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In the world of relentless marketing and fleeting attention spans, there are power moves too many businesses ignore or skim over: time exchanged precedes money exchanged. 

And the most startling part? There are 5 exact stages every prospect goes through:

Remember: before exchanging a single dollar, your audience gives you something much more valuable. It’s their time. 

This isn’t just a transaction; it’s the birthplace of trust. 

And it’s the foundation of every brand we embrace and adopt as “our brand.”

Every sale you ever made has followed this sequence and goes through these stages.

1. Something is given for free by you: advice, a document, a webinar, etc.
2. Time is spent by your prospect.
3. Their time is rewarded with value received.
4. Their trust is validated and then reciprocated.
5. Your authority is now earned.

Sometimes it’s fast. Other times, it’s slow.

But it’s always present.

While it’s true that prospects go through these 5 stages, it really comes down to two core power moves that you must master before a prospect will spend a single dollar with you.

To understand this fully, let’s dive into these two power moves to transform this understanding into a robust brand presence that prospects respect and customers remain loyal to.

The Power of Trust: The 2 Power Moves to Building a Strong Brand Identity

Power Move #1: Give Value or Get Out

Here’s the deal: Your audience has the attention span of a goldfish in a sea of endless content. 

You want their time? Earn it. 

It’s why I focus on short form videos that pack a punch.

Your first power move is to create value that smacks them right in the face. It’s what we did for New York’s premier landscape designer with his book.

This isn’t your grandma’s newsletter or some half-baked lead magnet. This is about delivering content so good it feels like a life hack.

Don’t just sell; solve. Get into the trenches of your audience’s problems. 

Make your brand the answer they didn’t know they were searching for. 

Remember: You’re not here to play it safe. You’re here to change the game.

Power Move #2: Relationships Rule. Period.

Got their attention? That’s the start. 

Now, forget one-night stands; we’re in this for the long haul. 

The second power move is about building relationships that stick. 

This is where wannabes drop the ball, mistaking a glance for a gaze.

Stay consistent, but not like a broken record. Keep hitting them with that high-grade content. 

Talk to them, not at them. 

This isn’t a faceless crowd; these are your people. Your community. Treat them like royalty, and they’ll crown you king.

This isn’t just about earning trust. 

It’s about keeping it, growing it, and turning it into a force of nature. 

This is where trust transitions from a whisper to a roar.

The High Price of Free: Power Moves of Champions

To wrap this up: If you’re not building your brand on a foundation of trust, you’re building on quicksand. 

Most businesses are clueless about this critical truth – time exchange comes before money exchange. 

The lesson? Make what you’re giving away worth their time.

If what you’re giving away for free doesn’t reward prospects, you’ve blown your chance to build any trust.

You want their cash? You’ve got to respect their time. And reward that trust with value.

Only then will they advance upward to trusting us with their hard-earned cash.

Remember this golden sequence: 

1. Give freely. 
2. Add immense value. 
3. Build trust. 
4. Become a reliable, trustworthy authority.

Only then will money follow. 

Whatever you do, make these two power moves your mantra. 

How do you build an empire? 

Give value like your life depends on it. 

Build relationships like the world is ending tomorrow. 

Let others play checkers while you’re playing chess. 

Welcome to the big leagues.

And remember: Trust is the first thing spent before a single dollar is.