Trust Isn’t a Press Release (Sorry, PR Team)

By Kristin Oelke, Managing Director, Growth Services, Brightrose Ventures, and author of Trust: Unlocking B2B Growth in Today’s AI World

Here’s the hard truth: you can’t spin your way into trust. Trust isn’t built through press releases or perfectly worded LinkedIn posts - it’s built through consistent proof. Customers want results. Partners want reliability. Employees want honesty.

Edelman’s 2023 Trust Barometer found that only 59% of people trust businesses—and that trust is earned through actions, not slogans.

The myth? One glossy announcement can fix your reputation. The reality? Trust is a marathon of delivered promises, not a sprint of corporate messaging.

When trust is low, GTM strategies stall. Prospects hesitate, partners won’t commit, and employees disengage. But the companies winning today are building trust into their GTM engine: customer advocacy programs, partner referral networks, analyst relations, and employer branding all working together.

That’s exactly where Brightrose Ventures comes in. Our Integrated, Fractional Marketing Team helps small and mid-market companies build a public trust profile from the ground up-so every customer win, partner success, and employee story contributes to rebuilding confidence.

Because trust isn’t a press release - it’s proof. And proof scales growth.

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About Kristin Oelke

Kristin Oelke brings 20 years of experience modernizing and scaling marketing functions across Big Tech, high-growth startups, and global partner ecosystems. She partners with investors, founders, and C-Suite leaders to design and execute strategies that drive measurable revenue impact.

She is also a frequent speaker and the author of TRUST: Unlocking B2B Growth Strategies in Today’s AI World, where she explores how companies build credibility, reduce buyer friction, and scale predictably through transparent execution, public proof points, and trust-driven content.

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FAQs

What are the top reasons SMB and mid-market tech companies work with advisory firms?

Companies partner with advisory firms to tap into battle-tested expertise, access fractional support without long-term overhead, and gain faster connections to trusted resources proven to work with early-stage and scaling businesses. Advisory partners also bring fresh perspective, speed to execution, and the ability to build trust with investors through transparent reporting and measurable outcomes.

How are Brightrose Growth Services different from other tech advisory offerings?

Brightrose Growth Services combine proven operator experience with fast, execution-first support built for today’s AI-driven B2B environment. We help companies break through digital noise with content that educates and resonates, build scalable tech foundations, and deliver the proof points and reporting that earn trust with both buyers and investors.

What makes the Brightrose Growth Services fractional model more effective than hiring in-house?

Rather than relying on a single marketing leader, Brightrose Growth Services provide a senior-led team across demand gen, CRM, lifecycle, content, and analytics. We accelerate growth with integrated execution, a more efficient demand engine, transparent reporting, and trust-building content—all at a predictable monthly cost.

How can startups begin leveraging Brightrose Growth Services on a small budget?

Most begin with a Brightrose Assessment to get a clear, prioritized plan and identify immediate quick wins. From there, startups activate a fractional team that scales with the business—gaining early proof points, trusted content, a scalable tech stack, and investor-ready reporting without overinvesting.