Finding Your Ideal Customer Profile - with Keap's Clate Mask
Dec 18, 2023
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Clate Mask, Co-founder and CEO of Keap, discusses finding the right customers, combining software with services, and evolving marketing. Highlights include building products based on business needs, serving small businesses dealing with chaos, and embracing partners for growth.
GEEP found success by serving small businesses dealing with chaos and offering a solution that goes beyond basic CRM to business automation.
GEEP diversified its acquisition channels by combining partner events and digital marketing, contributing to their growth from $10 million to $30 million in revenue.
Deep dives
Focusing on Core Customers: Serving Small Businesses in Chaos
The podcast episode discusses how GEEP, a marketing automation and CRM platform for small businesses, initially lost its way by trying to focus on solo-preneurs instead of sticking with its core customers. The company recognized the chaos that small business owners face and the need for a more efficient way to handle various tasks manually. By serving customers dealing with similar challenges, GEEP provided a solution for small businesses seeking freedom, growth, and profitability. The target customer shifted as revenue increased, aiming for businesses with at least six figures or more to address pains and mistakes. However, the focus remained on small businesses in the range of $100,000 to $10 million in sales, offering a solution that goes beyond basic CRM to business automation.
Evolution of Acquisition Channels: Partner Oriented to Digital Marketing
The podcast reveals the evolution of GEEP's acquisition channels. Initially, the company heavily relied on partner-oriented strategies, working with partners who had large customer lists and co-sponsoring events. As they reached the $10 million mark, GEEP started investing heavily in digital marketing and educational content while continuing partnerships. The combination of partner events and digital marketing contributed to their growth from $10 million to $30 million in revenue. By understanding the importance of both approaches, GEEP diversified its acquisition channels to reach a wider audience.
Transitioning from Marketing Automation to Business Automation
The podcast highlights a strategic decision made by GEEP to transition from marketing automation to business automation. As the company approached $100 million in revenue, it reevaluated its offerings and realized that a lighter, more simplified approach was necessary. By recognizing that their automation platform was being used across various business functions, they shifted their focus to provide a holistic business automation solution. This transition allowed GEEP to differentiate itself from competitors in the marketing automation space and cater to the specific needs of growing small businesses.
This week on How To Win: Clate Mask of Keap, marketing automation and CRM platform for small businesses. You'll hear how Keap found the right customers, why they combined software with services, and how Keap evolved its marketing over time.
Key Points:
01:15 Building the initial product based on own business needs 03:00 Pivoting to serve small businesses dealing with chaos 04:30 Evolving from just marketing automation to full business automation 07:15 Renaming the company to reflect simplicity and ease of use 09:45 Sticking to core small business customers amid pressure 13:00 Combining software, services, and strategy for customer success 22:30 Embracing partners and gradual upmarket moves for growth