Why Speaking Builds Trust Faster Than Social Posts

Look, here's the deal: in today's world, we're bombarded with advertisements and promotions from every angle. Whether it's a pop-up on your screen or a billboard on your morning commute, there's no escape. But how many times have you actually bought something because of an ad you saw on LinkedIn? Contrast that with how many times you've tried a new product or service because your buddy raved about it. 1. Trust: We're naturally wired to trust the opinions of our peers over any corporate message. It's one thing for a company to say, "We're the best!", and quite another for your close friend or family member to say, "Hey, I tried this and it's awesome." That genuine, personal recommendation holds weight because there's no perceived ulterior motive. The message isn't tainted by the suspicion of a sales agenda. 2. Relatability: When your friend tells you about a product, they're coming from a place of understanding your needs, likes, and dislikes. It's way more tailored than the generic advertising shot meant for millions of eyes. They've essentially done the filtering for you, presenting a product or service that they genuinely think you'll enjoy. 3. Virality: Think about it; if someone finds something so compelling that they need to tell others about it, that sentiment is contagious. Word spreads fast. And here's the kicker: while social media posts might get buried under tons of other content, conversations tend to ripple. One friend tells two friends, those two tell four, and so on. 4. Longevity: Social media posts have an extremely short shelf-life. You post something, it gets its 15 minutes of fame, and then it's buried under new content. But word of mouth? Man, I've had friends tell me about something, and then months later, another friend brings up the same thing. The stickiness of a personal recommendation far outweighs the fleeting attention of a social media post. 5. Authentic Engagement: When someone talks to you about a product or service, there's an immediate chance for dialogue. Questions, feedback, skepticism – all can be addressed right then and there. You just don't get that same level of engagement with passive scrolling on social media. So, next time you're thinking about how to get the word out about something, remember the OG method – good old conversation. Before there were likes, shares, and retweets, there were stories, experiences, and recommendations, and they're still holding strong as the most powerful marketing tools around.

If you’re trying to raise funds on LinkedIn as a nonprofit… Here’s the truth no one tells you: It’s not content that gets you the check. It’s conversations. Real, back-and-forth, trust-building DMs. Because most donors (especially corporate ones) don’t go from: “I saw your post” → “Here’s $25K.” They move through layers of trust. Here’s what that journey actually looks like ↓ 1 — Content earns the glance. Your posts create visibility. They trigger pattern recognition: → “Oh yeah, I’ve seen this nonprofit before.” → “They do great work.” But recognition ≠ trust. Content gets you noticed — not funded. 2 — Conversations build real trust. This is where the magic happens. DMs give you space to: → Understand their goals. → Align your mission with their priorities. → Overcome silent objections. It’s not about pitching. It’s about relevance, rapport, and real-time resonance. (Edelman found: 67% of B2B buyers need 3+ touchpoints before they even consider a move.) (Google ZMOT: People consume 11.4 pieces of content before they take action.) Posts spark curiosity. DMs fan the flame. 3 — Referrals change the game. Once you’ve earned trust in a conversation… That person becomes your amplifier. → “You should talk to this nonprofit.” → “Their work is legit.” That skips 3 layers of skepticism. (Gartner: 35% drop in perceived risk when a referral or trusted signal is present.) But referrals don’t start from content. They start from conversations. The math: Inside our own LinkedIn campaigns: → 79% of calls booked after 40+ DMs. → <1% from under 10 DMs. Content gave them a reason to notice. Conversations gave them a reason to believe. So if you want to raise more on LinkedIn Stop chasing likes. Start stacking trust. One real conversation at a time. Agree? 👇 With purpose and impact, Mario

Your audience doesn't want your perfection. They're secretly begging for your vulnerability. (The truth about human connection nobody talks about) For years, I believed the opposite. I thought my job as a speaker was to: → Hide my struggles → Project complete confidence → Show that I'm perfect in every sense (which I'm not) Then one speech changed everything. Speaking to 40+ strangers, I forgot the script. I got lost... completely Forced to speak from raw experience, I shared my journey as an introvert from Pakistan who once couldn't say his own name without stuttering. The result? Standing ovation. Deeper connection. People reached out to tell they loved it. The research confirms what I stumbled upon: Audiences trust speakers who reveal strategic vulnerability far more than those who appear flawless. The truth about speaking impact: 1/ Perfect speakers create DISTANCE When you never show weakness: → You become unreachable → You trigger the audience's insecurities → You build walls instead of bridges The human brain is wired to distrust perfection. 2/ Strategic vulnerability creates TRUST Not random oversharing, but calculated openness: → Share struggles relevant to your message → Reveal your journey, not just your arrival → Connect your vulnerability to their challenges 3/ Your story unlocks THEIR story When you share your vulnerability: → You give permission for others to acknowledge theirs → You create a "me too" moment of recognition → You transform from lecturer to trusted guide Remember: Your audience doesn't want to be impressed. They want to be understood. 4/ The vulnerability sweet spot → Share challenges you've overcome (not current crises) → Connect vulnerability to valuable lessons → Maintain competence while showing humanity When I coach executive leaders, this shift changes everything: From "I must be perfect" to "I must be authentic." From "What will they think of me?" to "How can I serve them?" ♻ REPOST to help your network embrace imperfection. 📌 What's one authentic story you've been afraid to share that might actually build deeper connection with your audience?

Digital networking is great but there's no substitute for in-person networking. Online connections rely on efficiency—short messages, quick comments, limited interaction. But relationships don’t thrive on efficiency. They thrive on connection. In-person, you see body language. You hear tone. You build real rapport. Opportunities happen in the moments between sessions, in the side conversations, in the unplanned introductions. The best collaborations often start when you aren’t looking for them. A casual chat turns into a partnership. A spontaneous conversation sparks an idea. These moments rarely happen online. A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that making a request in person is 34 times more successful than making the same request via email. Why? Because trust and connection are built faster face-to-face. If you want to grow your network in a way that leads to real opportunities, don’t just rely on LinkedIn messages and Zoom calls. Get in the room. Have the conversation. You never know what could come from it. #Networking #Collaboration #Leadership #Trust #FutureOfWork