7 Common SaaS Mistakes You Ought Avoid

The Software as a Service (SaaS) business is growing fast in the tech space. SaaS essentially refers to a software service that can be accessed via a browser or a web app. It has pretty much grown in tandem with the changing consumer trends in the tech space. In fact, it is estimated that the SaaS market has grown by a whopping 500% in the last decade. In other words, it is the right time to jump onto the bandwagon if you are looking to start or invest in a software as a service business. That said, just like any business, there is a thin line between a risk and a mistake as a SaaS entrepreneur. Of course, you don’t want to make any common mistakes that could cost you all your hard work. We have compiled some of the common SaaS mistakes you ought to avoid as a SaaS entrepreneur.

Overlooking user onboarding

Your business will not go far if your clients have difficulty interacting with your product. Remember, you only have a few minutes to prove to your clients that you won’t waste their time. It wouldn’t be a great idea to rely solely on your sales reps and your marketing team to show your clients how the product works. The best way to address this predicament would be to consider incorporating an onboarding solution. User onboarding takes the load off your in-house team’s shoulders and guarantees your audience will adopt your products effortlessly.

Lack of a vision

Every participant in a marathon runs the race with the finishing line in mind. In this case, the finishing line symbolizes your vision, which boosts employee morale and gives them a reason to put their best foot forward. Your company vision also helps you get back on track when you go astray. When defining your company vision, it would help to consider your goals, core values, and the specific timelines within which you expect to achieve your goals. We also advise you to be precise and realistic when creating your company vision.

Inadequate attention to customer service

Consumers in this modern day and age get frustrated pretty quickly. If they can't get the answers they are looking for; they will turn elsewhere. Therefore, it would be wise to keep customer support at the top of your priorities, no matter how good you think your SaaS is going. If you are working with a tight budget, we suggest you create a FAQ page on your website and include a support email address in case a potential client requires further clarification. You could also opt for self-help channels if you cannot afford to hire a fully-fledged support team to respond to clients.

Not seeking help

Your SaaS startup might not have the resources to hire an extensive in-house team. These financial constraints give larger corporations an upper hand over startups struggling to gain a foothold in the market. Outsourcing levels the playing field by granting small businesses access to top-tier talent and technology without the hassle of going through tedious interviewing and recruitment processes. For instance, since IT is a crucial department in your business, you could consider outsourcing IT support instead of hiring an entire IT department. An added advantage of outsourcing IT support is that your external team can work remotely from anywhere in the world.

Inappropriate company culture

A bad work environment is a breeding ground for failure. Your employees will not thrive and add value to your company if they don’t feel valued, listened to, and appreciated. Therefore, it would be wise to dig deeper within yourself and determine whether the company culture leaves much to be desired. If you are unhappy with your findings, we suggest you make the work environment a good place to be and boost employee morale. Once you amend the company culture, you will notice that everything else will fall into place.

Lack of transparency

A robust online presence is critical for the success of your business. Business owners have taken this fact seriously and done everything they can to create polished websites with accurate information about what they do. However, nothing revolts a potential client more than a lack of transparency on your website. Clients who cannot deduce the pricing options from the get-go won't want to do business with you. Therefore, avoiding the trend of hidden pricing and embracing transparency would be wise.

Wrapping up

Since everyone makes mistakes in business, the best way forward is to wake up, shake the dust off and learn from your mistakes. However, a wise man once said that you are better off learning from other people’s mistakes.