Why do we always shake hands with the right hand?
What does trust look like online?
Apparently it goes back to the days when a gentleman would wear a sword on his hip.
The sword was always drawn with the right hand.
(The left hand was only for the devil’s work, of course.)
So when a gentleman offered his right hand, it was a gesture of peace—
A way to say, “I’m not going to stab you.”
A trust signal, if you will.
Trust signals are baked into all sorts of human interactions:
Eye contact. A smile. Tone of voice.
But what happens when you go online?
It’s still a personal interaction—just through a screen.
And before anyone buys, books, or even scrolls, they’re asking one question:
Can I trust you?
Obviously, you can’t reach through the screen and shake their hand,
But there are plenty of trust signals you can offer:
Client stories: shows you’re not an outsider
Case studies: proof that you can make a difference
Testimonials: other people vouching for you
Client logos: look at all the big important companies that trust you
Media mentions: you must be legit if they’re writing about you
Aim to include 2–3 trust signals on your homepage.
Make them visible before they start scrolling, if possible.
Because people won’t pay attention, if they’re worried about your sword.
And trust always comes before action.
Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash
