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Pricing and Marketing for Early-Stage SaaS
Hey there, future SaaS founder! 👋
I know what you're thinking:
"I'm a developer, not a marketer. I'll worry about promotion after I build something amazing."
But here's the truth: most developers build quietly for months and launch to crickets.
Zero users. Zero feedback. Zero revenue.
Why This Matters 🤔
You've probably heard stories of developers who spent 6+ months building their product, only to discover no one wanted it.
Or worse, they launch to complete silence.
The problem isn't the quality of your code—it's launching without an audience.
Here's why starting marketing early matters:
- Your early users will shape your product in ways you can't predict
- Feedback from real people > assumptions in your head
- Revenue validates your idea faster than any feature
- Building in public creates momentum before you even launch
So let's learn how to get traction before you think you're ready!
Pricing Your SaaS for Fast Customer Acquisition
Meet Lena
Lena built an amazing API testing tool with all the features she thought users would need.
She priced it at because "that's what competitors charge."
After launch? Zero paying customers in the first month.
Why?
The pricing created too much friction for new users who weren't sure if her unproven product would solve their problems.
Psychology of Early Pricing: Make It Easy to Say Yes
Your first goal isn't maximizing revenue—it's getting users who will give feedback and validate your idea.
- Start lower than you think (you can always raise prices later)
- Reduce risk for early adopters with money-back guarantees or extended trials
- Reward early users with founder-tier pricing that's grandfathered in
Pricing Models Compared
Freemium
- ✅ Pro: Low barrier to entry, faster user acquisition
- ❌ Con: Harder to convert free users to paid later
- Best for: Products with network effects or viral potential
One-time payment
- ✅ Pro: Psychologically easier for customers (no recurring commitment)
- ❌ Con: Less predictable revenue, must continuously find new customers
- Best for: Tools with standalone value and low ongoing costs
Monthly subscription
- ✅ Pro: Predictable revenue, builds relationship over time
- ❌ Con: Higher signup friction, requires continuous value delivery
- Best for: Services that deliver ongoing, evolving value
Anchor Pricing to Customer Value
Don't price based on your features or development time.
Price based on the value you create for customers.
Ask yourself:
- How much time does my product save?
- What problems does it solve?
- How much would someone pay for that solution?
Your early pricing is a , not just a revenue stream.
Each sale teaches you something about your market.
Early Marketing Tactics That Actually Work
Meet Alex
Alex spent months building a code documentation tool.
When he finished, he tweeted once announcing it was done.
Three people liked the tweet. Zero signups.
The problem?
Marketing isn't a one-time announcement. It's an ongoing conversation.
Share Your Build Journey
The best marketing starts before your product is ready:
- Twitter/X: Share short updates, learnings, and wins (even small ones!)
- Indie Hackers: Post your progress and engage with other builders
- Reddit: Find relevant subreddits where you can provide value (not just promotion)
Create Tiny Content Pieces
You don't need a blog or YouTube channel. Start small:
- Dev logs: Short videos of features you're building
- Visual demos: GIFs or screenshots of your UI in action
- Code snippets: Share interesting solutions you've created
- Memes: Yes, seriously! Tech humor travels far and creates connection
Collect Emails From Day One
Your email list will be your most valuable marketing asset:
- Set up a simple landing page with an email signup
- Use free tools like ConvertKit (first 1,000 subscribers free), Beehiiv, or even Notion
- Send updates weekly or bi-weekly to keep people engaged
- Be human, not corporate—write like you're emailing a friend
Marketing = Teaching + Storytelling
The best marketing for developer products:
- Teaches something useful
- Tells the story of why you're building
- Shows your personality and values
- Makes people feel like insiders
Post Title:
Why We Built CodeTrack: A Dev-Focused Issue Tracker That Doesn’t Suck
Content Example:
Tired of bloated issue trackers, we built CodeTrack to keep things dev-first and straightforward.
➡️ You can create issues straight from your terminal.
➡️ Every issue links directly to commits and pull requests.
➡️ No Jira-style fluff — just fast, focused collaboration.
We’re building in public — join the journey and help shape the roadmap.
Remember: People buy from people they like and trust.
Wrap-Up: Start Before You're Ready
Look, I get it.
Putting yourself out there feels scary. You're not alone in thinking:
“Let me just perfect this a little more… then I’ll share it.”
But here's the truth:
You don’t need a perfect product.
You need real people using it, giving you, and cheering you on.
Every successful SaaS you admire once had zero users, rough edges, and a founder who decided to show up anyway.
So instead of building in silence and hoping people show up...
Let’s flip the script. Let’s build with them, not just for them.
You’re not just launching a product — you’re building a movement around your idea.
💡 Up Next: Build in Public
Let’s do this. 🙌
0 Comments
How do I remove the blur effect from my CSS?
I removed but the blur is still there. Any ideas?
filter: blur(5px);
Does work for removing blur from modals?
backdrop-filter: none;
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