Why People Buy From Businesses They Trust
When someone needs a product or service, they don’t just look for the best price. They look for a business they feel good about. This is especially true for local businesses where customers often want to support people in their community. The OBA framework helps you show customers why they should choose you.
What is the OBA Framework?
OBA stands for Offer, Behind-the-Scenes, and Authority. It’s a simple way to organize your social media posts so customers get to know, like, and trust your business. Here’s how each part works:
- Offer: Show what you sell in a clear, helpful way
- Behind-the-Scenes: Let people see the real people and work behind your business
- Authority: Share your knowledge to show you’re good at what you do
How OBA Builds Trust
People buy from businesses they trust. Here’s how each part of OBA helps build that trust:
Offers Show You Can Help
When you regularly share what you offer in a helpful way (not pushy), customers start to remember you when they need what you sell. They see you as a solution to their problems.
Behind-the-Scenes Makes You Relatable
Showing your workspace, your team, or how you make your products helps customers feel connected to you. People like doing business with people they feel they know.
Authority Shows You’re the Right Choice
When you share tips or explain how your work is done, customers see you as the expert. They feel confident choosing you over competitors.
How This Drives Local Sales
For local businesses, trust is everything. Here’s why OBA works so well:
- Neighbors want to support local businesses they feel connected to
- People remember businesses that regularly show up in their social feeds with helpful content
- When customers see your face and your work often, you become their first choice
Simple Ways to Start Using OBA
You don’t need to post every day or make fancy videos. Try these easy ideas:
- Post one offer this week – show a product with its price and why it’s useful
- Share one behind-the-scenes photo – maybe your workspace or you preparing an order
- Give one helpful tip related to your business
That’s just three posts in a week – completely manageable for any busy business owner.
Real Results From Real Businesses
Many local businesses see great results with this approach:
- A bakery started showing how they make their bread and saw more customers asking for specific items
- A plumber who shared simple maintenance tips got more calls from people who remembered his advice
- A gift shop that regularly posted their new arrivals had customers coming in asking for items they saw online
These businesses didn’t do anything complicated – they just consistently showed what they offer, who they are, and what they know.
Keeping It Balanced
The key is to mix all three types of posts. Don’t just post offers, don’t just share behind-the-scenes. A good balance might look like:
- 40% offers
- 30% behind-the-scenes
- 30% authority
But don’t stress about perfect numbers. Just aim to include all three types regularly.
You Can Do This
Building trust takes time, but every post helps. Start small, stay consistent, and watch how customers begin to recognize and choose your business. Your next post could be the one that makes someone decide to buy from you.
