Table of Contents
According to Matt Osborn, Apruve’s head of marketing, “a beginning firm is always going to be full with uncertainty, and marketing is no different.” No business owner can assume that the same marketing methods for more prominent firms would work for a small company. For this reason, entrepreneurs must focus on testing different channels, assessing their return, and discovering which channels perform the best.
That said, here are some growth ideas for SaaS startups and case studies to study in the next year. So today, you may begin reaping the benefits of these low-risk, high-return options.
Offer free trials or freemium services
Even if the concept of “trying before you buy” isn’t new, consumers have come to demand it more and more nowadays. A recent Accenture study estimates 75 million millennials globally, with a combined purchasing power of $600 billion. Additionally, by 2020, millennials are expected to spend $1.4 trillion a year.
Because millennials (and succeeding generations) are used to self-service, the freemium pricing model is an excellent example of a business deployment strategy that caters to them. In the past, you had to speak to a salesman to determine whether or not you liked anything; nowadays, you can find out practically anything online. That’s why there are free trials.
To keep your email marketing campaign running, you might provide free trials of your software to potential customers.
Win-back incentives for expired freemium trials are another freemium model growth tactic. By doing so, you’ll be able to stay in touch regularly, maybe with special offers or free trials.
Begin a successful referral campaign
Only one in four B2B firms have a structured referral program, according to a joint analysis from Heinz Marketing and Influitive. However, companies with much better sales, cheaper acquisition costs, and a more coherent connection between their sales and marketing teams enjoy this benefit more than the others.
The correct referral marketing program for your sector can be set up in no time and increase sales. Dropbox, which is currently valued at $12 billion, is one such famous case. In only 15 months, they went from a mere 100,000 members to more than 4 million. In addition, those who recommended friends received 500 MB of additional storage space.
Note-taking software The popularity of Evernote’s referral program has also skyrocketed. Evernote’s referral network helped the company reach its one million user milestone in only 446 days. You may choose between a freemium version with limited features and a paid version with more options and storage space.
The referral program promoted the premium product by awarding points for each referral that could be used to redeem free months of Evernote Premium. The premium account’s advantages were also promoted via the referral program.
Start your first partnership program
With the new year upon us, it’s time to explore a partnership program for your firm. According to data from Allbound, a well-designed partner program may deliver highly engaged partners, which in turn can lead to a 48% increase in total company revenue.
It’s time to establish your first partner program, and the Allbound team has some advice for you. However, to keep everyone on track, you’ll first need to establish a few rules:
- First, define your ideal partner persona.
It’s important to know who your prospective partner’s target audience is and whether or not it overlaps with your own. For example, are they good salesman? Is the product of your dream spouse compatible with yours? - Set partner objectives
When it comes to partnerships, it’s all about the exchange of resources. So you’ll need to find out what a fair deal for their services is when you engage in a partnership. In addition, you’ll need to outline the outcomes you want to achieve from your partner program. - Remove assumptions
For a successful partnership program, you’ll need to identify the actions that must be taken to reach your objectives. Every month, quarterly, and annually, it’s essential to discuss with your business partners how they can aid your sales efforts. - Establish communication channels
Partner programs might be more time-consuming than raising a dog. Right from the start, it’s critical to establish your channels of communication. Then, it’s possible to provide your partners with the information and resources they need to offer your product correctly. - Create a repository of information
Consider your partner’s perspective. What do you need to succeed on your first day at work? First, content. You may aid your partners by providing them with high-quality material that they can use to respond to their customers’ inquiries and anticipate their requirements. - Launch
Be patient, and don’t expect your software to be flawless after only a few weeks or even a few months of operation. It’s still a work in progress for some of the greatest names in the business. However, to succeed, you must never give up attempting new things or stopping to experiment.
Create attention-grabbing material
Many B2B SaaS organizations are looking to inbound marketing as one of their most sought-after marketing efforts. Using this strategy, you’ll produce high-quality material that attracts a large audience. Then, in the long term, your brand’s familiarity and trust will grow due to the material you provide for the benefit of your audience.
It’s time to get your priorities in order and be ready for the 70 percent of marketers currently investing in content strategy. Filling out forms is the most popular and practical method of attracting your target audience via inbound marketing. They open up about themselves in these forms and share their most honest thoughts and feelings. You can quickly create content that tackles their problems after having valuable and deep insights into their thinking process and interests.
Another perspective to this tale is the need for constant marketing to spread your message to a broad audience. Therefore, promoting your material regularly is essential. You may choose from a variety of content options, such as:
- Case studies – This is an excellent approach to demonstrate to your audience how your goods and services have helped others.
- White papers – They serve as a means of persuading people that you possess writing skills. You may assist others by addressing their pain spots and giving a solution to their problems.
- Blog posts — Blog posts are an excellent approach to educating your audience about your business. However, when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), a high ranking on Google is critical.
- Guest posts — Guest posts introduce you to a new group of prospective clients and provide an opportunity for you to earn a backlink for your website. In addition, your website’s reputation will be increased if you choose websites with high domain authority.
Encourage Feedback/Reviews/Referrals
To build your SaaS firm, don’t use feedback as a means to prove your assumptions; instead, use it to help you do so effectively.
We see this in the suggestions we receive on multiple social media sites, Google Ads, and other marketing channels, including your website. There is much room for you in the market since 82% of Americans depend on recommendations and referrals. Therefore you have a lot of space to grow.
Marketing via customer reviews and recommendations is also more cost-effective than traditional methods. Make sure your users can’t resist the incentives and perks you’re offering. Let your customers spread the word about your goods by recommending them to their friends and family members.
Embrace the power of social media
Over 3.17 billion people use the internet daily, according to recent statistics. In addition, there are an estimated 3.5 billion individuals who use social media every day, according to Emarsys.
Can you imagine how much of your market share you’re missing out on because you haven’t embraced social media marketing?
HootSuite and other social media management tools may help you keep an active social media presence. In addition, SaaS businesses are making use of it to improve their social media presence regularly.
Various social networking networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, and Instagram, allow you to schedule posts in advance. In addition, your social media material may be planned and managed via the use of technologies such as Sprout Social, Hootsuite, and Crowdfire.
In addition, it lets you keep track of all the mentions and comments about your companies that are made on social media. This data may be gleaned from customers’ behavior and shifting habits, which you can then utilize to craft a well-thought-out internet marketing campaign.
SEO
An approach called SEO (Search Engine Optimization) aims to increase both the amount and quality of visitors to your site from search engines.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital marketing technique for increasing your company’s online engagement since 68% of all online encounters begin with a search engine. Unfortunately, many companies are battling for their internet material to be viewed, which makes it difficult.
Startups, in particular, must recognize that this is a long-term process that must be executed and improved over time. So be patient, and you’ll reap the benefits in the long run!
What are the best ways to adopt SEO best practices?
- Use keywords to drive traffic – Be careful to target terms that your prospective clients are using. Your text will still seem natural if you use the proper keywords.
- Utilize backlinks – Backlinks are created when another website connects to yours, and you may get them by collaborating with another organization. This informs search engines that your site is trustworthy, which is a good thing. One technique to gain a backlink from another firm is to offer to write a guest blog for them in return for a link back to your website. Backlinks from credible websites should be the focus of your efforts.
- Ensure a pleasant user experience – Search engines increasingly prioritize sites that provide a good user experience. Therefore, you must ensure that your site loads fast, is suitable for mobile searches, and is simple to browse.
Final Thoughts
To succeed in the crowded market of SaaS businesses, you’ll need something that sets your company different. Whether it’s on the financial or professional front, marketing requires a lot of time and work.
As a SaaS business, you should consider the growth concepts listed above while formulating your growth strategy.
