What to fix before scaling distribution

We're not saying don't scale. We're saying fix these first or scaling will hurt.

Why scaling on a broken base fails

We see it in the reports. Founders pour budget into paid or content before the base is solid. Conversion is weak. CAC stays high. The channel "works" in the sense that traffic comes, but it doesn't pay. The fix is usually upstream: positioning, pricing, or discoverability.

Checklist

Positioning clarity. Can a stranger say what you do and for whom in one sentence? If the report says "unclear value prop" or "broad positioning," tighten that before you scale. One wedge, one audience, one outcome.

Pricing visible and coherent. If we can't find pricing or it's inconsistent across the site, paid and content will send people to a confusing experience. Make pricing easy to find and aligned with how you talk about the product.

Brand findable in search. If people can't find you when they search your name, everything downstream gets harder. Weak brand searchability shows up in the report; fix it before you rely on organic or paid search.

One channel that works. Before you add a second channel, prove the first. The report's DRL and distribution pattern fits tell you what we see. If DRL is 1, you're early-adopter only; don't scale yet.

Evidence of who the customer is. Logos, testimonials, or clear ICP language. If the report says "target user unclear," fix that. Scaling to "everyone" rarely works.

How the report surfaces this

Blockers. Missing factors in the DRL breakdown. Main constraint. One thing this week. The report points at the biggest gap; start there. What is DRL and when to run a PMF check tie in.