The Importance of Alignment and Hiring in a Startup

Creative content is the top ingredient when it comes to marketing. Things like podcasting could bring tons of value to your customers and business. But the challenge is to measure that value and show it in numbers. And Lindsay Tjepkema encountered the same problem. So she decided to build Casted. Today, she joins the SaaS Origin Stories podcast to share her journey in detail.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What does amplified marketing mean?
• How can you understand if you are the right founder for a specific SaaS product?
• Why should you first develop and launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?
• How does a strong network help you grow your customer base?

Risk or Regret

Many ideas remain theories because most people are too scared to act and see the outcomes. The uncertainty is too great. But one way to think about opportunities is to imagine if you will be more frustrated and disappointed if you do it and fail or if you never do it. If it's the second one, you should give it a shot. Otherwise, the regret of never trying could become unbearable.

I already knew it was a good idea. And I couldn't bear the thought of somebody else doing it instead of me seeing this company come to life and see what it does, whether it was successful or a failure - Lindsay Tjepkema

Are You the Right Founder?

Starting a SaaS product and business is not a walk in the park. It is one of the most challenging and demanding activities someone could do. You must have strong incentives and a passion for the problem you are trying to solve and the product you build. Also, you should be a real industry expert who knows the market inside out and understands the customers well. Moreover, you must have a clear vision of what your solution looks like and how you can develop it.

I am weirdly passionate about this problem we're solving, the company we're building, and this solution we've created - Lindsay Tjepkema

Less is More

Vince Lombardi said: "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence." That applies to everything, including your SaaS product. When you first build and want to get it on the market, start with the bare minimum of capabilities. If things go well, develop your product, add features step-by-step, and focus on delivering value for your customers.

We just quickly asked a bunch of questions to get to the root of what is the fastest thing we could build that would add the most value people would pay for. And how can we have a solid roadmap from there to keep people excited about what's coming next? - Lindsay Tjepkema

Build a Strong Network

Your first ten customers are also the first investors you have to buy into your vision. If you succeed with that, the next phase is reaching one hundred customers by building a network and talking to people about your product. Keep in mind that your product should help them solve a problem or cover a need. So don't just try to sell to them. Listen to them, understand if you can help them, and treat them as human beings and individuals rather than customers.

Customers come to my network, their networks, and then their networks. Be bullish and bold enough to ask for more conversations and introductions. I think you have to be approachable, and if you say that you're not gonna try to sell something, don't lie. Don't try to sell something - Lindsay Tjepkema

For more interviews from the SaaS Origin Stories podcast, check us out on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player!