

Have you ever trusted an app so much that you barely gave a second thought to sharing your details or taking an action? It’s not just the app working well—it’s trust built through design. As designers, we focus on creating smooth experiences, aesthetics and usability, but trust? That’s the invisible glue that holds everything together. Think about Google Pay. Every time you make a payment, you see a “Secure by Google” message or get notified about a transaction instantly. These small details make you feel confident about your money and data. Think about Google Maps. It doesn’t just help you navigate; it reassures you at every turn. Whether it’s the confidence in “Your destination is on the left” or seeing live traffic updates, these small elements build trust. If the app consistently gave wrong directions, how quickly would you switch to an alternative? Now imagine an app that asks for sensitive details without explaining why. Or worse, it shows a vague error like “Something went wrong.” Relatable and Frustrating, right? Trust fades away quickly when users feel unsure or unsafe. The great design focuses on building trust through: - Clear error messages: Instead of “Invalid entry,” say, “Please enter a valid 10-digit phone number.” - Transparent data practices: Let users know why you’re asking for permissions—build the “why” into your interface. - Consistent patterns: Familiar interactions create predictability, and predictability fosters trust. One product that nails trust-building is PayPal. When you’re making a transaction, it doesn’t just say “Payment Complete.” It strengthen your trust with messages like “Your money is safe with us,” clear icons for secure encryption, and even offering a dispute resolution center. Every detail is designed to make you feel secure. Trust isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential. When users trust your product, they’re more likely to stick around, recommend it, and forgive the occasional hiccup. What’s your take? How do you approach building trust in your designs? Let’s share some ideas! #iccprashant #design #community #product #business #growth #experiences #value #designers #userexperience #desginthinking #technology #future #ai #futureofdesign #job #career

Strange but true: Our users wanted MORE steps, not fewer. Here's what we learned... During our recent fintech project at Fluidesigns, we got some interesting insights about friction in UX. While doing user interviews, we noticed a clear pattern - users consistently preferred a more thorough onboarding process for financial services. "If they're asking for all these verifications, they must really care about security," was a common response. It reinforced something we've observed before - friction, when used thoughtfully, can actually enhance the user experience. It's similar to other examples we see around us: - IKEA's assembly process that makes us value the furniture more - Craft beer's complex flavors that create a more engaging experience - Luxury brands using controlled access to build anticipation While we always aim to simplify experiences, sometimes the right amount of friction helps build trust and perceived value. Have you noticed this pattern elsewhere? #UXDesign #ProductDesign #UserExperience #Fluidesigns

Building Trust in Agentic Experiences Years ago, one of my first automation projects was in a bank. We built a system to automate a back-office workflow. It worked flawlessly, and the MVP was a success on paper. But adoption was low. The back office team didn’t trust it. They kept asking for a notification to confirm when the job was done. The system already sent alerts when it failed as silence meant success. But no matter how clearly we explained that logic, users still wanted reassurance. Eventually, we built the confirmation notification anyway. That experience taught me something I keep coming back to: trust in automation isn’t about accuracy in getting the job done. Fast forward to today, as we build agentic systems that can reason, decide, and act with less predictability. The same challenge remains, just on a new scale. When users can’t see how an agent reached its conclusion or don’t know how to validate its work, the gap isn’t technical; it’s emotional. So, while Evaluation frameworks are key in ensuring the quality of agent work but they are not sufficient in earning users trust. From experimenting with various agentic products and my personal experience in building agents, I’ve noticed a few design patterns that help close that gap: Show your work: Let users see what’s happening behind the scenes. Transparency creates confidence. Search agents have been pioneer in this pattern. Ask for confirmation wisely: autonomous agents feel more reliable when they pause at key points for user confirmation. Claude Code does it well. Allow undo: people need a way to reverse mistakes. I have not seen any app that does it well. For example all coding agents offer Undo, but sometimes they mess up the code, specially for novice users like me. Set guardrails: Let users define what the agent can and can’t do. Customer Service agents do it great by enabling users to define operational playbooks for the agent. I can see “agent playbook writing” becoming a critical operational skill. In the end, it’s the same story I lived years ago in that bank: even when the system works perfectly, people still want to see it, feel it, and trust it. That small "job completed" notification we built back then was not just another feature. It was a lesson learned in how to build trust in automation.