Archive for month: September, 2020

I went to the supermarket last Saturday as I do most weekends.

I’m rather adept in the kitchen, so I do the shopping.

Spring is in the air and with it comes a change of menu.

No more winter warmers like beef stew and dumplings.

Lighter dishes are far more the vogue, and crispy skinned barramundi with Mediterranean pearl cous cous was on my mind.

Finding the fish was easy, but the cous cous was elusive.

I was sure it was in aisle 7, just over half way along on the right.

But it wasn’t there!

How annoying!

Of course, they remerchanised the store a few months ago.

Everything’s moved!

It’s so frustrating when they do that.

Happily, I knew it would be near the pasta, but when I got there, I still couldn’t see it.

Ahh…new packaging!

GRUMBLE!

This wasn’t matching up my expectations at all!

So how does this tale apply to SaaS vendors?

Well, we humans like the world as we expect them to be.

We assume things will remain just so, and any change is confronting.

So, if you’re going to be different, whether that’s your website, product, your latest version, or anything else, do it because –

It offers value

Your customers will appreciate it

Or you want to exceed their expectations.

Because different isn’t always better, but better is always different

#MrSaaSSays

“Be better!”

That was my parting message when chatting with marketing whizz Azadeh Williams recently.

You can watch the video here.

But why did I say “be better”?

I said it because times are hard and growing your customer base is expensive, so it’s time to invest in QUALITY.

To be ready for when the sun comes out again.

Anyone can be different, but that ain’t gonna cut it.

Neither will the same old software with a new look.

That’s just lipstick on a pig.

And nor will an extra feature here or there.

This is what your competition is doing.

But they’re just keeping up with the Joneses, staying safe and sound in the middle of the flock.

So you’ve gotta try harder!

To be better, you must invest in delivering QUALITY and VALUE.

So it’s time to fix a few bugs.

Enhance your test suite.

Improve documentation.

Engage more with your community.

Bolster your support services.

Document your processes and practices.

Develop your team’s skills.

Train more product evangelists.

Create additional training courses and video tutorials.

Find new partners.

And maybe even sack a few painful customers.

When they can’t go out to sea, fishermen mend their nets and prepare their equipment, ready for calmer waters and a bumper haul.

You should too!

#MrSaaSSays

SaaS leaders KNOW software developers waste piles of cash EVERY WEEK.

They KNOW many thousands of $$$ are spent on NOTHING.

But how it happens is often a mystery.

So here are 7 ways YOUR development process hemorrhages money.

1 – Building the wrong thing.

Unless you’re focussed on specific customer needs, it’s all too easy to build something no one wants.

2 – Lack of focus.

Developers need to focus on the job in hand rather than switching from one context to another.

3 – Over complication.

Far too many solutions try to do far too much, so K.I.S.S.

4 – Poor communication.

Confusion and chaos always come with a big cost.

5 – Wrong priorities.

Developers often do the jobs they want to, rather than those they SHOULD.

6 – Rework.

Improving existing code is part of the job.

Some is legitimate, but much is because it was done poorly in the first place.

7 – Somebody Else’s Software.

Developers spend hours playing catchup trying to understand another developer’s work.

Now you know how YOUR time, opportunity and money are being wasted, and at $500+ per day per developer, can you REALLY afford to let this go on?

I didn’t think so!

So get some expert guidance today

My bill will be a tiny fraction of your savings.

#MrSaaSSays