Common errors to avoid when launching a SaaS product.

Hey everyone, it's Matt here! Surprise, surprise!

Today, I want to talk about a topic that's crucial for any SaaS B2B founder: launching your product.?

Launching a SaaS product can be a daunting task, but with a little bit of planning and strategy, you can set yourself up for success.

Unfortunately, many founders make common mistakes that can derail their launch and hurt their chances of success. Here are some of the most common errors to avoid when launching a SaaS product:

1. Not testing your product before launch.

"Not testing your product before launch? You mean some founders actually do that?"

Unfortunately, yes. This is actually a mistake that many SaaS founders make when launching their products. Not properly testing your product before launching it can lead to a variety of issues, such as bugs, usability problems, and even security vulnerabilities.

"Okay, I get it. Testing is important. But how do I even go about testing my product?"

Well, first things first, it's important to have a plan in place for how you will test your product. This might include things like creating a list of test cases, identifying the target audience for your product, and creating a timeline for when you will test each feature.

Once you have a plan in place, it's time to start testing. This might include things like conducting user interviews and usability tests, running automated tests, and even performing manual testing to ensure that your product is ready for launch.

By properly testing your product before launching it, you can save yourself a lot of headaches (and money) down the line. Trust us, it's worth the effort. And if you don't, you might end up having to search for a bankruptcy lawyer instead. But hey, at least you'll be the expert on how NOT to launch a product! (I smell a digital course in there somewhere, hmmm…)

2. Not having a clear value proposition.?

"Not having a clear value proposition? That's like trying to sell a car with the main selling point being that it has a steering wheel. Duh."

One common mistake that many founders make when launching a SaaS product is not having a clear value proposition. A value proposition is a statement that clearly communicates the benefits and unique features of your product. It's what sets your product apart from the competition and helps you win customers.

Without a clear value proposition, it can be difficult for potential customers to understand what makes your product different and why they should choose it over the competition. This can lead to low adoption rates and missed opportunities for growth.

To avoid this mistake, it's important to spend time researching and testing your value proposition before launching your product. This might include conducting customer surveys, focus groups, or A/B testing different messaging.

By taking the time to understand what makes your product valuable to your target customers, you'll be better equipped to craft a compelling value proposition that drives adoption and growth.

3. Not having a marketing plan.

"Marketing plans. Psh, I just spray and pray, baby."

This is a common mistake that many SaaS founders make when launching a new product. They spend all of their time and energy building the product, but they forget to think about how they're going to get it in front of the right people.

Without a marketing plan, you'll have no idea how to reach your target audience, what channels to use, or what messages to communicate. And even if you do manage to get some initial traction, you'll have no way to sustain it.

So, before you launch your SaaS product, make sure to put together a solid marketing plan. This should include things like your target audience, your value proposition, your messaging, and your go-to-market strategy.?

By taking the time to plan out your marketing efforts, you'll be much better equipped to get your product off the ground and achieve long-term success.

4. Not thinking about scalability.

"Not thinking about scalability? But my product is only for a niche market, so it doesn't matter."

Wrong!?

Even if your product is only targeting a small market at first, it's important to think about scalability from the start. If your product becomes a hit, you don't want to be caught off guard and unable to handle the demand. Plus, investors will want to see that you have a plan in place for scaling your business.

Imagine this scenario: your product is a hit and you're getting more and more customers every day.?

Great, right??

Not so fast.?

If you haven't thought about scalability, you might find yourself struggling to keep up with the demand, resulting in unhappy customers and lost sales.

On the other hand, if you have a clear plan in place for scaling your business, you'll be able to handle the demand and keep your customers happy. So, even if you're only targeting a small market at first, make sure to think about scalability from the start.

5. Not getting customer feedback.?

"Customers? What customers? I don't even know any customers yet. How am I supposed to get feedback from people that don’t exist?"

Well, it's never too early to start gathering customer feedback. In fact, it's essential to the success of your SaaS product. By getting feedback from potential customers during the development process, you can identify problems and make necessary adjustments before launch.

But here's the thing: not all customer feedback is created equal. It's important to seek out feedback from a diverse group of customers, including those who are likely to be your most loyal users and those who may be more critical. And once you have that feedback, it's important to actually listen to it and make changes based on it.

"Listen to customer feedback? But what if they don't like my product? Meh, I'll just ignore it and hope for the best."

Ignoring customer feedback is a recipe for disaster. Your customers are the ones who will be using your product day in and day out, so it's important to get their input and make sure your product is meeting their needs.?

Plus, by actively seeking out and incorporating customer feedback, you'll be able to build a product that's more likely to succeed in the long run.

So don't be afraid to ask for customer feedback and actually listen to what they have to say. It might just be the key to the success of your SaaS product.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can set yourself up for success when launching your SaaS product. And if you need any help along the way, don't hesitate to reach out to my team.? We're here to help you shortcut your journey from startup to unicorn.?

From raising capital to getting your product to market, we can take over all of the tedious things so that you can put a face to your brand and focus on your customers. So, don't wait, get in touch with us today and let's get your product launched!

Keep building,

Matt