Bootstrapping to 100 Customers + SaaS Best Practices
Transcript of Bootstrapping to 100 Customers + SaaS Best Practices
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
Bootstrapping to 100+
SaaS Best Practices
Sahil ParikhFounder, DeskAway
Author, The SaaS Edge
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
What type of business to build?product
recurring revenueself-service
Scalableglobal teams, smbs
can run from anywhere= SAAS
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
First 6 months = 0 customersMistakes…
#1 offline strategies to build online biz
#2 Indian customers = hand holding, presentations, demos, negotiations
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
Bootstrapping to 100(pre social media era)
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
Bootstrapping to 100Free Accounts
Proto Event
Blog Comments (GAlerts, Feedrinse)
Forums (LinkedIn)
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
(cont) Bootstrapping to 100Viral Loop
** Blog Reviews **
Writing – get people on your side
We hit 100 customers in Sept 2008
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
How we acquire customers today23% Direct (Social Media)
32% Search
45% Referring Sites (Blogs etc.)
“Make it easy for people to find you”
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
Recommendation AgeParticipate on social networks via
keywords. Listen & respond.
Save keywords via twitter search.
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
People still search for…“best project management tool”
“alternative to basecamp”
“free project collaboration app”
“review of project management apps”
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
SaaS Best PracticesStuff I learnt over the years…
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
1. Start Smallkeep it simple and focused more features != success
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
2: Early Feedback100 free accounts
Fix bugs, pitch and vision
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
3: Slim Teamwear multiple hats
dev, design, marketing, support
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
4: User Interfacesleek, crisp, sexy
people like it if it feels good
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
5: Charge Earlybreak-even/ profitable
learn why people don’t pay
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
6: WOM Onlinereduce CAC
social media, SEO, email, blogsbuild an email list early-on
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
7: Let others work for youbuild an affiliate program
1 to many is better than 1 to 1
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
8: Metrics Matterbeauty of a web business
traffic to site, signups, conversions, churn, renewals,
advance segments.
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
9: Manage the funnelDo you have a leaky bucket?
Forentrepreneurs.com has great content on this subject
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
10: Hire your English teacher blog writing, help faqs, online
community management, customer service and outreach
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
11: Who loves you?
Testimonials, stories, videoscomfort visitors with success
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
12: Say no to features“It comes from saying no to 1,000 things to make sure we don’t get
on the wrong track or try to do too much”
- Steve Jobs
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
13: Don’t make everyone happy“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to
please everybody.”
- Bill Cosby
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
14: DevelopersDo not hire web developers from
the service era. Hire real programmers, hackers who love
to build shit.
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
15: Managed HostingGet managed hosting. Let the
experts take care of your infrastructure. Focus on the
software & user exp.
Bootstrapping to 100 + SaaS Best Practices / @sahilparikh / TiE SiG / Mumbai
the good stuff…
BVP SaaS Pagehttp://www.bvp.com/saas/
Thank you!