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12 SaaS Link Building Strategies That Actually Work

In the early days of the internet, there was a scarcity of high quality content on the web, meaning that if you wanted to rank well, you didn’t have to do any link building outreach.

You could dominate by simply creating a blog for your SaaS startup and writing content consistently.

In today’s competitive business environment, having a link building strategy is one of the most effective ways to get your content ranking for competitive search terms.

But finding ways to rank organically isn’t easy.

If you’re looking to get your content in front of the right audiences, here are some of the best SaaS link building strategies that actually work.

I’m going to teach you how to nurture relationships to build links for your SaaS startup, with real examples from my own experience getting content published in over 200 publications.

Table of Contents

1. Add A Blog to Your SaaS Website

I’ve found that there’s no better way to establish yourself as an authority in your industry than to build a strong, trustworthy brand.

You can begin building that reputation by establishing yourself as a trusted voice within your industry. A blog is a great way to achieve this. Start blogging now, and you’ll quickly learn that it’s a lot of work.

But it’s a pre-requisite if you want to build backlinks.

When someone links to your content they are essentially putting their reputation on the line and sharing it with their audience.

Start by creating content (sales enablement content) around common objections you receive about your SaaS product.

This content can be repurposed for:

2. Write Guest Posts

One of my favorite ways to earn backlinks and increase traffic is guest posting for blogs that my target audience reads.

You may not get paid, but if you write quality content you will at least build some solid backlinks. The key to guest posting is great link building outreach and writing content that is valuable.

This is done by writing according to editorial guidelines and ensuring you integrate your personal lessons learned.

With the rise of AI writing software if you can’t bring something unique to the conversations it’s best not to say it at all.

To get guest posts opportunities I follow a simple process:

  • Scrape Google search results using Postaga for publications with guest post pages
  • Publish blog posts where I strategically mention publications
  • Ask internal marketers to share content via social media
  • Follow up ans ask if they want me to write for them

This is a strategy that has compounding effects. Now that I’ve written hundreds of guest posts I have social proof for outreach.

Also, more ironic you will reach a point where you’re vetting request where writers want to submit guest posts to your website.

3. Make Guest Appearances On Podcasts

If you prefer speaking over writing consider doing podcast guesting. Often times the host will have a website and link to your website.

I’ve been on the podcast side of the table a few time… It took me a long time to understand the importance of having a compelling story.

I would say that if you are a great storyteller, chances are you will be a great podcaster too. But if you don’t like speaking in front of people, then podcasting may not be the best option for you.

There is a bit of a learning curve for many, but once you learn how to tell your story well and naturally plug your SaaS startup, you’ll be great at podcast guesting.

One of the biggest advantage of this method is you can quickly build personal relationships with thought leaders and develop strategic partnerships.

If this method resonates checkout Melissa Kwan podcast speaker profile template. She’s listed over 40 podcasts she’s been on which should be enough to get you started as a SaaS founder.

Melissa Kwan Podcast Media Kit Template

4. Help A Reporter Out (HARO)

A number of publications use HARO (Help a Reporter Out), a service that connects journalists with people who know how to answer their questions.

To use HARO, you register for a free account. Then you enter the URL of your company website into the “About your company” field, and add a description of your business. HARO will send reporters interested in writing about you on your behalf.

Sourcee helps streamline the process of using HARO by monitoring for keywords related to your SaaS startup.

I don’t know about you but I need much help as possible to manage my email inbox.

5. Respond to Journo Requests On Twitter

Press coverage can skyrocket your SaaS startup.

But how do you go about getting featured? You could spend weeks sourcing journalists, drafting your pitch and sending cold emails.

OR you could instead you could find journalists who are already seeking sources for their next big story.

You’re probably familiar with HARO but what if I told you some editors also use Twitter to seek sources for articles.

Sourcee helps you cut through the noise and get journalists requests delivered where ever you need them.

Sourcee App Journo Requests

6. Leverage Integration Partners

If you have the ability to do so, you can use integration partners to get more traffic to your website. There are companies that offer services that complement your company’s offerings. Promoting each other to their customers can be done when they work together. This can lead to more website traffic for the company.

Plutio Integrations

You can see an example of Plutio’s integrations here. By adding these integrations into their tool, they have made their tool more attractive to potential customers.

As well this often will lead the integration partner to adding Plutio to provide a better experience for their customers.

One way to find potential integration partners is to look for companies that offer complementary services and check to see if they have an activ integration page.

7. Find Unlinked Brand Mentions

Just because someone mentions your brand doesn’t mean that they’re linking to you. Find the blogs that mention your business and see if they have a backlink opportunity for you.

Take time to setup alerts for your brand mentions.

The best way is to use Google Alerts to set up a rule with your email address that will notify you when you are mentioned in the news.

For example, if your company is mentioned in an article, an e-mail can be sent to you notifying you of the mention.

8. Participate in Roundup Posts

Roundups are an opportunity for you to provide unique insight on topics that are important to your SaaS startup.

This is one of the fastest ways to get free backlinks. There’s always a roundup going on, so if you’re consistently creating content, you should definitely participate in one.

Often times this will increase your your ranking in search engines and brand awareness because eveyone participating will share the article via social media. As well, you’re receivng a do-follow backlink to help your SEO efforts.

9. Create Infographics With Unique Insights

Infographics are a great way to make information visually engaging and easy to understand. By visualizing data in ways that are intuitive, infographics can present information in an understandable and compelling manner.

While infographics are a powerful way to communicate data, they require a lot of time, effort, and resources to create. They’re also expensive.

Even if you use a free infographic creator like Canva, they tend to be limited in what they can produce.

If you’re a designer consider leveraging your skills and partnering with content writers who consistently submit guest posts to publications.

As a content writer, I’ve used this method and partnered with several graphic design software companies. Editors find this approach to be a win-win scenario because it adds value to the publication you are submitting content… so of course, they are happy to give a do-follow backlink.

10. Purchase Micro SaaS Startups

When doing outreach to gain do-follow backlinks you have to provide something of value.

Time is money… simply taking the time to respond to you and create your backlink can take 15 to 30 minutes so if you want to get replies to your cold emails make sure you provide something of value.

We’ve already talked about infographics but now let’s talk about micro saas startups.

Purchasing micro saas startups is a great way to build out your value offer ladder. This method also gives you the ability to offer a freemium product and build links by going after competitor’s backlinks.

Simply use Ahrefs to find competitor’s backlinks within list posts and perform email outreach.

With this strategy provide something of value upfront by providing a free lifetime software deal in exchange for a do-follow backlink.

This will help you with building backlinks for your main product and also give you free feedback on your micro SaaS startup.

11. 3-Way Link Exchanges

As you build up your website authority and decide to transition from doing guest posts to 3-way link exchanges you will need to own multiple websites to accept guest posts and effectively implement this method.

In an ideal world you either:

  • Need two DR50+ websites with blog content
  • Need to consistently submit guest posts to DR50+ sites

To manage communication with editors and marketers I’ve found Gmail and Google Sheets to be the two most common tools used.

However, with all the new NoCode software tools this process can be drastically improved.

Manage Link Building With NoCode Software

BacklinkManager.io is a CRM built specifically for link building operations. It’s the fastest way to get more links, save tons of time and money and streamline your link building workflow.

12. Pay For Backlinks

It takes time to find and pitch relevant publications, and that time is money.

If you need to boost your rankings in search engines for keywords fast, consider hiring someone to do this work for you.

The options are endless… You can pick between freelancers, agencies, or full-time employees.

For example, if you need to rank higher than your competition for a specific term you could pay someone to submit a blog post to the most relevant publications for you. This is a great way to quickly jumpstart your SEO efforts and get your website noticed on the web.

You should be paying them to do outreach and write content for you, however I would warn against paying publications directly because this goes against Google policies.

Let’s Wrap It Up

In conclusion, while a good content marketing strategy is important, you also must know when to abandon a strategy that isn’t working.

With link building their many nuances I’ve learned by collaborating with editors of SaaS startups. Content strategies change based on many factors:

  • Are you actively writing blog posts
  • What’s the DA and DR score of your website
  • What strategic partnerships can you leverage
  • What staff can you dedicate to content marketing
  • Do you have a tool that can serve as a lead magnet

I’ve found that there are certain rules of thumb that I’ve learned from trial and error, but that no one talks about because everyone has a different approach. To put this into practice, I’m more than welcome to hop on a 30-minute coffee chat and develop a detail marketing strategy for free.

If you like what you see you can then determine to hire Leadhackrs vetted freelancers to implement the strategy or have your team do the work themselves.

Whether you’re looking to improve your current strategy or starting from scratch, I’m here to help you out.

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25 Best Online No-Code Communities (Free and Paid) to Join in 2022

What is no-code software?

In the past, creating software meant learning to code. But now, there’s a new type of software called “no-code” software. With no-code software, you don’t need to learn how to code. Instead, you can create beautiful websites, powerful business applications, and more without writing a single line of code.

No-code apps are changing the way we build SaaS startups. It’s making it possible for anyone to build apps, regardless of their technical skills. And that’s just the beginning. No code is going to change the world.

Why should I join a popular no-code community?

No-code communities allows a founder of any skill level to come together and learn from each other. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been coding for years, you can find a place in a no-code community.

Here are four compelling reasons:

1. You can learn from other no-code enthusiasts who are passionate about no-code.

2. You can collaborate with others to master no-code tools.

3. You can get feedback and support from other members.

4. You can find mentors and become a mentor yourself.

25 Best No-Code Communities to Follow

There are many rising NoCode communities online that can help you learn more about this method of building minimum viable products (MVPs) and how to use it to validate your startup ideas.

The NoCode movement is gathering momentum, and there’s no better place to stay up-to-date on all things NoCode than the Indie Hackers forum. You’ll find like-minded individuals discussing everything from product development to marketing and business strategy.

Here’s a curated list of the top no-code communities for founders to check out:

1. IndieHackers Community

The IndieHackers Community members are a supportive group of creators and founders passionate about building profitable businesses. Their members have a wide range of skills and experience and are always willing to help each other.

Whether you’re just building your product or looking for advice on how to take it to the next level, the IndieHackers Community is worth checking out to connect with no-code enthusiasts.

2. No Code Founders Community

The No-Code Founders Community is a group of founders who have succeeded in building businesses without writing a single line of code. Rob Fitzpatrick, a no-code founder, started the Community.

NCF is a community based on the belief that anyone can be a successful entrepreneur, regardless of their technical abilities.

Therefore, the members share resources and advice in their Slack community to help each other grow their businesses.

If you’re looking for advice on how to start a business without any coding experience, then the No Code Founders Community is the perfect place for you. You also will gain discounts for various no-code platforms

With the help of the Community, you’ll be able to turn your ideas into reality.

3. Makerpad Community

The Makerpad Community is a group of makers, engineers, and SaaS founders passionate about making things. We believe that making things is a fundamental human activity and that everyone should be able to make things. Therefore, we are committed to making maker education accessible to everyone.

The Makerpad Community is a great place to learn about making things. There are lots of experienced makers who are willing to share their knowledge with others. And many people are just starting, so you can learn from them too.

If you’re interested in learning more about making things or want to meet other makers, join us!

4. 100 Days Of No Code Community

The 100 Days Of No Code private community is a supportive group of makers committed to build a no-code app in public over 100 days or less.

The Community was started by Saron Yitbarek, a self-taught coder and former software engineer, to support others who want to learn to code. The Community has grown to over 4,000 members from all over the world.

The 100DaysOfNoCode Community is an excellent place for beginners to ask questions and get support from more experienced members. The Community also hosts regular challenges and events to keep members motivated and engaged.

5. Ycode Community

If you’re looking for a supportive coding community, you’ll want to check out Ycode. Here, you’ll find experienced developers who are happy to help beginners learn the ropes.

In addition to getting help with coding problems, you can also participate in interesting discussions on the forums, or attend one of the regular meetups.

So if you’re starting out on your coding journey and are looking for a supportive virtual community, be sure to check out Ycode.

6. NoCodeOps Community

The NoCodeOps Community is a group of engineers, developers, and ops professionals who believe that code should be treated as infrastructure. We believe that DevOps practices can and should be applied to any codebase, regardless of size or language.

We believe the best way to manage code is to treat it as infrastructure. This means treating code as a first-class citizen in your organization, with the same attention and care you would give to your application or website.

We also believe that DevOps practices can and should be applied to any codebase, regardless of size or language. DevOps is about culture and collaboration, not tools or technology. By applying DevOps principles to your codebase, you can improve quality, speed to market, and customer satisfaction.

7. NocodeHQ Community

NocodeHQ Community is a community of like-minded individuals passionate about nocode technology. The Community provides a platform for its members to connect, share ideas, and collaborate on projects.

The NocodeHQ Community is a great resource for anyone interested in nocode technology. The Community is filled with knowledgeable and experienced individuals who are more than happy to help out and answer any questions you may have.

If you’re looking for support with your no-code creations or want to learn more about it, the NocodeHQ Community is the place for you.

8. NoCode.Tech Community

NoCode.Tech Community is a group of people passionate about technology and its potential to change the world. We believe technology should be accessible to everyone, regardless of income or background. We are committed to improving the world by using our skills to build things that make life easier for people.

NoCode.Tech Community is a great place to learn about new technologies and how to use them. We offer a variety of resources, including tutorials, courses, and events, that can help you get started with coding. We also have a strong community of experienced coders who are always willing to help newcomers.

If you’re interested in learning more about coding or want to be a part of a community that is making the world a better place, then NoCode.Tech Community is the right place for you.

9. Alegria.group Community

Alegria.group Community is a website that helps people with tech problems. The website has been operational for over 10 years and has helped thousands of people with their tech-related problems.

The website’s Community is made up of people who are passionate about technology and helping others. The Alegria.tech Community is a great place to get help with your tech problems, and it’s also a great place to connect with other tech-savvy people.

10. Indie World Wide Community

The IndieWorldWide Community is a worldwide community for bootstrapped startup founders. Their members are passionate about startups and the challenges they face. They believe in the power of entrepreneurship to change the world, and we’re here to support each other on our journey.

If you’re a bootstrapped startup founder, we invite you to join us. They offer a supportive community, resources, and advice from experienced entrepreneurs. When you join IndieWorldWide, you’ll gain access to our online forum, monthly meetups, and exclusive events.

11. Codem4p Community

Codem4p Community is a group of coders who are passionate about coding and making a difference.

Our members are from all around the world and come from different backgrounds. We believe that coding is for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race or background.

We are committed to helping others learn to code and make a difference in the world. We offer free resources and support to help people achieve their coding goals.

12. No Code MBA Community

No Code MBA is a new and upcoming online community for entrepreneurs who want to learn about business and marketing without spending a lot of money on an actual MBA. This Community offers free resources and support for anyone who wants to start or grow their own business. The goal of No Code MBA is to help people achieve their business goals without spending a lot of money on an actual MBA.

The No Code MBA community offers a variety of resources that can help entrepreneurs get started with their businesses. These resources include access to a network of like-minded individuals, online courses, and helpful articles. The Community also provides support and advice from successful entrepreneurs.

The No Code MBA community is a great resource for entrepreneurs who want to start or grow their own businesses. The Community offers free resources, support, and advice from successful entrepreneurs.

13. WeAreNoCode Community

WeAreNoCode community is a great place to learn about no-code development and connect with other like-minded individuals. This Community offers free and paid membership options, as well as a wide range of resources and support.

Whether you’re just starting with no-code app development or a seasoned pro, the WeAreNoCode Community has something to offer everyone. With over 25,000 members worldwide, this is one of the largest and most active no-code communities online.

If you’re looking for support, advice, or just someone to chat with about no-code development, be sure to check out the WeAreNoCode Community.

14. Nocoders Academy Community

Nocoders Academy is a new coding school that is quickly gaining popularity among tech-savvy individuals. The school offers an immersive experience that allows students to learn the basics of coding in a short amount of time. One of the things that sets Nocoders Academy apart from other coding schools is its focus on Community.

The Nocoders Academy community is made up of coders from all over the world who share their knowledge and expertise. This community spirit is what makes Nocoders Academy so special. It’s not just about learning to code – it’s about collaborating and connecting with others passionate about coding.

15. No-Code Makers Community

No-Code Makers Community is a group of people who believe that code should be free and accessible to everyone. They believe that code should be made available to everyone so they can learn from it, improve it, and use it for their purposes.

The Community has grown rapidly in recent years, with members from all over the world. They have developed various tools and resources to help people learn about coding and make their code.

There are many benefits to being a member of the No Code Makers Community. You can learn from others in the Community, share your knowledge, and work together to make code more accessible to everyone.

16. Zeroqode Community

If you’re looking for a supportive and friendly community of like-minded individuals, look no further than Zeroqode. Our no-code makers are passionate about no-code and are always eager to help each other out – whether it’s sharing tips and advice, or collaborating on projects.

No matter what your skill level is, you’ll feel right at home here. We have newbies and experts alike, all working towards the same goal: building amazing things without code. So come join us and see what you can create!

17. No-Code Alley Community

In recent years, the term “no-code” has been popularized by a new wave of technology companies that allow users to create entire websites or applications without writing a single line of code. This new breed of no-code platforms has empowered non-technical individuals to launch their own businesses and build complex software solutions without hiring expensive developers.

Now, a growing community of no-coders is thriving in the heart of Silicon Valley. This Community is comprised of individuals who are passionate about using no-code technologies to build amazing things. They meet regularly to share tips, tricks, and advice on how to get the most out of these powerful tools.

If you’re interested in learning more about no-code technologies or connecting with like-minded individuals, then No-Code Alley is the perfect place for you.

18. Nucode Community

The Nucode Community is filled with makers and experts learning and building products with no-code tools. You’ll be able to get advice and support from other members, and you can even share your creations with the Community.

19. NoCodeDevs Community

The NoCodeDevs Community is a group of developers who believe that coding is not necessary to create great software. They believe that anyone can be a developer, regardless of their coding ability. The Community comprises people from all over the world who share their experiences and knowledge with others.

The NoCodeDevs Community has grown significantly over the past year. We now have over 1,000 members from all over the world. We are constantly sharing our knowledge and experience with others in the Community. We believe anyone can be a developer, regardless of their coding ability.

If you’re interested in joining the NoCodeDevs Community, we would love to have you! We always seek new members to join us and share their experiences.

20. NoCode List Community

The no-code movement is a growing community of makers and builders passionate about creating without code.

The NoCode List Community comprises people from all walks of life, with a wide range of skill sets and experience levels.

And while some members are experienced developers who have chosen to ditch traditional development tools, many more are complete beginners who have found that they can build incredible things without a single line of code.

Whether you’re looking to get started in the world of no code, or you’re already a seasoned pro, there’s a place for you in this Community.

We believe anyone can create, regardless of prior experience or technical ability. And we’re here to help each other make amazing things happen.

21. BuildCamp Community

If you’re looking to get into the no-code movement, there’s no better place to start than BuildCamp. This online Community is full of resources and people passionate about building amazing things without a single line of code.

Whether you’re just getting started or already a pro, BuildCamp has something for everyone. The Community is always happy to help and answer any questions. And if you need some inspiration, take a look at some of the amazing projects that have been built using no-code tools.

So what are you waiting for? Check out BuildCamp and start building something amazing today!

22. Codeless.how Community

The Codeless.how Community is a great place to learn how to build no-code. The Community is full of experienced builders who are always willing to help newbies. The best way to learn is by doing, and the Codeless.how Community provides plenty of opportunities to get started building.

The Codeless.how the website is a great resource for learning nocode. The tutorials and articles are easy to follow, and the forum is full of helpful builders. The Community is very active, and there are always new projects to explore.

If you’re looking for a supportive community of builders to help you learn how to build no-code, then the Codeless.how Community is the perfect place for you!

23. ProductHunt Community

A thriving community of makers and builders has taken root on ProductHunt, where they share and discuss the latest in no-code development tools and resources.

The ProductHunt NoCode Community is a great place to find new no-code development tools, learn from others, and get inspired to build something yourself.

If you’re interested in no-code development, be sure to check out the ProductHunt NoCode Community – there’s always something new and exciting happening!

24. No Code Hackers Community

Nocodehackers is a community for spanish-speaking developers who use no-code tools to develop web applications. No code tools are easy to use and require no programming experience.

They are perfect for those who want to create a web application without coding knowledge.

No-code tools are becoming increasingly popular, as they allow anyone to create a professional-looking web application without any coding knowledge. There are many no-code tools available, such as Webflow, Airtable, and Zapier. Nocodehackers is a community of developers who use these tools to develop web applications.

If you’re looking to develop a web application without any coding knowledge, then Nocodehackers is the Community for you. We can help you learn how to use no-code tools and create a professional-looking web application. So what are you waiting for?

25. Sharing Away Community

In a world where we are constantly bombarded with ads telling us to buy, buy, buy, it’s refreshing to see a community based on sharing instead of consuming.

Sharing Away is a Spanish no-code community of founders that want to build apps and websites. Whether it’s sharing your time, talents, or possessions, Sharing Away members believe that by sharing with others, we can make the world a better place.

If you’re looking for a way to give back to your Community without spending any money, Sharing Away is the perfect solution.

By joining a community of founders, you can make a difference in the lives of others while also getting some great benefits for yourself.

Becoming A No-Code Expert

In conclusion, joining one of these top no-code communities and becoming part of the no-code revolution is a great way to get started with coding.

Joining the best no code communities provides an easy way for beginners to get started without worrying about code complexities.

These platforms also allow experienced coders to create complex applications without writing much code. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced coder, no-code is the way to go.

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How to Build a Micro SaaS Startup With NoCode Tools Within 30 Days

There’s no question that the SaaS industry is growing. In fact, it’s expected to reach $143 billion in 2022. But as the industry grows, so does the competition. And for startups, that can be a big obstacle to overcome.

Fortunately, there’s a way to build a micro SaaS startup quickly and efficiently — without code. By using no-code tools, you can get your business up and running in just 30 days. And best of all, you don’t need any prior coding experience.

Table of Contents

What is Micro SaaS?

Micro-SaaS startups are focused on solving specific problems for individual contributors, rather than for organizations as a whole.

You typically have a narrower scope than traditional SaaS companies, and your products are designed to be used by an individual contributor rather than by a team. 

While you may not have the same reach as larger SaaS companies, micro-SaaS companies can be very successful by catering to a specific niche.

Benefits of Building a Micro-SaaS Product

Micro-SaaS products can be a great way to enter the software market with a minimum viable product. By definition, a micro-SaaS product is a small, self-contained software application that solves a specific problem. 

Often they are faster to develop than traditional software applications, and they can be a great way to get your foot in the door of the software market.

There are a few key benefits to building a micro-SaaS product. 

  • First, It’s a great way to validate your business idea. If you have an idea for a software product but are not sure if it will be successful, developing a micro-SaaS product can help you test the waters. 
  • Second, micro-SaaS products can be a great way to generate revenue quickly. If you are able to develop a micro-SaaS product that solves a real problem for customers, you can start generating revenue right away. 
  • Finally, micro-SaaS products can be a great way to build a customer base. If you are able to create a micro-SaaS product that customers love, they will be more likely to spread the word and help grow your business. This is because micro saas founders often build in public.

Common Types of Micro SaaS Startups

There are a few different types of micro SaaS startups out there. The most common include:

  1. B2B SaaS: These startups offer software that helps businesses with some aspect of their operations, like customer relationship management or accounting.
  2. B2C SaaS: These startups offer software that helps consumers with some aspect of their lives, like fitness tracking or budgeting.
  3. Vertical SaaS: These startups offer software that is specific to a certain industry, like healthcare or retail.
  4. Location-based SaaS: These startups offer software that is specific to a certain geographic area, like a city or country.

Each of these types of micro SaaS startups has its own unique challenges and opportunities. The key is to find the right fit for your specific business idea.

Overview of How The Micro SaaS Business Model Works

With the help of no-code tools, you can build and launch your micro saas product in just a few weeks without any coding experience.

Typically micro saas startups are low-cost, with most products requiring less than $1,000 in investment. 

This is because Micro SaaS businesses are usually focused on a specific niche or market, which allows them to be lean and efficient with your resources. 

Additionally, they typically have low customer acquisition costs, as you are able to target your marketing efforts toward a specific group of people by building in public. 

As a result, Micro SaaS businesses can be extremely profitable, with many businesses generating $1,000 to $10,000 in monthly recurring revenue.

If you’re convinced, follow the 5-step framework below to build your micro SaaS startup with no-code tools within 30 days.

Step 1: Build in Public to Attract an Audience

We’ve been taught to use the build, measure, learn feedback loop to create a minimum viable product. Micro SaaS startups have taken this method to the next level with a concept called building in public.

Build a niche audience and then share micro SaaS ideas until you have a validated product.

Building in Public Graph

There are a number of ways to attract an audience while you’re documenting your journey. The two most effective methods are growing an email newsletter or community (Slack or Discord) by sharing your lessons learned on a daily bases.

This will allow you to connect with others who are interested in what you’re doing and build a following of people who can provide support and advice. In addition, sharing your journey can also help you reflect on your progress and learn from your mistakes.

Step 2: Find A Micro-SaaS Idea

Now that you’re consistently building in public and growing your audience, begin seeking to solve your community problems with micro-SaaS ideas.

Brainstorm Micro SaaS Ideas

When you’re trying to come up with ideas for your micro SaaS product, it can be helpful to start by looking at problems you’ve experienced in your work or industry. 

You likely have first-hand knowledge of the pain points that exist, and you may even have some ideas about how to solve them. Even if you don’t have all the answers, starting with a problem you understand is a good way to begin brainstorming possible solutions. 

Find Micro SaaS Ideas in Startup Directories

However, if you’re failing to identify micro saas ideas based on your on experience tap into existing audiences.

A smart approach would be to tap into communities and directories within your niche.

For example, here are some popular directories for B2B micro SaaS startups.

  • Product Hunt
  • App Sumo
  • Betalist

Your ideal customer profile (audience) determines which communities, directories, and social media platforms you should be active on. 

Find Micro SaaS Ideas in Niche Communities

Communities are a great place to ask your ideal customer profile (audience) about the current challenges they are experiencing and see if there are any SaaS solutions that currently exist. 

Also, if you’re not building a B2B SaaS product this would be the best route to go. By asking people about their challenges, you can get a better understanding of what kinds of solutions they are looking for. 

And by seeing if there are any SaaS solutions that could help, you can get an idea of what kind of product you can build.

Once you have a few micro saas ideas, start doing some competitor research by writing down all of the product features and developing a hypothetical product roadmap. 

If you find an existing SaaS product doesn’t exist that’s a signal not to attempt creating a micro SaaS startup. Our goal is to solve one problem for an individual that they will be able to easily relate to.

Step 3: Validate Your Micro SaaS Idea

Now that you’ve identified your Micro SaaS idea the best way to validate your idea is to gather feedback from your audience and understand whether your product has viable market demand. 

This is an important step in the product development process, as it allows you to gauge whether or not your idea is something that people actually want or need. It also allows you to get feedback from potential customers so you can make improvements to your product roadmap. 

There are three steps to validate your micro SaaS idea:

  1. The Landing Page: Creating a landing page is a great way to gauge interest in your product and see if people are actually willing to pay for it. It’s also a low-cost way to get started, and you can always add more features and functionality later on. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of landing page builders out there that can help you get started quickly and easily.
  2. The Pre-Order Page: If you want to validate your idea quickly and with minimal effort, you can create a pre-order page. This is a simple page where people can sign up to be notified when your product is available. This is a great way to gauge interest and get a feel for what people are willing to pay for your product. You can also use this page to collect email addresses so you can start building a list of potential customers.
  3. The Lifetime Deal: It’s a win-win situation when doing pre-sales to validate your micro saas idea: your audience gets a great deal on your product, and you get a chance to build a relationship with your audience to get customer feedback to continuously make product improvements. It’s common practice to charge the annual rate of your base subscription. For example, if you plan on having a $10 monthly subscription your lifetime deal would be for $120.

These three steps will allow you to get an accurate pulse on whether people would actually use your product, and what you think of it. If you can validate your idea with a small group of users, then you can move on to building your minimum viable product (MVP). If not simply give all customers a refund (no harm, no foul).

Decide On Your Micro SaaS Pricing Model

The pricing model you choose for your micro SaaS will have a big impact on your business. You need to consider your target market, your competitors, and your own costs when making this decision. 

popular micro saas pricing models

There are a few common pricing models specifically for micro SaaS, including subscription, usage-based, and freemium. Each has its own pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the one that’s right for your business.

The Lifetime Deal Model: is when you offer your product at a deeply discounted price for a limited time. This kind of pricing can be very effective in acquiring new customers. It’s a great way to introduce your product to a larger audience and get them to try it in exchange for product feedback. With Micro SaaS startups I recommend using this pricing method for your first 50 to 100 customers and then switching to one of the three pricing models below.

The Subscription Model: is the most common, and it’s simple to understand and implement. With this model, customers pay a recurring fee to access your software. This can be a monthly or annual fee, and it’s usually based on the number of users. The main advantage of this model is that it provides predictable revenue. However, it can be difficult to increase prices, and customers may cancel their subscriptions if they’re not using the software regularly.

The Freemium Model: offers a basic version of the software for free, and customers can pay for additional features or services. This model is becoming increasingly popular, as it allows customers to try the software before they commit to a purchase. The main disadvantage of this model is that it can be difficult to get customers to upgrade to the paid version.

The Usage-Based Model: charges customers based on how they use the software. This could be a per-use fee, a monthly fee, or a combination of both. This model is flexible and can be tailored to the individual user. The main advantage of this model is that customers only pay for what you use. However, it can be difficult to track usage, and some customers may be discouraged by the fees.

No matter which pricing model you choose, it’s important to be clear and transparent with your customers. you should know exactly what you’re paying for, and what you’ll get in return. The right pricing model can help you attract and retain customers, so choose carefully.

Step 4: Create Your Micro SaaS MVP

Once you have validated your micro SaaS idea and decided on a pricing model, you can start building your MVP. This doesn’t have to be a complicated process, and in fact, the simpler the better. Keep your MVP focused on the core features that will provide value to your users and you’ll be on your way to building a successful product.

This is usually a stripped-down version of your product with only the essential features. The point of an MVP is to get your product out to your users (who you pre-sold to) as quickly as possible so you can start gathering feedback and prioritizing improvements within your product roadmap. 

Best NoCode Tech Stack For Micro SaaS Founders

To quickly get your product to customers use no-code tools. They are growing in popularity because they allow founders to launch products without learning to code. 

This is a major trend that is only going to grow in popularity in the coming years.

There are a lot of different NoCode tech stack options out there for micro SaaS founders. But which one is the best? 

The answer may surprise you. 

The best NoCode tech stack for micro SaaS founders is the one that can build 90% of startups. 

Best NoCode Tech Stack For Micro SaaS Startups

Google Workspace: (formerly G Suite) is a cloud-based productivity suite that includes Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Slides. As a micro SaaS founder, you can use Google Workspace to stay organized and connected with your team. With Gmail, you can create custom email addresses for your business (e.g., info@yourcompany.com). Docs, Sheets, and Slides let you create and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, respectively. You can also use Google Calendar to schedule and track events and deadlines. Google Workspace is an affordable and easy-to-use tool that can help you run your business more efficiently.

Notion: It’s a powerful tool that allows you to create, manage, and share your work. It’s perfect for micro SaaS founders who need a way to organize their thoughts and ideas. With Notion, you can create beautiful docs and websites, and share them with your team. Notion is easy to use and has a ton of features, so you can get started quickly and easily. Plus, it’s free for individuals, so you can get started without spending any money.

Webflow: If you’re looking for a no-code solution that will allow you to build a beautiful and functional website, then Webflow is a great option. With Webflow, you can create custom designs without having to write any code. And, if you do know how to code, you can use Webflow to create even more complex designs. Webflow is a great option for micro SaaS founders who want to create a professional website without spending a lot of money on development.

Zapier: Micro SaaS founders need to be able to move quickly and efficiently, and that means having the right tools in place. Zapier is a great option for those who want to automate your workflow and connect different applications. It’s easy to use and has a wide range of integrations, making it a valuable addition to any micro SaaS founder’s toolkit.

Airtable: It’s a great tool for quickly building prototypes and MVPs for Micro SaaS businesses. It’s fast, easy to use, and doesn’t require any coding. Plus, Airtable integrates with a variety of other tools to help you automate your workflow and get your business up and running quickly.

Memberstack: If you’re looking for a way to quickly and easily add membership functionality to your site or app, Memberstack is a great option. It’s a no-code platform that makes it easy to add features like member login, signup, and profile management. Memberstack also has a robust set of features for managing your members, including member profiles, member groups, and access control. And best of all, it’s very affordable, starting at just $10/month.

Stripe: It’s a payment processing company that provides businesses with the infrastructure they need to take payments online and in mobile apps. Stripe makes it easy to accept credit and debit card payments, and also supports ACH, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Stripe has been a popular choice for micro SaaS founders because it is easy to use and has a low learning curve.

Step 5: Launch Your Go-to-Market Strategy

Your MVP is built and it’s time to start acquiring customers. How will you do it?

You need a go-to-market (GTM) strategy. 

A GTM strategy is a plan for how you will reach your target market and achieve your business goals. It includes everything from your messaging and positioning to your sales and marketing initiatives. It’s important to have a well-defined GTM strategy before you launch your product because it will help you focus your efforts and resources on the right things.

There are many factors to consider when crafting a GTM strategy, but a few key elements include:

  • Your target market: Who are you trying to reach?
  • Your value proposition: What are you offering that is of value to your target market?
  • Your channels: How will you reach your target market?
  • Your budget: What resources do you have to invest in your GTM strategy?

Once you have a clear understanding of these elements, you can start to develop a plan of action.

The most important thing is to get started and learn as you go. The best GTM strategies are focused on building in public, measuring results, and optimizing along the way.

The build, measure, learn feedback loop is a key part of any micro SaaS startup’s go-to-market strategy. By building in public, you can acquire customers and get feedback on your product quickly and efficiently. This feedback loop will help you improve your product and attract more customers.

Conclusion

The beauty of the micro saas business model is that it is highly iterative. You can launch a new product, see how it performs, and then make adjustments as needed. This allows you to constantly learn and improve your offering. It also means that you can quickly pivot if something isn’t working. 

The key is to constantly learn from your results so that you can make informed decisions about whether to persevere or launch a new micro saas startup.

Starting a Micro SaaS business doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. With the right tools and a little bit of creativity, you can build your micro saas startup with no-code tools within 30 days. And once you see your first paying customers, you’ll be hooked!

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What is Micro SaaS and Why It’s the Best Option for Your First Startup

Micro SaaS is a new category of software that is growing in popularity among first-time startup founders. Micro SaaS products are small, focused, and typically have a $10 – $50 monthly subscription. They are easy to launch and require very little upfront investment.

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What Is a Micro-SaaS Startup?

A micro SaaS startup is a small software-as-a-service company that seeks to scale to $1,000 – $10,000 USD in monthly recurring revenue (MRR). Also, they usually are defined as startups whose total addressable market is less than $100 million

Micro SaaS startups are:

  • Typically bootstrapped and have a lean team.
  • They focus on a niche market and focus on customer acquisition.
  • They typically have lower overhead costs than larger companies.
  • They are able to quickly test and iterate on their product.
  • They often build in public and establish personal relationships with customers.

If you’re thinking of starting a SaaS company, then a micro SaaS startup may be the right option for you. They offer a great opportunity to validate your idea, establish a relationship with your customers, and scale quickly.

Micro-SaaS startups are often able to grow quickly and achieve profitability. In fact, many micro-SaaS companies have been acquired by larger companies for their innovative products and technologies.

Why Micro SaaS is the best option for your first startup

One of the most important things for a startup is to find product/market fit. This is when your product is able to meet the needs of your target market. A micro-SaaS product is a great option for this because it is easier to reach product/market fit.

With a micro-SaaS product, you can focus on a specific market and create a product that meets their needs. This is opposed to a traditional SaaS product which tries to be everything to everyone. By focusing on a specific market, you can create a product that is more likely to be successful.

The best thing about Micro SaaS is that you can validate your product by building in public before you invest too much time or money.

This is important because it allows you to make sure that there is actually a market for your product before you invest a lot of resources into it.

It also allows you to test out your product and get feedback from customers so you can improve it before you launch it to the public. This is a great way to reduce risk and increase your chances of success.

Are Micro SaaS Products Profitable?

There is a lot of potential for profit when it comes to micro SaaS products. Because these products are typically lower in cost and require less development and marketing resources, they can be extremely profitable.

Additionally, micro SaaS products often have a higher customer lifetime value (CLV) than traditional SaaS products, meaning that customers are more likely to continue using them for a longer period of time. This can lead to more recurring revenue and a stronger bottom line.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

The key to a successful micro SaaS product is to find a niche market and address a specific pain point. By identifying a group of people with a specific problem, you can create a product that provides a solution.

And by catering to a specific need, you can create a product that is more likely to be successful. But it’s not enough to just create a product that meets a need.

You also need to:

  • Create a product that is easy to use.
  • Invest in your product marketing
  • Provide a great user experience.

If you can do that, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful micro SaaS product.

Micro SaaS companies are often able to achieve a high gross margin by having a low customer acquisition cost.

For example, if a company’s customer acquisition cost is $100 and the average customer spends $120 per year, the company’s gross margin would be 83%. This is because the company would only need to acquire 1.2 customers to break even.

How Does Micro-SaaS Differ From Traditional SaaS?

Micro SaaS companies are usually bootstrapped, which means they’re self-funded and don’t rely on outside investors.

This gives them the freedom to move quickly and make decisions without having to go through a lengthy approval process. They’re also typically run by a small team of people who are passionate about their product.

This allows them to be nimble and responsive to customer feedback. Because they’re not bogged down by bureaucracy, micro SaaS companies can iterate quickly and release new features on a regular basis.

If you’re looking for a SaaS product that is constantly evolving and improving, a micro SaaS company is a good bet.

Micro-SaaS companies have a different business model than traditional SaaS businesses. They typically have a smaller customer base, and each customer generates less revenue.

Unique Micro SaaS Product Examples

One of the great things about micro SaaSes is that there are a number of differentiating factors that make them unique.

This can be anything from a focus on a specific industry or niche, to a unique feature or pricing model. Whatever the differentiating factor is, it’s important to make sure that it’s something that will appeal to your target market. After all, there’s no point in having a unique product if no one wants to buy it!

Most notably, micro SaaS companies have a deep focus on a specific niche. This allows them to build products that are laser-focused on the needs of their target market.

By understanding the specific pain points of their customers, micro SaaS companies are able to create solutions that address those needs in a more effective way than their larger counterparts. In addition, micro SaaS companies are often nimble and able to respond quickly to changes in the market.

This agility gives them a significant advantage over larger companies that are bogged down by bureaucracy.

Hypefury Inspiration Tweets

Hypefury is a micro-saas that helps content creators with growing their Twitter audience. The platform provides users with tools to automate their Twitter growth, including auto-following, auto-liking, and auto-tweeting.

Hypefury also offers a suite of analytics tools to help users track their growth and engagement. In addition to Twitter growth, Hypefury also provides users with tools to help them grow their Instagram following.

Reflio is a micro-saas that helps startups with creating affiliate programs. By automating the process of creating and managing affiliate programs, Reflio makes it easy for startups to get started and scale their programs quickly.

Reflio’s platform provides startups with the tools they need to track their progress, measure their performance, and grow their programs.Microns.io is a marketplace to buy the best micro-startups without commission

If you’re an entrepreneur, Microns can help you buy the best micro-startups without commission. That means you can get started quickly and easily, without worrying about finding the right startup or negotiating a fair price.

Microns is a micro-saas, which means it’s a small, specialized software service. And because it’s micro, it’s affordable and easy to use. So if you’re looking for a way to get started quickly and easily, without worrying about finding the right startup or negotiating a fair price, Microns is the perfect solution.

Let’s Wrap It Up

Micro SaaS is the perfect option for first-time startup founders who want to get their startup built and launched with minimal investment.

These startups, require very little upfront investment and can be extremely profitable. If you’re looking for a way to get your startup off the ground quickly, Micro SaaS is the way to go.

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The Definitive Guide to Build A Content Marketing Engine From Scratch

SaaS Startups that have a content marketing engine churn out a consistent stream of valuable content that attracts and engages their target audience. These startups have seen first-hand how effective content marketing can be in driving business results.

Creating a content marketing engine is no small feat, but it’s not impossible. It takes time, planning, and most importantly, commitment from your entire team.

Why You Need A Content Marketing Engine

Content marketing has become one of the most important tools in a startup’s arsenal.

The vast majority of SaaS startups today rely on content marketing to drive leads and sales. Often this is done in the early days through the founder building in public.

Content marketing allows startups to reach a wide audience with little to no marketing budget. By creating and distributing high-quality content, startups can build trust and credibility with potential customers.

Done well, content marketing can be a powerful tool for driving growth. But it’s not a magic bullet, and it takes a lot of hard work to create content that resonates with your audience. If you’re thinking about starting a content marketing program for your startup, make sure you’re prepared to commit the time and resources necessary to make it successful.

The Benefits of Having a Content Marketing Engine

The benefits of having a content marketing engine are vast. A content marketing engine is a process for consistently creating and distributing high-quality content that attracts and engages your target audience. 

With a content marketing engine in place, you’ll never have to worry about what to post next or how to get your content seen by more people.

Plus, high-quality content will help you build trust and credibility with your audience, which can lead to more customers and sales. If you’re not using a content marketing engine, you’re missing out on a powerful tool that can help you grow your business.

A content marketing engine will help you build brand awareness and generate leads. It will also help you connect with your customers and create content that resonates with them.

Define Your Target Audience

A SaaS startup’s target audience is the group of people most likely to buy its products or services. When defining your target audience, it’s important to consider their needs and pain points.

  • What are they looking for?
  • What are their biggest challenges?

By understanding your target audience, you can create messaging and experiences that resonate with them and meets their needs.

This will not only help you better connect with your audience, but it will also help you save time and resources by not creating content that is not relevant to them. 

If this still seems difficult reach out via LinkedIn to do some 15-minute virtual coffee chats to get feedback on your product.

Yes, I leave my calendar open for early-stage founders seeking product feedback.

This experience will also help you to identify who’s attracted to your product the most.

Research What Type of Content Your Audience Wants.

Now that you know who your target audience is, it’s time to do some research to figure out what kind of content they want.

Your target audience is the group of people who are most likely to buy your product or use your service.

Try starting with a simple Google search. See what kind of content comes up when you search for keywords related to your business or brand.

You can also check out social media to see what kind of content your audience is sharing and engaging with. If you can’t find anything, you can always ask them directly!

For example, consider using Twitter’s advanced search filter

Also, try surveying your audience or reaching out to them on social media and asking what kind of content they would like to see from you.

As you can see building in public allows you to tap into social networks and develop a fast feedback loop.

If you can provide the kind of content they’re looking for, you’ll be well on your way to reaching your target audience.

Researching Your Industry & Competitors

Your competitors are a great source of information. By studying their strategies, you can learn what works and what doesn’t.

You can also find out what they’re doing that you’re not, and use that to your advantage. Tools I recommend you use for competitor analysis include Ahrefs or Moz for content marketing. They are both great to keep an eye on your competitors.

Understanding what topics are most popular in your industry can help you create content that resonates with your audience. It can also help you identify gaps in the market, and areas where you could create new, original content.

If you can be the go-to source for information on a particular topic, you’ll be able to build a loyal following and establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Define Your Content Marketing Goals

Any good content marketing strategy begins with clear, achievable goals. Without goals, it’s impossible to measure success or determine whether your content marketing efforts are paying off. 

When setting goals, make sure they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. In other words, don’t set goals that are impossible to reach, or so broad that they’re not useful. And make sure your goals align with your overall business objectives. 

Some examples of SMART content marketing goals include:

  • Grow your website traffic to 50,000 monthly visits in 6 months
  • Publish 30 long-form blog posts per month

Once you have defined your goals, you can create a content marketing strategy that will help you achieve them.

There are a number of different things you might hope to achieve with your content marketing. 

Maybe you’re looking to generate leads or create more valuable relationships with your customers. Whatever your goals, it’s important to define them early on so you can create content that is aligned with those objectives. By doing so, you’ll be more likely to see the results you want.

Creating Your Content Marketing Strategy

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to achieve your content marketing goals will vary depending on your specific situation.

However, some tips on how to create an effective content marketing strategy include understanding your audience, defining your goals, and creating a content calendar.

If you take the time to understand your audience by building in public, you will naturally create content that appeals to them.

Figure out what kind of content your audience wants to see by consistently publishing short-form content on social media before adding in long-form content. This way your building an audience and also improving as a content creator.

Based on what type of content is resonating create a content calendar that outlines when and where you’ll publish this content. By being strategic about your content marketing, you can increase your chances of success.

Once get feedback from your audience and know what kind of content resonates, you can start planning how often to publish. Keep in mind that quality is more important than quantity, so don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Finally, decide where you will publish your content. If you have a blog, post 3-5 times weekly.

You also can publish short-form posts on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram daily to get immediate engagement with your content.

Ok! Here’s what my content strategy currently looks like:

  • Write and publish 2K+ word blog posts daily with Letterdrop
  • Post Twitter Thread daily with Hypefury
  • Repurpose Thread into an Instagram/LinkedIn carousel daily with Contentdrips

Create a Content Calendar

Download my Notion content creation template for free.

Then create your content calendar by choosing your topics. 

  • What do you want to write about?
  • What would be interesting or useful to your audience?

Once you have a list of potential topics, you can start to narrow them down.

Consider what season it is, or whether there are any holidays coming up that you could write about. You can also think about hot topics in your industry that you could address.

Then you have a few topics in mind, you can start to plan out your content calendar.

Identify Your Content Pillars

Your content pillars are the foundation of your content strategy. They are the topics that you will focus on and the ones that you will come back to again and again.

You should have 2-3 content pillars that you update monthly or quarterly. This will ensure that your content is always fresh and relevant and that you are always providing value to your audience.

The average human attention span is only 8 seconds. In order to keep someone’s attention, you need to give them something worth reading. This is where content pillars come in.

A content pillar is a narrow and deep exploration of a particular topic. The length of a pillar varies by industry, but for a B2B SaaS startup, it is usually 3,000 – 5,000 words.

Content pillars are important because they give you the chance to really dive deep into a topic and explore it from all angles. By writing pillar content, you are showing your audience that you are an expert on the subject and that they can trust you to give them the information they need.

If you’re not sure what kind of content to write, start by thinking about the questions your target audience is asking. What do they need to know? What would be helpful for them? Once you have a few ideas, you can start to flesh out your content pillars.

Build Your Content Creation Process

Building a content creation process might seem like a daunting task, but it’s actually quite simple. It includes things like your editorial process, workflows, and tools.

By taking the time to outline your content creation process, you’ll save yourself time and energy in the long run. Plus, your process will be more efficient and your content will be of a higher quality. Not sure where to start? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. Define your goals: What are you trying to achieve with your content?
  2. Outline your editorial process: Who will be responsible for creating content, and what steps will they need to take?
  3. Choose the right tools: What software or platforms will you use to create and manage your content?
  4. Test and refine your process: As with any process, it’s important to test and refine your content creation process to ensure it’s efficient and effective.

Your content creation process is the system you use to actually create and publish your content. This system should be efficient and organized so that you can produce high-quality content on a regular basis.

A good content creation process will help you save time and money while also ensuring that your content is effective and engaging.

There are a few key elements to a successful content creation process. 

  • First, you need a clear understanding of your audience and what they want to see.
  • Second, you need to be able to generate ideas quickly and efficiently. 
  • Third, you need to have a system for creating and editing your content. 
  • Fourth, you need to have a plan for publishing and promoting your content.

If you can master these elements, you’ll be well on your way to creating content that your audience will love.

Having a system in place is key to staying organized and on track. 

Currently I’m building Notion OS systems based on productized services we offer at Leadhackrs. They will be offered for free to active members within our Slack communities. If interested, connect and DM me on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

By creating templates for your content within one of these systems, you can streamline your process and save yourself a lot of time in the long run. Plus, you’ll be able to track your progress and ensure that all your content is consistent with your brand identity.

Create Your Content Distribution Plan

There are a number of ways to distribute your content. Consider using an email newsletter, Twitter Threads, Instagram, and LinkedIn carousels to reach your audience. 

By using a variety of platforms, you can ensure that your content is seen by as many people as possible. Email newsletters are a great way to reach a large number of people at once, and Twitter Threads and Instagram carousels are great for engaging your audience and sparking conversation. 

LinkedIn is a great platform for reaching professionals and thought leaders in your industry. By creating a content distribution plan that includes a variety of platforms, you can reach the widest possible audience.

Think about which channels will work best for you and your content. You need to consider which channels will work best for you based on your type of content, resources, and target audience. You also need to think about your goals for content distribution. 

Are you trying to build awareness, generate leads, or drive sales? Once you know your goals, you can choose the best channels for your content.

Recruit to Build Your Content Marketing Team

A content marketing team should be built with the customer in mind. Every team member should be focused on creating content that is interesting, useful, and engaging for your target audience.

The content strategist is responsible for developing the overall content strategy and plan. They work with the other team members to ensure that all of the content created aligns with the brand voice and messaging.

The copywriter creates the actual content. They write blog posts, articles, emails, and social media posts. They also work on developing any other collateral that might be needed, such as ebooks or whitepapers.

The designer creates the visuals for the content. They make sure that the blog posts are easy to read and look great on all devices. They also develop infographics, email templates, and social media images.

The developer builds and maintains the website and blog. They make sure that all of the content is easy to find and that the website loads quickly. They also handle any technical issues that might come up.

Ideally, you want a team of people who are responsible for creating, distributing, and managing your content marketing. But if you don’t have the resources for that, you can still make do with a smaller team. Just make sure you have someone who is responsible for each key area. 

Having someone who is solely responsible for creating the content ensures that someone is always working on new material. And having someone to manage the process ensures that the content is being distributed and promoted effectively.

There are a lot of moving parts to content marketing, and it can be difficult to keep up with everything yourself. That’s where outside help comes in. 

Leadhackrs vetted freelance marketplace can provide you with the content creators you need to keep your content marketing efforts humming. We have writers, no-code designers, and other marketers who can help you produce the high-quality content your audience craves. And, because they’re freelancers, you can bring them in on an as-needed basis, which can save you time and money.

A content marketing engine is the key to success for any SaaS startup that wants to take its content marketing to the next level. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to building a world-class engine that will help you achieve your business goals.

 

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The Definitive Guide to Guest Blogging

As a content creator, it’s essential to have a strong personal brand. After all, your personal brand is what sets you apart from your competition and helps you attract your ideal clients. But how do you go about building a strong personal brand?

One of the best ways to build your personal brand is by guest blogging. When you guest blog on other people’s websites, you get exposure to their audience, which can help you attract new readers and followers.

What is Guest Blogging?

When you guest blog, you submit a blog post to an editor’s site with the expectation it will be published on your website.

As a content creator, you will usually work in the same industry as the company and write about topics that align with each other’s brand.

This is a great way to give fresh perspectives on your industry and build relationships with other content creators.

Benefits of Guest Blogging

Guest blogging allows you to reach a new audience and share your expertise with a wider group of people.

It can also serve as a way to document what you’ve learned from building in public and allow you to position yourself as an expert in your industry.

And if you do it right, you can generate leads and build backlinks to help out with your SEO efforts.

Set Specific, Achievable Guest Blogging Goals

Before you sit down to write, it’s important to take a step back and think about your goals.

  • What do you want to achieve with your writing?
  • Are you looking to generate leads, build brand awareness, or drive traffic to your website?

Keep your goals in mind as you write, and tailor your content to meet those objectives.

By aligning your content with your business goals, you can ensure that your writing is working hard to support your success.

Choose topics that will benefit your own business goals.

The success of any content marketing strategy depends on aligning your content with your business goals.

Whether you’re looking to build thought leadership, drive traffic to your site, or do something else entirely, your content must be crafted with your goals in mind.

When planning your content strategy, start by identifying your top business goals. From there, you can reverse engineer the kind of content that will help you achieve those goals.

Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can choose topics that will help you achieve those goals.

  • For example, if you want to increase brand awareness, you could write about your company’s history, your mission, or your values.
  • If you want to drive traffic to your website, you could write about your latest product or service, or share a helpful tip or tutorial.
  • And if you want to generate leads, you could write about a special offer or discount.

Of course, your goals must align with the publication. From my experience having the ability to properly promote products in an organic way is often bypassed when someone has the mindset of doing link-building vs. digital pr.

No matter what your goals are, good editors of sites you reach out to can help you identify topics to create a win-win relationship.

Honestly, I simply ask editors what topics they are prioritizing and see if I have any angles that align with their content goals.

Obviously, it’s taken years of building relationships to get to where I’m at now.

How to Prioritize Guest Post Opportunities

There are a lot of guest blogging opportunities out there, but not all of them are created equal.

Guest blogging on a site with a high domain authority can be beneficial, as it can help improve your own site’s search engine ranking.

To answer this question, you’ll need to first understand what “authority” means in the context of SEO. Generally speaking, authority is a measure of a website’s popularity and trustworthiness.

The higher a website’s authority, the more likely it is to rank well in search engine results pages (SERPs).

There are a number of ways to measure a website’s authority. Two popular methods are Moz’s “DA” metric and Ahrefs “DR” metric. 

To find the websites with the most authority in your industry, I recommend using Moz’s toolbar to start out because it’s free.

Seek to write for sites whose score is 20 above yours. Once your DA score is 40 and above you, it will become easier to write for sites whose score is 30 above yours.

Find Relevant Sites to Contribute Guest Posts For

When you’re looking for sites to contribute guest posts to there’s several strategies you can use.

  • Strategy 1: A simple but effective strategy is using Google search. Just use these different combinations of search parameters.
    • Your Keyword “guest post”
    • Your Keyword “write for us”
    • Your Keyword “guest article”
    • Your Keyword “guest post opportunities”
    • Your Keyword “submit blog post”
  • Strategy 2: Google Reverse Image Search is a powerful tool that can help you find websites that would be interested in your guest post. Simply visit Google Image Search and upload an image from your blog post, and Google will search for websites that have used that image. This is a great way to find websites that are relevant to your topic, and that would be interested in your guest post.
  • Strategy 3: One way to find relevant sites to contribute guest posts for is to reverse engineer your competitor’s backlinks. This means finding out which sites are linking to your competitor’s website and then approaching those same sites about writing a guest post for them. This strategy is best done with Ahrefs (focus on sites that are DR50+).

These three strategies are great ways to identify publications to reach out to. If you can provide value and offer something unique, you’ll be more likely to get accepted as a guest contributor.

Conduct Guest Blogging Outreach & Pitch Editors

Once you have a list of target publications, you can start the process of pitching your article to the editors.

When you’re guest blogging, it’s important to make sure you’re pitching the right editor at each publication. You don’t want your article to get lost in the shuffle, so it’s worth taking the time to do your research.

LinkedIn and Twitter are both great places to start your research. LinkedIn can help you find contact information for editors, and Twitter can help you get a sense of what each editor is looking for.

Here are the 5 most common job titles for editors of publications that I’ve noticed. This is based on my experience writing for over 200 tech publications such as Crunchbase, HubSpot, Aroll, and many more.

  • Head of Content
  • Managing Editor
  • Director of Content
  • Director of SEO
  • VP of Marketing

Once you’ve found the right editor, you can craft a pitch that’s tailored to their needs and increase your chances of getting your article published.

The most important part of a guest blogging pitch is tailoring it to the specific publication you’re pitching. A generic pitch is more likely to be ignored, while a pitch that’s tailored to the publication’s audience and style is more likely to be well-received.

Take the time to research the publication and its audience, and then craft a pitch that will resonate with them. Be sure to include some information about your own qualifications and why you’re the best person to write about the topic you’re proposing.

To do blogger outreach at scale look into getting a LinkedIn Sales Navigator account and tracking editors you’re seeking to build relationships with.

Due to recent email spam changes, cold outreach at scale isn’t nearly as effective.

I suggest doing outreach manually until you’ve written some guest posts and then start using the “Mention outreach technique” via LinkedIn and Twitter.

I’m a huge fan of this strategy. It involves sending emails or social DM’s to anyone that you mention in your content and letting them know that you’ve written (or talked) about them.

This is a great way to build relationships with brands, and it can also lead to some great guest blogging opportunities.

Follow Sites Guest Post Guidelines

If you want to write guest posts that editors will love, pay attention to any guest post guidelines they provide, as well as their editorial calendar.

These resources will give you a good sense of what kind of content they’re looking for and when they need it. Once you have a good understanding of their needs, you can craft articles that are sure to impress.

Write Guest Blog Posts That Editors Love

Now that you’ve landed a guest blogging opportunity, it’s time to write a great post.

But what makes a post great?

Editors are looking for posts that are well-written, informative, and on-topic. A great guest post will capture the attention of the reader and leave them wanting more.

To write a guest post that editors will love, start by doing your research. Know your audience and what kind of information they’re looking for. Then, write a catchy headline that will grab their attention.

Make sure your post is well-written and free of errors. And finally, include a call to action to encourage the reader to take the next step.

Your headline is the first, and sometimes only, the chance you have to make an impression. So it’s important to make sure your headlines are compelling and interesting. A good headline will entice readers to click through to your article, and a great headline will also be shared on social media and other websites. But how do you write a great headline?

Here are a few tips:

  1. Keep it short and to the point
  2. Use strong verbs
  3. Make it clear what the article is about
  4. Use numbers or lists
  5. Use keywords

By following these tips, you can write headlines that will grab attention and get people interested in reading your articles.

Your guest blog posts should tell a story that engages the reader and keeps them coming back for more. A strong story will make your post stand out from the rest and will give the editor a reason to keep featuring your work.

When writing your story, think about who your audience is and what would be most interesting or useful to them. Remember to keep your language clear and concise, and your story will be sure to captivate your readers.

Including images, infographics, and explainer videos in your blog post is a great way to break up the text and keep readers engaged. People are visual learners, and including visuals in your posts will help them understand and remember your content better.

In addition, posts with visuals tend to get more shares and engagement on social media. So if you want your blog post to be successful, be sure to include some visuals!

Ensure to Include Links To Your Content

If you’re writing a guest blog post, be sure to include 1-2 links to your own blog or website. This is a great way to promote your brand and get more traffic to your site. Just be sure that the links are relevant to the article and add value for the reader.

Create Your Guest Blog Post Bio

A brief bio at the end of your guest blog post will help you establish credibility with your readers. It will also give them a sense of who you are and what you’re all about. A bio should be short and to the point, and it should include your most relevant qualifications and accomplishments.

Make sure to include your contact information and social media links so readers can connect with you. Your bio should be brief and to the point. It should give readers an idea of who you are and what you do.

How to Promote Your Guest Blog Posts

There’s no denying the power of social media. With billions of people using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram every day, it’s no wonder that businesses are using social media to promote their content. Guest blogging is one of the best ways to get your name and your work out there, and social media is a great way to promote your guest blog posts

By sharing your posts on social media, you can reach a wider audience and get more people interested in what you have to say. So if you’re looking for a way to promote your guest blog posts, don’t forget to use social media to your advantage.

Sharing your post on social media sites is a great way to promote your guest blog posts. When you share your post on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram, you are giving your posts exposure to a wider audience. This will help you attract more readers and followers.

It’s not enough to simply publish your guest blog post–you also need to promote it if you want it to be successful. One of the best ways to promote your post is through social media.

Here’s an example of my current content creation and content distribution strategy.

  • I write my long-form blog posts using Letterdrop.
  • I develop my Twitter Threads with Hypefury.
  • I use Contentdrips to quickly repurpose my Twitter Threads and create Instagram and LinkedIn carousels.

Sharing your posts in relevant communities (Slack/Discord) are also great ways to get exposure for your guest blog post.

When you share your post in a community, make sure to include a brief description of what the post is about, and why you think the community would find it valuable.

For example, if you’re sharing a post about SEO in a Quora community, you might say something like,

“I just published a guest blog post about SEO tips for small businesses. I think this community would find it valuable because…”.

Then, include a link to your post.

Track Your Posts Results Over Time

Track your guest blogging efforts as part of your overall digital pr efforts. This should be measured through brand mentions and backlinks.

Google Alerts is a great way to track your personal brand online. You can set up an alert for your name, website, or for key phrases related to your brand. The alert will send you notifications whenever your brand is mentioned online. I recommend setting up a tab and having your alerts bypass your inbox to keep your emails organized.

As a content creator, it’s important to keep track of your goals and the metrics that matter to you. By tracking your results over time, you can see what’s working and what’s not.

This information is valuable in helping you to adjust your strategy and tactics. Additionally, tracking your results can help you to identify trends and patterns. This information can be used to inform your future marketing decisions.

Scale Your Gust Blogging Efforts

Ok! If you’ve found this to be a bit overwheling you have several options.

  • You can look into alternative digital pr strategies based on what type of content you prefer to create
  • Or you may want to consider hiring a digital PR agency to help with your guest blogging efforts.

For one, a digital pr agency can help you to identify relevant blogs and websites to target. They can also help you to develop relationships with these sites and to pitch stories in a way that is likely to be successful.

Additionally, they can help you to manage the logistics of guest blogging, including coordinating with editors and ensuring that your posts are published on a timely basis.

If you’re looking to take your blogging efforts to the next level, working with a digital PR agency can be a great way to get published on high-authority sites, promote your content, and build do-follow backlinks to your site.

Some digital PR agencies, such as Leadhackrs, even provide money-back guaranteed results. Whether you’re looking to increase traffic to your site, build your brand’s authority, or both, working with a digital PR agency can be a great way to achieve your goals.

 

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The Complete Guide on Building in Public

There’s a new era of startups on the rise, and they’re doing things differently. They’re building their SaaS startups in public, sharing their progress, challenges, and learnings with the world.

This new era of startups is fueled by a belief that transparency breeds trust, builds community, and attracts talent.

If you’re a creator or founder seeking to build your personal brand this guide will paint a complete picture of building in public so you can make a decision if it’s right for you.

What is “Build in Public”?

The term “build in public” refers to the practice of startups sharing their progress, challenges, and lessons learned with their audiences.

This allows startups to get create a feedback loop and quickly get input from customers and fans and builds transparency and trust. It also allows startups to build a community of supporters who can help them with their startups.

The new era of startups is all about transparency. “Build in Public” is the new era of startups where everything is out in the open. No longer do startups have to hide their work in progress or their struggles.

Everything is out in the open for everyone to see. This new era of startups is all about building in public and being transparent with your work.

It’s a move away from the “secretive” stealth startup culture, and it can be a great way to build buzz and excitement around your product.

When you build in public, you’re sharing your process with the world and inviting people to participate in your journey. It’s a riskier way of doing business, but it can pay off big time if done well.

How did Building in Public Become Popular?

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the popularity of “building in public.” One of the most important is the rise of social media.

With more and more people sharing their work online, it’s become easier for people to find and connect with others who are doing similar things.

Additionally, the number of people who are working on side projects and sharing their work online has grown tremendously in recent years. This has created a community of like-minded individuals who are eager to help and support each other.

Finally, the “build in public” approach has been popularized by a number of successful people who have shared their stories and offered advice to others.

The Benefits of Building in Public

There are a number of benefits to building in public, but one of the most important is that it helps you find product-market fit.

It can be difficult to gauge whether or not people are actually interested in what you’re building, but if you’re openly sharing your progress and soliciting feedback, it becomes a lot easier. People are more likely to give you honest feedback if they know you’re open to hearing it, and that feedback can be invaluable in helping you fine-tune your product.

In addition, building in public can also help build interest and anticipation around your product, which can be helpful in generating buzz and attracting users when you’re ready to launch.

It can be difficult to generate revenue when you first start a business. You have to invest time and money into building your product or service, and it can be hard to get people to pay for something that’s not yet proven. When you build in public, you’re able to generate revenue from day one.

People are willing to pay for your product or service because they can see the value in it. They’re also more likely to spread the word about your business, which can help you grow even more.

Building in public often leads to a community-led growth strategy. By engaging with your audience and being transparent about your process, you can build a community of supporters who will help you to grow and scale your business.

This is a more sustainable way to grow a business, as it is not reliant on paid advertising or other marketing tactics. Instead, it relies on the support of a community of passionate people who believe in what you’re doing.

If you’re building something in public, you’re much more likely to be held accountable for your goals. People will be watching your progress and cheering you on (or, in some cases, calling you out), and that can be a great motivator to stay on track. You’ll also get feedback from your audience that can help you improve your product.

If you’re not already doing it, building in public is a great way to raise your profile and build your personal brand. When you’re transparent about your work, people can see your process and your progress, and that builds trust. People are also more likely to remember you when they see your name and face regularly. So if you’re looking for ways to stand out and get noticed, building in public is a great way to do it.

Examples of Startups Building in Public

The best way to learn and grow is to put yourself out there, and that means being open to criticism. It can be tough to hear people say negative things about your work, but it’s important to remember that not everyone is going to like everything you do. 

The important thing is to listen to criticism and use it to improve your work. If you’re afraid of criticism, you’ll never reach your full potential. So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and embrace the criticism when it comes.

The Open Startup Initiative encourages startups to be more transparent with their customers, and many companies are embracing this philosophy. By being open about their plans, progress, and challenges, startups can build trust and loyalty with their customers. 

Customers appreciate knowing what’s going on behind the scenes, and they’re more likely to stick with a company that’s open and honest.

Some SaaS startups who build in public include:

  • Baremetrics
  • ConvertKit
  • Ecologi
  • Snipe-It
  • Hyperping
  • Scrumpy
  • Vera

Is Building in Public Suitable for Every Startup?

If you’re just starting out, it might be best to keep things private. This way, you can avoid any unnecessary criticism or judgment.

Additionally, you’ll be able to control the narrative around your product. Once you’ve launched and things are going well, you can start to build in public. This will help you attract more attention and users.

As you gain more traction, you may want to consider opening up and being more transparent with your customers. This can help build trust and create a stronger relationship with your customers. If you’re not sure if this is right for your startup, you can always talk to your customers and get their feedback.

They may be more receptive to this than you think. Ultimately, you want to do what’s best for your business and your customers. If you decide that building in public is the way to go, then go for it!

If you’re the kind of person who is comfortable being open and honest about your process, then building in public may be a good fit for you. It can be a great way to connect with potential customers and get feedback early on. 

However, it’s not for everyone. You need to be comfortable with the idea of people watching you work, and you need to be ok with the possibility of things not working out.

But if you’re up for it, building in public can be a great way to connect with your audience and create something special.

Risks when building in public

When you build in public, you lose some control over messaging and branding. You also expose your trade secrets, which could lead to copycats. These are all risks that you need to be aware of when you’re building in public.

There is a risk of oversharing and revealing too much when building in public. This can be damaging to your personal brand and reputation, and it can also discourage potential customers from doing business with you.

It’s important to be mindful of what you share and to remember that not everything needs to be shared publicly. Sometimes, it’s best to keep some things private.

No one likes to be told their baby is ugly, but it’s a risk you run when you put your work out there for the world to see. You might get negative feedback that can be hard to take, but it’s important to remember that not everyone is going to like what you’ve created.

If you can take the criticism in stride and use it to improve your work, then you’re on the right track. Keep your head up and keep moving forward.

How to Build in Public Successfully

Finding your tribe of 1,000 true fans is essential to your success. They will be the ones who help you grow and succeed.

A true fan is someone who will support you no matter what. They will buy your products, attend your events, and tell their friends about you.

They are the ones who keep you going when times are tough. 

If you want to build in public successfully, you need to be clear about your goals and what you’re trying to achieve. You need to be clear about what you’re trying to accomplish, and why you’re doing it. Being clear about your goals will help you stay focused and motivated, and it will also help you attract the right people to your project. 

People are more likely to support and engage with a project that has a clear purpose and direction. So if you want to build in public successfully, make sure you know what you’re trying to achieve, and be clear about it.

When you’re building in public, it’s important to be consistent with your updates and communication. This will help you maintain a good relationship with your audience, and it will also help you attract new people to your project.

Channels to use for communicating when Building in public

Stories are a powerful way to connect with an audience and build an emotional connection. When done well, stories can transport us to other times and places, make us laugh, or even make us cry.

They can also inspire us to action. Good stories have a beginning, middle, and end, and a strong emotional arc that engages the reader or listener.

As a startup founder, you can use stories to connect with your audience and communicate your brand’s values in a way that is relatable and memorable.

There are a few key channels you can use to share your story when you’re building in public:

  1. Your website or blog: This is usually the hub for all your other communication channels. Use it to share your progress, announcements, and thoughts on your build.
  2. Social media: Use social media to drive traffic to your website or blog, and to share quick updates and thoughts on your build.
  3. Forums and discussion boards: These can be great places to get feedback from other people who are interested in your build.
  4. Email list: If you have a mailing list for your build, use it to share announcements, progress updates, and thoughts on your build.

Storytelling techniques founders use when building in public

We’re in the midst of a new wave of creators and founders who are building their companies in public, from the ground up.

This new breed of entrepreneur is using social media and other online platforms to create and cultivate relationships with their customers, giving them a direct line of feedback that they can use to improve their products and services.

Building in public can be a great way to validate your idea, build a community, and get feedback.

These founders are also using public platforms to raise awareness and funds for their businesses. In many cases, they’re bypassing traditional VCs and going straight to the people.

This new way of building a business is more transparent, and it’s giving rise to a new generation of companies that are more responsive to their customers and more open to feedback.

The type of content founders share when building in public varies a lot. What I most frequently see is:

  • Business metrics and milestones.
  • Clever strategies.
  • Bug fixes and new features/projects.
  • Insights about unknown aspects of an industry or a company.
  • Obstacles they come across and how they overcame them.
  • Product or feature ideas and requests for feedback.
  • Quotes or screenshots of feedback from their users.
  • Updates on stuff they have shared in the past.
  • What they have done during the day or week and their pending tasks.

Hire a Content Marketer to help you build in public

If you’re feeling stuck or like you’re not reaching your target audience, it might be time to hire a content marketer

They can help you identify the right platforms and channels to build in public. They can also help you create content that resonates with your audience and helps you achieve your business goals. If you’re not sure where to start, a content marketer can be a valuable asset to your team.

If you don’t have the budget to hire a full-time content marketer, consider outsourcing the work to a freelancer. There are many talented content marketers out there who can help you produce high-quality content on a regular basis.

The key is to find someone who understands your brand and your audience and who can produce content that resonates with them. 

Once you find a good freelancer, you can develop a long-term relationship with them and continue to produce great content that will help you build your brand and grow your business.

If you’re thinking about starting a company, consider building it in public. By sharing your journey with the world, you’ll attract like-minded individuals who can help you on your way to success.

You’ll also build trust with your future customers and create a community of supporters who believe in your mission.

 

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The Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Booked as a Podcast Guest

Are you looking to get booked as a podcast guest? If so, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide to getting booked on podcasts to amplify your digital pr efforts.

We’ll also share some insider tips and resources that will help you increase your chances of being selected as a guest.

What is Podcast Guesting?

Podcast guesting is when you are a guest on someone else’s podcast. This can be a great way to build exposure for your brand or business. When you are a guest on a podcast, you are able to share your expertise with a new audience. This can help you to attract new customers or clients.

Podcast guesting is a great way to build thought leadership and increase visibility for your brand. It allows you to share your story and expertise with a wide audience, and to connect with influencers in your industry. 

The key to success is to find the right podcasts to guest on and to prepare well for your interviews. When done correctly, podcast guesting can be a powerful way to reach new audiences and grow your business.

To truly study this digital pr technique, analyze podcast shows you listen to which have guests. I tend to enjoy cultural media content because of its engagement and often its marketing strategies are ahead of the tech industry.

Off The Record, Joe Rogan Experience, Trapital, and Million Dollars Worth of Games are four podcasts that I currently enjoy because they do a great job of blending culture, business, politics, and even religion.

Benefits of Podcast Guesting

Podcast guesting is a great way to generate leads and get in front of a new audience. It allows you to share your expertise with a wider audience, and to build relationships with other thought leaders in your industry. If you do it right, you can come away with new leads, new business opportunities, and a better understanding of your industry.

Developing the Mindset of a Top Content Creator

Ok! By now you’re probably convinced… If you want to be a top podcast guest, you need to develop the mindset of a top content creator.

This means thinking about your audience first and foremost and creating content that is interesting and useful to them. It also means being consistent, and putting in the work to grow your audience and keep them engaged. 

Consistent & Persistent Grind:

Top content creators have a strong work ethic and are always looking for ways to improve their craft. They are also passionate about their topics and love sharing their knowledge with others. If you can develop this mindset, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a top content creator.

Here’s what the top content creator’s grind looks like:

  • Podcasters: 3 Episodes that are 30+ minutes weekly 
  • YouTubers: 3 weekly videos that are 10+ minutes each
  • Twitch Streamers: 25+ hours of streaming per week
  • TikTokers: 3 videos per day (repurposed on Instagram/YouTube shorts)
  • Bloggers: Consistently writing 2,000 words per day 

You should seek to consistently do 8 podcast guest appearances (around 30 minutes each) per month.

Also, invest the time in learning to repurpose and distribute the content you are creating. Or you can hire an experienced marketing agency that focuses on your industry.

Learn From Other Industries

The tech startup scene often can feel like an echo chamber. Being a minority in tech (POC) often I like to study content creators of color in other industries.

We all should seek to take notes from content creators who’ve quickly scaled on video and audio platforms to see how we can integrate their strategies within our business.

In 2022 here are some content creators who have been consistently publishing content and seeing rapid growth.

  • Media Personalities: DJ Akademiks, Alex Hormozi, Kai Cenat, Adin Ross, Dan Runcie,
  • Rappers: Snoop Dogg, Tee Grizzly, NBA Young Boy, Travis Scott
  • Streaming Clans: Faze Clan, AMP, OTF Gaming, Grizley Gang

I can only imagine if tech companies develop a media company mindset and invested in turning employees into influencers… Until then founders and creators who are building in public will continue crushing it!

Finding Your 1000 True Fans

Now that you have the right mindset and understand how to continue mastering your craft it’s time to determine how to measure your podcast guesting efforts. 

The idea of a “true fan” was first coined by Kevin Kelly, and it’s based on the idea that if you have a community of just 1000 passionate fans, you can make a living. This is because true fans are not just casual followers, but people who are deeply engaged with your content and will support you financially.

If you’re focused on creating content that is truly valuable to your audience, you will naturally attract a community of true fans. These are the people who will become your biggest advocates, and who will help you to continue creating great content. You want to develop a Slack or Discord channel for your 1,000 True Fans who are committed to creating user-generated content to help grow your startup. 

This will serve as your community-led growth strategy. Top content creators on YouTube/Twitch have been doing this and most recently Web3 companies have adopted this practice. Within startups community managers are in high demand… and for a good reason.

When doing podcast guesting, consistently promote your community and share your ungated resources within Slack or Discord. In many ways having a community can replace having a traditional email list.

So to sum it up track the ROI of your podcast guesting efforts by the growth of your community and digital pr mentions (often tracks by do-follow backlinks).

Ok! So now lets us dive into the step-by-step guide to getting booked as a podcast guest.

  • Create a Podcast Guest One Sheet

A podcast guest sheet is a one-page document that includes:

  •  A brief bio that’s 500-1,000 words written in 3rd person
  • A professional headshot and a portfolio of images for graphics
  • Social media links along with follower count and engagement metrics
  • Links to your past press (podcast guest appearances, guest posts, webinar presentations)
  • List 10 topics you’re comfortable discussing

It’s a valuable tool for podcasters who want to make sure they’re prepared for their interviews and that their guests are comfortable and well-informed.

There are a number of different ways to create a guest sheet. Some hosts prefer a simple, straightforward form, while others like to include a more detailed questionnaire. There is no right or wrong way to do it, as long as the guest sheet is helpful to you in preparing for the interview.

If you want to save yourself time, simply invest in a professional podcast guest one sheet template.

  • Create a Targeted List of Podcasts

When you’re ready to begin looking for podcasts to target, it’s a good idea to check out podcast directories so you can find ones that are a good fit for you and your message. This will help you narrow down your search so you’re not wasting your time on podcasts that aren’t relevant to your brand. 

Here are the top 3 podcast directories I would recommend:

  • ListenNotes
  • PodMatch
  • MatchMarker.fm

If you are in the tech startup space, Leadhackrs maintains a digital pr directory based on our own digital pr efforts. To gain access simply join our Slack channel.

Podcast Outreach CRMs

If you want to be a successful podcaster, you need to invest in a good podcast guest CRM. This will help you keep track of your guests and make sure you’re always reaching out to new and interesting people. I highly recommend you set up a CRM using Notion, AirTable, or Google Sheets. Once you have a good CRM in place, it’s time to start doing podcast outreach. 

Here are key fields to include within your podcast outreach CRM:

  • Email Address
  • Podcast Host Name
  • Podcast Website URL
  • Size of Audience
  • Production Quality
  • Social Media Handles
  • Topics Podcast Covers
  • Podcast Interview Status

Building Your Podcast Guesting Outreach List

As you create your list of potential podcasts to target, there are a few key factors to keep in mind. First, consider the size of the audience. A large audience is not always better – you want to make sure that the podcast has listeners who are likely to be interested in your brand. 

Second, assess the quality of the production. A high-quality podcast will have good audio quality and interesting content. Finally, make sure there is a good fit with your brand. The podcast should be relevant to your industry and target audience.

This means finding and contacting potential guests who you think would be a good fit for your show. It’s important to be proactive and persistent when doing outreach, as it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the process. 

But if you stick with it, you’ll be able to build up a strong roster of guests that will help make your show a success.

There are a lot of podcasts out there, but not all of them are a good fit for your brand. Be sure to target only those that align with your brand. This will help you create a more targeted list of potential listeners, and you’ll be more likely to get your message across.

  • Craft Your Podcast Outreach Scripts

When you reach out to podcast hosts, you want to make sure you include all the important information so they can make a decision. In your introduction, be sure to include your website and a link to your podcast guest one sheet. 

Your goal with a podcast email outreach script is to get the attention of the person you’re trying to reach and to get them interested in what you have to say. The best way to do this is to keep your script short, sweet, and to the point. You want to make sure you’re getting your point across without rambling or sounding like you’re trying to sell something. 

It can be difficult to get a response from a busy person, but following up a week after your initial contact can show that you’re really interested in having them on your show.

A personal email or message can go a long way in getting a response, and it may be the extra push that they need to say yes.

The more you can connect with the podcast host and audience, the more likely you are to get booked. So don’t be afraid to be yourself, and let your enthusiasm for the topic shine through.

Here’s a podcast email outreach example from Erik Jacobson who’ve gotten content creators on shows like the Joe Rogan Experience, and Tim Ferriss Podcast.

Erik Podcast Outreach Script

  • Preparing For Your Podcast Guest Interviews

When you’re a guest on a podcast, you want to make sure you’re delivering content that the target audience will enjoy. To do that, you need to find out what the target audience of the podcast is, and what type of content they enjoy. 

You can do this by doing some research on the podcast and its host, and by listening to a few episodes to get a feel for the tone and content. Once you know what the target audience is looking for, you can tailor your content to fit their needs.

If you’re serious about podcasting, you need to invest in professional podcast audio equipment. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune, but it does mean getting a quality microphone, audio interface, and headphones. This will ensure that your audio is clear and professional sounding, which is important if you want to grow your audience.

  • Helping Promote Podcast Episode

Podcast distribution is often done via RSS, which makes them syndicated and easy to promote across social media channels. 

Most podcasts will also promote their episodes across social media channels. This helps to spread the word and get more people to listen. 

At the bare minimum, you should retweet and share their social posts. This shows your support and helps to get the word out there.  

You can also share your thoughts on the episode in a review or on social media. This helps to create buzz and gets people talking about the show.

Ready to Scale Your Digital PR Efforts?

It’s important to follow up with podcast hosts after your appearance to thank them for having you on the show. Always ask for a do-follow backlink in show notes to help with digital pr. By doing this, you’re ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your appearance and that your digital pr efforts are paying off.

It comes down to time vs. money. If you’re seeking to scale but strapped for time consider hiring.

Here are four options

  • Option 1: If you’re strapped for cash you can do the DIY method and use free and cheap tools.
  • Option 2: A podcast booking agency’s average cost up to $500 per booked episode.
  • Option 3: A recommended alternative is developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and using remote freelancers located abroad.
  • Option 4: Partner with a marketplace such as Leadhackrs, that has vetted freelancers and documented SOPs for productized services.

Let’s chat if you want to get in 8+ podcast guest appearances per month, with our guaranteed results we remove all of the risks.

By following the steps in this guide and utilizing the resources we’ve shared, you’ll be well on your way to getting booked as a podcast guest. 

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11 Link Building Strategies For Startups That Actually Work

With the rise of artificial intelligence software that uses GPT-3 the competition to rank on search engines has increased. Thankfully unique and engaging content continues to rise to the top of most search engines such as Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and others.

Often link building strategies are associated with written content but throughout this article, you will learn to embrace all mediums such as text, audio, and video to help with your SEO efforts.

I’ve been featured in over 200 publications over the past 3 years such as HubSpot, Crunchbase, AdRoll, Outbrain, and many more.

This experience has taught me the intricate details of how content marketing programs often change based on startup funding rounds (closely related to internal staff).

If you want people to link to your content… well you need to have good content. (Mic drop)

Your content should be informative, helpful, or otherwise interesting to your target audience. If it isn’t, people won’t want to link to it.

Asking for a link to your product and service pages from authoritative publications won’t work anymore, and rightfully so. Google wants helpful content.

The good news is, if you create quality content (no matter the medium), people will be more likely to link to it naturally. Also, if done right you can do outreach where editors actually aren’t annoyed.

1. The Hub & Spoke Content Model 2.0

Consider using the hub and spoke content model, but modifying it based on your industry, budget, and staff.

Two impressive hubs and spoke models include Justin Welsh’s The Content OS model ( recommended for bootstrapped founders) which is focused on his newsletter and social media. I’ve found his strategy to align with how some Web 3.0 startups have scaled through community-led growth.

Another hub and spoke model that stands out includes Jake Ward content strategy (recommended for funded startups) which aligns in many ways with how I use Letterdrop content writing ai software.

We will dive into Jakes’s hub & spoke content model since it’s aligned with many web 2.0 startup resources.

  1. Let’s start off by grouping keywords into topics based on the SERP.
  2. Target those topics, not individual keywords.
  3. Talk to customers to identify their pain points.
  4. Prioritize topics based on revenue potential.
  5. Take time to learn the searcher’s true intent.
  6. Only use as many words as there needs to be. Write great content that helps solve problems.
  7. Complete 12 months of SEO work in 12 weeks by using content writing ai tools for your TOFU content.
  8. Start at the BOFU/MOFU and work your way up.
  9. Create linkable assets that attract backlinks.
  10. Strategically internally link with topic clusters

Ok! I don’t expect you to implement all of this at once before starting to proactively build backlinks.

As someone who offers digital pr and content writing services, I highly recommend you create your BOFU content internally and then use agencies or freelancers to help with your MOFU and TOFU content.

tofu, mofu, bofu infographic

From my experience, theirs often a learning curve to learning the nuances of startup products.

When it comes to BOFU content, it’s far quicker and cheaper if a founder uses Google Docs talk-to-text feature along with Grammarly.

An alternative method is recording yourself, using a transcription service, and then hiring a copywriter for your BOFU content. Please keep in consideration when getting estimates that a content writer and a copywriter are not the same.

Once, you create your BOFU content you will find that it serves as both your sales enablement content and also allows you to easily educate/onboard content writers.

Ok! I’ve just thrown a lot at you. Just remember, done is better than perfect.

2. Guest Podcasting is the New Guest Blogging

Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, which means there are more opportunities to be a guest on a show. If you’re an early-stage startup founder, being a guest on a popular podcast is a great way to earn backlinks.

Not only will you get exposure to a new audience, but you’ll also be able to share your expert knowledge on the topic. This is a win-win for both you and the podcast host.

To get started, you should build a podcast pitch deck and podcast email outreach script.

Then you can begin reaching out to podcasts that are relevant to your industry and offer to be a guest. This is a great way to get your name and your brand out there.

If you can provide value and insights on a topic that is important to your industry, you will be able to build a following and attract new customers.

If you enjoy this strategy and want to access my podcast directory for SaaS startups (which is an ever-expanding Notion template) use this form and I will send you a link.

3. Getting “Featured In” Text Interviews

If you’re turned off by podcast guesting then consider getting featured in publications that do text interviews. They are similar, except that instead of being interviewed on a podcast, you’re interviewed via email (or sometimes in person).

The format is usually the same, with the interviewer asking questions and the interviewee responding. The big difference is that text interviews can be conducted anywhere, at any time – which makes them a great option for busy people who can’t commit to a specific time and place for an interview.

The interviewer will then publish the interview on their website, along with a link to your website. This is a great way to get exposure for your startup and build relationships with influencers in your industry.

Text interviews are a quick and easy way to generate quality content that can be used to promote your business. Honestly, the most time-consuming part of text interviews is finding them and doing outreach.

Some examples of publications that do text interviews for SaaS founders include TechCrunch, FastCompany, and AfroTech.

It should be noted that unless you’re a startup founder who’s already gained some traction you should also consider getting featured in roundup posts which are a form of text interviews that are a bit easier if you don’t have clout.

If you enjoy this strategy and want to access my text interview directory for SaaS startups (which is an ever-expanding Notion template) use this form and I will send you a link.

4. Contribute Content to Relevant Publications

Want to get your name and brand in front of a whole new audience?  Then start by producing helpful and informative content. Share your knowledge and expertise, and provide value to readers.

When you do this, you’ll not only attract new readers, but you’ll also build trust and credibility. As a result, you’ll be in a better position to convert readers into customers or clients. So if you’re looking to reach a larger audience, start by creating content that is worth reading.

When you contribute content to publications, you often can include 1 or 2 do-follow backlinks back to your website. This helps you build credibility and authority in your industry, and can also drive traffic back to your site.

I recommend SaaS startups have BOFU & MOFU (case studies and product use cases) content that can be used. When done right you can include product screenshots and link to product pages because you’re showing how your SaaS companies improve a process.

For example:

Letterdrop content writing ai software can speed up the process of creating a rough draft for your TOFU content efforts.

Image

Ok! Make sure you only contribute to high-quality publications that are relevant to your SaaS startup. Submitting guest posts to irrelevant publications will not only be a waste of your time, but it could also damage your reputation.

If you’re up for doing guest blogging start off with developing your guest blogging strategy.

5. Mention Outreach Strategy

One way to get links which I’m a huge fan of is to send emails or social DM’s to anyone that you mention in your content and let them know that you’ve written (or talked) about them.

This is a great way to build relationships with influencers and brands, and it can also lead to some great partnership opportunities.

Most people are happy to share high-quality content that mentions them. With that said I recommend taking into consideration how popular the site is you’re mentioning.

For example, if you link to a large publication such as Forbes or TechCrunch chances are they likely won’t respond to your outreach efforts. To gain one of these columnist opportunities often they will only come through referrals and you will be required to submit content consistently.

Instead, focus on up-and-coming brands that are actively doing digital pr to grow their brands.

No matter who you mention in your content, be sure to reach out because not everyone is monitoring their brand mentions.

One advance tip: Start off by only giving unlinked mentions or no-follow backlinks. If you use this method and you’re reaching out to a tech-savvy marketer they are more than likely to respond with an ask for a do-follow link which opens the door to partnerships opportunity.

6. Editorial Partnerships

A common form of CoMarketing partnerships in the blogging world is called 3-way link exchanges which is a modified version of link exchanges.

However, I’ve found editorial partnerships (a concept I’ve created) to be far superior to 3-way link exchanges because it’s more aligned with creating an ongoing relationship verse a superficial one-time link exchange.

As well editorial partnerships help weed out companies that aren’t actively creating new content.

To sum it up both content creators have to be actively doing digital pr. This can consist of guest blogging, vlogging (webinar guest for b2b saas), or podcast guesting.

This allows both brands to mention each other organically within their content since you each have complimentary services.

All mentions don’t have to be do-follow backlinks. With the rise of dark social, we should accept we can’t directly track or quantify all marketing efforts (consider product placements within movies).

As you can see, If you’re not already consistently creating content, this strategy won’t work. You need to be creating content on a regular basis, and you need to have some credibility in order to make it work.

If you need help developing a digital pr strategy based on your startup industry and internal resources then feel free to schedule a 1:1 strategy session.

7. Unlinked Mentions

Mention and Ahrefs (you see those unlinked brand mentions) are two tools that can be used to track unlinked mentions.

An unlinked mention is when your brand is mentioned online, but there is no link back to your website.

This can be valuable because it can help you see where your SaaS startup is being talked about, and give you an opportunity to reach out and create a relationship with that publication. As well, It can also help you track your brand’s online reputation.

This strategy can also be used by strategically mentioning companies and intentionally leaving out backlinks to them. This allows them to proactively make an ask when you reach out.

8. Acquire Micro SaaS Companies

Ok so I showed you what it looks like to be on both ends of the mentioned outreach method, now let me show you a proactive strategy that big tech companies use.

If you are familiar with “The Art of War” you will quickly learn:

“The best lessons learned aren’t taught, they are often caught. Look and observe others carefully.” – Kevin Payne

Yes, here are two of the reasons companies are acquiring media brands in my opinion. The majority of media brands have communities that make it easy for SaaS startups to recruit and build partnership programs (AKA affiliate programs). Also, community-led growth is the best way to make product improvements… which by default most media companies have highly engaged communities.

For example, consider why Adobe purchased Figma.

  • Figma is a product with an engaged community that serves as a moat. Communities are a huge barrier keeping competitors away.
  • Adobe failed to innovate and was losing its market share.

Hopefully, Adobe understands this and leans on community-led growth.

Ok! that was one hell of a tangent, but this wouldn’t be unique and engaging content if I didn’t keep it casual.

Back to us small startup trying to make a dent. It’s simply easier to build backlinks (or acquire backlinks) to SaaS startups due to sheer sex appeal. Also, having a micro-saas startup will help out your value ladder and ability to build partnership programs.

If you’re earning six figures or more, I would suggest buying a micro-saas startup that compliments your current offering. I’m not a tax professional but I recommend checking out Alex Hormozi to learn more about acquiring businesses.

9. Affiliate Partnerships

So you’ve probably noticed I’ve been continuing to focus on partnersips.

That’s because as an early-stage startup common moats you can create to build a competitive advantage include:

  • Content
  • Community
  • Partnerships
  • Automation

Partnership programs are superior to account-based sales programs in many ways! When done right the leverage is as powerful as automation software or artificial intelligence tools.

PartnerStack is a great way to find tech startups to partner with. Unlike the majority of affiliate marketplaces, they focus on tech startups that have often secured multiple funding rounds.

There are a number of benefits to partnering with another SaaS company, especially one with a similar audience to yours. For one, you can share resources and costs, which can be a big help when you’re trying to expand your reach.

Additionally, partnering with another company can help you tap into new markets and reach new customers. And finally, it can simply be a great way to build relationships and goodwill with other businesses in your industry.

If you’re interested in partnering with another company, the best way to start is by reaching out and seeing if they’re open to the idea.

Here are 3 common types of affiliate partnership programs that I’ve seen startups commonly use.

As an added bonus, I’m seeing community managers being used to help grow partnership programs. This is more prominent within the Web3 space but should also be implemented by B2C & B2B SaaS (who target SMB).

10. Sponsored Content

Ok! up to now I’ve shared link-building strategies you can do through shear grinding.

At the end of the day, it comes down to time vs. money. So the remaining strategies is for startups seeking to gain more leverage.

Sponsored content can be a great way to get digital pr to gain brand awareness and backlinks.

Common forms of sponsored content include:

  • Sponsored blog posts
  • Sponsored social media posts
  • Sponsored podcast episodes
  • Sponsored email newsletters

If you’re interested in receiving access to my database for sponsored content please signup here.

With sponsored content, you have to take into consideration your ideal customer profile (ICP) and gain an understanding of what types of content they consume. Also, the majority of publications or influencers promoting your content should be willing to use your affiliate link if you have an established partnership program.

Yes, affiliate links also count toward your backlink profile and are often linked directly to your product and service pages.

11. Buying Do-Follow Backlinks

There’s no doubt that backlinks are an important ranking factor for SEO. But where do you get them? When it comes to buying backlinks, it’s important to make sure you’re buying from a reputable source.

There are a lot of link farms out there that will sell you links that won’t do anything for your SEO, and can even get you penalized by Google. So take the time to find a reputable source that will sell you high-quality links that will actually help your website rank higher in search results.

Before you buy backlinks, there are a few things you should consider.

  • Are they selling link placement within existing content or backlinks within relevant new content?
  • Can they provide proof that they’ve contributed content to the publications in the past?
  • Do they provide you with DA, DR, & site traffic metrics?
  • Do they seem to understand the editorial guidelines and can tell you if a backlink will get approved before submitting content?
  • Do they provide guaranteed results, this is a common difference between traditional pr and digital pr.
  • Do they offer both editorial outreach and content writing services?

By taking these factors into consideration, you can be sure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck when you buy backlinks. Keep in mind most digital pr agencies will often specialize in certain industries and types of services.

Agencies are often segmented but this sums digital pr services up:

  • Blogger outreach
  • Guest post placements
  • Podcast booking service
  • Influencer marketing
  • Traditional link placement

If you need help finding the best digital pr agency based on your industry, budget, and current marketing strategy then let’s chat.

I will provide you with a non-biased opinion and even recommend agencies based on my personal experience.

Scaling Your Digital PR Efforts

Honestly, Link building is becoming outdated, focus on digital pr instead. Your SEO strategy shouldn’t be limited to only content writing.

Remember to mix in different forms of content (audio, video, and text) to get found in various search engines using the strategies shared above.

Based on your resources invest in consistently creating unique content and distributing your content across multiple platforms.

Once you’re consistently creating BOFU/MOFU content, then you will want to properly repurpose your content (consider The Content OS) to increase your organic reach across Google and social media platforms.

Then you can finally add digital pr into the mix. but let’s take it one step at a time. If you want someone to keep it real, let’s chat. I work based on guaranteed results, so rest assured I don’t want to waste your time or mine.

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5 KPI Dashboards to Track Email Marketing Performance

Email marketing is the most effective way to engage with prospective leads and customers. But, with that being said, not all campaigns are equally effective. 

So, how do you know which campaigns are driving the best results? In order to answer this question, you need to be regularly tracking your email marketing performance to determine what is working and what is not. This means understanding your email marketing metrics and KPIs. 

When determining the metrics you will use to track your performance, you need to first identify your goals. So ask yourself, ‘what is my objective with this campaign?’ Is it to generate more leads? Are you looking to increase engagement? 

Whatever goals you are looking to achieve, you will want to use metrics that can measure both your outcomes and your progress towards reaching those goals. 

Top 10 Metrics To Track Your Email Marketing Performance 

Each campaign will have its unique set of priorities, but, there are a few metrics you should always consider when tracking your email marketing performance. Let’s take a look at them in more detail: 

  • Open Rate 

When running your email campaigns, tracking open rate will give you a good indication of the success of your marketing efforts. This metric will tell you the percentage of recipients who opened your email, in other words, it will highlight how engaging your subject line is.  

When creating your email campaigns, your subject line should be engaging enough to compel recipients to open your email. So if you notice your open rate is low, you may want to A/B test a few different subject lines to see which one best resonates with your audience. 

Calculation: (Total number of people who opened the emails / Total number of people who received the email) x 100

  • Click Through Rate (CTR)

CTR will tell you the percentage of people who clicked on a link in your email. This is important because once a recipient opens your email, you want to ensure you increase your chances of achieving a conversion. 

As more recipients click a link in your email, the higher your chances will be of getting that recipient to perform your desired action. If you notice a decrease in CTR this could indicate that your audience may not be finding your content relevant. 

Calculation: (Total number of people who clicked a link in your email / Total number of emails delivered) x 100

  • Unsubscribe Rate

Unsubscribe rate will measure the percentage of users that unsubscribe from your mailing list. Even though this may sound like a negative metric, a change in your unsubscribe rate does not necessarily mean you need to change your strategy. Your subscribers will naturally unsubscribe from mailing lists over time, so by regularly monitoring this metric, you will have a better understanding of what normal rates look like for you. 

You can also use this metric to monitor the quality of your mailing list. You want to ensure that engaged contacts remain on your mailing list and that unengaged contacts unsubscribe. 

Calculation: (The number of unsubscribes / the number of emails delivered) x 100

  • Conversions

Conversions will look at the number of people who completed a desired action. This metric can be used to highlight the impact of your marketing efforts. To clarify, a conversion does not necessarily mean a purchase; it can be anything that you identify as valuable such as signing up for a free trial, downloading an ebook, watching a video, and more. 

If you notice your conversions are low, you may want to review the content on your landing page or optimize your email call to action (CTA). 

  • Spam Score

Nowadays, email providers make it easy for recipients to use filters to mark emails as spam, making it harder to ensure your email finds its way into the inbox. Your spam score will highlight the inbox friendliness of your emails. So with this in mind, it is essential to regularly monitor this metric.

A high spam score will affect the deliverability of your email campaigns and damage your domain reputation. It can also indicate your recipients are not valuing your content so if you keep receiving a high spam score you may want to think about readjusting your strategy.

  • Bounce Rate

You can use bounce rate to measure the number of emails that were sent and were not successfully delivered. Bounce rate can be categorized into soft bounces and hard bounces.

Soft bounces refer to emails that were not delivered due to a temporary problem with the recipient server. In contrast, hard bounces are emails that were not delivered due to the address being invalid or non-existent. Emails that have hard bounces should be immediately removed from your mailing list. Even though bounce rate is not used to track the progress towards your goals, it can help you flag any issue you may have with your mailing list. 

When running an email campaign you want to keep your bounce rate as low as possible. A high bounce rate will affect your sender’s reputation consequently impacting the overall success of your campaign.

Calculation: (The total number of bounced emails / the total number of emails sent) x 100

  • List Growth Rate

Your list growth rate will allow you to monitor the rate at which your mailing list has grown. When building your email list, you want to ensure you always maintain a healthy size in order to expand your audience and extend your reach. 

Over time, your mailing list will naturally decrease in size as contacts will unsubscribe, change their email addresses, delete accounts, and more. With this in mind, make sure to put strategies in place around lead generation to replace those lost contacts. 

Calculation: (Total number of new subscribers – total number of unsubscribes) x 100

  • Social Shares and Forwards Rate

Social shares and forwards rate is an often overlooked metric, but the truth is that it can provide you with a lot of insight into your email marketing campaign. This metric will tell you the percentage of people who click on the ‘Share’ button in your emails. 

Encouraging your recipients to share your emails with friends, family, or colleagues will allow you to attract more leads. You can also use this information to understand the content types that are most engaging to your audience and can be useful in shaping future campaigns.

Calculation: (Total number of forwards & shares / total number emails delivered) x 100

  • Return On Investment (ROI) 

Return on investment (ROI) will help you track the value you receive from your email marketing campaign. This metric will give you tangible results that allows you to highlight the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. 

Calculation: (Total revenue – total spend) / Total spend

  • Email Client

An email client is a program that allows users to access and manage their emails. Knowing your recipient’s email client is a great way to impact the performance of other metrics. 

As an example, if you know the majority of your recipients use Outlook, you can use this information to create email templates that are optimized for their specific email client. Knowing this will help you maximize your campaign performance. 

Track Your Email Marketing Efforts With Databox 

Databox is a Business Analytics platform designed to help companies monitor, analyze, and improve on the performance of the metrics that matter the most. With Databox, you have access to a variety of reporting features that allow you to track data from multiple platforms in one centralized place. 

Let’s take a look at a few features that you can use to track, automate and report on your email marketing performance:

  • Data Manager

Rather than jumping from platform to platform trying to understand your email campaign performance, you can easily sync all of your data into Databox in just one click. Databox’s Data Manager gives you access to 70+ integrations including the most popular email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo, ActiveCampaign, and more. 

If you want to sync data that is not natively available to Databox, you can use the SQL database, Google Sheets, Excel, and third-party tools like Integromat and Zapier.

Data Manager Databox Dashboard

  • Metric Library 

Each integration connection will give you access to hundreds of pre-built metrics that you can pick from to facilitate your ability to track your performance. 

With Databox’s Metric Library you can browse through 3,000 different pre-built Datablocks that combine commonly used metrics and visualization types. You can easily drag and drop the Datablocks into a dashboard allowing you to create a custom dashboard in a matter of minutes.

Databox Metric Dashboard

  • Data Calculation

If you are looking to provide more context into your email marketing performance, you can use Data Calculations to manipulate your data through an equation. With Databox’s easy-to-use interface, no coding experience or spreadsheets are required to create new calculated metrics. 

Common use cases for data calculations include ROI, unsubscribe rate, open rates, and much more!

Databox Data Collection

  • Goals 

If you are looking to track your progress towards reaching your goals, you can use Databox’s Goals feature to stay up-to-date with your performance. As an example, if the goal of your email marketing campaign is to generate more leads, you can set a Goal in Databox around the number of new contacts that have subscribed to your mailing list. You can combine goals with notifications so you are automatically notified when your goal has been reached! 

Databox Goals Setup

  • Alerts

Databox Alerts can be used to automatically notify you when there are any changes in your campaign performance. When an Alert is triggered, it may indicate you need to adjust your strategy and include an Annotation in your charts to highlight significant activities. 

When running an email campaign, you can use Alerts to get notifications on metrics like bounce rate, spam score, unsubscribe rate, and more. With this feature, you can use conditioning statements to send an alert when a metric is greater than/ less than your desired value.

Databox Alerts Setup

  • Dashboards 

Databox’s Dashboards allow you to combine data from multiple platforms into a single view, facilitating your ability to monitor and report on your email marketing performance. You can also create dashboards to drilldown into the performance of one specific campaign. This is a great way to gain a better understanding of the ways you improve performance and maximize your ROI. 

Once you have created your dashboard, you can easily share your data and track your goals. The most common ways are by using a shared link, scheduling automatic dashboard sends or c

asting it on a TV. No matter what device you are using, Databox Dashboards are optimized to adapt to any device and any screen size. 

Databox Free Business Analytics Dashboard

5 Free Dashboards Templates To Track Email Marketing Performance

With Databox, you get access to free ready-to-use email marketing dashboard templates that include the data and metrics from the most popular email marketing platforms. 

  • HubSpot Email Marketing Overview Dashboard Template 

The HubSpot Email Marketing Overview Dashboard template includes all metrics you need to track and measure the success of your email marketing efforts. This dashboard template will help you understand your overall open rate, email click rate, clicks, and new subscribers, providing you with a great view into your email marketing pipeline.

HubSpot Email Marketing Overview Dashboard Template

Integration: HubSpot Marketing 

  • Klaviyo Dashboard Template 

You can use the Klaviyo Dashboard template to learn more about how your emails are performing in real-time. The insights generated from this dashboard will enable you to improve your email marketing campaigns and business at large.

Klaviyo Dashboard Template

Integration: Klaviyo

  • Mailchimp Dashboard Template 

With the MailChimp Dashboard template, you can measure the overall performance of your email campaigns. With its easy-to-understand data visualization, you can monitor metrics like unsubscribe rate, open rate, and click rate, while also identifying your most successful campaign. 

Mailchimp Dashboard Template

Integration: Mailchimp

  • ActiveCampaign Overview Dashboard Template 

The ActiveCampaign Overview Dashboard template provides you with a complete picture of your email marketing and sales performance. You can use this dashboard to help you answer questions related to the health of your email list and deals.

ActiveCampaign Overview Dashboard Template

Integration: ActiveCampaign 

  • Sendgrid Global Stats Dashboard Template

With the SendGrid Global Stats Dashboard template, you can learn more about your email deliverability, open rate, and click rate performance. You can use the data in this dashboard to determine your list growth rate as well as your top-performing campaigns.

Sendgrid Global Stats Dashboard Template

Integration: SendGrid

Start Tracking Your Email Marketing Performance

When you are running an email marketing campaign, it’s important to determine the metrics and goals that you will use to track your performance. Using a third-party tool like Databox, you can easily drill down into the performance of your campaigns in order to understand how to optimize your results. 

Databox allows you to connect your email marketing platforms and easily create visually appealing and intuitive dashboards in a matter of minutes. Sharing your dashboards will allow you to automatically track your performance across all of your campaigns, giving you more visibility into the ways you can improve your strategies moving forward.