PLG Routing

What is PLG Routing?

PLG routing refers to the strategy of guiding users through a tailored journey based on product-led growth (PLG) principles. Instead of relying solely on traditional sales processes, PLG routing dynamically adjusts the user experience in real-time to enhance engagement and conversion opportunities. This approach ensures that users are always presented with the most relevant content and offers, optimizing the chances for success.

How PLG Routing Works

PLG routing leverages data from user interactions and behavior to determine the next best action, whether it’s directing users to specific features, offering personalized messaging, or adjusting the funnel stages accordingly. This allows businesses to create more fluid, responsive, and relevant user experiences that are guided by the individual needs and actions of each user.

The Impact of PLG Routing on Conversion Rates

By implementing PLG routing, companies can enhance their conversion strategies by continuously adapting to the user’s journey. This helps ensure that users are not overwhelmed with irrelevant content and are instead guided to the most impactful touchpoints, boosting engagement and conversion rates.

Why PLG Routing Matters for SaaS Businesses

For SaaS businesses, PLG routing is a game-changer in terms of user acquisition and retention. By focusing on personalized, product-centric interactions, businesses can effectively drive growth without the traditional heavy reliance on sales teams. This is especially important in the SaaS model, where a smooth, self-guided user journey can significantly impact long-term retention and customer satisfaction.

Watch the Full Video on PLG Routing

To gain a deeper understanding of how PLG routing can help your business grow, watch the video below where we explore the concept in more detail.

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Conclusion

PLG routing is transforming how businesses approach user engagement, making it an essential strategy for any product-led company. By leveraging data-driven insights and dynamically guiding users along their journey, businesses can drive better results, improve conversions, and build stronger relationships with customers. Implementing this approach may be the key to optimizing your conversion rates and scaling your business effectively.

Penny Wise or Pound Foolish? When is the Cost of A SaaS Funnel Audit Worth It?

Imagine pouring hours and dollars into crafting targeted campaigns, nurturing leads, and refining your messaging for your SaaS business. Yet, a nagging doubt lingers: how do you know if website visitors convert optimally? Why exactly is engagement lagging? Evaluating your SaaS marketing conversion rate can feel like peering into a black box. You may be considering a funnel audit, but how do you know when the cost of a funnel audit is justified? Let’s start with the symptoms. What are the warning signs of problems in your funnel? 

5 Signs Your Marketing Funnel is Leaking

A well-optimized marketing funnel should seamlessly guide website visitors toward conversion, but leaks can develop over time. These leaks represent missed growth opportunities, hindering your ability to convert leads into paying customers. Here are 5 signs your marketing funnel might be leaking:

  1. Dwindling Lead Generation. Is the flow of qualified leads into your funnel slowing down? If so, it could indicate a problem at the top of the funnel, such as ineffective content marketing, targeting the wrong audience, or a lack of brand awareness.
  2. High Abandonment Rates. Are website visitors dropping off at crucial points in your funnel, like landing pages or opt-in forms? High abandonment rates suggest friction or confusion within the funnel, preventing users from taking the desired action.
  3. Low Conversion Rates. A low conversion rate is the ultimate indicator of a leaky funnel. Low performance means leads who enter your funnel never convert into paying customers. Analyze conversion rates at each funnel stage to pinpoint where leads are slipping away.
  4. Unengaged Audience. Do your social media posts and email campaigns generate minimal engagement? A lack of engagement suggests that your messaging misaligns your audience’s needs or that you’re not reaching the right people.
  5. Increased Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC). Is acquiring each new customer costing you more and more? This high cost could indicate that your marketing efforts attract unqualified leads or that leaks within the funnel prevent qualified leads from converting.

The more of these issues you experience, the more you need a funnel audit. A comprehensive audit can help identify the specific leaks within your funnel, provide action items to patch them up and optimize your marketing efforts for sustainable growth.

Two Key Challenges with SaaS Funnel Optimization

In our experience, we’ve seen that many B2B marketers, especially in the fast-paced SaaS industry, struggle with two key challenges:

  1. Gauging Funnel Performance: Accurately assessing the health of your marketing funnel requires expertise and specialized tools. Without a clear picture of leaks and bottlenecks in your SaaS sales funnel, it isn’t easy to pinpoint areas for improvement in funnel optimization.
  2. Justifying a Funnel Analysis: Investing in a funnel audit to diagnose problem areas can feel like an unnecessary expense. However, the potential cost of neglecting a sub-optimal conversion funnel can be far greater. How do you know when to pull the trigger?

A shift in perspective is helpful when faced with these challenges. The SaaS model requires an optimized sales funnel as the cornerstone of success. While the upfront cost of a funnel audit might raise initial concerns, the potential return on investment (ROI) of fixing problems in the funnel can outweigh the expense.

Understanding the ROI of a SaaS Funnel Audit

Think of your funnel as the engine of your business. Your funnel should seamlessly guide potential customers (aka qualified leads) through the customer journey toward conversion, ultimately driving revenue and customer acquisition.

However, even the most successful funnels can develop leaks over time. Funnel audits are helpful because a seemingly minor tweak to your landing page copy or a strategic adjustment to your email marketing campaign can significantly increase conversions. 

Funnel leaks represent missed opportunities, bleeding your SaaS business dry in several ways:

Lost Leads and Sales

A broken funnel is like a leaky pipe – qualified leads enter your top-of-funnel stages but never reach the conversion stage, like a free trial or paid subscription. This loss translates to missed sales opportunities and lost potential recurring revenue.

Inefficient Marketing Budget Spend 

Are you pouring money into social media campaigns, organic traffic lead gen, or Google Ads that aren’t resonating with your target audience? An audit can identify marketing budget drains, allowing you to reallocate resources toward more impactful initiatives that improve acquisition costs.

Wasted Resources on Outdated Tactics 

It’s easy to fall into the trap of clinging to tactics that once delivered results. An audit can expose outdated or ineffective strategies, freeing resources to invest in high-performing approaches more suited to your target audience.

By viewing a funnel audit as an investment in identifying and plugging these leaks, you’re investing in the future growth of your business. The potential return on investment (ROI) can significantly outweigh the initial cost, leading to revenue growth and decreased customer churn.

Addressing Specific Cost Concerns

There are some specifics every marketer should ask about when considering a funnel audit. Here’s a breakdown of the costs involved in a funnel audit:

  • Upfront cost. The price of a funnel audit can vary depending on the scope and experience of the auditor. 
  • Implementation Costs. A funnel audit report will naturally include some recommendations. Following the audit recommendations may involve additional costs, such as website tweaks, marketing automation adjustments, or content creation. 

For example, imagine a scenario where your landing page copy is deterring conversions. A good audit will identify this issue, and the cost of revamping the copy pales compared to the ongoing revenue you’re losing due to a sub-optimal landing page.

Think of implementation costs as fine-tuning your sales funnel for peak performance. While there might be an initial investment, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term expense.

Demonstrating the Value Beyond Cost 

While the cost concerns surrounding a funnel audit are valid, the actual value can extend far beyond the immediate price tag. Here’s a look at some of the intangible benefits that can significantly enhance your marketing efforts:

Gaining a Deeper Understanding of Your Target Audience

One of the most powerful outcomes of a comprehensive audit is a deeper understanding of your target audience. During the audit process, funnel analysis tools and user experience (UX) evaluations shed light on how potential customers interact with your marketing materials and navigate your sales funnel.

This newfound knowledge empowers you to create highly targeted messaging that resonates with your ideal customer’s pain points and desires. A deeper understanding of your customer’s journey helps you create content that fosters trust, leading to higher conversion rates.

Identifying Hidden Opportunities

A fresh perspective on your marketing funnel can be a game-changer. A skilled auditor can identify hidden opportunities you might have missed. An audit could involve uncovering new channels to reach your target audience, optimizing landing pages for significant conversion uplifts, or suggesting adjustments to your sales process that streamline the path to conversion.

For example, the audit might reveal a hidden gem within your customer base. By analyzing data, the audit could uncover upsell or cross-sell opportunities you didn’t previously capitalize on, translating to increased revenue potential without significant acquisition efforts.

Remember, a well-optimized funnel isn’t static. A funnel audit is a springboard for continuous improvement, helping you identify and leverage hidden opportunities to achieve sustainable growth.

What about AI for SaaS Funnel Performance?

We all know that AI tools are quickly changing the funnel optimization landscape. A comprehensive audit can pinpoint areas where AI tools can update your funnel to personalize the customer journey, optimize ad targeting, and automate repetitive tasks.

Moving Ahead: Reframing the Cost of a Saas Funnel Audit

Do you have more questions about the audit process with an experienced provider? 

For a deeper dive, check out our CEO, Arun Sivashankaran’s YouTube Video series. In these short videos, Arun describes FunnelEnvy’s Method for conducting a Full-Funnel CRO Audit, discusses some helpful mindsets when conducting such an audit, and reveals an important keystone habit that can make CRO efforts easier and more effective.

At Funnel Envy, we are a team of growth experts specializing in data-driven funnel optimization for B2B, lead generation, and SaaS companies. We utilize a combination of closed-loop analytics, website experimentation, predictive models, and marketing automation to ensure your funnel is firing on all cylinders.

Contact Funnel Envy today for a free consultation and discover how a funnel audit can propel your business towards sustainable growth and long-term success.

By |2025-05-12T04:37:13-07:00May 27th, 2024|Full-Funnel Optimization|0 Comments

How to Choose the Right SaaS CRO Partner for Your Business

With competition heating up across almost all industry verticals, it is more challenging than ever for SaaS companies to improve marketing ROI. One key strategy for achieving better results is partnering with the right Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) partner.

Navigating all the options for CRO services can be daunting for a busy B2B marketing professional. This blog post provides a comprehensive guide for choosing the right SaaS CRO partner for your business, ensuring you make an informed decision aligning with your goals and objectives.

The Basics – Why CRO Matters

At its core, CRO is the systematic process of increasing the percentage of website visitors who take a desired action, such as purchasing, signing up for a trial, or filling out a contact form. It can get complex because it involves many moving parts and a range of strategies, techniques, and methodologies.

CRO is essential for several intertwined reasons:

Maximizing ROI: By improving conversions, you can extract more value from your existing website traffic and marketing efforts, leading to a higher return on investment (ROI).

Enhancing User Experience: CRO focuses on creating a seamless and intuitive user experience that encourages visitors to engage with your website and take desired actions.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: CRO relies on data analytics and testing to identify optimization opportunities, allowing for informed decision-making based on empirical evidence rather than assumptions.

Competitive Advantage: Businesses prioritizing CRO gain a competitive edge in a competitive landscape.

Examples of CRO Metrics

Some key conversion metrics to discuss with a potential CRO partner include:

  • Click-Through Rate (CTR)
  • Bounce Rate
  • Average Order Value (AOV)
  • Customer Lifetime Value (CLTV)

Understanding these metrics and their impact on your business’s performance is fundamental to implementing effective CRO strategies and optimizing your conversion funnel.

Choose the Right SaaS CRO Partner

Source

By focusing on CRO basics and understanding its importance, you can make informed decisions when selecting a SaaS CRO partner and drive impactful results for your business.

Building Trust and Demonstrating Expertise

How does the right CRO partner earn your trust and demonstrate expertise? Here are vital factors to consider:

Understanding Your Business

A reputable SaaS company CRO partner should thoroughly understand your business model, target audience, and unique value proposition. This understanding goes beyond surface-level demographics and recognizes any unique aspects of your SaaS offering.

Look for partners who ask detailed questions about your customer journey, pain points, and conversion funnel. Review their case studies and success stories. 

Their ability to grasp the nuances of your business indicates a commitment to tailoring strategies that resonate with your audience and drive meaningful results.

Dealing with Messy Data

Many SaaS companies grapple with disparate data sources, incomplete datasets, and data silos. A competent CRO partner should have the expertise to seamlessly navigate messy data. 

This includes data integration across platforms, rigorous data cleaning processes, and advanced analytics capabilities. By harnessing the power of clean and accurate data, your CRO partner can provide actionable insights that fuel optimization strategies and drive conversions.

Addressing Past Unsatisfactory Experiences

If you’ve had unsatisfactory experiences with previous CRO partner programs, be sure to discuss this with potential new partners. Look for a CRO partner that acknowledges industry challenges and offers a differentiated approach. 

This approach should encompass holistic analysis, combining CRO methodologies with Marketing Operations (Ops) strategies. By aligning CRO efforts with broader marketing initiatives, you can achieve synergy across your marketing ecosystem and enhance overall performance.

Showcasing Transparency and Commitment

Transparency and commitment are foundational elements that foster trust and ensure a successful partnership with your chosen CRO provider. Here’s how to assess these crucial aspects:

Transparent CRO Methodology

Transparency begins with a clear and comprehensive methodology from your CRO partner. They should be able to articulate the strategies, tools, and techniques they employ to improve your CRO. 

Look for partners who explain their testing methodologies, such as A/B testing, multivariate testing, and user behavior analysis. Additionally, a transparent CRO partner will openly discuss the limitations of specific methods and provide insights into how they mitigate potential biases or errors in the analyses. 

This level of transparency builds trust and allows for informed decision-making based on reliable data and insights.

Choose the Right CRO Partner with a Commitment to Results

A reliable CRO partner is committed to delivering measurable results aligned with your business objectives. Look for partners who offer performance guarantees or results-based pricing models.

A reliable CRO partner is committed to delivering measurable results aligned with your business objectives. Share on X

These arrangements incentivize the CRO partner to prioritize outcomes that directly impact your bottom line, such as increased conversions, higher customer retention rates, or improved lifetime value (LTV) of customers.

Ask potential partners how they demonstrate a commitment to results. Your CRO partner should not view optimization as a one-time project but rather as a continuous process of refinement and improvement. Ask about their customer support framework, regular performance reviews, data-driven iterations, and proactive recommendations for improvement. 

By prioritizing transparency and commitment in evaluating CRO partners, you can establish a solid foundation for a collaborative and results-driven partnership. 

For example, Funnel Envy’s partner program demonstrates our commitment to results for our clients. On average, we partner with our customers for over three years—this duration. We’ve improved over 100 lead generation forms and delivered an average lift of 24% in Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs).

These metrics add up to an impressive 10X average return on investment (ROI), demonstrating our commitment to driving tangible outcomes for your SaaS business.

Are you Ready to Choose the Right SaaS CRO Partner?

Choosing the right CRO partner is a pivotal decision. By prioritizing factors such as understanding your business, dealing with data effectively, showcasing transparency, and demonstrating commitment to results, you can make an informed choice that leads to improved conversions and marketing ROI.

As a trusted leader in CRO services, FunnelEnvy has prepared a Free Guide to Discover Optimization Strategies Increasing Revenue up to 250% at Top Tech Companies.

You will learn:

  • The #1 most important factor to increase website conversions
  • Why top marketers only focus on key pages to improve performance
  • Examples of exactly how top tech companies boost website revenue

Download your copy today! 

    Bonus Summary: Key Takeaways When Choosing a SaaS CRO Partner:

    CRO is essential for several reasons, including maximizing ROI, enhancing UX, data-driven decision-making, and increasing competitive advantage. 

    The following are essential capabilities of a great CRO partner:

    Understanding Your Business: Look for a partner who takes the time to understand your unique business model, target audience, and conversion funnel intricacies.

    Dealing with Messy Data: Choose a CRO partner with expertise in handling complex data environments, ensuring accurate insights and actionable recommendations.

    Addressing Past Unsatisfactory Experiences: Seek a differentiated approach that combines CRO and Marketing Ops for holistic analysis and optimized performance.

    Showcasing Transparency: Prioritize partners who are transparent about their methodologies, tools, and limitations, fostering trust and informed decision-making.

    Commitment to Results: Partner with a CRO provider that offers performance guarantees and demonstrates a long-term commitment to driving measurable results for your business.

    By |2025-05-12T04:37:12-07:00May 13th, 2024|Conversion Rate Optimization|0 Comments

    Fire Up Demand Gen and Sales: Best Practices for SaaS Landing Pages 2024

    As global unrest and economic uncertainty persist, belts are tightening in most business sectors. While ChartMogul takes the optimistic spin that SaaS growth has “stabilized,” in reality, that translates to the fact that growth in many specific SaaS sectors is stalling or declining.

    Best Practices for SaaS Landing Pages 2024

    Source: ChartMogul

    Optimizing consumer touchpoints is more crucial than ever. High-converting landing pages are strategic assets that transform curious visitors into engaged users and paying customers. 

    Imagine a visitor landing on your website after clicking on a targeted ad. Their initial impression, shaped by your B2B SaaS landing pages, determines whether they become a lead or bounce away. Technology and consumer trends are changing, so we’ve adapted our best practices for SaaS landing pages in 2024 to reflect changing buyer expectations and new AI tools. 

    Effective landing pages take time to optimize. They are part of strategic SaaS marketing campaigns that understand the different stages of the sales funnel. If you invest in ads, nailing your PPC landing page best practices is essential!

    Just like buyers, landing pages are not one-size-fits-all. This post explores landing pages in the context of the SaaS funnel buyer stages: Awareness, Activation/Purchase, and Expansion/Upsell. But first, let’s look at some basics that every landing page should have, regardless of buyer stage. 

    Global SaaS Landing Page Best Practices

    Regardless of the prospect phase, the best SaaS landing pages share some common attributes. For inspiration, HubSpot offers many examples of best practices for landing pages. Additional tips include:

    Regardless of the prospect phase, the best SaaS landing pages share some common attributes. Share on X
    1. Understand the importance of customer journey and intent.
    2. Use strong visuals and compelling copy throughout the landing page. Be sure your landing pages integrate with the website design to keep the customer journey on-brand.
    3. Ensure an optimal experience for mobile landing pages to ensure happy mobile users across devices.
    4. Prioritize page load time for quick access and improved engagement. Slow pages lead to an increased bounce rate.
    5. A/B testing at all phases helps optimize page elements to improve conversion rates continuously. You can optimize everything on the page with testing, from the CTA button color to your headlines. With multiple pages and stages, A/B testing can get overwhelming. At Funnel Envy, we’re used to dealing with that complexity. Reach out if you have questions.
    6. Closely track upgrade metrics. Monitor conversions, upgrade paths, and churn rates to understand what resonates with your user base and optimize your expansion landing pages accordingly.
    7. Measure performance metrics and track key funnel stages.

    Sparking Interest: SaaS Landing Pages for the Awareness Stage

    The awareness stage represents the first encounter between potential customers and your SaaS product.

    At this point, visitors are likely unfamiliar with your brand, and their main focus is understanding how you can solve their pain points. The awareness stage can be the best landing page for lead generation. A common desired conversion is to capture email addresses for email marketing.

    Key Strategies for High-Converting Awareness Landing Page

    • Hook Them with a Captivating Headline. Use clear, concise language that addresses your target audience’s pain points. Think benefit-driven statements that pique curiosity and promise a solution.
    • Showcase Solutions, Not Features. Don’t get bogged down in technical jargon. Instead, focus on your product’s benefits and how it makes users’ lives easier.
    • Visuals Tell a Story. Include high-quality images and videos that resonate with your audience and visually represent the value proposition. Think hero images, screenshots, or explainer videos.
    • Social Proof Builds Trust. Feature testimonials, case studies, and logos from satisfied customers to establish credibility and build trust with first-time visitors.
    • Frictionless Lead Capture. Offer valuable, downloadable content like e-books, white papers, or webinars in exchange for email addresses. Keep form fields minimal and focus on capturing essential information.
    • Clear Call to Action (CTA). A clear CTA button is essential. Tell visitors exactly what you want them to do next, whether signing up for a free trial, scheduling a demo, or subscribing to your newsletter. Use strong, action-oriented CTA buttons that stand out visually.

    Key Tips for Awareness Landing Pages

    • Target Your Messaging. Personalize your landing page content to different audience segments for increased relevance and engagement.
    • Mobile-First Design. Ensure your landing page is responsive and optimized for mobile devices, where a significant portion of your traffic will likely originate.

    Landing Pages for the Activation/Purchase Stage

    Congratulations! You’ve successfully captured attention and ignited interest in your product during the awareness stage. Now comes the crucial activation stage, where you need to transform those intrigued visitors into engaged users and paying customers.

    Best Practices for SaaS Landing Pages in 2024 to Generate Sales

    Focus on Early Wins

    • Highlight Quick Value. Showcase how users can achieve tangible results and solve minor problems within the first few minutes or days of using your product.
    • Frictionless Onboarding. Streamline the signup, login, and onboarding process to minimize friction and ensure a smooth user experience.
    • Demo the Power. Utilize product demos, explainer and demo videos, and interactive walkthroughs to visually demonstrate your product’s key features and functionalities.

    Drive Product Engagement

    • Showcase User Achievements. Display progress trackers, badges, or gamification elements to keep users motivated and engaged as they explore the product.
    • Offer Personalized Tutorials. Based on user actions and preferences, suggest relevant tutorials, knowledge base articles, or contextual help menus to guide them further.
    • Live Chat Support. Offer available chat support to address user questions and concerns in real time, fostering trust and a sense of community.

    Nurture User Satisfaction

    • Gather Feedback. Implement in-app surveys, feedback forms, or satisfaction ratings to understand user experiences and identify areas for improvement.
    • Highlight User Success Stories. Showcase testimonials, case studies, and success stories from existing users to demonstrate your product’s positive impact on real people.
    • Personalized Communication. Leverage AI tools to trigger customized email campaigns, in-app notifications, or targeted recommendations, keeping users engaged and interested.

    Key Tips for Landing Pages That Drive Sales

    • Track Key Metrics. Monitor user behavior, engagement rates, and conversion points to identify areas for optimization and ensure your landing pages are effectively driving activation.
    • Leverage Data-Driven Insights. Use the data you gather to personalize your landing pages and tailor your messaging to resonate with each user’s unique needs and journey.

    Level Up Growth: Pages for the Expansion/Upsell Stage

    Your users are now familiar with your SaaS product and experiencing its value. The expansion/upsell stage presents an exciting opportunity to encourage upgrades, promote premium features, and cultivate long-term customer loyalty.

    Key Strategies for High-Converting Expansion Landing Pages

    Quantify Achieved Value

    • Highlight User Progress. Showcase user dashboards, progress reports, or data visualizations that demonstrate the tangible benefits they’ve achieved with your product.
    • Personalize Milestones. Identify critical moments within the user journey and trigger targeted landing pages highlighting relevant premium features that can enhance their progress.
    • Social Proof for Premium Users. Feature testimonials and success stories from users who have upgraded to premium plans showcasing the additional value they unlocked.

    Introduce Premium Features

    • Clearly Communicate Benefits. Don’t just list features; focus on how they solve specific pain points, unlock new capabilities, and accelerate user goals.
    • Personalized Feature Recommendations. Based on user data and activity, suggest relevant premium features directly addressing their needs and aspirations.

    Motivate Upgrade Action

    • Limited-Time Offers. Trigger scarcity and urgency with limited-time discounts, exclusive bundles, or early access opportunities for premium plans.
    • Frictionless Upgrade Flow. Make the upgrade process as simple and seamless as possible with clear CTAs, minimal fields, and secure payment options.
    • Support. Offer readily available support to address users’ questions or concerns during the upgrade process.

    Key Tips for Conversion Stage Pages

    • Maintain Trust and Transparency. Communicate the value proposition of each plan and avoid misleading tactics. 
    • Social Proof Markers. These can do the talking for you. Focus on building long-term customer relationships based on trust and mutual benefit.

    By implementing these best practices, you can craft upsell landing pages that effectively showcase the enhanced value of premium plans, motivate users to upgrade, and unlock the full potential of your existing customer base. 

    Moving Ahead with Best Practices for SaaS Landing Pages 2024

    This year, 2024, promises to be challenging for SaaS companies. However, don’t forget that challenge means opportunity for those who keep current and keep moving! 

    We hope these tips help you implement some best practices for SaaS landing pages in 2024 that are free of jargon, clutter, and distractions.

    If you want to know where to start improving, testing, and optimizing your SaaS landing pages, Funnel Envy can help. We have used AI tools long before the ChatGTP era and are experts in new integration and possibilities. You don’t have to do this alone. Reach out today to get started.

    By |2025-05-12T04:37:12-07:00February 19th, 2024|Full-Funnel Optimization|0 Comments

    Powering On-Page SEO and PPC to Boost SaaS Website Traffic

    The rise of AI set off a series of shockwaves in the SEO services industry while handing Google the first serious threat in years to its preeminence. In response, the search and web ads giant is revamping its search engine results page (SERP).

    Many companies are re-evaluating their marketing strategies, from social media marketing to SaaS SEO strategy. From this point on, it will be all the more essential to acknowledge Google’s changes and the role of AI in powering on-page search engine optimization (SEO) and Pay-per-click (PPC) ads to boost SaaS website traffic.

    Google’s New SERP and Search Generative Experience (SGE) 

    Google’s new AI search experience, Google Search Generative Experience (SGE), integrates AI into the SERP. Instead of offering organic search results and featured snippets above the fold, organic results are further down the page and may impact non-paid search traffic and click-through rates.

    While changes are still in play, the upshot for SaaS businesses is that Google’s search results pages will probably send less direct traffic to websites. At the same time, increased use of AI in an already competitive space will likely drive up keyword and ad prices.

    Let’s look at an update.

    What is On-Page SEO?

    On-page SEO refers to optimizing elements on a website to improve its visibility, technical performance, and ranking in search engine results. On-page SEO now leverages AI tools for optimizing keywords, content relevance, and enhancing user experience.

    Improving On-Page Search Rankings 

    With so much pressure to adapt to an AI marketing strategy, it can feel overwhelming where to start. A good strategy is to focus on shoring up the SEO basics, starting with technical SEO. The good thing about technical SEO techniques is that they give marketers a checklist of specific actions to improve SEO.

    Technical SEO checklist for better search engine rankings

    Technical SEO focuses on improving a website’s speed, security, mobile-friendliness, and user experience. Here are a few website elements that search engine bots evaluate:

    1. Positive user experience: A positive user experience can lead to better search engine rankings; a poor user experience can negatively impact SEO efforts.
    1. SaaS Content optimization: Optimizing content for organic traffic from specific search engines can help you rank higher in search results.
    2. Canonicalization: This technical SEO approach involves choosing a preferred URL for a website’s content to avoid duplicate content issues, which can harm search engine rankings.
    3. Mobile-friendliness: Good mobile UX is a ranking signal on most search engines, including Google and Bing. Mobile-friendly sites will show up higher in search results.
    1. Page speed: Page and site speed are primary considerations for search engines. A technical SEO audit can help pinpoint where to improve on-page optimization.
    2. Crawling and indexing: When search engines can crawl your website easily and quickly, it leads to better indexing and ranking of your website in search engine results pages (SERPs). Create XML sitemaps, use formatting and correct url structure to help search engines quickly glean and index content.

    With an optimized on-page experience, your pay-per-click conversions should improve, too. Let’s go over some basics.

    Effective SaaS Content Marketing and SEO

    Content marketing is essential to online marketing efforts. Here are some tips for building strategies and creating content to fuel SaaS growth.

    • Design a content strategy with high-quality content conforming to Google’s EEAT framework.
    • Content creation should include blog posts, guides, webinars, and a case study of your ideal client’s success. Produce an “ultimate guide” of informative content addressing your target audience’s common questions. Be intentional about link building and internal links.
    • Optimize content for users and search engines: Use relevant keywords naturally throughout your content in meta tags, title tags, and meta descriptions. Ensure content is well-structured and easy to read. Avoid keyword stuffing. 
    • Promote content across channels: Besides internal linking, share your content on social media, guest blog on industry websites, share case studies, and utilize email marketing to reach a wider audience.

    What is PPC? 

    PPC is a digital advertising model that drives paid website traffic. Instead of free organic traffic, advertisers pay a fee each time someone clicks one of their ads. PPC strategies are evolving to leverage AI’s ability to analyze large data sets for precise targeting and bid management. 

    AI and PPC Marketing – Good and Bad News

    AI makes some things harder even as it helps with other tasks. Keyword strategies are what fuel PPC marketing. The bad news is that AI is fueling more keyword competition, which drives costs. The good news is that all marketers can access new tools to help improve targeting, ad copy, and ad campaign efficiency. 

    PPC Strategies: Keyword Ideas for Targeting High-Intent Buyers

    Different keywords map the buyer persona’s different awareness stages in the marketing funnel. Organizing content topics and long-tail keywords around search intent is a simple way to organize your approach.

    SaaS SEO and PPC

    Source: Penheel Marketing

    Using Google Ads for High-Buying Intent Terms

    By carefully selecting keywords and terms that prospective customers use when they’re ready to buy, a SaaS company or SEO agency can position your ads to capture this valuable audience. 

    Generally, it’s more cost-effective to run paid ads in the transactional phase of awareness when the prospect is highly intent to purchase. Use high-intent seed keywords within keyword phrases to attract users ready to pull out their credit cards. Examples include words such as buy, price, deals, and shipping. 

    Focusing on targeting and personalization is critical if your goal is to maximize ROI with targeted PPC campaigns. If you’re thinking that this can get complicated, you are right. Funnel Envy can help.

    SaaS SEO and PPC Best Practices in 2024

    On-page SEO and PPC can increase website traffic, but each has different strengths. SEO primes long-term growth, and PPC provides an immediate impact.

    The magic balance? Combine them both! Use PPC data for SEO targeting, optimize both channels’ landing pages, and leverage PPC boosts for new content.

    Here are the best practices to use as a PPC and SaaS SEO guide in 2024. These suggestions are prioritized from most important to least important. Every business differs, so you should adjust based on your marketing and customer acquisition goals.

    • Align goals: Ensure both efforts support shared objectives and use data from each to inform the other.
    • Optimize for user intent: Conduct thorough keyword research and create content for targeted landing pages.
    • Prioritize mobile experience: Design and optimize for mobile users and address technical SEO issues.
    • Focus on quality content: Create engaging SEO content and compelling ad copy for PPC. Make sure your blog includes high-quality backlinks.
    • Utilize data and analytics: Track performance with tools like Google Analytics. Conduct A/B tests and iterate strategies.

    Landing Pages

    On-page SEO and PPC for SaaS landing pages deserve special mention. At the landing page level, develop targeted landing pages for each PPC campaign and SEO keyword cluster to match the specific user intent behind the search query. 

    Focus on a clear value proposition and concise copy highlighting the benefits of your SaaS solution and addressing user pain points. Finally, optimize for conversions with an intuitive user experience, clear calls to action, and fast page load times.

    On-page SEO and PPC Strategies: Drive Qualified Traffic

    With best practices guiding your overall plan, here are some specific strategies.

    Keyword Strategy, Research, and Targeting

    Organize target keywords by intent and customer journey. Use a broad keyword list to cover general industry searches, niche keywords to target specific stages, and branded keywords to capture users already aware of your brand.

    Analyze competitor’s SEO and PPC for keyword ranking factors. Identify high-performing keywords and leverage them in your campaigns while finding gaps and targeting underserved niches.

    Research seasonal and trending topics. Tailor your keyword usage to current industry trends and seasonal events to capture timely traffic.

    Leveraging PPC for Qualified Traffic

    All traffic is not created equal. Besides converting sales, another benefit of PPC is it can help you qualify your website traffic. Here are some ideas: 

    • Smart bidding strategies: Utilize automated bidding options like target CPA or ROAS to optimize ad spend and focus on conversions.
    • Retargeting campaigns: Target website visitors who haven’t converted yet with relevant ads reminding them of your product.
    • Dynamic search ads: Automatically generate ads based on your website content, ensuring relevance to user searches.
    • Experiment with different ad formats: Test video, image, and carousel ads to see what resonates best with your target audience.
    • Track and analyze data: Regularly monitor the performance of your SEO and PPC campaigns, using insights to adjust strategies and optimize for better results.

    Remember that building a successful SaaS SEO and PPC strategy is ongoing. Experiment, test, and refine your approach based on data to attract qualified traffic and convert visitors into paying customers.

    Moving Ahead with On-Page SEO and PPC

    Anyone in the business can tell you digital marketing wasn’t easy even before AI. While AI tools are opening up significant advantages, they are also introducing new challenges, not to mention a considerable learning curve.

    If you are wondering where to start with on-page SEO and PPC to boost your SaaS website traffic, Funnel Envy can help. We have used AI tools before the ChatGTP era and are experts in new integration and possibilities. You don’t have to do this alone. Reach out today to get started.

    By |2025-05-12T04:37:11-07:00February 5th, 2024|Full-Funnel Optimization|0 Comments

    2024 B2B SaaS Buyer Preferences: Human-Centric Digital Experiences over Sales Calls

    Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence is the big news for B2B SaaS marketing and sales in 2024. Yet while generative AI is transforming B2B SaaS marketing, the other big news is not about tech disruption but about people – specifically about the sales experience buyers want now.

    The sales process, in particular, is undergoing a transformative shift. We’ll go over some research about what modern SaaS buyers are looking for in the sales experience. 

    First of all, though, you should revisit the difference between sales and marketing before you revamp your strategies. Many teams understand this, but it can also be confusing because the rise of “growth marketing” may blur the line between marketing and sales.

    B2B SaaS Marketing vs.Sales

    Gary Vee, mega influencer and Vayner Media’s CEO has talked about authenticity and consistency as the key to audience engagement for several years. Digital super-marketer Neil Patel’s recent email to his million-plus subscribers said brand authenticity and consistency are critical for 2024. 

    Forbes echoes these thoughts, pointing out that B2B brands create interconnected experiences to differentiate themselves in 2024. Experiences such as virtual reality product demos, interactive webinars, and personalized online journeys can enrich a digital-first sales process. 

    Additional B2B Digital Marketing Trends for 2024 Include: 

    • Using artificial intelligence (AI)
    • Video marketing, especially short-form videos
    • Automation to speed up time-consuming tasks
    • Authentic marketing
    • Personalizing the audience’s experience
    • Focusing on sustainability marketing

    How should brands hit the ground running with these trends? The first step is to clarify marketing vs. sales. A lot of content online offers tips on marketing strategy alongside sales advice without clarifying the difference. This lack of clarity can lead to feeling overwhelmed or pushing on the right actions at the wrong time.

    Marketing creates awareness to attract and educate potential customers. The goal is to generate interest in the product through content marketing (like social media and blogs), SEO, and digital advertising.

    Some B2B SaaS businesses contract with marketing agencies to create marketing strategies. To develop these marketing plans, the marketing agency focuses on SaaS trends and the customer journey. 

    The sales function truly begins when the marketing funnel increases demand generation. Sales converts prospects to paying clients by understanding the prospect and personalizing their journey. Yet, regarding engaging in sales conversations, recent research shows that most buyers no longer want to talk to salespeople. 

    This post focuses on solutions to help sales update SaaS sales processes and where to optimize to increase customer acquisition in a world where buyers prefer seamless digital experiences over in-person calls.

    A Shift Towards Digital Engagement over Traditional Sales Interactions

    Safe money suggests that AI and automation will scale the processes that fuel sales and revenue growth in the future.

    2024 B2B SaaS Buyer Preferences

    Source: Garnter, The Future of Sales: Digital-First Sales Transformation Strategies

    Gartner’s B2B buyer preference research found that 75% of B2B buyers prefer a rep-free sales experience. Share on X

    Buyers today prefer to explore options, compare solutions, and make decisions without engaging with a salesperson. This shift reflects a broader trend in the digital transformation of business operations and the growing comfort of buyers with online transactions.

    Digital marketing funnels are second nature to the SaaS industry. SaaS products naturally lend themselves to a digital sales approach. The opportunity for developing a competitive advantage lies in Gartner’s finding that buyers purchasing via self-service channels are far more likely to regret the purchase.

    Focusing on customer retention via optimizing human-centric digital experiences is critical. Let’s look at some practical steps teams can consider. 

    How to Reduce B2B Sales Friction in the Digital Journey

    In simplifying the digital sales process, the goal is a user experience that is as frictionless as possible, enabling buyers to find information, evaluate solutions, and make purchasing decisions easily. Here are three ways to do that:

    Streamlined Website Navigation and User Interface

    Design your website with straightforward, intuitive navigation and a user-friendly interface. Frustrating websites are an automatic turn-off. 

    Responsive Websites

    Invest in technology that helps you serve personalized content to visitors based on their actions. This content improves the user’s experience, increases conversions, and builds trust. If you have questions about how this works, we can help.

    Interactive Chatbots 

    AI-powered chatbots on your website that can provide immediate, 24/7 assistance to visitors. The key is to ensure a high-quality interaction. We’ve all had the experience where the chatbot was more frustrating than helpful.

    Navigating this shift towards a more digital-centric sales process takes time and effort. It requires not only an understanding of technology but also of the changing dynamics of B2B buyer behavior. 

    Creating Human-Centric Digital Experiences

    As digital interactions become the norm, the challenge for B2B SaaS companies is to create interactions that mimic authentic and engaging in-person experiences. Designing digital touchpoints that resonate with emotions is a great start. 

    It’s easy to see that social media is the perfect vehicle for emotionally resonant content. It’s about connecting with the buyer, understanding their needs, and building relationships. 

    However, social media is usually more influential during awareness and discovery. For the sales funnel, here are some ways you can optimize content:

    Personalized Video Messaging

    A personalized video message can convey warmth, sincerity, and a genuine interest in solving the client’s problems.

    Interactive Webinars and Virtual Product Demos 

    Webinars can be an excellent stand-in for prospects who want to avoid 1:1 sales calls. Host webinars or virtual product demos that are informative and interactive, giving sales representatives a chance to talk with prospects and answer questions.

    Tailored content and recommendations

    Use data analytics and AI to understand your prospects’ interests and behaviors. 

    Technology plays a pivotal role in crafting these human-centric digital experiences. You can use advanced analytics, AI, and machine learning to understand buyer behavior and preferences, allowing for more personalized and relevant interactions. 

    Create a personalized website experience where visitors see content based on their customer journey. Not sure how you can make all that happen? No problem, we’re here to help. 

    The Role of Self-Service in SaaS Sales

    SaaS products have a natural alignment with self-service sales. From free trials to subscriptions, SaaS prospects often look for a quick way to try and purchase products. 

    With buyers now looking for more self-service options, the information-gathering segment of their journey is a logical place to optimize and stand out. 

    Here are two suggestions:

    Comprehensive Knowledge Bases and Resource Centers

    Develop a thorough knowledge base or resource center easily accessible on the website. This resource should include detailed FAQs, how-to guides, tutorials, and case studies.

    Interactive Product Tours 

    Interactive product tours allow prospects to explore the features and functionalities of the SaaS product at their own pace. These could include virtual walkthroughs, interactive demos, or customizable feature explorers.

    Moving Ahead in 2024 with B2B SaaS Buyer Preferences

    The future of B2B SaaS sales will reveal rich digital interactions, personalized experiences, emotional touchpoints, and seamless self-service options. Companies can increase profits by creating more effective, efficient, and customer-centric sales processes focusing on these areas.

    We know that implementing a digital-first landscape can be challenging. Funnel Envy specializes in helping B2B SaaS companies adapt to these changes. We know you have unique concerns and are here to help you. Reach out today to get the conversation started.

    By |2025-05-12T04:37:11-07:00January 8th, 2024|Full-Funnel Optimization|0 Comments

    How SaaS companies should approach pricing pages

    Pricing can be controversial in many sectors of the business community, partly due to the general human attitude towards money. According to research by Wells Fargo, 44% of Americans find talking about money more difficult than other serious topics, including politics, religion, and even death. And while it’s easier to talk money in a business context, you’d be surprised how many people are still somewhat sensitive to budget discussions in the B2B realm.

    That’s why it can be challenging for startups to address pricing pages properly. Your pricing page is like an online version of a conversation about cost with a sales rep. When done correctly, it can add value to the buyer’s journey and nurture clients toward choosing the most profitable options. Or it could repel prospects if the pricing page poorly conveys value.

    Your pricing page is like an online version of a conversation about cost with a sales rep. Share on X

    Software pricing can be particularly complex because of its nature. There is no physical product or anything to put in a client’s hand. They don’t receive a box or envelope in the mail. Yet the right business software can be exponentially more valuable than any physical package or equipment.

    If you’re a software company or similar startup looking to nail your pricing page, this post will provide some general strategies you can apply to your funnel, no matter what kind of service or product you offer.

    Presentation is Key

    The way you present different pricing options greatly influences how site visitors perceive your pricing. Consider how a restaurant might have prices on its drive-thru menu or a movie theater would set concession prices. These examples are consumer-based, but the lesson is the same: juxtaposing the cost of your desired option with more and less expensive options can help nudge prospects down the desired path.

    Consider the movie theater example. You might be offered a small popcorn for $4.00, medium for $5.75, and large for $6.50. Even if you originally wanted a medium, looking at the relatively small cost difference between the large and medium, you’re more likely to spring for the large.

    This hypothetical is just one example: we frequently see strategies involving color, shape, and page placement. Think about the many pricing or subscription pages you’ve viewed over time, and you’ll probably be able to come up with a few ideas or devices that worked exceptionally well. 

    Another significant concern with the presentation on your pricing page is how you’ll discuss the particular features and benefits mentioned. Typically, this is where software companies might tout their most crucial features or ones that differentiate them from competitors in the field. You may also consider offering a different pricing structure for those companies willing to pay a larger percentage upfront using something like a quarterly payment plan. Remember the old marketing adage here: benefits are more important than features. It’s nice to say what something does, but it’s even better to say what kind of result it will create for the buyer or their organization.

    Experiment With CTAs

    Calls to action (or CTAs) are vital because they represent the bridge from your pricing page to a prospect converting into a client. You can change many different options here, including these:

    • Copy. The specific words you use for your CTA can have an impact on how well you’re able to convert page visitors into clients. Use specific action verbs whenever possible, but don’t make them too long.
    • CTA shapes. The classic option is a rectangular button – you’ve probably seen the type frequently. Some brands might incorporate ovals, squares, or a more uncommon shape to stand out and catch a visitor’s eye.
    • Colors. The colors you choose for the background, CTA elements, and text will always influence a visitor’s decision to convert. We’ve used color psychology for decades in pricing strategies for all different kinds of companies, both B2B and B2C. For example, blue is associated with trust and safety, while orange is considered aggressive and active.

    Make sure that you track pricing page data as you experiment with different CTAs so that it’s clear which ones are moving the needle regarding conversions.

    Lean Towards Simplicity

    Many software startups provide a relatively complex digital tool for clients, whether because of regulatory concerns or industrial standards. For example, healthcare software companies may have to include an extra layer of security or encryption for HIPAA-related concerns. Manufacturing software providers might need to ensure their clients meet ISO or ANSI standards created for their field.

    Even if your software falls into this category, distilling it into the simplest possible terms on your pricing page is meaningful. Whenever possible, have a bias towards fewer options and elements. This idea holds if you want to optimize your existing pricing page or alter your pricing strategy to include a new tier. Whatever new elements you are thinking about adding, be sure they are necessary to add more context to your page visitor or help get them closer to making the best decision for business purposes.

    White space is a common design tool startups use in anything from pricing pages to content assets to landing pages. White space can help your pricing page maintain a smooth, clean look and contribute to improved readability – an important element to help visitors learn about your offering and understand why it’s worth the asking price.

    Final Thoughts on Pricing Pages

    You don’t want to take an “old school” approach to pricing where it’s hard to access or requires a visitor to offer their email address or phone number. Today’s buyer – especially in the B2B software field – is looking for valuable information as quickly as possible. 

    On the other hand, you don’t want to provide pricing for your product or service immediately on your website before you can add sufficient context. Doing this may be just as off-putting to a visitor as excessively guarding your pricing tiers and strategies. 

    Instead, your pricing page needs to land somewhere in the middle: you have to offer enough details to give visitors the information they need and allow them to determine whether or not their budget fits your asking price, but not so many details that it causes questions about the worth of what you’re offering.

    Finding this balance between informative and simplistic can be tricky if you’ve never created one before. It will take a fair amount of trial and error to determine how exactly to seek this balance for your business, your specific offering, and the kind of people you want as clients.

    One of the best ways to help speed up optimizing your pricing page is to seek help from experts who’ve done it before. Our team at FunnelEnvy has years of experience working with clients with all types of pricing pages, from complex tiered subscription models to straightforward lifetime license plans. We can help ensure your pricing page has all the elements needed to maximize conversions without any wasted space. Just fill out this quick form to make sure we are a good fit and learn more about what we offer.

    By |2025-05-12T04:37:07-07:00August 7th, 2023|Conversion Rate Optimization|0 Comments

    FunnelEnvy Personalization Without Rules

    Dictionary.com defines personalization as:
    “to design or tailor to meet an individual’s specifications, needs, or preferences:”

    Yet, little about personalization as it’s currently touted in mar-tech is actually personalized to an individual’s needs & preferences. Instead of serving the optimized experiences for each individual, customers are merely getting segmented into audiences based on predefined rules.

    Putting visitors into segmented audience groups is not personalization.

    While serving one of five eBooks based on industry is likely improvement over a static site, it’s far off from personalized.

    At FunnelEnvy, we define this approach to optimization as rules-based personalization. Let’s compare this to FunnelEnvy’s personalization without rules.

    FunnelEnvy enables experiences that are personalized without rules.

    Instead of having pre-defined audiences, FunnelEnvy evaluates each visitor and interaction on a 1:1 basis to determine optimized experiences. Our AI based platform is continuously gathering data and self-improving to ensure every touch is optimized for revenue.

    The optimized experience that’s served is often completely different than what a rules-based approach, that is void of any relevant customer context, would serve. The reality is that while marketers can do their best to match an audience to an experience, an AI approach that’s not limited by audiences will almost always outperform a human.

    Example to illustrate the between rules-based personalization and FunnelEnvy.

    Let’s say you own a Fin-tech company that currently has two eBooks to offer potential customers:

    A: ‘10 tips for reducing costs’
    B: ‘How to maximize your website for growth’

    Now let’s say there are three people that visit your website.

    Steve: Works at 10 person chatbot startup
    John: Works at 2000 person regional clothing company
    Tom: Works at 10000 person multinational shipping company

    How Rules-Based Personalization handles the visitors:

    With a rules-based approach, you decide to create two predefined audiences. You think that companies under 1,000 employees should see one experience, while those above 1,000 should see another.

    With the two segments defined:
    Steve would see the eBook “10 tips for reducing costs”
    John and Tom would see “How to maximize your website for growth”

    After running this experiment you find:
    Steve – Bought your product.
    Tom – Bought your product.
    John – Did Not buy your product.

    How FunnelEnvy Personalization handles the visitors:

    FunnelEnvy analyzes many traits about the three visitors including:
    Evaluating historical data of similar companies to those of Tom, John, and Steve
    Looking at Salesforce data to look how other individuals in similar funnel position
    Evaluating the Behavior of the three individuals on your website.
    Much more…

    After analyzing all this available data in real time, FunnelEnvy decides that:
    Steve would see the eBook “10 tips for reducing costs”
    John and Tom would see “How to maximize your website for growth”

    There is no predefined audience based on company size, as the AI determines simply picks the experience that will most likely lead to revenue.

    After running this experiment you find:
    Steve – Bought your product.
    Tom – Bought your product.
    John – Bought your product.

    As we can see from this example, having a fluid system that can bring in data and evaluate optimized experiences on a 1:1 basis outperforms a predefined and stagnant audience approach. If you are serious about optimizing your website for revenue, consider the advantages of FunnelEnvy’s AI-based approach vs a rules-based one.

    By |2025-05-12T04:36:45-07:00April 20th, 2018|Full-Funnel Optimization|0 Comments
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