My Three Key Takeaways from the Zoholics Canada.

Attending the Zoholics event for the last three days was an enlightening experience. The event was brimming with insights, but I'd like to share the top three lessons that resonated with me the most:

1. Niche Down to Master Your Market.

The first lesson is all about the power of specialization. If you want to excel in any industry truly, you need to narrow down your focus. This means selecting a specific niche or, as we technically term it, a 'vertical' and dedicating all your efforts towards it. A prime example of this is a company named BluRoot . They've been in business for nine years but found their true calling in the mortgage industry. By catering exclusively to this niche, they managed to sell over 1600 licenses. The lesson here? If you try to be everything to everyone, you end up being nothing to anyone. So, pick a niche, dedicate yourself to it, and watch the results roll in.

2. The Power of Exclusive Partnerships.

At the event, I engaged with numerous partners and observed a significant trend: those with exclusive partnerships consistently achieved greater success. While some partners maintained agreements with multiple platforms, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Dynamics, the ones who committed entirely to a single platform, be it Zoho or another provider, seemed to thrive more. Conventional wisdom, like the 80/20 rule, might advocate for allocating 80% of your efforts to a primary product and the remaining 20% to secondary ones. However, my observations indicate that a full commitment to a single platform offers superior outcomes. The essence isn't in diversifying partnerships but in fully committing to one and mastering it.

3. Reverse Product Marketing: A Game-Changer

Traditional marketing strategies might not always yield the desired results, especially for SaaS products. Instead, a reverse product marketing approach can be more beneficial. This involves introducing a new product to consumers to boost sign-ups for the main product. For instance, Zoho introduced 'Zoho Documents' and ended up acquiring 5 million free users. Many of these users, impressed with the product, transitioned to Zoho CRM. The takeaway? Instead of pouring money into direct marketing, think about launching products that can indirectly boost sales for your main product.

In conclusion, the Zoholics event was more than just an event; it was a treasure trove of knowledge. These lessons have reshaped my perspective, and I'm eager to implement them in my endeavours.

To all who attended, let's harness what we've learned and drive our businesses to new heights!

Chandrashekar LSP Ian Bruce Kevin Karthick