How to show a record buyers actually trust
Every pick seller says they're up. Buyers know that, so a number on its own means little. What buyers trust is a record they can check, one that shows losses and can't be quietly fixed later.
This guide covers what makes a record credible, how to present units and ROI, and what the FTC expects when you advertise results.
Why screenshots and spreadsheets don't convince anyone
Buyers have seen too many edited records.
- Screenshots can be cropped, edited, or picked from your best week. Nobody can tell what's missing.
- Bet slips show a bet was placed. They don't show the bets you didn't post.
- Spreadsheets you control can be changed at any time. Rows disappear, a loss becomes a "void", a 3-unit loser becomes 1 unit.
- "Started tracking on March 3" usually means the record starts right after a bad stretch.
You may be fully honest. The format still asks buyers to take your word for it, and they won't.
What makes a record credible
A record earns trust when it would be hard to fake. Check yours against this list.
| Element | What it means | Why buyers care |
|---|---|---|
| Timestamped before the game | Each pick has a posting time that's before kickoff or first pitch | Proves you didn't post after the result |
| Losses shown | Every losing pick stays visible | Hiding losses is the most common trick |
| No deleting | Picks can't be removed once posted | Stops quiet cleanup |
| Fixed units | One unit scale, stated up front | Stops "that was only a small play" |
| Consistent grading rule | Same handling for pushes, voids, and postponements every time | Stops picking the convenient outcome |
| Results final after grading | Once graded, results can't be edited | Stops changes after the fact |
| Standard time windows | All-time plus a recent window, like the last 30 days | Stops cherry-picked date ranges |
| Free and VIP shown separately | Two records, never merged | Shows whether the paid product is any different |
Write your grading rule down
Decide these before anyone asks, and publish them:
- Push: graded as a push, 0 units, not counted as a win or loss.
- Canceled game: void.
- Postponed game: void if not played within a set window, such as 48 hours.
- Odds: graded at the line and price you posted. The closing line doesn't matter here.
- Props and parlays: say how a scratched player or a void leg is handled.
Whatever you choose, apply it the same way every time. Changing the rule after a result is exactly what buyers are looking for.
Presenting units and ROI honestly
Units and ROI are useful if you show how you got them.
- Units won or lost is the net result, using your fixed unit size. Show it next to the number of picks.
- ROI is units won divided by units risked. Say which formula you use.
- Show the sample size. "+12 units" means something different over 40 picks than over 900.
- Use the price you posted. If you graded at -110, say so. Don't grade at a better number you found later.
- Don't convert to dollars. "$10,000 profit at $1,000 a unit" invites buyers to think about money they could make. Stick to units.
- Show both windows. All-time plus the last 30 days. If the last 30 days are down, that stays on the page.
A record that shows a losing month alongside a longer winning one is more believable than one with no red at all.
What the FTC says about results in ads
If you advertise using results or customer testimonials, the FTC's endorsement rules apply. The FTC's guidance says an endorsement has to reflect the honest experience of the person giving it (FTC: Endorsement Guides, What People Are Asking).
Two points matter most for pick sellers:
- Testimonials imply typical results. If you post a buyer saying "I made $4,000 this month tailing," the FTC treats that as a claim others can expect similar results. Disclaimers like "results not typical" or "individual results may vary" don't change that.
- Disclose what's generally expected. If you can't back up that the featured result is typical, you need to clearly say what results people generally get (FTC: Endorsement Guides, What People Are Asking).
For most sellers the simple path is to skip earnings testimonials altogether and point buyers to the full record.
Also add a plain disclaimer wherever you show results: past results don't guarantee future results. It's true, and it sets the right expectation.
This is general information. If advertising rules are a real concern for your business, talk to a lawyer.
Put the record link in your bio
A credible record only helps if people find it.
- Put the link in your X bio, your Discord server's #announcements, and your payment page.
- Use the same link everywhere so buyers see one record.
- When people ask "what's your record?", send the link.
What to do when you have a bad week
Every seller has losing stretches. The record will show it, which is the point.
- Post every result as usual. Same time, same format.
- Don't delete or "re-grade." Buyers who see the record change will leave and tell others.
- Don't change units to chase. Doubling up after losses looks desperate and breaks your fixed-unit rule.
- Say it plainly. "Rough week, -6.2u. Same process next week." That's enough.
- Don't offer refunds or free weeks as an apology unless that's already your policy. It suggests the record was a promise.
Buyers who stay through a bad week, and see you handle it honestly, tend to trust you more afterward.
A record page that does this for you
If you'd rather not maintain this by hand, SlipRelay is one option. It's posting software for pick sellers. It doesn't sell picks, take bets, or touch your subscribers or payments. Spreads, moneylines and totals in the major US leagues grade themselves from the final score and can't be edited afterward. Hand-graded picks like props and parlays can be fixed for 24 hours, then become final. Canceled games, or games postponed and not played within 48 hours, are voided automatically. The opt-in public record page at sliprelay.com/r/your-name shows only final graded results, all-time and last 30 days, split free and VIP, and links to how grading works. Plans start at $24/month with a free week.
Sources
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