You want to launch a Software as a Service – AKA a SaaS – but you don’t really know how to start? In this article, we will see which elements should you prioritize for long-term success and how to avoid mistakes. We will share with you the top 7 things to know before launching your SaaS.

Rapid growth of the SaaS industry over the past few years.

A rapid growth means an increasing number of entrepreneurs who are eager to jump into the SaaS world. However, starting a SaaS business is not an easy task, and there are several essential factors to consider before diving in.

So, here are the top 7 things you should know before launching your SaaS project.

Market Research and Validation for launching a SaaS

The first important step is to conduct thorough market research and validate your product idea. Understand the demand to solve the pain your software will tackle, identify your target audience, and analyze the competition. 

We can recommend to you CB Insights and Gartner to help you with market research and competitive analysis. To measure the needs and pain points of your potential customers, surveys and interviews will be helpful. 

Go talk to your target: events, direct mailing, contact on LinkedIn. The better you know their pains, the best your SaaS will be.

Ensure that your software addresses a real problem and offers a viable solution.

Developing a Solid Business Model for a SaaS

Furthermore, a solid business model is the heart of any successful SaaS business.

For a solid business that is both profitable and sustainable in the long run, here are some elements you need to take in count:

• Who is the target audience I want to attract?
• What is your value proposition? What differentiates you from current solutions for your users?
• Which partners can help you distribute your SaaS to your target audience?
• What will be your revenue model? What type of value will you sell to your customers?

Choosing the Right Technology Stack before to build your SaaS

Selecting the right technology stack for your SaaS business is another key point that is critical for long-term success. It is important to make a list of technical requirements for your project, such as features, functionalities, hardware, and software requirements.

Opt for a scalable and flexible infrastructure. Selecting the right database for your project is an important decision that can have a significant impact on its success. Consider aspects like security, performance, and ease of integration with other tools and systems when choosing your technology stack.

No-code solutions can be interesting to create a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) but we recommend jumping to custom development as soon as you validate your idea and find the first clients. The minimum time spends in a temporary solution, the best.

Exceptional User Experience

The success of a SaaS product is due in part thanks to the user experience (UX).
What kind of design is strategic to implement? A well-known and easy interface. Don’t try to be too original. Look at the other applications used by our audience and copy their UX (if it’s good of course!). Your users need to feel like at home.

The time and resources dedicated into creating an intuitive, user-friendly interface that responds to your customers’ needs is not wasted! 

Security and Compliance

Today, there is an important increase in cyber threats, that’s why ensuring the security of your SaaS application is crucial. Indeed, your users will input a huge amount of data on your product. They don’t want their data publicly published all over the Internet.
To protect your customers’ data, implement strong security measures, like encryption and multifactor authentication. People like to deal with tools they can trust in.
Additionally, train yourself with relevant compliance standards, like GDPR.

Customer Support and Success of your new SaaS

You want to keep your users and grow your community? Providing exceptional customer support is essential. Develop a comprehensive customer success strategy that includes onboarding, training, and ongoing support. Implement multiple support channels, like email, live chat, and help centers, to provide to your customers their favorite communication methods.

For example, here are some tools we can recommend:

• Create powerful product tours with Eyelet.io
• Add a live chat to your SaaS using Tawk.to
• Feedback board and suggest new functionalities to your roadmap via Nolt.io

Marketing and Promotion of your SaaS

Last but not least, create a well-defined marketing strategy to reach your target audience and generate interest in your software. Utilize various marketing channels, such as content marketing, social media, email campaigns, and paid advertising, to drive traffic and conversions. To optimize results, continuously monitor the results of your marketing operations and adjust your strategy as needed.

Here are some channels you can use to promote a SaaS:

• Publish your SaaS on platforms like ProductHunt, StartupList.be, AppSumo.com.
• Write articles about your customer’s pains and show them how your product can solve them.
• Offer free or sponsored lectures to companies where your users are: professional federation, coworking space, incubators, etc.
• Join niche groups on social media.

The challenges of the SaaS industry

By considering these 7 crucial things to know before launching your SaaS, you’ll be better prepared to steer the challenges of the SaaS industry and set your business on the path to success. Good luck on this interesting journey!

Lastly, if you want additional information about SaaS do not hesitate to read our previous article on 5 SaaS ideas to launch in 2023 to make passive income.

If you are eager to discover a SaaS example created in Belgium, have a look at our project dedicated to facilitating incident reports in buildings: FaciliTag.com.