SaaS Marketing Weekly

Ryan James, Rocket SaaS
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Sep 30, 2025 • 33min

#64: LinkedIn Ads Part 2: Using Clay, targeting tools & intent signals, with Jamie Skeels

In part two of the LinkedIn Ads mini-series, Ryan and Jamie dive into how to get your ads in front of the right people. They cover how to use your CRM data to define your ICP, the limitations of LinkedIn’s native targeting filters, and how to supercharge campaigns with intent signals and third-party data tools like Clay, Apollo, and Crunchbase. They also break down how to structure retargeting audiences for maximum impact — including segmenting by pages visited and recency. If you’re wasting ad spend on the wrong audience, this episode shows you how to fix it.Takeaways:Don’t decide targeting in a vacuum — use customer and opportunity data from your CRMBreak down data by firmographics: industry, company size, department, region, job titleLinkedIn’s filters are good, but not perfect — industries in particular can be messyBuild account lists with tools like Clay, Apollo, or Cognism for greater accuracyEnrich lists with intent signals: funding rounds, hiring patterns, leadership changes, M&AUpload these lists into LinkedIn for laser-focused campaigns with tailored messagingRetargeting is essential — don’t rely only on cold adsSegment retargeting audiences by page visited (pricing/demo) and recency (14, 30, 90 days)LinkedIn Insight Tag lets you retarget all website traffic, not just LinkedIn clicksRetargeting makes smaller SaaS brands appear bigger, more credible, and front-of-mindJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Sep 23, 2025 • 48min

#63: LinkedIn Ads Part 1: Proven content & ad formats for B2B SaaS with Jamie Skeels

In the first part of a three-part mini-series, Ryan is joined by Jamie Skeels, Head of Strategy at RocketSaaS, to break down the fundamentals of running successful LinkedIn ad campaigns for B2B SaaS. They cover why most companies fail with LinkedIn ads, how to approach top, middle, and bottom-of-funnel campaigns, and which ad formats deliver the best results. If you’ve ever struggled to get ROI from LinkedIn, this episode gives you a clear framework to start building campaigns that convert.Takeaways:Most SaaS brands go straight for bottom-of-funnel demo ads — and it rarely worksTop of funnel: focus on educational content that addresses customer problemsThe best content formatsBest ad type at TOFU: single image ads (fast, low-friction, most consumed)Middle of funnel winning adsEffective MOFU ad formatsBottom of funnel to drive conversionsJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Sep 16, 2025 • 51min

#62: 5 ABM campaigns to land bigger SaaS clients, with Jess Chilman

In this episode, Ryan is joined again by Jess Chilman, Head of Growth at Rocket SaaS, to share five high-impact ABM campaign tactics designed to help SaaS businesses move upmarket and close six-figure enterprise deals. From research outreach to direct mail, podcasts, events, and bespoke campaigns, they explain how to build relationships with C-suite decision makers, stand out from the noise, and create memorable touchpoints that convert. If you want to move beyond mid-market clients and start landing enterprise logos, this is the playbook.Takeaways:Start with the BFG framework (Buyer, Firmographics, Geography) to build your high-intent account listValidate your TAM and use intent signals (funding, hiring, leadership changes) to refine your ICP listCampaign 1: Research outreach – co-create content with your ICP via surveys, interviews, or advisory boardsCampaign 2: Podcast ABM – invite C-suite decision makers as guests to build relationships and authorityCampaign 3: Events – run low-cost networking breakfasts or private dining sessions to connect face-to-faceCampaign 4: Direct mail – send thoughtful, personalized packages (chocolates, handwritten notes, themed gifts) to create standout momentsCampaign 5: Tailored ICP campaigns – design bespoke plays around your target’s pain points (e.g., mystery shopping, funding celebration gifts)Align marketing and sales so every touchpoint has tight follow-upThese tactics work best together, creating multiple relationship-building touchpoints with decision makersJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Sep 9, 2025 • 27min

#61: Scaling SaaS Marketing with the E.L.E.V.A.T.E Growth Framework, with Janelle Amos

In this episode, Ryan is joined by Janelle Amos, founder of Elevate Growth, to dive deep into the most common growth challenges facing B2B SaaS businesses today. Janelle shares her proven framework for scaling SaaS marketing and reveals the power of focusing on the entire funnel — not just individual channels. From pipeline acceleration to optimising messaging and the importance of listening to customer feedback, this episode is packed with actionable insights for marketing teams and business owners aiming to hit their revenue targets faster.Takeaways:Marketing efficiency is key: Over-analysing one channel without considering the bigger picture won’t drive growthStart by reverse-engineering your marketing goals and aligning them with revenue targetsBuild an evergreen closed-lost program to re-engage opportunities that slipped through the cracksTest and iterate your strategies — don’t just increase budget, improve efficiency firstMessaging is often the biggest barrier — ensure your homepage clearly explains what you do and who it’s forSOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) help scale predictable, repeatable processesThe Elevate Growth Framework: A 7-step process to drive efficient, repeatable revenue with measurable resultsReach out to Janelle via LinkedIn for more insights on the Elevate Growth FrameworkJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Sep 2, 2025 • 17min

#60: Struggling to get free trial users to upgrade? Do this

In this episode, Ryan dives into one of the most important levers for SaaS growth: your onboarding experience. Too many companies get plenty of free trial signups but fail to convert them into paying customers. Ryan explains what industry benchmarks look like, why onboarding often fails, and how to design an experience that drives users to activation. From signup flow and guided tours to gamification, personalisation, and email onboarding, this episode is packed with practical ways to increase your conversion rate and reduce churn.Takeaways:Average free trial → paid conversion = 15–25%; below 15% means something is brokenDefine your activation milestone (e.g. Slack = 2,000 messages; Dropbox = 10 files saved) and build onboarding around itKeep signup flows short — name, email, password; use Single Sign-On to reduce frictionUse guided tours, tooltips, and short videos to highlight only key actions (not every feature)Personalise onboarding for different roles or use casesAdd quick wins & gamification (progress bars, rewards, incentives) to keep users engagedProvide educational resources, but make them optional and easy to findAdd a human touch — personal messages or LinkedIn DMs can increase upgradesUse email onboarding flows (5–8 emails over 30 days) to re-engage inactive trial usersLeverage product data to spot drop-off points and re-engage before churn happensJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Aug 26, 2025 • 12min

#59: The 4 growth channels that every SaaS business needs

Discover the four essential growth channels every SaaS business should harness. Learn how owned content builds your foundation, while paid ads can supercharge your reach. Explore the significance of earned credibility through reviews and referrals that enhance trust. Uncover the power of strategic partnerships for exponential lead generation. Balancing these channels is crucial to avoid stagnation and ensure continuous growth. Tune in for actionable strategies that can elevate your marketing game!
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Aug 19, 2025 • 13min

#58: My #1 life-changing career/business growth tip

In this episode, Ryan reveals the one move that had the biggest impact on his career and business growth. It’s not a complex strategy, a funnel, or a new piece of tech; it’s a simple step anyone can take this week that can open doors, spark inspiration, and accelerate your journey. Ryan shares the three steps to making it work, two personal stories of how it transformed his trajectory, and why it might be the fastest way to get unstuck in your career or business.Takeaways:The biggest breakthroughs often come from the smallest, simplest actionsYou don’t need a huge budget or complex strategy to level upThis approach works whether you’re an employee or a founderRyan used this approach twice. He outlines them both - each time it led to massive growth and lasting partnershipsJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Aug 12, 2025 • 15min

#57: How to find & use intent data to target people showing interest in your solution

In this episode, Ryan explains why intent data is one of the most powerful tools in a B2B SaaS marketer’s arsenal. He breaks down what intent data is, the difference between first-party and third-party signals, how to collect it, and how to use it to align sales and marketing for maximum impact. From simple website visitor tracking to advanced ABM campaigns, Ryan shares practical ways to spot buying signals and turn them into high-converting opportunities.Takeaways:Intent data shows which prospects are actively considering solutions like yoursFirst-party intent = data you own (e.g., site visits, demo page views, webinar attendance, email engagement, in-product usage)Third-party intent = external signals (e.g., review site activity, funding news, hiring patterns, event attendance)Tools like AlbaCross and HubSpot can help identify and track high-intent website visitorsReview sites (G2, Capterra, TrustRadius) often offer paid intent data packagesSignals such as funding announcements, hiring for relevant roles, or leadership changes indicate potential buying cyclesEnterprise tools like Bombora and 6sense offer advanced, large-scale intent data (but at a higher cost)LinkedIn activity — profile views, follows, post engagement — can also signal interestSales and marketing must work together: sales to follow up directly, marketing to run targeted ABM/retargeting campaignsUpload intent-driven contact or account lists into LinkedIn Ads for highly targeted, high-performing campaignsJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Aug 5, 2025 • 16min

#56: 7 pricing strategies that big SaaS brands use

In this episode, Ryan breaks down one of the most debated topics in SaaS marketing: pricing. Should you show pricing or not? What model should you use? From flat-rate and tiered plans to freemium, free trials, and usage-based pricing, Ryan walks through eight pricing strategies with real examples and tips for how to pick the right model for your business. If your pricing page is one of your most-visited — and least-converting — pages, this one’s for you.Takeaways:Showing pricing builds trust and qualifies leads — but there are trade-offsTry “pricing from” if you need a middle groundFlat-rate pricing is simple, but not scalable for all businessesTiered pricing (bronze/silver/gold) is most common, but can confuse buyersPer-user pricing is standard, but often gamed with shared loginsUsage-based pricing is great for technical platforms, but hard to forecastFreemium works brilliantly for top-of-funnel — if your product is stickyFree trials need great onboarding or users won’t convertCustom pricing suits complex/enterprise deals, but slows down the sales cyclePrice anchoring is a powerful way to nudge users to the plan you want them to chooseDon’t guess — test 2–3 models and see what converts bestJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io
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Jul 29, 2025 • 22min

#55: The critical elements needed on a high converting B2B SaaS website

In this episode, Ryan breaks down the anatomy of the perfect B2B SaaS website — from site map to homepage layout. With years of experience designing SaaS sites and running conversion rate optimisation campaigns, he shares what actually works to turn traffic into leads. Whether you’re planning a redesign or wondering why your paid ads aren’t converting, this episode is your go-to guide to building a high-performing site.Takeaways:Fix your website before investing in paid ads — otherwise you’ll burn cashYour site map should include: Homepage, Product/Solution, Pricing, CTA (Demo/Trial), Case Studies, Resources, Industries, and optional pages like Integrations or AboutDon’t overload dropdowns — keep navigation focused and clearYour homepage hero section needs one clear headline (≤10 words) and a strong visual of your productAvoid fluffy buzzwords — be clear, not cleverAdd trust signals: G2 badges, logos, testimonials, case study statsShow the problem before the product — connect emotionally with pain pointsUse the Z layout to present 3–5 key features with benefit-focused headlinesInclude a form directly on the homepage for higher conversionUse the FAQ section to offload dense copy and handle objectionsJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/ Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/ Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

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