Staying opinionated as you grow
17 days ago
- #authentic-communication
- #product-development
- #company-growth
- Building a large company (600+ people) requires constant reaffirmation of identity to avoid enshittification.
- Growing software often leads to complexity that can overwhelm users unless managed well.
- Key to successful growth includes saying no, hiding complexity, and knowing when to cut features.
- Product development is about making deliberate choices, including how you communicate your product's identity.
- Early-stage communication is direct and opinionated, often through a manifesto, which helps define the product's core identity.
- As companies grow, there's a risk of diluting the message to appeal to more people, potentially pleasing no one.
- A clean, simple homepage with a strong manifesto can effectively hook new visitors in under 10 seconds.
- Example given: 'A blogging platform that doesn't waste your time' is a strong, opinionated statement that defines the product's opposition to complexity and time-wasting.
- The product aims to be simple but not simplistic, focusing on easy writing without the pressures of social media engagement.
- Future marketing may evolve, but the core identity should remain strong to avoid losing authenticity.