StartupTalky

Tag: SaaS product

  • Best SaaS Marketing Strategies: Insights from Marketing Experts

    As per Statista, global Software as a Service (SaaS) market revenue is projected to reach $339.10 billion in 2024, with an expected annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 19.28%, reaching $818.80 billion by 2029.

    The SaaS market is growing rapidly, making SaaS marketing one of the top online services worldwide. However, succeeding in SaaS marketing requires using various techniques and a strategic approach.

    To gain a better understanding, we connected with some amazing marketing experts to explore the most effective SaaS product marketing strategies. Their insights highlight different approaches and provide real-world examples of successful implementations. Let’s explore their detailed responses to learn more.

    Understanding SaaS Business vs Traditional B2B

    Before discussing any strategies around it, one needs to understand the fundamental ways in which a SaaS business differs from traditional B2B business. Traditional B2B involves selling a product or service to a company, mostly led by a sales team. Think of the ways in which the accounting software Tally was sold. The sales team would visit businesses and explain the benefits of their software and make the sale by delivering the CD, and possibly a quick tutorial for the staff as well.

    SaaS, on the other hand, which stands for Software-as-a-service, is a cloud-based offering, enabling users to access the service from anywhere and on any device by logging in using a stable internet connection. The advantages, of course, are quite apparent. From lower acquisition costs to continuous over-the-air product updates, and focused customer support – all of which lends itself extremely well for scalability. The revenue model is often a subscription-based scheme that can be calibrated down to the minutest of business cases, explained Santosh R, Co-Founder & CMO, Elever.

    Expert Insights on the Best SaaS Marketing Strategies and Techniques

    Let’s explore the experts’ detailed responses to learn more about the most effective marketing strategies and techniques to drive growth for SaaS products. Discover specific examples that highlight the success of these strategies.

    Shikhar Bhuddi, Founder of SaaS Growth Advisory

    Shikhar Bhuddi, Founder of SaaS Growth Advisory
    Shikhar Bhuddi, Founder of SaaS Growth Advisory

    The most effective marketing strategies and techniques to drive growth for SaaS products include:

    • SEO & Content Marketing: SaaS companies can leverage AI-enabled content marketing to build brand awareness, attract top-of-the-funnel traffic, and garner qualified leads and trial users. Examples include Dropbox, Intercom, and Moz, who use blogs, webinars, and authoritative guides to position themselves as thought leaders.
    • Free Trials & Freemium: Offering free trials and freemium versions allows potential customers to experience the product firsthand and see its value, which can lead to higher conversion rates. HighTouch and Census offer a freemium version of their product, and they’re insanely useful in demonstrating the utility of the product.
    • Referral Marketing: Encouraging existing customers and agency partners to refer new customers can be a highly effective and low-cost way to acquire new users. Referrals often close quickly and have a high conversion rate. Major SaaS companies like Fivetran, Segment, Semrush, RudderStack, and Intercom have designed impactful referral and affiliate marketing programs.
    • PPC Advertising: Targeted pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns on platforms like Google Ads and social media can help SaaS companies reach and acquire new customers. Many SaaS companies work with specialized PPC agencies to maximize the impact of their campaigns. Cloud Telephony companies and data SaaS companies spend millions of dollars annually to generate pipelines worth billions of dollars.
    • Co-Marketing: Collaborating with complementary SaaS brands on content, webinars, or joint promotions can help expand reach and tap into new audiences.
    • Leveraging SaaS Review Sites: Getting featured and running ads on SaaS review sites such as Gartner’s Capterra/Software Advice, G2, etc. can help develop trust and credibility with prospects looking to compare several tools for a category at once.

    By implementing a combination of these proven SaaS marketing strategies, companies can effectively drive product growth, acquisition, and retention in the highly competitive SaaS landscape.

    How to Create an Effective SaaS Content Marketing Strategy
    A successful Software as a Service (SaaS) content marketing strategy is essential for attracting and retaining customers.
    StartupTalkySayantan Mondal

    Sanil Basutkar, Co-founder and Head of Product and Marketing at Bharatsure

    Sanil Basutkar, Co-founder and Head of Product and Marketing at Bharatsure
    Sanil Basutkar, Co-founder and Head of Product and Marketing at Bharatsure

    Basutkar shared his insights on some proven ways to market SaaS products:

    • Content Marketing: It includes creating valuable content such as blogs, ebooks, and whitepapers that can attract and engage potential customers. It may also include partnering with industry influencers to increase brand awareness and credibility. Canva is a great example of this where it has a robust affiliate program that rewards people who sign up as a partner. They have an excellent presence on social media where they make users organically advertise their creations and a collection of blog articles that give insights on design.
    • Referral Programs: These are the programs that reward users for referring the product to other users. Take the example of Dropbox, it was able to scale its users from 100k users to 4 Million users in a span of just over a year primarily because of a simple referral program it had launched. Each user would get 500Mb of storage if they referred someone. The new user would also get this free storage.
    • Freemium Models: This model offers part of a service up to a certain limitation to users for free. Offering a free version of your product with limited features can attract users and drive conversions to paid plans over time. HubSpot is currently one of the biggest CRM companies in the world and they have a strong freemium model that provides a great way to experience the platform.

    Mastering SaaS Success: A Deep Dive into Customer Profiling and Segmentation Strategies
    Explore dynamic customer profiling and segmentation strategies in the SaaS realm. Unlock success with tailored solutions and future-ready approaches for a competitive edge.
    StartupTalkySubham Kumar

    Santosh R, Co-Founder & CMO, Elever

    Santosh R, Co-Founder & CMO, Elever
    Santosh R, Co-Founder & CMO, Elever

    The usual suspect is Social Media Marketing, and it is indeed an effective way of both spreading the word and acquiring customers. However, for a SaaS business, there are far more effective marketing strategies, one of the key ones being- Content Marketing.

    • Content Marketing: This essentially means to provide high-quality, relevant, and useful content for – FREE. The fact is, the best way to convince someone that your product benefits them is by showcasing how. This in turn is possible only when you demonstrate an understanding of your clients’ business, pointing out the pain points that can be solved by your offering. Content marketing can take many forms such as blog posts, whitepapers, webinars, e-books, and so on. Furthermore, content marketing supports SEO efforts, increasing visibility and search engine rankings, and enables the company to engage with its audience on multiple platforms. By consistently delivering valuable content, SaaS companies can foster long-term relationships with customers, ultimately driving user acquisition, retention, and growth.

    Example: HubSpot’s use of content marketing exemplifies how providing consistent, valuable, and targeted content can drive business growth. From the outset, HubSpot focused on producing a wide array of educational resources, including blog posts, e-books, webinars, and whitepapers. Over time, they have introduced new content formats like podcasts, video tutorials, and interactive tools. These additions catered to different audience preferences and increased engagement. This has resulted in them have over 7 million organic visitors to their blog each month, and over time have crossed revenue of $1Billion.

    There are some other interesting models of SaaS marketing as well, below is a quick snapshot of the same. 

    • The Freemium Model: Spotify adopted this approach, offering a free tier with ads and premium subscriptions for an ad-free experience. And they have a 45% conversion rate of free users to the paid plan.
    • The Referral Model: Dropbox’s referral program incentivized users to refer friends by offering additional storage space. This resulted in a massive jump in user growth and a significant drop in cost per acquisition. 
    • Influencer Collaborations: Canva has effectively used influencers to demonstrate its design tools, reaching new audiences and increasing sign-ups. Today, it is among the go-to tools for both serious and novice users.
    • AI-driven: Grammarly, the writing aid tool is a great example of a SaaS business incorporating AI into their marketing strategy. It fuses the Freemium model with dynamic content that adapts to the user’s preferences and actions, demonstrating in real time the benefits of their tool. 

    Irrespective of which strategy works for a brand, at the heart of every SaaS marketing strategy lies delivering clear value, with focus on engagement and retention, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.

    How to Improve Customer Experience for SaaS Businesses? (Best Strategies)
    To succeed in the SaaS industry businesses need a well-crafted customer-centric strategy, so here’s a strategy to improve customer experience.
    StartupTalkySunita Singh

    Ritesh Saraf, Co-founder and CEO of Promilo

    Ritesh Saraf, Co-founder and CEO of Promilo
    Ritesh Saraf, Co-founder and CEO of Promilo

    Effective marketing strategies for SaaS products are critical to driving growth and ensuring a product’s success in an increasingly competitive landscape. These strategies often revolve around understanding the target audience, leveraging data-driven insights, and creating a robust online presence. Here, we explore several effective techniques and provide specific examples to illustrate their impact.

    • Content Marketing and Thought Leadership: Content marketing is the cornerstone of SaaS marketing. By producing high-quality, informative content, SaaS companies can establish themselves as thought leaders. This not only attracts potential customers but also builds trust and credibility.
    • Freemium and Free Trial Models: Offering a freemium version or a free trial of the software allows potential customers to experience the product’s value before making a purchase decision. This strategy lowers the barrier to entry and can lead to higher conversion rates.

    Example: Promilo, a B2B and B2C sales appointment aggregator, offers a freemium model that allows users to access basic features at no cost. This approach has been instrumental in attracting a wide user base, who later convert to paying customers once they realise the platform’s potential in enhancing their marketing efforts.

    • Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): SEO is essential for driving organic traffic to a SaaS company’s website. By optimising website content for relevant keywords, SaaS businesses can improve their search engine rankings and attract more potential customers.
    • Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising: PPC advertising allows SaaS companies to reach a targeted audience quickly. Platforms like Google Ads and LinkedIn Ads enable precise targeting based on demographics, job titles, and interests, ensuring that potential decision-makers see the ads.
    • Social Media Marketing: Social media platforms are invaluable for SaaS marketing. They provide an opportunity to engage with customers, share content, and promote new features or updates.
    • Customer Reviews and Testimonials: Customer reviews and testimonials are powerful tools for building trust and credibility. Potential customers are more likely to trust the opinions of existing users than the company’s marketing messages.

    Example: Promilo has effectively utilised customer testimonials to showcase its impact on businesses. By highlighting success stories from users who have benefited from its Pay for Performance model, Promilo has built credibility and attracted new customers.

    • Webinars and Live Demos: Webinars and live demos allow potential customers to see the product in action and ask questions in real-time. This interactive approach can significantly enhance understanding and interest in the product.

    In conclusion, effective marketing strategies for SaaS products involve a mix of content marketing, freemium models, SEO, PPC advertising, social media marketing, customer reviews, and interactive sessions like webinars. These techniques allow SaaS companies to attract and retain customers, driving sustainable growth.

    So, these experts seem to agree on a few key SaaS marketing strategies: making useful content to engage customers, using referral programs to grow users, and offering free product versions to get people interested. HubSpot’s free model and Dropbox’s referrals show how effective these methods can be in keeping customers happy and growing SaaS businesses.

    Why SaaS Businesses should build an Email List? | How to Build an Email list?
    Having an active email list important for the growth of your SaaS business. So, Here we have discussed Why and how you can build an email list.
    StartupTalkyPratyusha Srivastava

  • ClickUp Review: The All-in-One Productivity Platform

    If you’ve worked on projects or own a business you should know that it takes more than one tool to get the job done. Every service you use has a purpose and often you use all of them every day for getting your work done.

    This might work just fine for you in the present, but as you scale it’s a fact that you’ll get slowed down. Managing all these different services individually affects your productivity and adds to stress. This is the very reason ClickUp was made. ClickUp is an all-in-one productivity and team management platform that aims to organize and deliver your tasks exactly when you need them.

    Think of it as a hub for streamlining notifications and emails from services you already use onto a central platform. ClickUp also has the functionality to import all your data from popular productivity platforms you’ve used in the past. This makes switching to ClickUp a whole lot easier.

    It is packed with features to help you organize and boost your workflow. No wonder that it’s the fastest-growing productivity platform. The best part about the service has to be that it offers most of its functionality for free.

    Now, with the introduction of ClickUp 3.0, users can enjoy an even more streamlined and efficient task management experience.

    What is ClickUp?
    ClickUp 3.0 and Key Advancements
    More Features of ClickUp
    ClickUp Pricing

    What is ClickUp?

    ClickUp is your all-in-one work companion, designed to simplify your tasks and boost collaboration. It goes beyond mere task management, offering features like document creation, reminders, goal tracking, calendars, and even an inbox – all neatly organized in one place.

    ClickUp isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s customizable to suit and fit the unique needs of any team. This platform makes it easy for everyone in your team to plan, organize, and collaborate seamlessly. ClickUp is just like a well-organized platform where teams can efficiently manage their work without the trouble of juggling multiple apps.

    20 Best Project Management Tools For Startups in 2023
    Are you looking for the best project management tool? Here are the top 20 tools to help you manage your projects and team members effortlessly.
    StartupTalkyNiku Mandal

    ClickUp 3.0 and Key Advancements

    Why Choose ClickUp 3.0
    Why Choose ClickUp 3.0

    ClickUp 3.0 is the latest upgrade offered by ClickUp. It’s not just an upgrade; it’s a whole new way to make work easier. It’s faster, simpler, and works better, giving it a fresh new look and feel. The app now runs twice as fast, tasks and lists show up three times quicker, and searches happen five times faster.

    ClickUp 3.0 brings cool features like the Global Action Bar, Task Types, Task Views, and a better Mobile App. It also offers its users 99.9% reliability. Simply put, ClickUp 3.0 is meant to make your work easier and help you and your team get more done without much hussle.

    Key Features in ClickUp 3.0

    Below are the prominent features offered by ClickUp 3.0:

    • Unmatched Reliability and Performance: ClickUp ensures your projects have a strong foundation with unparalleled reliability and performance. It’s your go-to platform for robust project management.
    • Inbox 3.0: Experience the all-new Inbox 3.0 in ClickUp, where notifications are displayed in real-time and intelligently organized by priority. This allows you to stay effortlessly on top of your tasks.
    • Universal Search: Swiftly locate files not only within ClickUp but also across other apps and your device. The Universal Search feature makes finding essential information quick and seamless.
    • Customizable Task Types: ClickUp 3.0 empowers you to create new task types, allowing full representation of anything you need to manage—from accounts to cases, backlog items, and more.
    • Elegant Design: It offers a cleaner and more intuitive workspace with its elegant design, enhancing your overall user experience.
    • Revolutionized Home: The home interface in ClickUp 3.0 has undergone a revolution. Now, you can enjoy a personalized dashboard that prioritizes critical tasks.

    ClickUp 3.0

    More Features of ClickUp

    ClickUp is simple, clean, and concise in the way it delivers information. The platform has a hierarchal structure to keep things precise. Everything from projects and departments to files and folders has its place.

    ClickUp supports over 1000+ integrations with services like Google Cloud, GitHub, Amazon Alexa, etc. These make sure that you can work with the services you already use right within ClickUp. The individual features are vast and take getting used to, but here’s a list of the best features of the platform:

    GET STARTED With ClickUp NOW

    1. Unique Customization

    Everyone on a team has their own style of preferences and choices. When working with a team of employees in a business the small things can have a big impact on team performance.

    ClickUp has been made with this in mind as it offers a highly customizable platform. Everything from the aesthetics to what integrations you see can be changed. The main window allows you to select between view types depending upon what you prefer.

    You can even embed your own custom view if none of the selections appeal to you. Views function as the main window of the platform. It’s what you first see when you open it and its purpose is to give you the information in a glance.

    When it comes to functionality, you can select only what you want to see. The platform being feature-packed can get a little overwhelming at times. But with the ability to hide certain features, you can make use you only see and use what concerns you. The platform also lets you create custom wikis and documentation for anything that might require it.

    Different types of views supported by Clickup
    Different types of views supported by ClickUp

    2. Personal Inbox

    The most difficult part when working with multiple services has to be keeping track of notifications from all of them. This is repetitive and often gets stressful. ClickUp has its own internal inbox where you get notified about everything related to your tasks.

    Be it reminders, pending tasks, or messages from other team members, you can see it all in one single inbox. The inbox also supports notifications from integrated services that you use.

    This makes sure that you never miss a task or any piece of information you might need. Since the platform is highly customizable, it allows you to set restrictions for your inbox as well. You have the option to set it up so that you only get notified about what concerns you. The personal inbox is one of the notable features of the platform.

    3. Taskbar

    If you’ve ever used Windows 10 you must know how convenient the taskbar is. It lets you switch between all open apps and windows quickly and at any time. ClickUp has its own taskbar that works through the app. You can see all your windows and switch with ease.

    You also can pin your most used window to the taskbar for quicker access. Small features like these boost your productivity without you even knowing it. Realistically it’s true that small changes and the tools you use help you run a successful business.

    GET STARTED WITH ClickUp NOW

    4. Commands

    Commands are an easy way of getting things done. Think of these as shortcuts that speed up your workflow. Wherever you are within the platform you have the choice to use commands while typing things down.

    You can use commands to insert custom fields, dates, embeds, etc. If you’ve ever used the command shell in windows or mac you know how convenient commands are. Instead of having to type up entire sentences or clicking the toggles with your mouse, you can do it all with your keyboard.

    Commands in ClickUp
    Commands in ClickUp

    5. Real-time-chat

    ClickUp has a built-in real-time chat functionality allowing members of your team to communicate with ease within the platform. The chat system supports everything from pictures and videos to files and embeds. Having a built-in chat system within a productivity platform is quite beneficial.

    Chat Functionality in ClickUp
    Chat Functionality in ClickUp

    The need to maintain an active presence on different platforms for communication is eliminated with the real-time chat in ClickUp. Communication platforms being an obvious part of business tools, this feature is truly useful.

    ClickUp Pricing

    Allowing access to most of its proprietary features for free, ClickUp has managed to attract a bunch of users. However, it’s important to note that the free plan has a 100 MB storage limit.

    If your business or project deals with big resources, the free plan is not going to cut it. The Unlimited plan is available at $10 per member per month, which is darn affordable when you think about the features you get. The $7 unlimited plan offers unlimited storage, dashboards, and integrations with guests and permission configuration as a bonus.

    Besides the Unlimited plan, it also offers a Business Plan at $19 per member per month. This plan is the most suited for mid-sized teams. ClickUp also offers an Enterprise plan, best suited for large teams. You can contact ClickUp’s sales team for the pricing of the Enterprise plan.

    ClickUp Pricing Plans Yearly Pricing Monthly Pricing
    Free Forever Free Free
    Unlimited $7/member $10/member
    Business $12/member $19/member
    Enterprise Custom Pricing Custom Pricing

    GET STARTED With ClickUp NOW

    Conclusion

    If you’re on the lookout for a productivity platform that brings together the features of several others then ClickUp is right for you. The pricing being affordable its no doubt that the platform is continuing to grow, with businesses switching to ClickUp every day. Still feeling doubtful? Well, nothing is stopping you from making a free account and trying out the platform right now to know whether it suits your purpose.

    FAQ

    Is ClickUp secure?

    ClickUp web applications are encrypted over 256 bit SSL and all data for ClickUp is encrypted using AES-256 encryption.

    Is ClickUp free?

    Yes, ClickUp offers a free plan with no time limit, offering unlimited projects and unlimited users.

    Which companies use ClickUp?

    Partipost, Angry Ventures, kraken, FLUX, y42, Cookly, Teukoo, and LUGGit are some of the companies that use ClickUp.

  • How to Build a SaaS Product in Just 8 Steps

    In the world of developing SaaS products achieving success relies heavily on a carefully planned strategy. This article presents eight steps that will serve as your roadmap guiding you from analyzing the market to providing support and updates. By following these steps you can create a SaaS product that not only fulfills customer requirements but also flourishes in an ever-changing market landscape.

    Step 1: Analyze the Market
    Step 2: Define Your SaaS Product
    Step 3: Design the User Experience
    Step 4: Develop the SaaS Application
    Step 5: Implement Robust Security Measures
    Step 6: Deploy and Test
    Step 7: Launch and Market Your SaaS Product
    Step 8: Provide Ongoing Support and Updates

    Step 1: Analyze the Market

    Before diving into SaaS product development, it is crucial to conduct a thorough market analysis. Understanding the market landscape and identifying potential opportunities and challenges will set the foundation for your product’s success. Start by defining your target customer and their pain points. Analyzing your competitors is equally important. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, and pinpoint gaps that your product can fill. This research will help you define your unique value proposition and position your product effectively in the market.

    Step 2: Define Your SaaS Product

    Once you have a clear understanding of the market, it’s time to define your SaaS product. Start by outlining the core features and functionalities that address your target customer’s pain points. Prioritize these features based on their importance and feasibility. Consider conducting user research and gathering feedback from potential customers to validate your assumptions and refine your product roadmap. Additionally, define your monetization strategy. Will you offer different subscription plans? What additional services or features will be available for premium users? A well-defined product vision and monetization strategy will guide your development efforts and ensure alignment with your target market.

    Step 3: Design the User Experience

    User experience (UX) design encompasses the visual design, information architecture, and interaction design of your application. Start by creating wireframes and prototypes to visualize the user journey and test different design concepts. Make sure that your design is easy to understand, user-friendly, and meets the expectations of your target customers. Work together with UX designers and conduct usability tests to collect feedback and continuously improve. Providing a captivating user experience will not only attract and keep customers but also set your product apart, from competitors.

    SaaS End-user Spending Worldwide
    SaaS End-user Spending Worldwide

    Step 4: Develop the SaaS Application

    The development phase is where your SaaS product takes shape. Start by selecting the right technology stack that aligns with your product requirements and scalability needs. Take into account elements, like programming languages, frameworks, and cloud infrastructure. Break down the development process into sprints or iterations to ensure a systematic and iterative approach. Collaborate closely with your development team, providing clear requirements and specifications. Regularly review and test the application to identify and fix any bugs or issues. Embrace agile development methodologies to promote collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement.

    Step 5: Implement Robust Security Measures

    Security is a top priority for any SaaS product. As a custodian of customer data, it is crucial to implement robust security measures to protect sensitive information and maintain trust with your users. Start by conducting a comprehensive security audit to identify potential vulnerabilities. Implement encryption protocols to secure data at rest and in transit. Employ access controls and multi-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access. Regularly update and patch your software to address security vulnerabilities. By prioritizing security from the early stages of development, you can build a secure and trustworthy SaaS product.

    Step 6: Deploy and Test

    Once your SaaS application is developed, it’s time to deploy and test it in a real-world environment. Set up a staging environment to simulate the production environment and test the application thoroughly. Conduct functional testing to ensure all features work as intended. Perform performance testing to assess the application’s scalability and responsiveness under various load conditions. Test the application on different devices and browsers to ensure compatibility. Additionally, gather feedback from beta users and conduct user acceptance testing to validate the application’s usability. Address any issues or bugs identified during testing and refine the application accordingly.

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    In 2022, the SaaS market valuation is at $186.6 billion and is projected to grow to $700 billion by 2030. Here’s the SaaS Business model.
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    Step 7: Launch and Market Your SaaS Product

    With a fully tested and refined SaaS product, it’s time to launch and market it to your target audience. Create a rounded marketing plan that encompasses aspects such, as digital marketing crafting engaging content actively participating in social media platforms, and optimizing your presence on search engines (SEO). Utilize your connections and collaborations, within the industry to generate excitement and entice customers. Additionally, you might want to explore the idea of offering a trial or freemium model to encourage users to give your product a try. Continuously monitor and analyze your marketing efforts to optimize and refine your strategies.

    Step 8: Provide Ongoing Support and Updates

    Launching your SaaS product is just the beginning. To ensure long-term success, it is essential to provide continuous support and updates. Set up a customer support system to address user inquiries and issues promptly. Regularly release updates and new features to keep your product competitive and meet evolving user needs. Gather user feedback and prioritize feature requests and bug fixes based on their impact and feasibility. Continuously monitor application performance and security and address any issues proactively. By providing exceptional support and continuously improving your product, you can build a loyal customer base and drive long-term growth.

    5-Minute Breakdown: Software as a Service (SaaS)

    FAQs

    What is a SaaS software system?

    Software as a Service (SaaS) enables users to access and utilize cloud-based applications via the internet. SaaS delivers a comprehensive software solution that you acquire through a pay-as-you-go model from a cloud service provider.

    Popular SaaS providers include BigCommerce, Google Workspace, and Salesforce.

    What are the primary advantages of using SaaS for businesses?

    Primary advantages of SaaS for businesses include Cost-effectiveness, scalability, accessibility, automatic updates, and reduced IT burden.

  • How to Create SaaS Product Demo Video? – 5 Simple Steps

    ‌‌In the world of the SaaS (Software as a Service) industry, apart from the business model, demo videos help in attracting collective masses and also in influencing the audience towards a particular SaaS brand. It provides more value to new users who are visiting the platform for the first time since they require a first-hand guidelines on where to go, exact features, how to get started, and access. The more illustrative demos and tutorials are, the better.

    In most simple words, it’s similar in a way, just like representatives campaign themselves before elections, by providing an outline of what could be the upcoming policies and promises. It’s more like a tool throwing shades of demonstrating content along with benefits, features, and uses and may generate adrenaline shots to influence more audiences. Hence, demo videos may contribute towards a steady and gradual rise in sales.

    So if you want to create a unique demo video, Take a look at the steps below.

    1. The ECG Model
    2. Stick To Your Niche
    3. Note Down Your Plan
    4. Use Rich Graphics
    5. Categorize Your Target Audience

    1. The ECG Model

    ECG- Evolving, Constant, Growth-Oriented Model. Before deciding the niche for the first video or every consecutive video, one must keep this model in mind.

    Evolving

    It refers to evolving content (the demo video) that must have the latest volume. The video should track the ongoing trends and public interests zone. If the outline and plot of the video are story-based, it can either focus on presenting an ancient story with the latest touch and trends or it can have its own unique script.

    Constant

    It is dedicated to all the demo videos, a company launches irrespective of the niche. Each of them must have a few necessary sections demonstrating the guidelines; how the platform can be used; where to head; and other records so that the new users are not perplexed on their first visit.

    Apart from the guidelines, the video may end up with a note of communication on how customers can reach, with provided emails or phone numbers for queries. However, this note of communication is not necessary to be present in the constant run.

    Growth

    This segment can have features of the service or the platform which make it stand out. This is the segment where founders can add their creativity and demonstrate how the platform is the best and make it their signature product, different from the existing ones in the run. This should tell why users should choose their (the company who launched the demo video) product. A positive answer to this ‘why’ will incline towards growth.

    The mixture of the above-mentioned can create a unique demo video for SaaS players.

    2. Stick To Your Niche

    Stick to the kind of services provided on your platform, it’s better to highlight it by zooming in on that region/button. Elaborate on the ease and convenience after pressing the submit or start button, nothing needs to be done after that.

    It can also contain how the work is done behind the screen (maybe the calculations and computation), which will strengthen trust and transparency. Also, how the content can be arranged in a neat and accessible manner, how users get engaged etc.

    3. Note Down Your Plan

    It’s always a better way to note down things and create an outline of what the demo video is going to be. It must have the proper sequence of events and activities with suitable graphics, matching the scenes. Segments of animation are separated from realistic visuals.

    4. Use Rich Graphics

    Rich Graphic Design used in a Demo Video
    Rich Graphic Design used in a Demo Video

    Rich graphic design is no less than a blessing to the script of a demo video. Oftentimes it acts as a game-changer factor for the rise in reach and sales. Components of the video may have various graphics ranging from captions, voiceover, animation, shapes, arrows, headers, highlighters, and a lot more.

    Graphics should also match the targeted audience. If it’s targeted towards teens then it can have animation and worldwide-known anime characters. A boring script can be illustrated fascinatingly if graphics are used in the right way.

    Either it can set a trend (through core creative ways), dig out some old popular trend, a bouncer (by studying the pasts graph or maybe the 90s trend), or stick to the ongoing trends.‌‌‌‌

    5. Categorize Your Target Audience

    If a platform has ample existing demo videos, then the next step could be creating one which has specific information related to a particular age group, industry, or segment of society. This will help to attract collective conscience from a particular domain, convincing new users and existing ones to continue and stay on the platform.

    If the product is a bit complex and new to the audience, could be coding and software, then the components of the video must be evocative and should not contain highly technical language and terminologies. This will not only help in increasing the statistical data of engagement among the known minds but also, will act as a mini explainer to a layman. Hence, it may also help to ignite the viewer’s thought process.

    3 Easy Steps to Create Kickass Video Tutorials for SaaS with 10 best Examples
    With video, you have up to 12 minutes of undivided attention from your potential customers! So, check out these steps to create video tutorials for SaaS.
    StartupTalkyRishabh Rathi

    Conclusion

    Here’s a post-content creation step, which has a significant role. Choosing the application where the video is to be posted or launched. It’s better to launch it on multiple outlets. YouTube is a well-known platform that can help in public relations and outreach. Follow these steps and create an incredible demo video for your SaaS product.

    FAQs

    How do I create a great SaaS demo?

    Create a video keeping in mind your targeted audience, Keep it simple, Address the pain points of your customers, and add customer success stories.

    What is a SaaS demo?

    A SaaS demo is a demo focused on customers that are new to your product. The demo video demonstrates how to make the best use of the platform while highlighting its features.

    How do I create a SaaS product demo?

    Focus on the pain point of your customers, show them how your product is better than the competitors, and use rich graphics in the video.

  • Top 25 Profitable Micro SaaS Ideas to Explore in 2022

    Software as a Service or SaaS is a cloud-based software authorizing model, that licenses software to users through the internet. The services are centrally hosted and require no installation or maintenance from the end user. It can be easily accessed through a web browser with an internet connection.

    SaaS comes with the advantage of an on-demand subscription basis, which eliminates the risks of long-term commitment for users. They come at absolutely lower costs with no requirement for any operating expenses. SaaS is one of the fastest-growing services in the market. Their growth rate is rising by 18% every year.

    What is Micro SaaS?

    Top 25 Profitable Micro SaaS Ideas

    1. Email Marketing
    2. Resume Builder
    3. Accounting Services
    4. Video/Photo Editing Services
    5. Human Resource Management (HRM)
    6. Content Management
    7. Learning Management System (LRM)
    8. Survey Compilation
    9. Team Management
    10. Customer Resources Management (CRM)
    11. Invoicing
    12. Healthcare Services
    13. Fitness manager
    14. Journaling
    15. Web Analytics
    16. Pharmaceutical Service
    17. Software Solutions
    18. Form Generator
    19. Cookery
    20. KPI Tracking
    21. Tea/Coffee Round
    22. Personal Goal Tracker
    23. Time Manager
    24. Habit Tracker
    25. Grocery/Essentials

    Micro SaaS – Features and Advantages

    Micro SaaS – Limitations

    What is Micro SaaS?

    Micro SaaS shows promising growth in the Software as a Service market. They are started and operated as a small business as their name describes. Investments are required in a lesser number compared to other SaaS operations. Micro SaaS is considered to be focusing on a narrow market that is Niche Market with a small team and limited customers.

    With their recurring profits, fewer capital needs, low risk, dedicated customers and minimal operating expenses, Micro SaaS has started attracting many entrepreneurs towards them in recent years.

    Top 25 Profitable Micro SaaS Ideas

    The top 25 Micro Most profitable SaaS Ideas for your startup that definitely help you make money. The micro saas ideas to make money in 2022 are discussed below

    Email Marketing

    As digital marketing is growing at a rapid pace, email marketing has become one of the most profitable micro SaaS ideas. It is an essential service that helps an organisation to maintain regular follow-ups for their emails.

    E-mail marketing Revenue forecast

    Even the clients and customers can be kept in close contact through consistent email campaigning and marketing system. It can also save time, by segregating important mail from spam through colours or folders. It is necessary for an organisation that deals with too many emails.

    Resume Builder

    It is a significant tool that is necessary for youngsters and adults, who’re seeking jobs. Teaching them about creating an interesting resume and providing them with examples or templates could prove to be a promising startup. Demand for Resume Builders remains consistent over time.

    Accounting Services

    The always ‘in-demand’ services like accounting and basic tax calculations can be integrated into simple software. It helps the users manage their businesses and know the basic tax details they are supposed to pay.

    Video/Photo Editing Services

    The growing social media and e-commerce trend has only increased the need for photo or video editing tools. Developing an editing tool with good features according to the social media and e-marketer’s requirements can be a good choice.

    Human Resource Management (HRM)

    This is software that is used to track, manage and plan the requirements of the workforce deployed in an organisation.

    Global Human Resource Management Market

    It is expected that about 90% of workforce management by 2023, would be handled by SaaS. There is a huge need for these types of management software.

    Content Management

    There has been an enormous growth in the number of bloggers and social media users in recent times. Therefore, a need for content management software becomes essential. A SaaS tool to create and manage content with advanced facilities to auto-post and manage them will have more demand.

    Learning Management System (LRM)

    This has a great scope in the present online world. Educating students and elders on basic, professional and personal life through online lectures and study materials, will have a great demand in future. It is high time to start a SaaS platform for educational services.

    Survey Compilation

    Customer surveys and feedbacks are the most essential elements for the growth of a business. But, when plenty of them pile up, it might be difficult to keep track of everything. A SaaS tool can solve this by providing features, that can pick up important feedback, and merge repeated ones and others. It can save time and help to provide efficient solutions to the matter.

    Team Management

    Managing teams in projects and discussions when working remotely could be challenging. Particularly, when the meeting includes PPTs and much information, that is to be noted, it becomes difficult for a follow-up. A SaaS software to handle this can be of great advantage to the user and as an income generator to the service provider.

    Customer Resources Management (CRM)

    Freelancers and companies need to do multiple activities or work for different clients at the same time. Managing all these works on their own can be a time-consuming process. Hence, this type of management can be done by Micro SaaS tools, effectively and reliably, for freelancers.

    Invoicing

    Software that can generate bills and invoices automatically after every sale stands to be useful. Bills should be easily exported to PDF or any other Tax calculation software as per needs. It should be able to generate periodic bills with good presentation. Auto billing and Invoicing software can increase the productivity of an organisation.

    Healthcare Services

    Tracking clients’ healthcare schedules, fixing and reminding them of their appointments, providing remote health support through professionals, online consultations with doctors, etc., can be done through the healthcare SaaS service. The demand for such services is going to be higher in the future.

    Fitness manager

    Developing a fitness/wellness program during these pandemic times, when most of us are working from home, is one of the best ideas. You can teach people simple exercises or yoga that are needed for their day-to-day wellness. If you’re a fitness professional, then you can do it as a proper online program through a SaaS tool.

    Journaling

    The pace of the growing world has made people isolated. Accompanying those people by letting them share their thoughts and making them reflect on their lives could be useful. Just design software with a good user interface and writing formats and this might be your next best Micro SaaS startup. Journaling is indeed good for mental health.

    Web Analytics

    Web Analytics Software helps you track your website’s traffic and analyze your performance over time. They provide solutions to improve the performance of websites, thus saving time and increasing the income for an organisation.

    Pharmaceutical Service

    This could be an essential service required by older people. They may lose track of their medicine’s availability and suffer at the last minute. A SaaS platform to address this issue and deliver the medicines to their doorstep on time can make a good startup.

    Software Solutions

    In a world that is revolving around more technical devices than humans, there’s no drought for doubts regarding software and its functions. Addressing these doubts by providing solutions in an easy and simple way, either through videos or blogs, can be a good option for a Micro SaaS business.

    Form Generator

    The usage of online forms, like Google forms, has become an essential tool in recent times. So, developing a SaaS tool for creating forms, will have a good market demand. Presenting it in such a way that, even people with no coding knowledge can create their own forms, will certainly possess a higher advantage for this service.

    Cookery

    Cookery has gained a huge reception among people around the world. The lockdown, which arrested people in their homes, made them look for new ways to enjoy their meals. Hence, online cooking demos and sharing of recipes by chefs and professionals could be a good idea for starting a business.

    KPI Tracking

    Key Performance Indicators (KPI) a tool used to measure the company’s performance and displays the result as charts and tables for easy understanding. It helps the organisation to monitor sales and other performance-related activities. The demand for such tools is always higher.

    Tea/Coffee Round

    It may sound weird, but this type of service proves to be of great importance to employees in an organisation. There is a need for an app that keeps track of rounds of who should make tea for the day. A perfectly crafted Micro SaaS tool could do that.

    Personal Goal Tracker

    This should track anything from personal goals, maintaining diet, achievements, milestones, etc., This can be made into a graph for easy viewing and analyzing one’s performance. The personal tracker can have a good reach among audiences.

    Time Manager

    Organizing and planning time, to make optimum utilization, might demand most of our energy. If a small software could assist us with that, then it’ll be of great support. Developing a time management tool, that could help us keep track of our time and remind us of what and when things should be done, can have a good deal of demand in future.

    Habit Tracker

    With people getting more conscious of their habits, a habit tracker can be a great tool and a profitable Micro SaaS idea. It is a simple tool that helps one to look into and manage their own habits. One can maintain a record of their habits in this software to analyze and self-assess themselves whenever one wants. This modest tool helps one to progress towards their goals. This SaaS idea can be of great value to the users.

    25. Grocery/Essentials

    People are getting more attracted to online shopping, and groceries are getting added to that list. Developing a SaaS-based model for grocery service would make it more efficient and successful in future.

    Micro SaaS – Features and Advantages

    • Development of Micro SaaS can be easier and simpler. You don’t require much coding knowledge or technical skills to start one.
    • You can develop a one-to-one interaction with customers, which helps to build a dedicated customer base.
    • Even though, Micro SaaS mostly concentrates on Niche Markets, its geographical boundaries are limitless. It can have customers from any part of the world.
    • Recurring income is undoubtedly the best revenue model in the world today. There’re plenty of opportunities in Micro SaaS, to create a good recurring revenue model.
    • Though you’ve stable customers, their numbers will be limited due to a narrow focus on a particular niche.
    • Since the capital and investments are limited, you may have to depend on other hosting platforms like Shopify, to start your Micro SaaS. This makes you stick to their rules and regulations and you may be less independent.
    • Operating with a small team means, fewer ideas for improvements and innovations and more responsibilities on few persons. Failing to notice market changes and adapting to them quickly, could be risky for business.

    Micro SaaS – Limitations

    Though there’re a few disadvantages, they could be eradicated easily by improper planning and if not having proper market awareness. Any good idea with a knowledgeable team can bring out the most successful Micro SaaS business but without planning it could fail.

    Conclusion

    Ideas are boundless and every new day blooms with some new ideas, innovations and entrepreneurs, and Micro SaaS is the best way to create and give shape to such ideas. The best 25 Micro SaaS Startup ideas that are mentioned above is one that could start now, as it is the right time to do so. I hope, one of these ideas either benefits you or strikes you with some new concepts that could be further enhanced to make profitable saas companies.

    FAQ

    What is a Micro SaaS?

    Micro SaaS is a business targeting a niche market, run by a small team, with small costs and has a small but dedicated user base and no outside funding.

    How can you make SaaS profitable?

    Develop a solution for a problem, Write up a lean plan, Explore pricing models and Financing and funding and Build your product.

    What is a SaaS example?

    Some of the SaaS examples are BigCommerce, Google Apps, Salesforce, Dropbox, MailChimp, ZenDesk, DocuSign, Slack, and HubSpot.

    How do I find a good micro saas idea?

    We have packed this article with the best micro saas ideas but you can brainstorm by analysing the market for more such ideas.

    Are micro SaaS startups really profitable?

    Yes, they are profitable and usually revenue ranges between $1,000 – $10,000 per month.

    How do I build a micro SaaS product?

    You may look up to a team of developers and designers or you can use tools like no-code tools to build your micro saas.

  • Pabbly Connect – Now Seamlessly Integrate Your Tools

    Businesses are always in search of easier integration and better operations. By creating a smooth workflow and setting up the automation between software such as marketing tools and payment gateways, businesses can boost productivity and focus on important tasks.

    That’s when Pabbly Connect can come in handy. Pabbly Connect is a  great time-saver tool with absolutely no coding required to set up workflows and integration between the apps.

    But how does Pabbly connect work to create workflows between different tools and platforms? In this article, we have shared the working of Pabbly Connect and the types of Pabbly integration.

    What is Pabbly Connect?
    Pabbly Connect glossaries
    How does Pabbly Connect work?
    Setting up a webhook integration in Pabbly Connect
    How to use Filter in Pabbly Connect?
    What Apps Does Pabbly Connect Integrate With?

    What is Pabbly Connect?

    Pabbly Connect is an automation tool that connects two or more apps together and helps in automating the data transfer between these apps by creating the workflows.

    Using Pabbly connect, you can seamlessly transfer the data between your favourite software, SaaS tools and services without making manual efforts. Pabbly Connect helps you connect a wide range of applications together to create streamlined workflows.

    Pabbly Connect Glossaries

    Before we explain to you the working of Pabbly Connect, there are a few terms related to it that a user needs to know.

    Trigger: Trigger is the main application through which the data transfer takes place.

    Action: An action is a step where you need to add the other apps to which you want to transfer data and perform an action from that app.

    Tasks: Any action performed inside the workflow is called a task. Note that triggers are not calculated as the task. A task is considered when an action takes place in the workflow.

    Operations: Once you have set up the automation, a new check is performed after a fixed time to see if there is any new data. If there are checks after every 5 minutes, the total operations in a day would be 288. That’s why Pabbly Connect offers unlimited operations.

    Workflow: A workflow is a combination of a trigger and action steps. It may have more than one action. There are unlimited workflows but you may be charged for the actions.

    Iterator: The iterator divides various data into different variables one by one until the last value is reached. These values are passed from one action step to another if an iterator is added.

    How Does Pabbly Connect Work?

    Pabbly Connect is a cloud-based application that does not need any downloads. You can sign up and get started with a free version. The free version of Pabbly Connect offers unlimited workflows and unlimited operations so that you can create the internal workflows instantly.

    Pabbly Connect workflow is usually a 2 or 3-step process.

    The two steps are namely:

    • Trigger (If something happens)
    • Action (Do this when…)

    You can add as many action steps below depending on which apps you want to transfer the data. Besides this, you can also add filters, iterators and routers in the action step.

    Pabbly Connect gives two integration opinions; webhook and API module integration.

    With the webhook, you can connect to over 800+ third-party apps. These are the apps with which Pabbly provides direct integration. However, you will need to follow some steps to connect the trigger app to perform an action. Different trigger apps require different steps to capture webhook responses and create a workflow.

    Setting up a Webhook Integration in Pabbly Connect

    Trigger

    This is the first step to creating workflows in Pabbly. The trigger will send the data to the action step when an event occurs in the triggering app.

    Choose the app that you want to set up as a triggering app. Add the filter ‘Triggering event’ when you want Pabbly to perform the action.

    For example, if you wish to perform the action only when a new Facebook lead is generated, you can choose the trigger app as ‘Facebook’ and the Trigger event as ‘new lead’.

    Adding Facebook Lead
    Adding Facebook Lead

    While some apps may require you to perform a few steps through the external apps to capture the webhook response, some triggering conditions or apps do not require any steps to capture the response.

    Here are some examples of Triggers:

    • When a customer purchases something from PayPal.
    • When someone submits a form on Pabbly form builder of another form builder that you chose.
    • When a new user books an appointment.

    Actions

    An action is performed when the required event occurs inside the trigger app. By choosing the application and what action you want this app to perform, you can integrate these two apps together.

    Adding a subscriber using Discord
    Adding a subscriber using Discord

    A filter tells the data that type of data you wish to send.

    Here are a few examples of actions inside the Pabbly Connect workflow:

    • Add the new lead to the email list inside MailChimp
    • Share files through Dropbox
    • Set up welcome SMS through Twilio

    You can also set the conditional filters to perform the task only when a specific action occurs.

    Let’s consider an example where a user wants to add a new contact to the email list when a new charge occurs through Stripe.

    Step 1: Choose the trigger app ‘Stripe’ and select the trigger event as ‘New Charge.

    Creating trigger event using Stripe
    Creating trigger event using Stripe

    Step 2: Go to Stripe’s webhook settings section and add the new endpoint by clicking on ‘Add endpoints’.

    Step 3: Copy the webhook URL and paste it into the endpoint box. Also, choose the ‘charge. succeeded’ as the events to send responses.

    Adding Webhook
    Adding Webhook

    Step 4: After adding the endpoint, click on the ‘Capture Webhook Response’ button to connect Stripe with Pabbly Connect.

    For this, you need to make a test payment.

    Step 5: Make a test payment through Stripe by selecting the email, name, currency and adding a new customer.

    Adding a new payment and customer
    Adding a new payment and customer

    Step 6: After adding all the required information, click on Submit payment to perform a test payment.

    Submitting Payment
    Submitting Payment

    Step 7: Once you have made the payment, your trigger app will be connected to Pabbly Connect.

    Step 8: Next, connect the action app with your Pabbly Connect account by choosing the app that you wish to integrate.

    For instance, select MailChimp as the action app and choose the action to perform.

    Selecting the action app - MailChimp
    Selecting the action app – MailChimp

    Step 9: Once you click on Connect, you will be asked to integrate the API keys from the action apps to Pabbly Connect. Follow the steps as mentioned.

    Adding a new connection in MailChimp
    Adding a new connection in MailChimp

    On clicking ‘Save’, your action app will be integrated with the trigger app. Thus, a new workflow will be created between these two apps.

    You can further add more action steps if you wish to transfer data from this second platform to the third one.

    You can add as many action steps by clicking the ‘+’ button. Choose the application to connect and the event for which you want to perform the action.  

    Selecting the action app - Agile CRM
    Selecting the action app – Agile CRM

    What makes Pabbly Connect easy to use is that it gives a step by step guide on how to connect the specific apps to the workflow.

    Different actions and events may require different steps to perform and connect these apps. But, the basic idea behind the workflow creation is to smoothly transfer the data between these apps and reduce the time and effort.

    Another method of integrating these apps is via the API module.

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    How to Use Filter In Pabbly Connect?

    Filters can be used in the action step to perform an action only if a specific field in the platform is selected.

    Let’s say, you wish to gather data from a specific gender using your form. Once you’ve selected the trigger app as any form builder, connect it to the Pabbly Connect and then add action as ‘Filter’.

    Select the Filter field as ‘Gender’ and choose ‘equal to’ from the drop-down. Enter the value as ‘female’ or ‘male’ whichever you want to capture.

    You can connect the trigger app like form builder with an action app such as Google sheet to collect only the responses from a specified gender. Thus, Pabbly Connect can also streamline your task of filtering the conditions.

    What Apps Does Pabbly Connect Integrate With?

    Pabbly Connect offers integrations with over 800 different apps. Pabbly Connect seamlessly integrates with apps including:

    • Marketing
    • CRM
    • E-Commerce
    • Helpdesk
    • Payments
    • Web forms
    • Collaboration

    These include apps such as 123 form builder, Agile CRM, HubSpot, Zendesk, Stripe, PayPal, Slack, Ninja Forms and many others. Check out the full list of integrations here.

    Conclusion

    Pabbly Connect is an amazing workflow creation software that helps you integrate various apps together and enable you to perform actions. In fact, it is one of the best Zapier alternatives at present.

    What makes it better than Zapier is that it allows unlimited operations and allows actions as a task. This makes it more affordable than Zapier. Plus, setting up the trigger and action is fairly easy since you get the step by step guidance on how to set up the action.

    Above all, Pabbly Connect offers 100s of helpful guides and video tutorials to help you understand how the integration works. You can sign up and start with Pabbly for free and perform 3x workflows as compared to other similar apps!

    FAQs

    What does Pabbly Connect do?

    Pbbly connect lets you integrate 800 plus tools and helps you streamline your workflow.

    How much does Pabbly cost?

    The basic plan of Pabbly Connect starts at $10/month and goes upto $40/month

    Is Pabbly Connect Free?

    No, but Pabbly Connect provides unlimited workflows, operations and 100 tasks per month for free.

  • How to Find Product-Market Fit for your SaaS

    An entrepreneur should identify a need in the market before starting a product or service. When entrepreneurs build a solution that customers are satisfied with, the success of their product is quite obvious. Your value proposition should hold true for being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market demand.

    On finding the Product-market fit for SaaS products, entrepreneurs from SaaS industry shared their ideas. Get an insight into the Product-market fit for SaaS startups.

    Shayak Mazumder – Co-founder, Eunimart

    Shayak Mazumder, Eunimart Co-founder
    Shayak Mazumder, Eunimart Co-founder

    In 2017, before we started building the product, we did roadshows across many cities and towns of India, speaking personally to thousands of merchants to understand the kind of software they use, the network issues they face, their staffing issues, etc. We identified the biggest challenges facing these merchants both from the merchants as well as the subject matter experts who came to speak in our roadshows. This helped us to build a very robust plan for the product because we knew exactly what were the biggest challenges facing these merchants and what the impact of solving them would be.

    Most external folks who didn’t have this insight initially advised that we were doing too much. However, we were certain that unless we solved the entire problem, chipping away at the minor problem statements would only help a minuscule segment of the merchants who could figure out things for themselves. This resulted in rapid growth once we launched the platform in 2020, with hundreds of merchants signing up organically. We continue to take feedback from the industry in building our platform.

    Robin Das – CEO, Brandintelle

    Robin Das, CEO of Brandintelle
    Robin Das, CEO of Brandintelle

    Finding PMF is never easy. A product can improve their PMF by –

    • Talking to potential/current customers and understanding their day-to-day life. Sometimes getting a larger context is more important than just focusing on what your idea is addressing.
    • Analyzing if the problem your product is solving is big enough so that your customer will be willing to change his habit & pay for the service.
    • Read up on the competition. If there is no competition yet, there could be a 10% chance you’re onto something really big and a 90% chance that the problem you’re solving is either too small or does not exist.
    • Once you hit PMF you’ll know, as your email inbox or phones won’t stop ringing and you won’t have the resources to meet the demand.

    Pramod Gummaraj – CEO, Aprecomm

    Pramod Gummaraj - CEO of Aprecomm
    Pramod Gummaraj – CEO of Aprecomm

    Product Market Fit does not stop with generating MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and traction in the industry. Product Market Fit is a continuous process, particularly in the case of SaaS (Software as a Service) models. There should be a visible increase in the value addition Year on Year to keep the customers motivated and interested in continuing the engagement. So, it is particularly important to keep interacting with customers, to keep driving the innovations. Always, look for ways to upsell.

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    Arjun Gupta – Founder, Courseplay

    Arjun Gupta - Founder of Courseplay
    Arjun Gupta – Founder of Courseplay

    Product market fit is one of the first and most fundamental activities for any company to nail as early as possible. It can evolve to some extent over time, but getting it right as early as possible is key. Courseplay launched at a time when formal learning platforms were virtually non-existent in companies in India, especially the small and mid-sized companies. I remember spending a lot of time researching the market and speaking with real companies about challenges that they are facing when deploying skill development solutions for their companies. I remember getting a lot of clarity the more I would talk to different people because they would share real-world problems and help me focus on practical solutions rather than develop something that might sound good on paper but be impractical to deploy. I particularly remember one client that talked about the importance of measuring impact in learning, and we have been obsessed with delivering that answer ever since.

    Shreyan Gandhi – Director and Co-founder, Comket Solutions

    Shreyan Gandhi - Director and Co-founder, Comket Solutions
    Shreyan Gandhi – Director and Co-founder, Comket Solutions

    Our product market fit was identified by the problems we faced ourselves. We found a whole bag full of business cards in office and we had no idea which card we got from whom, we had no recollection of the vendor or anything that stood out. That’s when we decided to make networking impactful, a way in which the consumer can share their details in a seamless way and also to make a lasting impression on the person receiving the information. During our beta phase we realised we weren’t the only ones facing this problem. A lot of people had a stack of business cards that they eventually threw away or forgot about.

    Sarvagya Mishra – Co-founder & Director, SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

    Sarvagya Mishra - Co-founder & Director, SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)
    Sarvagya Mishra – Co-founder & Director, SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

    Not only the Indian market but even the global market and businesses are facing the challenge of maintaining constant communication with their customers daily. The overall call centre industry is worth $339.4 Billion, but still, businesses are losing ~10-15% of their potential revenue just because of lack of timely communication.

    Considering the above stats, it is evident that the Product is a market fit that can cater to all the calling needs of businesses at a 10X faster pace by placing 1M+ calls a day.

  • Tips for Increasing Customer Retention Rate for SaaS

    Attracting and gaining customers and making them loyal to our brand so that they remain our customers- is the greatest goal of any business. Loyal customers are more profitable for business. They provide positive feedback and help in marketing your brand. Through loyal customers, businesses can gain new customers through referrals. So, increasing customer retention rate becomes fundamental for all businesses.

    Some of the entrepreneurs from SaaS industry shared their point of view on increasing customer retention rate. Read to get insights on increasing customer retention rate for saas startups.

    Shayak Mazumder, Co-founder, Eunimart

    Shayak Mazumder - Co-founder, Eunimart
    Shayak Mazumder – Co-founder, Eunimart

    The rate of  customer retention can be increased by:

    • Value-based pricing
    • Ensuring that customers unlock value the fastest

    Robin Das, CEO of Brandintelle

    Robin Das - CEO of Brandintelle
    Robin Das, CEO of Brandintelle

    Here are certain things you could do to increase customer retention rate-

    • Invest in research and build the product experience best suited for your target audience. If your audience is CXO’s or millennials, the entire experience from no of clicks to the colour themes matter more than you can imagine.
    • Hear from your customer. Build continuous feedback channels via chats, NPS surveys and user interviews and let your customers speak.
    • Be clear on your products core value proposition (CVP). If the CVP resonates with the customer then the likelihood of the retention is high.

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    Pramod Gummaraj, CEO, Aprecomm

    Pramod Gummaraj - CEO, Aprecomm
    Pramod Gummaraj – CEO, Aprecomm

    Each customer is unique. As Aprecomm is a B2B Player, Account based Strategy has produced incredibly superior results. Engage your Customer Support Team and Post Sales Teams to have regular interaction with the customers. Try to get some testimonials and feedback from the customers at regular intervals. This feedback should drive part of your product innovation and requirements. Aprecomm believes in delivering high quality products and have built a strong customer support team to enable high customer retention.

    Arjun Gupta, Founder, Courseplay

    Arjun Gupta - Founder, Courseplay
    Arjun Gupta – Founder, Courseplay

    Identify your core metric and protect it at all costs. As a B2B SaaS platform, the adoption rate, i.e. the percentage of the number of users online in the month against the total user count, is the single most important number for Courseplay and we are in a battle of life and death trying to get it to 100%. This metric is the single biggest factor to decide if the customer is going to come back or not. There will be other factors also, but since you asked for only one tip, if users are using the platform, the client will not be able to point any fingers at you. So find ways to get users to log in every day to keep reaping those sweet B2B SaaS bucks.

    Shreyan Gandhi – Director and Co-founder, Comket Solutions

    Shreyan Gandhi - Director and Co-founder, Comket Solutions
    Shreyan Gandhi – Director and Co-founder, Comket Solutions

    The most effective way that works for us is constant innovation, we’ve found that providing them with additional services results in a high retention rate, because then the consumer gets something they weren’t expecting and they also have something to look forward to. Along with our Tap1ce card we provide our consumers with sharable QR codes&Links that will enable them to share their profiles over long distances. They can also use our QR generator to generate QR codes for other links as well. And we’re going to keep adding features that will help us achieve a greater retention rate.

    Sarvagya Mishra – Co-founder & Director, SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

    Sarvagya Mishra - Co-founder & Director, SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)
    Sarvagya Mishra – Co-founder & Director, SuperBot (PinnacleWorks)

    Customer retention relies on two very important factors which include:-

    • The quality of the product/service you are offering.
    • The relationship you maintain with them.

    In the absence of either of the two, customer retention becomes a big challenge. The product/service relies on the hand of the development team. But if the product is good and still the client isn’t retained then it could be due to a communication gap, which is a grave issue. In which case, it is imperative to have a strong communication channel in place that covers all their queries 24×7, collects their timely feedback and improves upon them. These two when sustained would help maintain a healthy relationship with the clients and boost the customer retention rate.

  • 8 Ways To Provide Better SaaS Customer Experience In 2022

    ‌‌‌‌‌‌Traditionally, software was distributed in different forms such as through CDs and DVDs. These practices are used to cost the user and distributor the additional responsibility of installation and maintenance of the software.

    The new alternative to this practice is to directly download a subscribed service by the means of the internet. They are termed SaaS. SaaS is a software distribution method that allows the end-users to directly purchase and download their needed software by the means of the internet.

    SaaS has gained much hype in the last few years. Many different startups and companies are investing in SaaS for vivid reasons. Some sell their products by SaaS, or others use SaaS for improving their business. Irrespective of the need, creating a SaaS is a hectic job.

    Imagine creating a SaaS product with such dedication. However, in the end, you are left with an almost negligible amount of customers acknowledging your efforts. The biggest fall for any product is through its customers. Customers are the biggest resources for success. Creating the best user experience for any SaaS developer is surely one of the major tasks.

    There are a few tricks and tips one can try to implement for a better SaaS user experience. Some of them are:

    Work Towards Creating a Good Impression

    We all have heard and believed the proverb “First impression is the last impression”. Creating better impactful landing pages can attract the attention of customers. On average, a visitor roughly spends about 10-20 sec on each webpage. These initial seconds are the time when a judgment is passed towards it. Creating an attractive and thoughtful landing page can surpass this period. Surpassing can increase the chance of converting a visitor into a customer.

    Begin With Ease

    The beginning is the first and most crucial step of any journey. Providing customers with an easy start can be more beneficial. There can be times when a SaaS product loses out their customers at the start only. This can be because of a complex starting procedure. It’s best to keep the start simple and clear.

    Starting with complex or time-consuming steps can irritate the customers. Even to sign in, it is best recommended to ask for needed information only at the start. As an alternative one can also add up the option of skipping unrequited formalities at the start.

    Be Clear About Your SaaS Product

    SaaS is a product brought by some amount. Before buying the product, no user has the proper acknowledgement of its services and tools. Not all products of the same field offer the same services. Customers buy the SaaS depending upon their requirements. Without actually having the idea of detailed work, a customer can’t make a call. Giving out clear information on the subscription given by the amount and the tools made available will be a plus point for both sides.

    Provide Clear Guidelines

    New users might get stuck in some steps. Keeping clear and detailed guidelines for customers can make them grateful for the team. Guidelines can be in the form of a small tour of the service, it can be a video explaining any error, a pdf full of basic working, or a graph showing the next steps. Guiding users makes them feel valued. This is a great tactic for avoiding any negative comments about service.

    Have an Open Communication System

    There can be times when clients might feel stuck. And no possible solution is made available to them through any guide. At such times, they might feel the need to have direct contact. For such occasions, keeping one or two methods as a part of communication is recommended. It can be in the form of an email or any other similar service.

    As much as it is important to provide clients with an immediate contacting option, it is also an essential part to answer them. For one to have better control over their customers, they should constantly reply and communicate with customers on all of their needed issues.

    Follow Real Advice

    Each service has a comment section below it. This is the place where one can easily track the accuracy of their made products. Be it grocery products or a SaaS product. It is best to keep track of given comments for a better understanding of the target audience and their needs. This can also avail the developers with the knowledge of their competitor’s strategies.

    Provide Improved Services Constantly

    The purchased users are the ones who can attract more customers by their comments and feedback. It is important to provide them with satisfactory service. New implementations are required to be made now and then.

    Developers should avail their SaaS users with new implementation as a part of the update. This update should also be explained and notified to the users by any possible means such as a message box or notification to their registered email.

    Be Grateful

    Showing gratitude to the SaaS users can alleviate their experience. Along with that, it can also make them a trusted client of your SaaS product. There are different options for making your users feel special.

    Giving out any free service as an addition or providing them with a free trial of service for a limited period. All these can create a good impact on clients.

    There are many practices one can implement for improving the user experience. The above-given examples are some of the most simple and needed implementations by markers.

    Conclusion

    SaaS (Software as a System) is the distribution of software by the means of the internet. Software as a service (SaaS) is one type of cloud computing along with Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and Platform as a service (PaaS). SaaS works to deliver software to the client directly without the need for additional instalment and management of any software or hardware.

    SaaS startups and products are gaining much hype recently. There are many factors affecting the success rate of SaaS products. One of them is their user experience.

    FAQs

    How do you improve SaaS UX?

    Provide Clear Guidelines, Provide Improved Services Constantly, and Be Clear About Your SaaS Product.

    What are SaaS best practices?

    Provide a better user experience, focus on personalization and compatibility with all devices.

    What are the examples of SaaS?

    Some of the most common examples of SaaS are Microsoft Azure, Dropbox, Google Docs, etc.

    What are some of the failed SaaS startups?

    Some of the failed SaaS startups are Teamometer, RingDaddy, Habitual, etc.

  • How To Build A SaaS Referral Program? – A Stepwise Guide

    SaaS referral programs are interesting to build and at the same time some amount of effort is also required. However, there is a way to build a SaaS referral program which you can follow. But, before moving on to building programs one should be thorough about the basics of it.

    With the simple process given below, you can try building a SaaS program for yourself. Whether it is a business or for any other purpose it will make your work much easier.

    Steps To Build A SaaS Referral Program?
    Step 1. Customers Should Be Motivated To Share Your Product Or Service
    Step 2. Know What Your SaaS Referral Program Should Be About
    Step 3. Decide Your Incentive
    Step 4. Choosing The Right Referral Tool
    Step 5. Outlining Terms and Conditions
    Step 6. Promoting Your SaaS Referral Program
    Step 7. Track Your Results
    Conclusion
    FAQs

    Building a Referral Programs Effectively

    Steps To Build A SaaS Referral Program?

    Step 1. Customers Should Be Motivated To Share Your Product Or Service

    Satisfied and Happy Customers
    Satisfied and Happy Customers

    Satisfied customers are the reason for a business or a service to sustain and flourish in the market. So, your business or your service should satisfy them and let them share about your business with others. But, how does this contribute to building a successful SaaS referral program?

    Well, you should have the perfect business to attract customers and customers should be happy with your service. Incentives and rewards do attract customers but customers will not refer your SaaS product to their personal network until and unless they are satisfied with your service.

    You can start by conducting research or online reviews so that you gain some data about what customers think about your product. By doing this you will be able to gain in-depth data and accordingly, you can take necessary actions.

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    Step 2. Know What Your SaaS Referral Program Should Be About

    Do not be confused because this is something almost similar to an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is something that you propose an idea in front of someone within 20-30 seconds. Similarly, your referral program should be something that should grab the attention of the customers.

    However, you should try to keep your referral messaging short and to the point. Given below are some examples that you can try out.

    • Try to get 16 GB of free space by inviting your friends to Dropbox
    • Also do not forget to invite friends on Evernote
    • Refer as many friends as possible so that you can earn rewards

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    –

    Step 3. Decide Your Incentive

    Provide incentive to customers to make them happy
    Provide incentive to customers to make them happy

    Businessmen would want customers to share their products with as many people as possible. But, this does not happen in the real world. This is when you decide to give incentives that will make your referral program much easier.

    Do not go for incentives that will make the customers uninterested and boring but try to bring something new and catchy to make customers share your product. Given below are some ideas that you can try out.

    • 50% discount on your next bill
    • Free upgrade (premium version)
    • Cash credits (example $50 to offset next bill when a friend signs up)

    Step 4. Choosing The Right Referral Tool

    There are several tools that you may come across for referral marketing. Most of these tools are great but you should find out the most suitable one for you. Tools are used to set up programs manually and this helps a lot. But, in order to track down the effectiveness of your program tools are necessary for doing the job. Some tools that you can try considering are Growsurf, ReferralHero, and Viral Loops.


    Try Impact for Your SaaS Referral Program

    Step 5. Outlining Terms and Conditions

    Terms and conditions for SaaS referral program
    Terms and conditions for SaaS referral program

    It is important to make certain conditions while creating a SaaS referral program so that bases are covered. Customers will be looking at it and they will see whether you are ready to make referral bonuses. If a referral done by a person has been done successfully then the person can turn into a customer.

    Other than these you would also want to make sure to specify the people who are eligible for referral bonuses. People should know beforehand about the offers that you want to make to them.

    Step 6. Promoting Your SaaS Referral Program

    Building a SaaS referral program successfully is not the end of it. There is something that you need to do and that is ‘PROMOTIONS’. You can take the help of social media to promote your referral program so that a large number of people will know about it.

    There are several ways you can promote your referral program. For example, given below are some methods you can use.

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    Step 7. Track Your Results

    Without tracking the results you will not be able to judge your growth. Therefore, it is important to track and as well as to measure your results. First of all, you have to think about how you can track your results. You can take the help of some popular metrics systems for tracking.

    Some of the most popular metrics include the following things.

    • Percentage of people who have become referrers
    • The percentage of the numbers of referrals sent
    • Conversion rates like conversion of sign-ups through referrals

    There are many more metrics that you should be able to think of based on your goals and targets. Make sure that your goals and target are met because that is what you have been working for.

    Conclusion

    In the end, you need to make sure that the referral program that you created is a success. Success should be in any senses not just focussing only on one thing. The next thing after building a SaaS referral program you should try out advanced level techniques for referring your services and products.

    FAQs

    What are the four elements that I should consider while building a referral program?

    The four elements that you should consider are:

    • Offers
    • Communication
    • Execution
    • Supportive Programming

    How to create an effective referral?

    There are various ways that you can create a referral quite effectively. Focus on what the customers would want and accordingly, you can drive them to make your referrals effective.

    What are the examples of SaaS referral programs?

    Some of tools for SaaS referral programs are:

    • Dropbox
    • Evernote
    • Shoeboxed
    • Notion
    • Drift