Social proof is a way to show potential clients that you have the skills and ability to deliver on the promise of your services.
Leaving an employment situation to start a business can feel like the skills don’t translate, but you can absolutely write your resume and use the bullet points as social proof.
Say you’re going into real estate; find the relevant points. How long have you lived in the community that you’re selling in? What additional certificates do you have? Organizations? Maybe you have someone who hasn’t done a transaction with you, but they know how you work from work on a community organization. Ask them to post a review based on that experience.
If you’re still in an employment relationship, but building a business on the side. Consider setting up a Google Business page and start collecting reviews.
For whatever social proof you have, and I have yet to meet a business owner that doesn’t have anything; make sure you can explain to a client how that experience directly benefits them within your business.
Another point, unless required by a professional organization, don’t wait to start collecting social proof when the doors to your business open. Create a file, maybe even call it ‘why I’m awesome’ and collect over time.