Episode 738 | Encouraging Word of Mouth, Educating a Market, and More Listener Questions (A Rob Solo Adventure)
Nov 5, 2024
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Dive into the challenges of expanding to enterprise sales after achieving product-market fit. Discover the intricacies of word-of-mouth marketing in the B2B SaaS realm and why it can be difficult to control. Learn why educating the market may not be the best move for bootstrappers. Explore innovative strategies for selling integrations through incubators, and gain insights into developing a fair profit-sharing model that keeps everyone motivated. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their software business!
Expanding into enterprise deals post product-market fit necessitates a careful evaluation of capabilities and market demand to manage complexity effectively.
Word of mouth marketing, while valuable for B2B SaaS, is unpredictable and requires targeted strategies rather than blanket approaches to foster customer engagement.
Deep dives
Navigating Enterprise Sales Strategies
Considering whether to pursue enterprise sales is crucial for companies aiming to expand their customer base. Larger enterprises often require customized services and have longer sales cycles, which can strain resources for companies that may not be prepared for such complexity. It is suggested that focusing on higher-priced service offerings with dedicated support can be beneficial, especially for companies already operating in the mid-tier contract range. Companies should evaluate their capabilities and market demand, balancing the desire for growth against the operational realities of handling enterprise clients.
The Challenges of Word of Mouth Marketing in B2B SaaS
Word of mouth marketing can be both a beneficial and frustrating channel for B2B SaaS companies, as its organic nature makes it unpredictable. While it's appealing to encourage customers to share their experiences, there are no guaranteed strategies for generating significant word of mouth. Practical approaches, such as participating in public forums and directly addressing mentions of the company, can help foster better engagement and visibility. Additionally, developing referral programs might be less effective in B2B compared to consumer markets, emphasizing the need for targeted methods over blanket strategies.
Approaching Accelerators and VCs Strategically
Engaging with accelerators, incubators, and venture capitalists can be a fruitful strategy for SaaS companies seeking growth. However, cold outreach to portfolio companies is often frowned upon, creating tensions due to perceived inauthenticity. Instead, companies should aim for mutually beneficial relationships by offering significant discounts or value to the VCs' portfolio companies. Building strategic partnerships that highlight what the accelerator or VC gains from the collaboration can improve the chances of a positive reception.
In episode 738, join Rob Walling for a solo adventure as he answers listener questions. He explores how to target larger, enterprise deals after achieving product-market fit, and why word of mouth marketing can be great, yet is tricky to control. Rob also answers a later-stage question and cautions against trying to educate the market as a bootstrapper.
Topics we cover:
1:58 – Expanding to enterprise deals after product-market fit
6:39 – Word of mouth marketing is tricky for B2B SaaS
14:36 – Educating the market as a bootstrapper
20:07 – Selling integrations through incubators and accelerators
If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!