You don’t have any credentials.
Your branding isn’t very fancy.
You don’t have a portfolio full of success stories yet.
So, how do you convince folks to believe you when you’re just starting out?
Simple.
👉 You don’t have to be an expert; you just have to look like a reliable advisor.
Chris Guillebeau tells story after story in The $100 Startup about people who made real money with small skills, even though they didn’t have any formal training or years of experience.
And in Side Hustle, he says that quickness and confidence are more important than qualifications.
Let’s speak about how you can look professional, develop trust, and show that you are credible from the start, even if you feel like you don’t know anything.
Step 1: Start With What You’ve Done, Not What You Know
You might not have a PhD, but you might:
- Helped a buddy write their resume
- Got 1,000 people to follow your dog’s Instagram
- Made a budget spreadsheet that really worked for you
- You made the logo for your cousin’s bakery, and she loved it
These are the small results that matter.
Try stating “I’m new to this” instead of “I’m new to this.”
- “I made this for myself and it worked out beautifully. I now help other people accomplish the same.”
- “I’ve tried this method myself, and I’ll show you what worked.”
- “This was a personal project at first. After then, people began to ask for it.”
đź“š Side Hustle tells us that doing is better than thinking. Results, no matter how little, are more important than degrees.
Step 2: Make Your Online Presence Simple and Clean
A lousy Instagram bio, a website that looks bad, or an offer that doesn’t make sense all say, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
But you can look put together quickly with just a few free tools:
- Use a free tool like Canva to make a simple logo and clear images.
- Make a Linktree or a one-page site (like Carrd or Notion) with:
- What you have to give
- Who it’s for
- A way to get in touch with you or hire you
- Make your social bios easy to read:
- “Helping busy moms plan meals without stress”
- “Just sharing my thoughts lol 🤷‍♂️”
Clarity and consistency are what make you professional.
You don’t have to be large. Just look like you have it all together.
Step 3: Speak in a Way That Makes People Feel Safe
A lot of newcomers hurt their credibility by the way they talk about their work.
What you should not do is:
- “I’m just getting started…”
- “I’m not really a professional, but…”
- “I know I’m not the best, but I’ll give it my all.”
Instead, say this:
- “I help people [get results] by using [your method].”
- “This is a simple system I’ve developed that’s worked for me and others.”
- “Here’s how I help [certain type of person] with [certain problem].”
The $100 Startup reveals that many firms got their start by placing themselves clearly and helpfully, not by being an authority.
People don’t need a teacher.
They need someone who knows what they’re going through and can help them find a way to fix it.
Step 4: Tell People What You’re Learning (Out Loud)
Want to create instant credibility?
Document your journey.
After “day 1” of your side job:
- Share what you’re testing
- Talk about what you’re reading or doing
- Share mistakes and what they taught you
This approach is called “building in public.”
It builds trust, shows growth, and makes people root for you.
Bonus: It attracts others who are one step behind — people who see you as a relatable guide, not an intimidating expert.
Step 5: Offer Value Before Asking for Trust
If you want people to take you seriously, show up with value first.
Ideas:
- Create a short PDF guide or checklist
- Host a free Zoom session or live Q&A
- Post before/after transformations
- Share specific tips that solve micro-problems
Instead of saying, “Buy my thing,” say:
- “Here’s something I made to help you with [X] — no strings attached.”
- “This helped me solve [X]. Let me know if you want to try it too.”
Authority is earned through usefulness, not hype.
Step 6: Collect Social Proof — Even Small Wins
Testimonials make you look instantly more credible — even if they come from your first 2–3 clients.
Start collecting:
- Screenshots of messages (“This helped so much!”)
- Quick reviews from friends or early buyers
- Comments from Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, Reddit — anywhere
Even one line of social proof can make a big difference:
- “I finally understood how to budget for the first time — thank you!”
Show others that someone trusted you — and it paid off.
Step 7: Stay Consistent — That’s Professionalism
You don’t need to be everywhere. But wherever you are, show up regularly.
- Post once a week? Stick to it.
- Reply to DMs or comments? Do it within 24 hours.
- Have a service? Deliver on time, every time.
People trust reliability.
Professionalism isn’t just branding or pricing — it’s how consistent you are, how well you communicate, and how you make others feel.
What People Actually Care About
Spoiler: no one’s asking for your resume.
Here’s what they care about:
- Do you understand their problem?
- Can you help them solve it?
- Do you sound and act like someone they can trust?
If yes, they don’t care if you’ve been doing this for 6 weeks or 6 years.
Authority Is a Vibe — Not a Title
You don’t need to wait until you’re “ready.”
You don’t need a certificate, a course, or 10 clients before you start helping people.
You just need to:
- Lead with results, even small ones
- Communicate clearly
- Serve others before selling
- Show up like you mean it
Confidence comes from doing — and so does credibility.
So start small. Start messy. But start like a pro.
Because the only thing between you and being seen as “legit”… is showing up like you already are.