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As cloud computing becomes more prevalent, it’s unsurprising that people are starting to take advantage of the various ways that it can be leveraged to provide faster, more efficient applications. One of the ways that this has manifested is through Software as a Service (SaaS), a system in which the software is hosted on a […]
As cloud computing becomes more prevalent, it’s unsurprising that people are starting to take advantage of the various ways that it can be leveraged to provide faster, more efficient applications. One of the ways that this has manifested is through Software as a Service (SaaS), a system in which the software is hosted on a cloud so it can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection and data isn’t lost as easily.
If you’re looking into launching your own SaaS app, you’ll find a booming market for it, but there are a number of things you should think about before you get that app out there for others to enjoy.
1. Find the right niche to focus on – It’s fairly common to suggest that niche marketing and product development is the way to go, but that is especially true with SaaS applications. While the market is booming, there are a lot of people who are already in it and trying to compete with general purpose apps will be an uphill climb that you may not be ready for. Instead, find a niche that you can perfect. A good example is this salon software by Salon Advantage. B2B is a great place to focus on because business owners have the money to spend if you can help them make their business more efficient.
Doing one or two things incredibly well is going to get you a lot further than doing several things in an average way, so figure out what it is you’re trying to accomplish exactly and make sure its narrowed down.
2. Features are king, and the more you have, the better – “Less is more” works for many things, it doesn’t with software. While you should absolutely focus on a niche, you should also do everything you possibly can to fill that niche. In fact, the point of using a focused application instead of a general purpose one is that you’re supposed to be able to do more detailed work. So add every feature you can think of and do it well before even considering releasing the software.
3. Make sure that you’re ready to provide service – At the beginning of any technology it’s normally simple enough that most people can figure it out on their own despite it being new. The early app market was a lot like this, just like the early PC software market was, but in the same fashion apps are getting more complex and, therefore, more difficult to work with if you’re not already familiar with the software. That’s why in a market flooded with other apps that do the same thing as yours, offering quality service for the app can be what makes people go with you instead of somebody else. Another app may offer a lower price or more features than you, but being able to provide service can be the thing that puts you over the edge.
4. Don’t rely on your friends to be your first customers – While it’s nice to have friends who are willing to beta test for you, don’t expect that they’re then going to pay you to upgrade to the full version unless they have a specific need for it. They’re trying to be helpful and friendly, they aren’t there to be sold to. Instead, thank them for their time and help, then start working on developing other customers organically that are specifically looking for something that your app can help them with.
5. Can you blog consistently to build a fan base? – Blogging is one of the best ways to market a product online. It takes a while to get going, and you have to be consistent with it in order to get the most out of the technique. Make sure that you’re posting at least two articles a week about things that are relevant to your app or the industry that it is addressing. After a few months, you’ll start to notice that you’re getting a lot of organic traffic, meaning that your SEO is building and people are starting to find you because what you have to say is relevant. Those people are much more likely to invest in your app.
Launching an app is not easy to do, and it will take a little while in order to get the attention that you ideally want, but if you take your time, set your expectations correctly, and make sure to market yourself consistently, you should have no problems starting to sell your own SaaS app.
