An all to common mistake, scaling a startup with either poor product quality or just a bad product. These usually go hand in hand with lack of engagement and ramping up paid marketing efforts.

It takes courage to stop and take the time to fix quality issues. The energy and time invested pays off when you resume scaling efforts with a highly engaged customer base. Be open and honest with your customers, they aren’t stupid and will support you even more. Taking the time to explain why things are slowing down, the product quality issues you are addressing -the why — will return dividends and makes you relatable and human. This is something that many startups and others can learn from.

Open, honest communication with an engaged audience is its own ‘brand building’ today. Too many companies are afraid to take this step, to their loss.