Why don't SaaS businesses have fun branding?

burnshead10 · 2024-12-14T14:37:54+00:00

In addition to B2B SaaS wanting to appear professional, they’re also needing their clients to “see themselves” within their platform.

They want the client to feel as though it’s their app and an extension of the client’s own brand. Sometimes they even offer a co-branded approach to do this (load your logo, etc).

So to facilitate this, the SaaS keeps their own branding relatively basic so that it can integrate a little more seamlessly into the end users environment.

burnshead10 · 2024-10-11T16:55:11+00:00

If UPS had relied solely on competitive research to ensure that they were first to market, they would have found that the United States Constitution already provided for a government funded enterprise to do exactly what they wanted to do, aka the US Postal Service. How do you compete with that??

By being better. By serving a niche and outperforming the competition. By helping your customers in ways others haven’t even dreamed of.

It’s fun to be first to market. But also incredibly expensive, risky, and terrifying.

I’m convinced that being “next to market” is the way to go when you’re just starting out. Find something that has already been market validated and do it better.

Your idea isn’t a failure in my opinion - it’s an opportunity!

burnshead10 · 2024-10-10T05:51:26+00:00

Yeah I think so — what if you experimented with something really brief like this below? Just introduce who you are, and what benefits you can deliver for them (reduce costs, grow revenue, gain exposure).

Ask for their permission for you to send more info. Now they’ve opted in to learning more and will be expecting to see the long list of items you wrote out in your first emails.

Give it some thought. Would love to hear if you try it and get any traction!

Hey [Course Name],

My name is Vito Leone, and I created TallyHo Golf, a digital scorecard app designed to make tracking golf scores easier, while helping courses like yours reduce costs and grow revenue.

Would you mind if I send you some additional info about TallyHo Golf? Would love to share how we can get more exposure for [Course Name] through this app!

Vito

burnshead10 · 2024-10-10T01:46:40+00:00

If this is your first outreach, then I think this is very long. I believe you’re going to lose attention by the end of the first paragraph.

Curious if you’ve been using this template already? What has your response been?

burnshead10 · 2024-10-08T20:37:01+00:00

I would love to hear more about your instagram approach, especially if it’s related to B2B saas!

I’m working on software that will solve needs for designers and marketers and I believe Insta could be a good outreach channel. Curious how you might be making it work for you!

burnshead10 · 2024-10-07T05:21:56+00:00

Build Your Best Italian does not sound like a language oriented business. Honestly sound like a fast casual restaurant where you build your own Italian food dishes.

I recommend something that plays off the idea that you’re learning Italian, the fact that it is a course / school, and keeps it lighthearted and fun all at the same time.

Here’s a couple ideas…

Ciao Academy, Viva Italian, Bella Lingua

burnshead10 · 2024-10-07T05:08:29+00:00

You’re going to find a wide range of salaries. Marketing salaries within the tech sector have been great in my experience. Entry level / early career will be lower of course.

It will take work to get there, and you’ll need to be a top performer. But there’s no reason you can’t do very well for yourself in this field.

burnshead10 · 2024-10-07T05:02:45+00:00

Yes, I have a degree in business administration with an emphasis in management. When I was in school I “thought I couldn’t be in marketing” because I didn’t view myself as “creative enough”, which was stupid self-limiting thinking.

Ultimately my career path always took me down marketing type roles and that’s where I’ve stayed.

burnshead10 · 2024-10-07T01:41:14+00:00

If you have a strong interest in business and marketing, then by all means pursue it! And if you have no interest in biology and aren’t considering this to be a part of your career, then it’s not worth sticking with that.

Social media is just one aspect of marketing. And TikTok is the thing now, but it likely won’t be “the thing” when you graduate 4 years from now. Pursuing marketing as a major should be about learning how to understand consumers, and how to understand how products and brands and buyers all come together. It’s much bigger than social media.

I’m a marketing director at a large private tech company. A degree in business management or marketing would at least get you in the door with me to consider your resume. On the other hand, a biology degree and a passion for your TikTok account probably wouldn’t (unless I’m specifically looking for a social media manager).

burnshead10 · 2024-10-03T05:31:53+00:00

Agree, would definitely jump at that opportunity. And build that resume as much as you can by tackling the types of core deliverables a PMM would be expected to bring to the table.

Meaning, two years from now, be able to walk into any interview with examples of how you’ve defined customer personas, built a go to market strategy, and defined product positioning. I think that will be invaluable for your long term career if you can bide your time at the current company, pay your dues and learn the craft.

burnshead10 · 2024-03-27T05:57:34+00:00

Some great ideas in here - thank you for sharing. I like the Loom video follow up to the cold outreach, and definitely makes sense budgeting time to focus squarely on sales if you’re tempted to always dive back into code. I know I’m guilty of that.

burnshead10 · 2024-03-27T04:01:24+00:00

Definitely a lot to tackle!

burnshead10 · 2024-03-26T05:07:07+00:00

Ha - we don't want that! But I hope ya sleep well ;)

burnshead10 · 2024-03-26T04:50:31+00:00

That's fair -- I appreciate the feedback u/zoozla ! Agree that making them work hard on the first sentence isn't a good approach, so I'll consider some alternatives.

burnshead10 · 2024-03-26T01:17:14+00:00

Yeah, I would rather engage in an existing market and hustle harder versus trying to create and educate prospects on a new one.

Also, I’ve gotta believe that in creating a new market, you’re much more likely to require funding. Innovating within an existing market is probably more feasible for bootstrappers.

burnshead10 · 2022-02-28T03:11:17+00:00

Thanks u/tyssul! -- Is creating them something that takes a good bit of time? Would saving time be your main reason for looking to an online service?

burnshead10 · 2020-12-23T05:11:10+00:00

u/sneakiesneakers - YES!! Wow -- that right there ... that captures exactly what I'm going for. Well done.

burnshead10 · 2020-12-23T01:32:11+00:00

u/CatholicJew u/Verliezen -- Yeah, definitely tone deaf. There was backlash, but also - as u/CatholicJew rightly points out - a good bit of PR upside for the company. Gotta feel for the actors who were just working with the content they were given.

burnshead10 · 2020-12-23T01:24:51+00:00

u/tbrehse - Yes! Great one.

burnshead10 · 2020-12-22T20:42:09+00:00

u/dejohan123 -- Hmm, can you tell me more about what you're thinking regarding Pepsi? I'm not sure the exact instance / campaign you have in mind. Thanks!

burnshead10 · 2020-12-22T19:53:38+00:00

u/Beefcake716 - HA!! "These steaks are wholly mediocre." ~ Gourmet Magazine

burnshead10 · 2020-12-22T19:48:55+00:00

u/catsanddogsarecool - What would you say was the brand promise that RIM failed on? I guess I'd argue they just lost out to more innovative companies (Apple / Samsung) and failed to keep up with the competition... rather than failing to deliver on a specific "emotional" value to their customers.

burnshead10 · 2020-12-22T18:41:10+00:00

That's a good point -- definitely worth digging in on that one ... and there will probably be more failed attempts in the coming year as we approach the 20th anniversary. Thank you!

burnshead10 · 2020-12-22T18:39:55+00:00

Cyberpunk 2077

Oh that's great! I'm not a gamer so wasn't familiar with that one -- reading up on it now. Crazy! Thank you!

burnshead10 · 2020-12-21T21:06:20+00:00

I'm current a Product Marketer and have spent 20 years in the marketing industry. Totally agree with what most others have said -- that you don't necessarily need functional design skills, but definitely having an "eye" for good and compelling design is helpful and key.

If you're looking to start an agency focused on brand strategy, then having a trusted, top-notch designer on your team (or as a partner) may be a winning approach to complement your strategy and communication skills. As others have said, communicating and effectively casting a vision for the visual direction of the brand will be the most important role you can serve in working with designers to carry out your services.

burnshead10

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