To be successful in the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry, it’s important to know your competition. But how do you go about doing that? And once you have that information, what do you do with it? This article will discuss how to do SaaS competitive analysis and what to do with the information you gather.
What is Competitive Analysis?
The total size of the Software-as-a-Service industry in 2022 has already reached 150 billion dollars and is continuing to grow at a rapid pace. So, to be successful in your niche, it’s important to know your competition. But what exactly is ‘SaaS competitive analysis’?
SaaS Competitive analysis is the process of studying and assessing your competitors to gain an edge over them. This involves looking at things like their pricing and marketing strategies, as well as understanding how they position themselves in the marketplace and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
Why do You Need a SaaS Competitive Analysis?
A SaaS competitive analysis aims to gain an edge over your competitors and stay ahead in the marketplace. By gathering information about how your competitors operate, you can identify opportunities for improvement and distinguish yourself from others in the industry. This will also help you better understand what makes your company unique in your niche.
How to do a SaaS competitive analysis
So, now that you know what SaaS competitive analysis is and why it’s important, how do you go about doing it? There are several different steps you can take to conduct a thorough SaaS competitive analysis.
The first step is to identify your primary competitors. For this, you can look at factors like the size of their customer base and market share, as well as their pricing and marketing strategies. You can also gather information about your competitors by looking at reviews and social media activity, or even by signing up for their newsletters or other marketing materials.
Once you have a good understanding of how your competitors operate, the next step is to analyze this information to identify opportunities for improvement. Some things you might look at include their pricing strategy and how they position themselves in the marketplace, as well as any weaknesses or gaps that you can exploit.
Once you’ve gathered all of this information, it’s important to come up with a plan for what you want to do with it. This may involve developing new products or services or implementing different marketing strategies to gain a competitive edge over your competitors.
Whether you’re just starting in the SaaS industry or are well-established and looking for ways to stay ahead, doing a SaaS competitive analysis is an important step that can help you succeed. With the right tools and information, it’s possible to gain a competitive advantage and grow your business for years to come.
Tools for Doing SaaS Competitive Analysis
There are some different tools that you can use to help with your SaaS competitive analysis. Some popular options include online market research tools, such as SurveyMonkey or Google Trends, as well as social media monitoring software like Hootsuite or Sprout Social. These types of tools can help you quickly collect and analyze data about your competitors to more effectively understand how they operate and how you can improve.
There are also many other resources that you can use to conduct your SaaS competitive analysis, such as industry reports or trade publications. These can help provide additional insights and information about your competitors that you may not be able to find online. Additionally, many specialized consulting firms offer SaaS web design services that can help you conduct a more in-depth analysis of your competitors, including tracking their marketing activities and assessing their market positioning.
Overall, doing a SaaS competitive analysis is an important step for any company that wants to stay ahead in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing marketplace. Whether you use online tools or specialized consulting services, you must stay informed about how your competitors operate and adapt your strategies accordingly to succeed.​
What to Look for in Your SaaS Competitive Analysis
When conducting a SaaS competitive analysis, there are some different factors that you should take into consideration, including:
- The Size and Reach of Your Competitors’ Customer Base
This is an important indicator of how successful they have been at attracting customers and growing their business. Moreover, it can help you determine whether there is an opportunity for your business to gain market share by competing with its existing customers.
- Their Pricing Strategy and Positioning in the Market
How do they set their prices? Do they offer discounts or special deals for certain types of customers, like larger enterprises? How do they position themselves in the marketplace, and what messages are they using to attract potential customers?
- Their Marketing Activities and Strategies
What channels are they using to promote their business? Do they have an active social media presence, or do they rely mainly on paid advertising to reach new customers? How successful have their marketing efforts been in generating new customers and converting them into loyal, long-term users?
- Any Weaknesses or Gaps That You Can Exploit
Is there a particular feature or service that your competitors don’t offer? Are there any aspects of their business model that you could potentially improve upon to gain a competitive advantage? By identifying these potential vulnerabilities beforehand, you can develop strategies to overcome them and stay ahead of the competition.
By analyzing your competitors in this way, you can gain valuable insights into how to grow your own business, improve your marketing activities, and attract more customers over the long term.​
How to Use Your SaaS Competitive Analysis
Once you have completed your SaaS competitive analysis, there are several useful tips for you and your business team for using the information that you have gathered.
For starters, it’s important to regularly review your SaaS competitive analysis as your business and market evolve. This will help you identify any new opportunities or weaknesses that might become relevant, as well as allow you to adapt your strategies more to meet the changing needs of customers.
Additionally, you can use the information in your analysis to benchmark your business performance against that of your competitors. By comparing how well you are doing in terms of revenue or customer growth, for example, you can identify areas where you are underperforming and need to make changes to boost your performance.
Finally, it’s important to share your findings with others in your organization, including members of your sales and marketing teams. This will help them better understand the competitive landscape and develop strategies that can help them gain an edge over their competitors. With this information at their disposal, they can work more effectively to generate leads and convert those leads into loyal customers who are willing to spend money on your products or services.​
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, doing a SaaS competitive analysis is an essential step for any business that wants to thrive in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing marketplace. Whether you use online tools or specialized consultancy services, it’s important to always stay informed about how your competitors operate and adapt your strategies accordingly to stay ahead of the curve.