What’s the most creative way you’ve marketed a SaaS product without paid ads?

AnnaHo
30 replies
Let’s share creative approaches that worked!

Replies

Eithiriel DeMerè | Language-Market Fit
Community-led growth grounded in customer success.
AnnaHo
@nikkielizdemere That’s a great strategy! Focusing on community and customer success builds trust and long-term relationships, which is invaluable for growth.
Share
Timothy Bramlett
So definitely the most creative way I have marketed a SaaS product without paid ads is when I was marketing Notifier by actually using Notifier to market it. So I started listening for mentions of "social listening" on Reddit and would assess and figure out if that was a good post or comment for me to reply to. Bye to.
Share
AnnaHo
@timothybramlett That’s a clever approach! Using your own product for promotion is both resourceful and authentic. Thanks for sharing this unique strategy!
Share
Michal Mazurek
Use syften.com to monitor Reddit - reply when someone mentions your competitor. Very low effort, high return. Easy auxilliary channel.
Share
AnnaHo
@michal_m Great tip! Monitoring Reddit sounds like an efficient strategy, especially for niche discussions. I’ll definitely look into using Syften for that. Thanks!
Veeresh Devireddy
We collaborated with several popular apps to push notifications and get quick traction.
Share
AnnaHo
@veeresh_devireddy That’s a smart approach! Collaborating with established apps must have provided great exposure. Thanks for sharing this unique strategy!
Share
Vlad Yan
We actively blogged and promoted SaaS through search traffic.
Share
AnnaHo
@vladislav_yanchenko Great strategy! Blogging is such a powerful way to attract organic traffic and build credibility over time. Thanks for sharing your approach!
Share
Archana Jha
Joined platforms like Reddit, Quora, or forums where most target customers spend time. Helped answer their questions and solve their problems without trying to sell our product right away. Over time, people become interested and start checking out our product on their own.
Share
AnnaHo
@archanajha That’s a great approach! Engaging in communities and offering value without being pushy definitely builds trust and long-term interest. Thanks for sharing!
Share
An
APIPark
APIPark
I don't have much experience in marketing that stands out, but I saw a security gateway tool host an online hacking competition where everyone could attack his tool, and the winner could receive $1,000. In the end, according to his sharing, he earned ten times more than this cost, which left a deep impression on me.
Share
AnnaHo
@an_zuo That’s a brilliant approach! Hosting an engaging competition like that can definitely generate buzz and attract attention. Thanks for sharing this unique idea!
Share
QQSHILL
@an_zuo This is cool! Any idea where he host the competition?
An
APIPark
APIPark
@qqshill Unfortunately, I can't find it anymore
Ulrica Storset
My main channel without having much to spend on marketing is LinkedIn. Posting 2-4 times a week on my personal account and the company (Solarplexus.ai) account. Using Dripify to build my network on LinkedIn and to book meetings (comes with a cost though) Weekly blog posts on company webb that I also turn into LinkedIn posts and share the link to the blog post to drive traffic to the webb. Liking and engaging with other peoples posts.
Share
AnnaHo
@ulrica_storset Thanks for sharing! LinkedIn is definitely a powerful platform.
AnnaHo
We used a strategy called "product-led storytelling," where we created an interactive microsite that walked users through real-world scenarios using our product. This drove organic engagement and allowed users to experience the product in a meaningful way without any ads.
Share
Harald Frank
@annaho2000 sounds cool, does it still exist? can you share the link?
Share
AnnaHo
@haribelafonte07 Thanks for your interest! Unfortunately, the link no longer exists.
Share
Anahit Amirakyan
@annaho2000 this is such a cool idea, especially when there is a learning gap between your clients and the product.
Share
LDJ Beatless
We hosted a virtual hackathon challenging participants to innovative uses of our SaaS platform. This not only generated buzz and user-generated content but also showcased the versatility of our product, leading to organic growth and a surge in sign-ups.
Share
AnnaHo
@ldj_beatless That's an awesome idea! Hosting a virtual hackathon is a great way to engage users while showcasing the product's flexibility. Thanks for sharing!
Share
Cerca Hedgecock
I built a free tool for my audience and shared it in communities, which sparked interest and got people to explore my product without needing ads
Share
AnnaHo
@cerca_hedgecock That's a brilliant strategy! Offering free value upfront really builds trust and drives organic engagement. I’ll definitely consider this approach for my next launch.
Share
Claire Martin
I haven't done it yet, but I have read a lot about starting a podcast and building in public
Share
AnnaHo
@claire_martin2 That sounds like a great approach! Podcasts and building in public can really help create transparency and engage your audience organically.
Share
Anahit Amirakyan
@claire_martin2 the whole podcast thing is becoming crowded, but if your content is great it will definitely stand out. Will be happy to see yours one day👀
Share