Deciphering the content marketing flywheel dynamics for SaaS businesses

To start your own company it is really not necessary that you should have a technical background, it is a challenge these days to find a technical co-founder for many companies or finding some good talent to turn a fantastic idea into a reality. This the reason, many founders or visionaries just stop ideating at this point and we believe that’s where they are making a huge mistake! In B-Schools around the world mentors tell the first time founders: “ Focus on your idea and let the things you’re not good at in the hands of the experts in this field. But be sure to be able to monitor the progress of their work.” One very popular example of a company with non-technical co-founders: Airbnb: Brian Chesky Brian chesky earned a B.F.A in industrial design, from the Rhode Island School Of Design where he met Joe Gebbia who later became the co-founder at the firm and CHief Product Officer of Airbnb. As of March 2015, Airbnb had raised a new round of funding which brought the company’s valuation at around $20 billion dollars. As is evident both were non-technical founders and sure did outsource their software development work to concentrate on rather core operations of the company. It is indeed a common opinion that having a good tech person in the company assures that a startup can have a successful exit. But, besides knowing how to code, founders should rather concentrate on other tasks like marketing and sales to excel in the industry. To find out about the best practices of outsourcing your IT services. We’ll give you some convincing reasons why a startup should outsource their IT resources development: Reduced Cost The stage when you have an idea in your head and money to bootstrap, you are able to find some professional engineers who you can contract per agreed price. In the case of outsourcing you do not need to dive into the pool of talent or even worry about additional expenses like: staff insurance, admin costs or payroll taxes. It is also a well known fact that sometimes by outsourcing the development work you might attract more skilled pros at a much lower rate. Freed Up Time By documenting the contracts of IT development, strict deadlines are already agreed upon and a lot of time is freed for founders to concentrate on more core areas. All you need to do is control those dates and monitor the work being done by individuals or by the agency. More core areas left to concentrate upon are to spread the word about your product in the market and promotions. IT Consultation While outsourcing your software development work, you get to meet people like business analysts, who might take a closer look at your product and suggest the best way to complete your task(better logics that were thought about before, approach, tools etc.). They might be able to add up an improvised revenue model to your existing project. Testing Services Included Hiring a team of software engineers might and expect them to deliver a robust software project as well as test it requires too much overheads and a lot of work for the same team. While outsourcing the same job to an agency ensures that project is delivered on time, works seamlessly and you do not have a headache of testing it ‘n’ number of times before a perfect product is delivered to you. Technology partner for life It is very difficult for a company to find a techie who understands your company’s objectives and goals , is reliable and dedicated. Having been in a contract with your firm for maintenance services, the outsourced firm has to be responsible for providing the software upgrades as and when required and the expertise you can trust. Getting access to exclusive tools Hiring engineers is not enough, but there is also a cost associated with providing your in-house team with appropriate tools, which by the way can be really expensive. Why would you buy such tools that you know, are going to be used once in the life-cycle of your software product. While outsourcing the project not only did you save the cost on not hiring engineers in-house but also got access to the best tools used in the IT industry to develop a software. As we saw that not only did we save the cost by outsourcing our IT project, but hiring that extra engineer force and the cost overheads that came along with it were avoided. So it is clearly understandable that to be a successful founder of tech startup, we neither need to be technically equipped nor do we require the help of a technically sound co-founder. All that is required is the right idea and to transform it into a reality. ...

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Do you know what separates an average dental practice from the spectacular ones? It’s how they market themselves both physically and virtually. In this generation where life seems worthless without an internet connection, if you are not making an effort to market your dental practice online, chances are that the exposure you’ll get for your practice will be limited only to just 30% of your potential! The importance of marketing yourself digitally is indeed increasing every day. More than 4 billion people today have access to the internet and the number will only go up in the coming future. Which should be a tell-tale sign for you to showcase your dental mastery to the digital world (if you haven’t done already) Now, to market your dental practice online, what’s the first thing that pops up in your mind? Getting a website and optimizing it for mobile? Most dental practitioners’ thinking of marketing themselves online starts and ends with getting their own beautiful dental website but marketing yourself digitally goes way beyond that. The truth is that online marketing reaps the best results when all its components are stitched together and streamlined as one. While creating an informative website for your dental practice is the main component of an online marketing strategy; starting a blog, maintaining and marketing your social media profiles, search engine optimization and managing online reviews are other few important components that require an equal amount of attention as well. And the best part is that it’s free! Unlike printing flyers or cold calling, which requires quite a bit of investment, marketing yourself online organically doesn’t cost you a penny. Which substantially increases its ROI (Return On Investment) and makes it all the more attractive to someone who’s redundant to take the required steps of maintaining a digital presence of their practice. So, let’s talk about the major online components that constitute a stellar online marketing strategy - The Supreme: Website Setting up a new website for your dental practice is like building your clinic all over again…. digitally. According to a survey, 97% of patients prefer to have a look at a dental practitioner’s website rather than picking up the phone and calling them for information. Also, your website is the place where all of your other online marketing efforts will lead prospective patients to so you’ll have to make sure that it matches your branding, gets the message across, portrays your dental practice in the best light, is mobile responsive and mentions your physical and contact information clearly. Build relationships using Social Media The first rule of marketing is to market where your potential customers (or in this case, patients) are. And that is why Social Media Marketing has picked up so much heat recently with almost every brand out there trying to penetrate the inner circle of their customers. Having a strong social media presence serves not only to stay in constant touch with your patients and remind them of your dental practice but also to attract new patients and give them an inside look of your clinic and services. Also, a dental practice that actively engages with their patients in some way or the other on a regular basis is more likely to appeal to prospective patients as well. Start a dental blog ‘Blogging’ has recently become a buzzword for getting a lot of website traffic and eventually clinic patients. But that is not the case. The essence of successful blogging lies in providing value to your patients. And it takes a lot of consistent efforts to get successful at it. If done correctly, it can generate a lot of exposure for your dental practice and redirect a myriad of new potential patients to your website regularly. Leverage the power of online reviews Online reviews are the 21st-century version of ‘Word of Mouth’, 84% of people confirmed that they trust an online review as much as a personal recommendation. Reading online what your past patients have to say about your clinic or practice, in general, helps them decide if they want to become your patient or not even before entering your premise. So, it’s highly advisable to manage your reviews on your active social media platforms and the internet in general. You can use a service like Get Five Stars to manage all your patient reviews on the web. Search engine friendly Search engines like Google also play a very big part in getting your website in front of the world. People search on Google for great dentists every day, a lot of it, and if you’re at the top of the search rankings for most of their searches probability is more than they’ll click on your website. Your social media activity, a relevant website filled with useful content, successful blog, online reviews and a plethora of other ranking factors are taken into consideration for ranking your site on Google's SERPs. While these are the most basic and equally popular methods to enter into the online sphere with a bang, they still require a lot of efforts to execute perfectly and in sync. We understand that as a dentist, it may not be possible for you spend a lot of time in front of a computer rather than doing what you do best. ...

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There's no doubt that direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands have disrupted the retail landscape. They've quickly become some of the most popular and profitable brands thanks to their unique ways of marketing and selling their products, which have made them very popular. What can legacy brands learn from these DTC success stories? A lot, it turns out. Here are a few lessons that all brands can take from leading DTC companies: Use first-party data to your advantage One of the biggest advantages of DTC brands is their ability to collect and use first-party data. This data is incredibly valuable, as one can use it to understand customers better and personalize their shopping experience. Here are a few lessons you can learn from leading brands on how to use data: Collect as much data as possible If you want to improve the customer experience, it's important to collect as much data as possible. DTC brands are experts at this, often using loyalty programs and customer surveys to gather information. This data is then used to make improvements based on customer feedback. Even if you don't have access to the same amount of data, there are still ways to collect valuable information from your customers. Using tactics like customer surveys, you can gain insight into what your customers want and need. That will help you make the necessary changes to improve their experience. Use data to personalize the customer experience. DTC brands use data to personalize the customer experience by understanding their customers' needs and desires. It allows them to create a shopping experience tailored to each customer. You can use data to personalize the customer experience in your store. By understanding your customers' needs and desires, you can create a shopping experience tailored to each customer. It will help you build relationships with your customers and increase sales. Use data to improve your business. DTC brands use data to improve their businesses continuously. They do this by using data to test new hypotheses and measure results. By taking advantage of data, DTC businesses can continually improve their products, services, and operations. It allows them to stay ahead of the competition and provide better value to their customers. There are many ways to collect data that one can use to improve your business. Online surveys, customer feedback forms, and user testing are all great sources of information. You can also use analytics tools to track how customers interact with your website or app. By understanding how people use your product, you can improve conversion rates and customer satisfaction. Build a strong brand identity Another key to DTC's success has a strong brand identity. These brands know who they are and what they stand for, and they use this to connect with customers on a deeper level. Here are a few lessons you can learn from leading brands on brand identity: Define your brand identity To create a strong brand identity, you need to understand who you are as a business. What values do you stand for? What kind of customer are you targeting? Once you have a clear understanding of your brand identity, you can start to craft messaging and visuals that will resonate with your target audience. A few important things should reflect your brand identity in everything from your website design to how you answer customer questions. By defining your brand identity, you'll create a consistent and recognizable brand that customers will trust and remember. Be true to your brand identity. It's not enough to have a strong brand identity; you also need to be true to it in everything you do. From how you communicate with customers to the products you sell, make sure that everything aligns with your brand values. That will help build trust and loyalty with your customer base. If you're not consistent with your branding, customers will get confused and may not trust your company. Make sure that you're always putting your best foot forward by staying true to your brand identity. It's the only way to build a strong, lasting relationship with your customers. Tell a compelling story. Your brand story is one of the most important elements of your business. It's what will connect customers to your business on an emotional level and make them want to support your brand. Tell a compelling story that will inspire customers to connect with your brand. Focus on why you started the business and what makes you unique. That will resonate with customers and make them want to support your brand. Keep it clear, concise, and authentic for the best results. Invest in marketing A strong brand identity is nothing without a well-executed marketing strategy. Invest in activities that will help you reach your target audience and deliver your message in a way that resonates with them. This could include online advertising, PR, content marketing, or influencer marketing. You'll ensure that your brand stands out from the competition and reaches the right people. With a solid marketing strategy in place, you'll be able to achieve your business goals and build a successful brand. Build a community DTC brands are often built on the power of community. Find ways to connect with your customers and create a space where they can interact with each other. It could be through social media, an email list, or even events and meetups. By building a community around your brand, you can create loyalty and customer engagement to help your business thrive. The community can also help you build relationships with other businesses and individuals in your industry. You can create a stronger network that can help you reach new customers and grow your business by working together. Spend money on the customer experience. DTC brands also know the importance of investing in customer experience. They know that making the experience seamless and fun is important to keeping customers happy and interested. Here are some things that leading DTC brands do to create a great customer experience: The first step to delivering a great customer experience is making it easy for customers to find what they're looking for. DTC brands need to have a well-organized website that makes it easy for visitors to navigate and find information. The second is providing a good customer experience; Good customer service means being available when your customers need you. Personalization can go a long way in making your customer feel valued. In today's fast-paced world, customers expect quick responses to their inquiries. DTC brands offer a wide range of products and services. From clothing and accessories to home goods and beauty products, DTC brands have something for everyone. And with competitive prices and convenient online shopping, it's easy to find the perfect item for your needs. They make it easy for customers to purchase items online or in-store. This makes it convenient for customers who may not have the time or ability to visit a store in person. They offer loyalty programs and discounts to keep customers coming back. This allows them to maintain a good relationship with their customers and encourages repeat business. Additionally, it helps them build brand loyalty among their customer base. By following these lessons, you can create a customer experience that will keep your customers happy and coming back for more. Be responsive to customer feedback. Finally, DTC companies are typically very responsive to customer feedback. They're always looking for ways to improve the customer experience and ensure that their products and services meet customer needs. Here are a few lessons that you can learn from leading brands about customer feedback: Always listen to customer feedback. DTC companies are constantly monitoring what customers are saying about their experiences. They use this feedback to improve their products and services. Be quick to respond to customer feedback. DTC companies understand that customers expect an immediate response when they give feedback. They respond quickly and address any concerns that customers may have. Use customer feedback to improve your product or service. DTC companies use customer feedback to improve their products and services. They understand that customer feedback is valuable and use it to make changes that will enhance the customer experience. Make sure your product or service meets customer needs. DTC companies focus on making sure their products and services meet customer needs. They understand that customers expect a high level of quality, and they work to meet those expectations. While one can apply these lessons to any business, they're especially important for legacy brands looking to stay relevant in today's ever-changing marketplace. By following these lessons, brands can keep up with the competition and set themselves up for long-term success. ...

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