What to Look For When Hiring a SaaS Marketing Agency

When it comes to marketing your SaaS business, you have many different options. But one of the most important decisions you’ll make is choosing the right B2B SaaS marketing agency to help you achieve your goals. So how do you go about making that decision? Below we listed nine things to look for when hiring a SaaS marketing agency. But before that, let’s discuss some basic information first.

What is SaaS marketing?

SaaS marketing is a type of marketing used to promote software as a service. SaaS businesses offer subscription-based software products to their customers, so the growth marketing efforts for these businesses are focused on acquiring and retaining subscribers.

Check out this article to learn more: The Ultimate Guide To B2B SaaS Marketing

What is the role of a SaaS marketing agency?

The role of a SaaS marketing agency is to help you acquire and retain subscribers for your software as a service business. They will do this by creating and executing digital marketing campaigns designed to generate leads and convert them into customers. They can help you choose the marketing channel suitable for your business.

Many SaaS businesses may employ a B2B marketing firm to assist them in improving their brand positioning or acquisition model. They assume digital marketing efforts will be easy if they find the proper agency and that they will quickly be able to scale trials and demos with confidence.

However, the reality is not always so simple. It’s essential to find an agency that understands your unique needs and can develop a custom inbound marketing plan for you.

The 8 things to look for when hiring a SaaS marketing agency

Now that we have discussed what SaaS marketing is and the role of a SaaS marketing agency, let’s take a look at nine things you should consider when hiring one.

1. Experience

When hiring a SaaS marketing agency, you want to make sure that they have experience working with businesses in your industry. They should also be updated with the latest B2B SaaS marketing trends.

This way you can be sure that they understand your target market and the type of messaging that will resonate with them.

Necessary experiences you may need from a SaaS marketing agency partner are inbound marketing, outbound marketing, content marketing, content creation, lead generation, marketing automation, and email marketing.

To ensure a SaaS marketing agency has these experiences, you can ask for case studies or references from other companies in your industry that have worked with the SaaS marketing company before. This will give you a good idea of whether or not they are a good fit for you.

2. Services Offered

When you’re looking for a SaaS marketing agency, you want to make sure that they offer the services that you need. Not all agencies offer the same services, so you’ll want to ensure that the ones you choose offer a wide range of services that can help you reach your marketing goals.

Some of the services that a SaaS marketing agency should offer include:

• Market research
• Branding and positioning
• Lead generation
• Conversion optimization
• Customer retention
• SaaS content marketing
• SaaS Product marketing
• Inbound marketing
• Social media marketing

3. Pricing

When it comes to pricing, you’ll want to make sure that you find a SaaS content marketing agency or an SEO agency that offers a pricing model that fits your budget and meets your needs. There are a variety of pricing models that agencies use as follows:

• Hourly: This is the most common pricing model, and agencies usually charge between $75 and $150 per hour.
• Project-based: Agencies that use this pricing model typically charge a flat fee for projects, ranging from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
• Monthly retainer: Agencies that use this pricing model usually charge a monthly fee for their services, ranging from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

4. Company Size

When it comes to company size, you’ll want to make sure that you choose an agency that is the right size for your business. You don’t want to choose an agency that is too small and won’t be able to provide the services you need or an agency that is too big and will charge you more than you can afford.

To help you determine the right size for your business, consider the following:

• The number of employees at the agency
• The number of clients they have
• The size of their marketing team
• The scope of their services

Once you’ve considered these four factors, you’ll be in a good position to choose the right SaaS marketing agency for your business.

5. Communication

One of the most important things to look for when hiring a SaaS marketing agency is communication. You’ll want to make sure that the agency you choose has good communication skills and is able to keep you updated on the progress of your project.

To determine whether or not an agency has good communication skills, you can ask them a few questions, such as:

• How often do you update your clients on the progress of their project?
• Do you have a system in place for tracking and reporting results?
• What is your process for resolving issues and making changes?
• How often do you check in with your clients?

If an agency can’t answer these questions effectively, then they may not be the right fit for you.

6. Strategy

A good SaaS marketing agency will have a solid SaaS marketing strategy to acquire and retain subscribers. They should be able to show you how they plan on achieving your goals and what methods they will use to measure success.

To determine whether or not a digital marketing agency has a good strategy, you can ask them to share some of their previous case studies or projects. If they can’t provide any case studies or project examples, then that’s a red flag, and you should consider looking elsewhere.

7. Creativity

Marketing campaigns for a SaaS startup need to be creative in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Make sure the agency you’re considering has a track record of producing creative and effective marketing materials.

To determine whether or not an agency is creative, you can ask them to share some of their previous work. If they can’t provide any examples, then that’s a sign that they may not be the right fit for your business.

8. Results

Ultimately, you want to hire a SaaS marketing agency that can produce results. Ask for case studies or references from previous clients to get an idea of how they have performed in the past.

If an agency can’t provide any case studies or references, then you should consider looking elsewhere.

Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start shopping around for a SaaS marketing agency that is a good fit for your business. Do your research and ask lots of questions, and you’re sure to find the perfect partner to help you achieve your marketing goals.

Be also extra cautious of common pitfalls when it comes to hiring a SaaS marketing agency.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Hiring a SaaS Marketing Agency

1. Not doing your research

It’s essential to do your research before hiring a SaaS marketing agency. Make sure you ask the right questions and compare agencies before deciding.

2. Choosing the wrong agency

Not all agencies are created equal. Make sure you choose an agency that is the right size for your business and has the right skill set to meet your needs.

3. Not setting expectations

Be clear about your goals and objectives from the start. This will help ensure that both you and the agency are on the same page.

4. Not having a budget in place

It’s important to have a budget before hiring a SaaS marketing agency. This will help ensure that you’re not overspending on your marketing efforts.

5. Not monitoring results

Make sure you track the progress of your marketing campaigns and compare results to your goals. This will help you determine whether or not the agency is producing results.

Here are the 7 Most Essential SaaS Marketing KPIs That You Need To Track.

6. Not having a written agreement

Make sure you have a written agreement before hiring a SaaS marketing agency. This will help protect you in the event of a dispute.

7. Not communicating enough

Communicate often with your marketing agency to ensure that your goals are being met. This will help avoid any misunderstandings.

8. Not providing enough feedback

Make sure you provide feedback to your marketing agency regularly so they can continue to produce results. This will help improve the quality of their work.

9. Not budgeting for ongoing services

It’s essential to budget for ongoing services with your marketing agency. This will help ensure that you continue to see results from your investment.

10. Not having a plan

It’s essential to have a plan for using your marketing agency. This will help ensure that you get the most out of their services.

When it comes to hiring a SaaS marketing agency, there are a few common pitfalls to avoid. By doing your research and setting expectations, you can ensure that you make the right decision for your business.

What SaaS marketing agencies and clients get wrong when it comes to collaborating on a project

After you have chosen an agency, it is important to set the expectations of the project correctly and early on. Too often, agencies and clients make assumptions about what will happen, which can lead to misunderstandings down the line.

Some of the most common pitfalls when it comes to collaborating on a project are as follows:

1. Not Defining the Project Scope

One of the most common mistakes that agencies and clients make is not defining the scope of the project correctly. This can lead to misunderstandings and frustration on both sides.

Both parties need to be clear about what is and is not included in the project. This includes things like the timeline, the budget, and the deliverables.

2. Not agreeing on the price

Another common mistake is not agreeing on the price upfront. This can lead to problems later on if one party feels they are paying more than they should.

It is important to agree on a price that is fair to both parties before starting the project.

3. Not having a clear understanding of the client’s brand

Another common mistake is not having a clear understanding of the client’s brand. This can lead to the agency creating work that is not in line with the client’s brand guidelines.

It is important for both parties to understand the brand and what it stands for. This will help ensure that the work produced is in line with the client’s expectations.

4. Not setting realistic expectations

One of the most common mistakes that agencies and clients make is not setting realistic expectations. This can lead to disappointment on both sides if the project is not completed as expected.

It is important to set realistic expectations from the start so that both parties are clear about what can be achieved.

5. Making Assumptions

Agencies and clients often make assumptions about what will happen during the project. This can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts.

Both parties need to be clear about what is going to happen during the project and what is not included. This will help avoid any misunderstandings later on.

6. Not Communicating Enough

Agencies and clients often do not communicate enough during the project. This can lead to misunderstandings and frustration on both sides.

It is important to communicate regularly so that both parties are aware of what is happening. Thanks to advancements in technology, there are now many different ways to communicate, such as via email, video conferencing, and instant messaging.

7. Not Agreeing on a Timeline

It is important to agree on a timeline for the project and to stick to it. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the project is completed on time.

8. Not Reviewing the Work

Both parties should review the work before it is published or released. This will help ensure that it meets the expectations of both parties.

9. Not Following Up After the Project is Completed

It is important to follow up after the project is completed to ensure that both parties are happy with the final result. This will help avoid any misunderstandings and will help build a strong relationship for future projects.

When it comes to collaborating on a project, a few common mistakes often happen. Avoiding these mistakes will help ensure that the project is successful.

For more tips on SaaS marketing, don’t forget to check out our blog.