Brand trust: What it is and why it matters
Consumers—especially Gen Z—are pickier than ever. Prices are higher and the economy is in flux, meaning they need to make sure every box is checked before making a purchase. Is the product high quality? What do other people say about their experience with the brand? Is there something better out there?
Brand loyalty, once commonplace, is rare at best. The race to winning over consumers is intensified by challenger brands disrupting every industry. With so many alternatives to choose from, emerging on top requires gaining deep brand trust—from creating the best quality products to being transparent about business practices to aligning with the values of your audience.
The traditional channels that organizations relied on years ago to build brand trust aren’t guaranteed to work now. According to a Q1 2024 Sprout Pulse Survey, 78% of consumers (and 88% of Gen Z) agree a brand’s social media presence has a larger impact on whether or not they trust a brand compared to a year ago.