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Hey Changemakers,

Maybe you’re tinkering on a side project.
Maybe you’ve got a little business that’s starting to pick up steam.
Or maybe you’re trying to grow your community, your brand, or your idea.

Whatever it is, you’re probably wondering —
​how do I scale this thing?

More followers.
More customers.
More traction.

After running my own business and community for a while, I realized something big:

When people recommend, repost, or refer you, your reach multiplies for free.
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That’s the magic.

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But FIRST

If you are new, welcome to OCE’s weekly newsletter curated for the ambitious youth…here are some articles you missed from previous weeks:

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What Social Proof Actually Means

Let’s break it down:
Social proof = people publicly or privately showing that they trust you.

That can look like:

• Someone posting a testimonial about your work
• A classmate telling their friend to check out your project
• A teacher giving you a shoutout for leading a cool initiative
• Even someone re-sharing your post with “This is so good!”

Every one of those things builds credibility.

Because here’s the truth:

And trust spreads faster when it’s transferred through someone else’s voice.

How I Built It

When I started my business, I didn’t have money for ads or marketing.
So I focused on one thing: relationships.

I made it my goal to make every person I worked with feel like I genuinely cared about their success.
I followed up, asked how things were going, offered help, give value generously, shared their wins publicly.

Guess what happened?
They started telling their friends about me. And that network effect — all built on trust — grew faster than anything I could’ve paid for.

Here’s How You Can Do It Too (Even as a Teen)

You don’t need to wait until you’re “big” to build social proof.
You can start right now with whatever project you’re working on.

Here’s how:

1. Document the Journey Publicly

People trust what they can see.
Post updates about what you’re building, lessons learned, or progress wins.
When others see your momentum, they naturally want to be part of it — and share it.

Even better: tag the people who’ve helped you along the way. It strengthens the relationship and your visibility.

2. Turn every positive message into public proof

If someone DMs you, “This helped me a lot!” or “I love your project,” reply with:

Most people will say yes — and now you’ve turned private praise into public validation.

3. Give shoutouts before you ask for them

Social proof works best when it’s mutual.
Celebrate others first. Repost their work. Write a thank-you.
When you give recognition, people naturally return the favor.

That’s called reciprocity, and it’s one of the most powerful growth levers ever.

4. Create a “Wall of Love”

Start a Notion page, Google Doc, or even a pinned Instagram story with every nice thing people say about your work. Check out mine.​
Call it “Wall of Love” or “What People Say.”

Then — every time you talk about your project — link to it.
People believe people. Seeing even five positive messages can change everything.

Bonus: The “Proof Loop”

Whenever someone compliments you → thank them → screenshot it → post it → tag them → thank them again.

You just created a mini feedback loop that:

• Shows appreciation
• Spreads your reach
• Builds your reputation
• Encourages more people to do the same

Bottom Line

Social proof is the ultimate growth hack because it’s not a hack at all — it’s human nature.​
We trust people we like. We share things we believe in.

And when you focus on helping others win first, your reputation spreads organically.

So next time you’re thinking of how to grow your idea faster, skip the ads and the gimmicks.
Ask yourself:

That’s the move.
That’s how you scale.

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PS. Have a project? Tag me (@joinoce) and I'll give you a shoutout :)

Like what you read? Share with friends!

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Lena

​https://www.openclassroomexperience.com/​

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