How to Use the Trust Block in UniLink (Add Social Proof Badges to Your Page)
How to Use the Trust Block in UniLink (Add Social Proof Badges to Your Page)
A step-by-step guide to adding the Trust block to your UniLink page so visitors immediately see the brands, publications, certifications, and numbers that validate your authority.
- The Trust block displays three types of social proof: logo strips (clients, press, partners), badges (certifications, payment icons, security seals), and stat counters (e.g., "500+ clients served").
- Place the Trust block near the top of your page where it is seen before anything else — it establishes credibility in the first scroll so that everything below starts from a position of authority.
- Always upload logos as SVG or 2x PNG; low-resolution logos look pixelated on modern Retina screens and undermine the credibility signal you are trying to create.
- The most common mistake is listing made-up or inflated stats — a single discovered exaggeration destroys trust in everything else on your page.
There is a credibility gap that every creator, freelancer, and small business faces online. You know your work is good. You know your clients get results. But a visitor arriving at your UniLink page for the first time knows none of that — they are making a fast judgment based on what they can see in a few seconds. The Review block handles the qualitative side of that judgment: what specific people said about working with you. The Trust block handles the quantitative and institutional side: who has worked with you, who has written about you, what you have been certified in, and what the numbers say. A row of recognizable logos under a "Featured in" heading, a certification badge, and a counter reading "1,200+ students" — seen in the first five seconds — changes the entire frame through which a visitor reads everything else on your page. That is the job of the Trust block.
What the Trust block does
The Trust block is a flexible social proof display that supports three distinct element types, and you can mix all three in a single block. The first type is the logo element: an image you upload (a client company logo, a press outlet where you were featured, a partner organization's mark) with an optional label and an optional link URL. When a visitor clicks a logo, they are sent to the destination you specify — which means a "Featured in Forbes" logo can link directly to the article, giving skeptical visitors a path to verify the claim themselves. The second type is the badge element: security icons, payment method logos, certification marks, or any small image that signals trustworthiness or professional standing. Badges work the same way as logos mechanically but serve a different visual purpose — they tend to cluster near a CTA or purchase section rather than in a broad "who works with me" strip. The third type is the stat counter: a number (which you enter), a label (like "happy clients" or "years of experience"), and an animation that counts up from zero to your number when the element scrolls into the visitor's viewport. The counting animation draws the eye and makes the stat feel earned rather than static.
Display options for the block include a horizontal scroll layout, where elements flow in a single row and visitors can scroll through on mobile, and a grid layout, where elements are arranged in rows like a standard logo wall. The horizontal scroll format works especially well for logo strips, where motion reinforces the "look at this list" effect. The grid format works better when you have a small number of elements and want them all immediately visible without scrolling. These display options apply to the block as a whole, not individual elements — so if you need logos and badges to display differently, consider putting them in separate Trust blocks stacked vertically on the page with different settings for each.
It is worth being precise about what the Trust block does not do. It does not connect to any external verification service, so there is no badge that automatically updates to reflect your current certifications or follower counts. Every element is static until you edit it. The stat counter animation is purely cosmetic — the number you enter is a number you maintain; there is no live connection to analytics or a database. The Trust block is a presentation tool. It displays what you tell it to display, which makes accuracy entirely your responsibility.
Before you start
- Audit your real credentials: Before opening the Dashboard, make a list of every legitimately notable entity that has featured, employed, certified, or worked with you: press outlets that mentioned you, companies you have consulted for, courses or certifications you have completed, platforms where you have been featured. Only elements on this list belong in the Trust block — anything you cannot point to a real source for should not be there.
- Collect high-resolution logos: For every logo you plan to add, obtain the official logo file from the brand or publication. SVG files are the best option because they scale perfectly at any resolution. If SVG is not available, use a PNG file at 2x resolution (at least 200px tall for a logo that will display at 100px). Never screenshot a logo from a website — the result will look pixelated on Retina screens and that pixelation actively undermines the credibility you are trying to create.
- Verify the source URL for each press logo: If you are displaying "As featured in" logos, locate the direct URL to the article, episode, or page that mentions you. This is the link you will attach to each press logo. A logo without a link cannot be verified by a skeptical visitor; a logo that links to proof converts skepticism into confirmation.
- Confirm your stat numbers: If you plan to use stat counters, decide on numbers you can defend. "500+ clients" is a conservative claim backed by your actual client list. "10,000+ hours of experience" is the kind of claim that requires real math and that visitors will mentally check for reasonableness. Round numbers are fine; inflated numbers are not. The credibility cost of a discovered exaggeration is disproportionately high.
How to add the Trust block to your page
- Open your page in the Dashboard: Log in to UniLink, go to My Pages, and click Edit on the page where you want the trust section to appear.
- Add a new block: Click + Add Block. In the block picker, find Trust — it is typically listed under Social Proof or Marketing — and select it.
- Set the block title: Enter a heading for the section if you want one. Common options are "Featured in," "Trusted by," "As seen in," or "Brands I've worked with." If the logos are well-known enough to speak for themselves, you can leave the title empty and let the visual row do the work on its own.
- Choose a display style: Select Horizontal Scroll or Grid from the display style setting. Start with Horizontal Scroll for a logo strip, or Grid if you have fewer than five elements and want them all visible without motion.
- Add your first logo element: Click Add Element and select the Logo type. Upload your logo file, enter an optional label (the publication or brand name — useful for logos that are not universally recognizable), set the element size, and paste the destination URL in the link field. The link is optional but strongly recommended for press logos.
- Add badge elements: For certification marks, payment icons, or security seals, click Add Element and select Badge. Upload the badge image and optionally link to the certifying body's verification page. Badges are typically smaller and more numerous than logos — a row of five payment icons takes up little space and covers a lot of trust ground for e-commerce pages.
- Add stat counter elements: Click Add Element and select Counter. Enter the number (just the numeric value — "500" not "500+"), the label that follows it ("clients served," "downloads," "five-star reviews"), and enable the scroll animation if you want the count-up effect. The "+" sign and any additional formatting are typically added by the element's display template.
- Set element size: Each element has an individual size setting. Logos from major publications or recognizable brands can be larger; smaller certification marks or partner badges work better at a reduced size. Aim for visual consistency across elements of the same type within a block.
- Save and publish: Click Save and then Publish Page. After publishing, open your live page on both desktop and mobile to verify that all logos load cleanly without pixelation, that links open the correct destination URLs, and that stat counter animations trigger as you scroll past the block.
Key settings explained
| Setting | What it controls | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Element type | Defines how the element is displayed: Logo (image with link), Badge (image, typically smaller), or Counter (animated number with label) | Use Logo for press and major clients, Badge for certifications and payment icons, Counter for impressive stats — mixing all three in one block is fine if they are logically related |
| Display style | Horizontal Scroll (single row, scrollable on mobile) or Grid (multi-row, all visible) | Horizontal Scroll for logo strips with six or more elements; Grid for smaller sets (three to five) where you want everything immediately visible |
| Element size | The display size of each logo or badge image | Standardize size within a block for a clean look; avoid mixing a tiny logo next to a large one unless the size difference is intentional (e.g., a featured partner vs. minor affiliates) |
| Logo label | Text label displayed under or alongside the logo image | Add a label for logos that visitors may not immediately recognize; skip the label for universally known brands like Forbes or Google where the logo is sufficient |
| Link URL | Where visitors go when they click a logo or badge element | Always set this for press logos — link to the specific article; set it for certification badges and link to the verification or credential page; leave it unset for client logos if the client has not given permission to link to their site |
| Counter number | The final value the animated counter reaches when the element enters the viewport | Use your real, current number — round down slightly if needed; "400+ clients" from a real count of 423 is fine; "1,000+ clients" from a count of 423 is not |
| Counter label | The descriptive text that follows the number (e.g., "happy clients," "courses sold," "five-star reviews") | Be specific — "students enrolled" is more credible than "customers" because it defines exactly what the number represents; vague labels invite skepticism |
| Animation on scroll | Enables the count-up animation for Counter elements when they become visible in the viewport | Enable this — the count-up effect draws attention to the stat at the moment it becomes visible, which is when visitors are most likely to register it; static numbers get skimmed |
How to build a trust stack that actually works
The concept of a trust stack is simple: you layer multiple independent credibility signals on your page so that visitors encounter evidence of your authority from more than one direction. A single logo or a single stat counter is a claim. Multiple independent signals — a press logo linking to a real article, a certification badge linking to a verification page, a client count backed by a review block full of named testimonials — add up to a picture that is very hard to fake. Visitors do not consciously do this math, but they feel the result of it. Pages with coherent, multi-signal trust stacks convert at significantly higher rates than pages with one isolated credential displayed in a corner.
Deciding what belongs in your Trust block requires thinking about what your specific audience needs to see. A creative freelancer pitching to small business clients needs different credibility signals than a course creator selling to individual learners. Business clients often respond to other recognizable business names: a logo from a company they know and respect in their industry signals that someone like them has already vetted you. Individual learners often respond more strongly to numbers — student counts and completion rates give them a sense of scale and community. Journalists and bloggers who cite authoritative sources respond well to a "cited by" or "as featured in" press strip. Match the type of trust signal to the audience making the trust decision.
One pattern that consistently causes problems is the "credibility overreach" — adding logos or stats that are technically true but misleadingly presented. A logo from a company you contracted for through an agency is different from a direct client relationship. A "media feature" that was a paid placement is different from earned editorial coverage. If a skeptical visitor clicked through a logo and found that the relationship it implies is not quite what the logo suggests, you have turned a trust signal into a trust liability. Every element in your Trust block should be something you can explain straightforwardly if asked.
For stat counters specifically, the question of what to count matters enormously. "10,000+ followers" is a weak social proof signal because follower counts are widely understood to be purchasable and do not imply quality. "847 students completed the course" is a strong signal because it implies commitment, engagement, and outcome — people finished the thing. "4.9 average rating across 200+ reviews" is stronger still because it combines a quality signal with a volume signal. When choosing what numbers to highlight, ask yourself: does this number imply that other people made a decision to pay, commit, or complete something based on my work? If yes, it belongs. If it is just a vanity metric that does not imply a real decision by another human, it adds noise but not credibility.
Troubleshooting common issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Logo appears blurry or pixelated on mobile or Retina displays | Image uploaded at 1x resolution (too small) or as a low-quality JPEG | Replace with an SVG file (best option) or a PNG at 2x the intended display size — if you want the logo to display at 100px height, upload it at 200px minimum height |
| Logo link opens a 404 error or the wrong page | Article URL changed after you set the link, or you pasted a redirect URL that no longer resolves | Re-open the element, update the link URL with the current direct URL from the publication's site, test it in an incognito browser tab before saving |
| Stat counter animation does not trigger when scrolling to the block | Animation setting disabled, or the block is positioned so high on the page that it is visible on load without requiring a scroll (the scroll trigger never fires) | Confirm scroll animation is enabled in the counter settings; if the block is near the top of the page, the animation may need to be triggered on page load rather than scroll — test on your live page and adjust block position if needed |
| Block saved but not visible on the live page | Block saved but page not published after the edit | Go back to the Dashboard editor and click Publish Page — saving stores the draft, publishing makes it live |
| Logos display at inconsistent sizes within the same block | Individual element sizes set to different values, or images have different aspect ratios | Set all logo elements to the same size value in the block settings; if images have varying aspect ratios, crop them to a consistent aspect ratio before uploading |
| Horizontal scroll layout not scrollable on mobile | Fewer than five or six elements, making the row short enough to display without overflow — no scroll is needed and none appears | This is expected behavior — with a small number of elements the row fits within the screen width; add more elements or switch to Grid layout if you want a different presentation |
| Trust block looks visually busy or incoherent | Too many element types mixed together (logos, badges, counters all in one block) with inconsistent sizes | Split into separate Trust blocks: one for press logos, one for certifications or badges, one for stat counters — then position each where it fits best on the page; separation creates clarity |
Best fit for
- Creators with real press features, client logos, or certifications — the more recognizable the name, the more conversion lift the logo generates
- Course creators and educators with meaningful student or completion numbers that signal scale and quality simultaneously
- Agencies and freelancers who want to show a client roster without listing individual names — recognizable brand logos convey the quality of past work without lengthy descriptions
- Anyone selling a product or service online who can display legitimate trust badges (security seals, payment method icons, money-back guarantee badges) near the point of purchase
- Creators building credibility in a new niche who have certifications or education credentials they can display while their client roster is still developing
Not the right tool if
- You have no real credentials, press features, notable clients, or meaningful stats to display — an empty or placeholder Trust block signals insecurity rather than authority
- Your audience is primarily personal (family, friends, general community) rather than prospective buyers or clients — trust signals are a conversion tool, not a decoration for non-commercial pages
- You want the logos or badges to update automatically based on live data — the block is static and requires manual updates whenever your credentials change
- Your press coverage or client logos are from entities your specific audience will not recognize — an unknown regional publication's logo adds visual noise without adding credibility for visitors unfamiliar with it
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Trust block and the Review block?
They address different questions in the visitor's trust evaluation. The Trust block answers "who else has vouched for, featured, or worked with this person?" — it is institutional and fast-scanning. Logos and numbers can be processed in two to three seconds. The Review block answers "what was it actually like to work with this person?" — it is personal, detailed, and requires reading. Both questions matter, and the most effective pages use both blocks at different positions: the Trust block high on the page to prime credibility quickly, the Review block closer to the CTA where narrative testimonials can close the conversion.
Can I add client logos if I do not have their explicit permission?
This depends on the nature of your relationship and the client's policies. Many companies have brand guidelines that specify how their logo may be used by third parties. Some explicitly prohibit it; others are fine with it. When in doubt, ask — most clients will say yes, and the ask itself is an opportunity to request a testimonial or case study at the same time. For publicly disclosed relationships (you were listed as a speaker at their event, credited in a public project, or mentioned in their own marketing), displaying the logo is generally safe. For confidential client relationships, do not display logos without written confirmation.
How do I get high-quality SVG logos for publications or companies?
Most publications and companies have a "Press" or "Brand Assets" page that provides official logo files for download. Search for "[company name] brand assets" or "[company name] press kit" — these pages are usually public and specifically intended for cases where you are featuring their logo in connection with real coverage or partnership. If no official kit is available, look for an SVG version of the logo in the publication's own website code (browser developer tools, inspect the logo on their homepage). Do not use logos screenshotted or exported from PDF documents — the quality is never sufficient for Retina displays.
Should I link every logo in the Trust block, or just press logos?
Link press logos without exception — they are the elements where a skeptical visitor is most likely to want to verify your claim, and a logo with no link invites doubt. For client logos, the decision is more nuanced: link if the client's website shows that the relationship was real and public (you are listed on their site, your work is featured); do not link if the relationship was confidential or if their site would confuse a visitor who expects to find a mention of you there. For certification badges, link to the certifying body's verification or credential page whenever one exists.
My stats are small — is it worth using the counter element?
It depends on what the number implies. "47 clients served" is a smaller number than "10,000 students" but it is not necessarily weaker as a trust signal — it depends on the context and price point. A high-ticket coach who has worked with 47 companies at $20,000 per engagement is displaying a number that means something very different from a $29 course with 47 enrollments. If the number implies quality (each client represents a significant commitment), display it. If it is genuinely small and likely to raise questions rather than answer them, wait until you have a number that makes a strong impression in context, or lead with a different stat — reviews received, years in business, or completion rates — where your actual numbers are stronger.
- The Trust block supports three element types — logos (press, clients, partners), badges (certifications, payment icons), and stat counters — and you can mix all three in a single block or split them across separate blocks.
- Always upload logos as SVG or 2x PNG; pixelated logos on Retina screens actively damage the credibility you are trying to establish.
- Link every press logo to the actual article or feature — the link is how skeptical visitors verify the claim, and unverified claims in a credibility section are worse than no claim at all.
- Place the Trust block high on your page (ideally right below your header) so it primes credibility before visitors read anything else; pair it with a Review block positioned above your CTA for the full social proof sequence.
- Only display stats you can defend with real data — a single discovered exaggeration destroys the credibility of everything else on your page, including the elements that are genuine.
Ready to show visitors exactly why they should trust you? Create your free UniLink page and add a Trust block that puts your best credentials, press features, and numbers front and center — where every visitor sees them first.
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