Suggestions for marketing automation platforms like HubSpot, but for startups?
So I’ve been a huge fan of HubSpot. They have a wicked platform for inbound marketing. I’ve used them in a few other companies I have built. However, I have always engaged with them after I’ve been in business for a while, due to its cost. I tried to apply for their startup program (https://www.hubspot.com/startups) which would be right up my alley, but they refuse to support that option as I am bootstrapping and not part of an active startup incubator.
I’d like to invest in a marketing automation platform sooner this time, but just can’t justify HubSpot’s price tag. So I’m wondering what other Indie Hackers are using these days. I know I could cobble together stuff, and build pieces myself, but I’d rather leverage a purpose built system with strong tracking and reporting so I can focus on content, instead of building and maintaining tooling.
Would love to hear what some of you guys are using, suggesting and recommending.
Wow. Not a single response. Is that the sad reality that many Indie Hackers don’t look at marketing as a vital component of a SaaS business?
I once heard a quote that stuck with me:
Perfect Marketing - Actual Marketing = Required Sales Effort
Being a serial entrepreneur, my first few companies I focused so much on building the perfect product... building that ‘field of dreams’ and few came to the party. Sure, I won business, but it wasn’t efficient. It was a hard slog. Once I realized how important TOFU/MOFU/BOFU was, my world of lead generation changed.
Content is the currency of inbound marketing. Managing and measuring it is vital for success. I find it hard to believe no one has input and experience on what they are doing to be successful in this regard.
Would love to hear how successful, profitable SaaS Indie Hackers are managing this. What tools do you leverage? How are you handling, distributing and measuring your content? How are you driving traffic to landing pages? Are you doing progressive profiling? If so, using what tools? What about retargeting? How are you getting prospects attention, and in what channels? Are your websites driving dynamic content based on where the prospects are in the funnel?
So many questions. I don’t believe I’m the only one even thinking about this. Hopefully this will spark some sort of dialog.