A Smart Bear · Jason Cohen
articleprincipleHow to get customers who love you even when you screw up
27 April 2025Profit
Source excerpt
About A Smart BearCustomers love you when you're honest, even about your foibles. We forgive honest mistakes from earnest people, not stolid, cold, inhuman corporations.
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Apollo layer
What a founder can learn
Founder takeaway
Customer loyalty is not built by appearing flawless. When mistakes happen, acknowledge them plainly and respond like an accountable human; candor and earnestness can preserve trust better than cold, defensive corporate messaging.
Why it matters
Every company will make mistakes. A consistent, honest response can turn a trust-threatening incident into evidence that customers can rely on the people behind the product.
Relevant guides
Put it to work
Draft a simple failure-response playbook: What will you tell customers, how quickly, who will take responsibility, and what concrete next step will you offer?
Private notes