Why Your Audience Doesn’t Trust You (And How to Fix It)

Here’s the hard truth: if your audience doesn’t trust you, it’s not their fault—it’s yours.

Yeah, I said it. And trust me, I’ve had to take a long, hard look in the mirror on this one too.

In the latest episode of The Fourth Draft, I dive into one of the most uncomfortable but necessary conversations we need to have about media and communications today: trust.

Not just as a nice-to-have, but as the single most important success metric in 2025.

Here’s what I unpack in this episode:

• Why so many brands are losing trust without realizing it.
• The three biggest trust-killers: oversaturation, inauthentic messaging, and rigidity.
• How to rebuild trust with your audience using authenticity, transparency, and responsiveness.

Why This Matters Now.

If you’re still churning out more content, hoping that visibility will save the day, you’re not just wasting time—you’re eroding trust. Your audience can feel it when you’re phoning it in, and let me tell you, they’re not sticking around.

Here’s one of my favorite moments from the episode:

"Your audience doesn’t need more content—they need connection. If they don’t trust you, nothing else matters."

Trust is your superpower. But it’s also your responsibility.

The Good News?

You can fix it.

Start by asking yourself these questions:

• Are you creating content that reflects where your brand is today—or are you stuck in the past?
• Are you showing up where your audience actually is, or just where you feel comfortable?
• Are you listening as much as you’re broadcasting?

Spoiler alert: It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being real.

Ready to Close the Trust Gap?

1. Listen to Episode 2 of The Fourth Draft Apple https://lnkd.in/gFGE9_pS | SPOTIFY: https://lnkd.in/gfYCw4T2 | SPREAKER: https://lnkd.in/gyYKZPVa.
2. Reflect on where trust fits into your current strategy.
3. Let me know your thoughts!

This isn’t about adding more to your plate.

It’s about simplifying, clarifying, and showing up authentically. And the best part? It makes everything else—audience engagement, advocacy, sales—so much easier.

Thanks for trusting me to help you rethink your approach.

Until next time, Erin

PS: If you’re struggling to figure out where your media plan is going wrong, let’s chat. Book a call with me to get actionable insights tailored to your organization.