Content Marketing

3 Ways SaaS Owners Can Leverage Content Marketing

Rajashree Goswami
Aug 30, 2021
12 mins read
3 Ways SaaS Owners Can Leverage Content Marketing

In this fast-paced era where cutting-edge technology and relentless innovation collide, standing out requires more than just a powerful product – it demands a strategic approach that captivates, engages, and catches the fancy of your audience. In the labyrinth of SaaS, where innovation meets ambition, one strategy has proven to be the North Star for success: Content Marketing

As SaaS owners, you possess the brilliance and vision to create revolutionary solutions that could revolutionize industries and change lives. But in the bustling digital age, even the most innovative creations can get lost in the cacophony of competition. That’s where the magic of content marketing comes to your rescue!

Did you know that content marketing generates three times as many leads as traditional outbound marketing but costs 62% less? 84% of people expect brands to produce content that entertains, educates, and even solves their pain points. Content marketing allows you to build genuine connections, nourish trust, and weave a loyal community around your SaaS brand.

Content marketing nurtures prospects along their buying journey, with companies that publish engaging content experiencing six times higher conversion rates. Your content becomes a powerful spellbook, guiding leads into loyal customers.

In this blog, we’ll unravel the enigma surrounding content marketing and explore how its significance in SaaS transcends conventional marketing strategies.

Why is Content Marketing Crucial For SaaS?

Sometimes, the key to success is right within our grasp, waiting to be unlocked – and that’s precisely the case with creating captivating SaaS marketing content. The challenge often lies in knowing where to start and how to harness the potential of the content you already have.

  1. Increasing Brand Awareness: Content marketing helps SaaS companies reach a wider audience, creating visibility and recognition for their brand.
  2. Converting Readers into Paid Customers: Informative and persuasive content can guide potential customers through the buyer’s journey, leading to increased conversions.
  3. Boosting Website Traffic: High-quality content attracts organic traffic to the SaaS company’s website, expanding its online presence.
  4. Building Trust: Valuable and educational content establishes the SaaS brand as a reliable and trustworthy authority in the industry.
  5. Improving Lead Generation: Content marketing acts as a powerful lead-generation tool, attracting potential customers and nurturing them into prospects.
  6. Reducing Customer Acquisition Cost: Compared to traditional advertising, content marketing is cost-effective, yielding a higher return on investment.
  7. Positioning as an Industry Leader: Consistent production of valuable content helps position the SaaS company as a thought leader in the market.

As an example, when it comes to content marketing in the SaaS world, HubSpot is simply crushing it! They’re like the gold standard for how it should be done. They’ve got this amazing blog that covers everything from marketing and sales to business tips – you name it, they’ve got it.

They’re all about quality. They regularly publish top-notch articles, guides, and resources that cater to people at different stages of their buyer’s journey.

The best part? They really understand their audience. They know exactly what marketers and businesses need, and they address those pain points head-on. They’re like the experts that everyone turns to for advice.

And you know what happens when you provide such value? People flock to you. HubSpot’s content attracts a massive audience. And it doesn’t just stop there. They’re like master nurturers – they take those leads and turn them into loyal customers.

Honestly, it’s no surprise that their brand is so well-known and respected in the industry. Their content marketing game is on point, and they’ve built an incredible community around their brand.

Why is SaaS Content Marketing Different?

When it comes to SaaS, it’s not just about flaunting those fancy features. You’ve got to show your users the real deal—how your software brings value and unleashes a magical world of benefits and outcomes! 

Let’s explore what sets SaaS content marketing apart and how it can lead to lasting customer relationships.

Focusing on Value, Not Just Features

In the SaaS arena, users are more discerning than ever, seeking tangible value from their investments. SaaS content marketing should concentrate on how the product solves problems and fulfills specific needs. 

SaaS companies can effectively communicate their software’s unique value proposition by showcasing the real-world benefits and outcomes that users can achieve. 

Engaging content demonstrates how the product streamlines workflows, saves time, or boosts productivity. Also, it shows how the product will resonate with potential customers.

Education and Customer Success Stories

In SaaS, maintaining an active user base is vital. Unlike traditional software, SaaS relies on recurring revenue from subscriptions, prioritizing customer retention. Content marketing plays a crucial role here in educating users and providing ongoing value.

SaaS companies can empower users to make the most of their software by creating informative blog posts, webinars, and video tutorials. This approach not only reduces churn by minimizing frustration but also positions the company as an industry thought leader, garnering trust and loyalty.

Moreover, showcasing customer success stories is a potent way to inspire potential buyers. These stories humanize the product, showcasing its real-world impact on users’ lives or businesses. Prospective customers are likelier to trust a product that has already demonstrated success for others like them.

Nurturing Relationships Through Personalization

SaaS content marketing should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Personalization is the key to establishing strong customer relationships. Understanding the unique pain points and goals of individual customers allows SaaS companies to tailor their content accordingly.

SaaS companies can deliver targeted content that speaks directly to users’ needs using data-driven insights and marketing automation. This personalized approach fosters a sense of connection and trust, making customers feel valued and understood.

Leveraging Social Proof

In an increasingly connected world, social proof can significantly impact SaaS marketing efforts. Positive reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content can go a long way in building credibility and trust with potential customers. Sharing such social proof through content marketing helps to validate the software’s effectiveness and reliability.

How SaaS Brands Can Leverage Content Marketing: 3 Key Ways

Content marketing brings many benefits that SaaS business owners will certainly appreciate. While good software is priceless, many times, the companies that need it most aren’t going to be as tech-savvy as the business developing the software.

The specs might not move the person in charge of buying. A good content strategy can help target customers understand and cut through the tech-speak to realize which SaaS solutions are right for them.

1. Repurpose Documentation to Create Tutorial (How To) Articles

Technical documents and user manuals are there to cover every potential issue or situation that comes up in one place. Handy for an IT department, is not always the best solution for someone looking for a quick answer or step-by-step guide to a very specific, and often relatively straightforward, question.

These make amazing sources of information for how-to articles!

Use the documentation that already exists to create how-to articles and tutorials. Craft these articles keeping the reader in mind. What are their likely questions going to be? What are the trickier aspects of the software that others may need guidance for?

What questions do users of similar (or the competition’s) software often have?

These all are great questions to brainstorm ideas for fantastic tutorial articles.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step-by-step guide to repurpose content

2. Create Content Comparing and Contrasting Against Competitors

Potential visitors will want to know how your software compares against the competition. The furthest many SaaS companies go is with a comparative chart on the company website. If even that.

Writing in-depth articles comparing the SaaS business’s software to the competition is a great way to get visitors.

Not only that, but it shows the business as an authority not only in its own software but also in the other options available in the field.

That level of trust is a major benefit of writing these comparison articles. Not only that but if the articles rank first in Google, then it’s your company’s comparisons that most people see and trust, not the competition’s!

Tips to Help You Write Effective Comparison Articles:

  • Identify Key Competitors: Begin by identifying the main competitors in your industry. Focus on the ones that are most relevant and pose a significant challenge to your software.
  • Understand the Competitors: Thoroughly research each competitor’s software. Sign up for free trials, read their documentation, and explore their features. Understand their strengths and weaknesses.
  • Outline the Comparison: Create a clear outline for your article, highlighting the key aspects you’ll compare. Common elements to cover include features, pricing, user experience, customer support, integrations, and overall performance.
  • Be Objective and Honest: Maintain objectivity throughout the article. Readers will appreciate an unbiased comparison that presents both the positives and negatives of your software and your competitors’ offerings. Avoid exaggerations and false claims, as trust is crucial.
  • Highlight Unique Selling Points: Showcase your software’s unique selling points (USPs) and explain how they set you apart from the competition. Clearly demonstrate the value that your software provides.
  • Visualize with Charts and Infographics: Use charts, graphs, and infographics to present complex information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format. Visual aids can make the comparison more engaging and memorable.
  • Include Real User Testimonials: If possible, include real user testimonials or case studies from your existing customers. This adds credibility to your claims and shows potential customers that your software delivers results.
  • Address Common Pain Points: Discuss common pain points faced by customers in your industry and explain how your software addresses them. This helps readers see the practical benefits of choosing your solution.

Pro Tip: The SaaS industry is ever-evolving, and competitors might introduce new features or change their pricing. Keep your comparison articles up-to-date to maintain accuracy and relevancy. Encourage readers to leave comments and questions on your article. Respond promptly and engage with them to build rapport and foster trust.

3. Create Specialized Content (Industry Trends, Industry Glossary)

I know playing off my strengths is one of the best ways to create a content plan that is going to work. Any SaaS business should lean into its strengths. Who is going to understand industry trends, industry terms, or common insider practices better than the people in that industry?

Being able to take this specialized content and create great articles that educate visitors and help them out will make you stand out.

Especially compared to the competition that doesn’t do that, but relies on specs and insider jargon that those outside of the field aren’t going to understand.

That specialty content is a potentially powerful way to reach out and show potential customers that they really do need the software or service being offered.

Moreover, by creating specialized content that showcases your industry expertise and focuses on addressing the unique needs of your target audience, you can establish your SaaS business as a go-to resource in the field. This will help build trust and credibility, ultimately leading to increased interest and conversions from potential customers.

How to Effectively Create and Utilize Specialized Content

  • Understand Your Audience: Identify your target audience and their pain points. Understand their needs and challenges, and tailor your specialized content to address them.
  • Leverage Industry Trends: Stay up-to-date with your industry’s latest trends, news, and developments. Use this knowledge to create content highlighting your software’s relevance in the current market landscape.
  • Use Industry Terms Wisely: While insider jargon can help connect with industry professionals, avoid overwhelming your audience with technical language. Explain complex terms when necessary and strive for clarity in your content.
  • Educational Articles: Develop articles that educate your audience on the industry’s best practices, tips, and tricks. Share practical advice and actionable insights that your readers can implement immediately.
  • Case Studies and Success Stories: Showcase real-life success stories of how your software has helped customers achieve their goals. Use case studies to demonstrate the tangible benefits of your solution.
  • Highlight Unique Features: Use specialized content to explain in detail the unique features of your software and how they solve specific industry challenges. Illustrate how your solution goes beyond generic offerings.
  • Thought Leadership: Position yourself as a thought leader in your industry by sharing your expertise through blog posts, whitepapers, and webinars. Thought leadership content builds credibility and authority.
  • Videos and Infographics: Diversify your content by creating videos and infographics that explain complex concepts visually. These formats can be highly engaging and shareable.
  • Guest Posts and Collaborations: Write guest posts for other industry-related blogs or collaborate with influencers and experts. This expands your reach and introduces your software to a broader audience.
  • Track and Analyze Performance: Monitor the performance of your specialized content. Use analytics to understand which pieces resonate best with your audience and adjust your content strategy accordingly.

Pro Tip: Use data-driven content to support your claims and back up your statements. Conduct surveys, research, and studies that provide valuable insights for your audience. Ensure your specialized content is optimized for search engines. Use relevant keywords and phrases. Also, share your content on industry-specific forums and communities. This helps you connect with a targeted audience interested in your niche.

Wrap Up

Content marketing is a powerful strategy for SaaS owners. Too often it’s ignored as something just for bloggers or affiliates, but a good content strategy is one of the best tools a SaaS company can use to get attention to their products.

It may or may not provide quick results or instantly elevate your SaaS company to the top, but it’s an effective, reliable, and sustainable approach to nurturing your business. When combined with traditional sales and marketing, supplemented by some initial paid media efforts, content marketing becomes a foolproof method to cultivate a dedicated community of fans and customers.

Following the tips in this article will provide plenty of great ideas from existing knowledge and technical documents into helpful articles that will build trust, and authority, and get the attention of visitors and Google!

Moreover, note that it’s about cultivating meaningful relationships with your audience and positioning your SaaS company for lasting prosperity.

So, focus on building trust and loyalty, leveraging valuable insights from data, and refining your content strategy to improve your results continuously. This commitment to excellence will drive your business toward sustainable success and stand the test of time.

About Rajashree Goswami

Rajashree Goswami

Rajashree is the Lead Content Writer at FirstPrinciples Growth Advisory, specializing in SaaS product marketing content. With 8+ years of experience as a writer turned researcher, she has a deep-rooted affinity for B2B SaaS content writing & strategy planning. She excels in transforming complex solutions into engaging articles that address...

About Rajashree Goswami

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