210: SaaS Pricing Strategy: Top 5 Mistakes To Avoid - With Kyle Poyar
May 27, 2019
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Kyle Poyar, VP Marketing Strategy at OpenView, discusses SaaS pricing strategy, the importance of pricing for SaaS companies, and avoiding common pricing mistakes. He shares examples of successful pricing strategies, the impact of pricing on revenue growth, and the importance of having a seamless way to land new customers. The chapter also covers how to improve pricing strategy and highlights the five common mistakes in SaaS pricing. In addition, they delve into a potential business idea and the guest's background in environmental studies and passion for Mediterranean cooking.
Higher prices can result in higher revenue and growth
Choosing the right value metric leads to increased customer success and expansion
Offering flexible pricing options attracts and secures new customers
Deep dives
Mistake 1: Being too cheap in the early days
Many companies underestimate the value they provide and set their prices too low. Customers often associate higher prices with quality and long-term reliability. Raising prices strategically can result in higher revenue and growth.
Mistake 2: Choosing the wrong value metric
Companies often mistakenly use user-based pricing when other metrics, such as usage or specific results, provide a better reflection of value. Selecting the right value metric can lead to increased customer success and expansion.
Mistake 3: Lack of a seamless way to land new customers
SaaS companies should consider offering entry-level or pay-as-you-go options to reduce friction in the buying process. Creating flexible pricing packages and better communicating value propositions can attract and secure new customers.
Mistake 4: Inability to expand existing customers
Having multiple paths to upsell and expand with existing customers is crucial for achieving net negative churn. Offering usage-based pricing or tiered packages can provide opportunities for customers to increase their spend over time.
Mistake 5: Having static pricing instead of dynamic pricing
Pricing should be evolving alongside the business's growth and changes. Regular pricing research and testing can help companies gather feedback, make necessary adjustments, and ensure ongoing success.
Kyle Poyar is the of VP Marketing Strategy at OpenView, an expansion-stage venture capital firm that helps build software companies into market leaders.