If you're a SaaS team looking to reach newer heights of success, you need to ask yourself one question: 

What are the best acquisition channels for my company?

Don't worry – we've got this covered.

We'll dive into customer acquisition and see which strategies work best for SaaS companies today.

So, buckle up as we explore different options and identify which ones have better ROI potential than others.

What Is an Acquisition Channel?

Before we begin our exploration, let's first define an acquisition channel. 

An acquisition channel is a medium or platform through which you can acquire customers for your SaaS company. Examples include social media, content marketing, public relations, and even referrals from existing customers.

Each channel has its advantages, disadvantages, and potential ROI. So, it's essential to understand which channel works best for your company before jumping in.

You may also need the right channel mix to build the desired customer base.

Some companies may prefer a single channel over others, while some may successfully utilize multiple channels. 

It all boils down to finding the right mix and experimenting until you hit the sweet spot.

What Are the Most Popular Acquisition Channels for SaaS Companies?

Now that you know how to identify the best acquisition channel, let's look at some of the most popular media among SaaS companies.

Keep in mind; this isn't a comprehensive list of all the acquisition channels available. However, it highlights the most popular ones that SaaS companies commonly use.

1. PR (Public Relations)

PR involves leveraging the power of media to gain visibility and increase brand awareness. It's a great way to get your company featured in media outlets, which can help you reach a wider audience.

Additionally, you can use PR to establish relationships with influencers and opinion leaders in your industry.

Old-fashioned press releases and earned media are the most popular PR strategies. Still, you can also tap into influencer marketing to reach more people.

Some other PR tactics might include:

• Creating content marketing campaigns to generate leads
• Giving interviews and speaking at conferences
• Organizing contests and giveaways
• Tapping into guerilla marketing and word-of-mouth

Depending on your budget and resources, you can experiment with different PR strategies to determine which works best for your company.

2. Content Marketing

Content marketing is a crucial acquisition channel for SaaS companies. It involves creating blog posts, eBooks, videos, and webinars that offer valuable information to your target audience.

Content marketing is instrumental in inbound marketing theory, which focuses on creating and distributing content that draws potential customers to your brand.

Content marketing is an ongoing process, so you must be consistent and invest your resources in creating valuable content that resonates with your audience.

You can also use content marketing to create a positive customer experience. Hence, the customers remain loyal even after their initial purchase.

3. Paid Ads

Paid media is a great way to promote your SaaS product, as it can quickly increase your brand's reach and generate more leads. It also allows you to target a specific demographic or segment to get the most out of your investment.

The most popular paid ad channels are Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and LinkedIn Ads. You can use these platforms to create ads focusing on your product's features and benefits, which can help increase user engagement and boost sales.

While paid ads can significantly increase visibility and reach, you should consider the potential cost before investing in this channel.

4. Referrals

Referrals are a great way to acquire new customers, providing another layer of credibility. Your current customers can vouch for your product and influence other potential customers to invest in your product.

You can encourage referrals by offering incentives like discounts, rewards programs, or free trials. You can also use referral software to keep track of your referrals so that you can reward the referrers accordingly.

An effective referral program can help your business grow significantly and increase customer loyalty.

5. Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective methods to reach and engage with potential customers. You can use email campaigns to promote discounts, offers, or new product features.

You can also use email marketing to stay in touch with your customers and build relationships. Make sure you personalize your emails to make them more engaging and personalized.

Email marketing also allows you to segment your audience and target specific segments with relevant content. This will help boost your conversion rates and build a loyal customer base.

Although email marketing can be time-consuming, it is a great way to acquire new customers and increase customer loyalty.

6. Social Media

Social media has become essential to any digital marketing strategy, allowing businesses to connect with their audience in real-time.

You can use social media to promote your SaaS product and engage with potential customers. You can also create targeted ads on various platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Social media is also an excellent platform for customer service, as you can respond to customer queries and provide support promptly.

7. Affiliate Marketing

Like referral marketing, affiliate marketing is a great way to acquire new customers. You can set up an affiliate program and incentivize influencers or affiliates to promote your product or services.

You can compensate affiliates with a commission from each sale, making it an attractive option for both parties.

Affiliate marketing can help you reach a large audience and increase leads quickly, so it is definitely worth considering.

8. Community Building

Building an online community is another excellent way to acquire new customers.

You can use social media, forums, and other platforms to create an engaged audience who will spread the word about your product. You can also use these platforms to provide customer support and engage with potential customers.

Creating an active community can boost customer loyalty, as customers will feel more connected to your product or service.

How Can You Choose the Best Acquisition Channel for Your SaaS Company?

Choosing the best acquisition channel is not rocket science, but it does take some effort.

In the book “Traction,” Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares provide a simple framework for choosing the proper channels. 

First, identify the top three channels with the best potential for your company based on your product, customer base, and industry.

Then you can focus on testing, experimenting, and measuring the performance of each channel. 

Doing so will give you deeper insights into which channel works well for your business.

Once you've identified the channel with the best ROI potential, you can allocate resources and measure the performance.

You can build a matrix to understand the performance of each channel in terms of total customers acquired, cost per acquisition, and customer lifetime value.

For example, if organic traffic has the highest customer lifetime value, investing in SEO and content marketing is ideal.

Or, if your mobile app gets a good response, you can focus on improving the user experience and driving more downloads.

Of course, you should keep track of all the changes you make and monitor their outcomes. This will help you understand which channel works best for your business in the long run.

Conclusion

The best acquisition channels for SaaS companies depend on your budget, target audience, and goals. Choose the media that best fit your business needs and focus on building relationships with potential customers.

Combining the above channels can boost your customer base, increase engagement, and grow your business.

Ultimately, finding the proper acquisition channels will require trial and error. Still, with a strategic approach, you can find the best channels for your SaaS company.