Most trust leaks don’t show up as obvious problems.
They don’t announce themselves with angry emails or formal complaints. Instead, they quietly show up as people who almost reach out… and then don’t. Leads that drop off. Prospects who ghost. Opportunities that never even make it into your pipeline.
In Episode 3 of the Trust Leaks™ Podcast, I walk through a simple, repeatable 4-step Trust Leak Discovery Scan you can run on your business at any time. It’s designed to help you see what prospects experience before money ever changes hands — because trust starts forming long before a conversation happens.
Here’s how the scan works.
Step 1: Your Public-Facing Trust (Google Yourself)
Start where most prospects start: Google.
Search your name and your business name as if you’ve never heard of yourself before. What comes up on the first page? Is the information accurate? Is it current? Are there broken links, outdated offers, or old pricing floating around?
This isn’t about deep SEO work or falling down a rabbit hole. It’s a quick reality check. Five minutes is enough. If nothing comes up at all, that also tells you something. Silence doesn’t feel neutral to a prospect — it often feels risky.
Step 2: Your Website’s First Impression
Next, look at your website as a stranger would.
Is it immediately clear what you do? Can someone understand your offer without needing to talk to you? Is the next step obvious — or does it require effort to figure out what to do?
Pay attention to small details here. Is your contact information easy to find? Do you have a mailing address and phone number listed (which is also an FTC requirement)? Does the copy feel fresh, or does it sound like it was written years ago for a different version of your business?
If you regularly have to explain what you do verbally, your website is likely leaking trust.
Step 3: Social Proof Reality Check
Now look at your social presence.
You don’t need to be everywhere — but wherever you are, consistency matters. Does your role or positioning change from platform to platform? Do your profiles match the tone and message on your website?
Social proof matters more than most people realize. Testimonials, reviews, and case studies quietly reassure prospects that you’re credible — even when they never say it out loud. Silence here often creates doubt, even if your clients are happy.
Step 4: The Communication Snapshot
Finally, test what happens when someone reaches out to you.
Imagine today is a bad day. What would a prospect experience if they emailed you, filled out a form, or sent a DM? How long would it take to hear back? Would expectations be clear?
Response time, tone, and clarity all matter. If you have limited availability, that’s fine — but it should be communicated. Clear expectations build trust. Surprises (especially early on) usually don’t.
Why This Scan Matters
Trust starts forming well before money changes hands — and often before a prospect ever contacts you. Small cracks in visibility, clarity, consistency, or communication can quietly stop momentum before it begins.
Want to go a little deeper? In addition to SEO, check your “AEO”, described in Episode 3 above — you can get the exact copy/paste AI prompt to check your AEO here.
The goal isn’t to fix everything at once. It’s to identify one trust leak, seal it, and track the lift.
Fix the leak. Track the lift.