One Small Tweak Took an LA Company's Close Rate From 12.4% to 23.1%

I've spent the last decade analyzing what separates thriving businesses from those that struggle to stay afloat.

After interviewing hundreds of entrepreneurs and reviewing countless case studies, I've discovered something shocking: there's a single factor that consistently separates the winners from the losers in today's competitive marketplace.

It's not what you might expect.

It's not having the best product. It's not hiring the most talented team.

It's not even having the most innovative marketing strategy.

The difference comes down to one thing: credibility.

In today's skeptical market, consumers are bombarded with thousands of marketing messages daily.

They've developed sophisticated filters to determine who deserves their trust—and their money.

How One LA Owner Took His Close Rate From 12.4% to 23.1% Without Changing a Single Ad

The founder of a company I'll tell you about in a minute is named Nic.

He built a local-services company in Los Angeles to $35 million a year.

"I learned this with my own company in LA," he told me.

"Without changing a single ad, we added 'As Seen On' logos from major news outlets.

Our close rate went from 12.4% to 23.1%... and revenue went up 163% in 90 days."

0 Ads changed.

Same company. Same ads.

The only thing that changed was what a customer found before they called.

(What it costs to do the same thing today is so little you may find it hard to believe. More on that below.)

The Credibility Crisis Most Entrepreneurs Don't Even Know They Have

“I poured my heart and soul into this business, but nobody knows us.

We need real exposure.”

His frustration echoes what I've heard from countless entrepreneurs.

They're passionate about their products or services.

They've invested thousands in websites, social media, and ads.

Yet they remain invisible to their target customers.

Why?

Because they're missing the essential trust signals that instantly communicate credibility to potential clients.

The “As Seen On” Effect: The Hidden Psychological Trigger

Have you ever noticed how your perception of a company instantly changes when you see they've been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, or Yahoo Finance?

This isn't accidental. It's a powerful psychological principle called “authority transfer,” where the credibility of established media outlets transfers to the businesses they feature.

Conversion rates after adding media logos

Business website

Your business

AS SEEN IN

+48%average increase

Their thinking process goes: “If Forbes thought this company was worth covering, they must be legitimate.”

It's why major corporations spend millions on PR agencies each year. They understand the ROI of media credibility.

It Isn't Just Google Anymore

Your customers have a new way to look you up. More of them ask ChatGPT who to hire.

Ask ChatGPT who you are.

For most business owners the answer is some version of "I couldn't find much on this person."

News features are the signal Google and AI use to recommend someone.

One article in a news outlet gives it something to find.

The Catch-22 That Keeps Small Businesses Small

Here's the brutal truth most entrepreneurs face: traditional PR is designed to keep you locked out.

“Most of your monthly retainer is earned by BS like 'we're learning your story!' or 'we've been hard at work pitching you' but never any tangible results.”

This creates a vicious cycle:

1. Without media coverage, you lack credibility
2. Without credibility, you struggle to attract customers
3. Without customers, you can't grow
4. Without growth, you can't afford expensive PR services
5. Without PR services, you can't get media coverage

And the cycle continues, keeping potentially great businesses trapped in obscurity.

For decades, this system has effectively locked out small and medium-sized businesses from the credibility-building tools that bigger companies use to dominate markets.

Until now.

The $97 Solution That's Changing Everything

When I first heard about this service, I was skeptical.

How could anyone get legitimate media features for less than $100 when PR firms charge thousands?

To verify, I decided to investigate personally—speaking with the founders, interviewing customers, and even testing the service myself with a small side project I run.

Remember the owner in Los Angeles whose close rate went from 12.4% to 23.1%?

His company is the one behind this service. It's called AnotherZero.

It has gotten 15,318+ businesses featured in 30+ countries, and it's ranked #123 on the 2026 Inc. 5000.

So I asked him the question you're asking right now. How is it only $97?

"We publish over 1,000 articles a month, which means direct relationships with editorial teams and rates individual businesses could never access."

“I was a little shocked, to be honest.

For the price, I highly recommend it—do it! They're the real deal.”

How It Actually Works

Unlike traditional PR agencies that spend months "building relationships" while billing you thousands, AnotherZero works the other way around.

You pick the outlet. They write the article. It runs when you approve it.

Here's how they get you featured:

1. 1You answer their questions and choose the outlet you'd like within 2 minutes
2. 2They craft a compelling feature article about your business within 24 hours without you lifting a finger
3. 3Once you approve it, your story gets published in the top-tier news outlet you chose within 7 days

A lot of the owners I interviewed almost stopped right here, because they figured they weren't newsworthy enough.

You don't need a news story.

You need a writer to spend 900 words explaining what your business already does well.

“Handled everything from A to Z like true professionals, and helped us build our brand and grow our presence.”

The Science Behind Why This Works

You might be wondering: does this really make a difference? The data is crystal clear.

Harvard Business School researchers found that third-party endorsements trigger a phenomenon called “credibility transfer,” where the authority of the media outlet subconsciously transfers to your business in the minds of consumers.

In a controlled study, companies that added media logos to their landing pages saw conversion rates increase by an average of 48%, with some experiencing improvements as high as 60%.

Conversion rates after adding media logos

Business website

Your business

AS SEEN IN

+48%average increase

+60%highest improvements
reported

This psychological trigger is powerful because it bypasses rational thinking and activates an automatic trust response.

Your potential customers don't consciously think about it—they just feel more comfortable doing business with you.

Owners Who Did It

Here's one more, from a client named Art, who runs a home-improvement business.

After: Got featured, added the "As Seen On" logos

Here's the article that ran for AnotherZero:

usanews.com

Hear It Directly From Our Clients

What they saw on Google, ChatGPT and their own websites after their articles went live.

4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot

15,318+ businesses featured

See more reviews

The Time-Limited Opportunity

Here's where timing becomes critical.

As this approach gains popularity, two things will inevitably happen:

1. Media outlets will become more selective about which businesses they feature
2. The price for these placements will increase substantially

Just as early Google advertisers enjoyed pennies-per-click rates that now cost dollars, early adopters of this credibility strategy are benefiting from an undervalued opportunity that won't last forever.

You can still get featured for $97 right here.

The Midnight Revelation That Changed My Perspective

Last week, I was reviewing the data from all my research for this article when something struck me at midnight.

The businesses that succeed in today's economy aren't necessarily those with the best products or services.

They're the ones that understand and leverage the psychology of trust.

In a world where consumers are bombarded with options, they don't have time to deeply research every company they consider.

Instead, they rely on mental shortcuts—trust signals that help them quickly decide which businesses deserve their attention and money.

Media logos are perhaps the most powerful of these trust signals, instantly communicating legitimacy in a way that even the most polished website or clever marketing copy cannot.