Much has changed since technologies took center stage and began to alter the dynamics of traditional industries, redefining our modes of interaction and giving birth to an era that thrives on information technology.
Now, more than ever, the digital space is ushering in new and upgraded technological initiatives at breakneck speed, forcing businesses to stay on their toes about the changing trends of digital transformation.
While this has greatly impacted the business landscape, SaaS organizations are in for a tough ride in the coming years. A staggering 86.4% of organizations are likely to step up their game with the latest digital software between 2023 and 2027.
As a SaaS organization that thrives on a user-centric approach, you must be innovative and resourceful in creating a user adoption strategy that ensures your products are what the users are searching for, lest you risk losing your customers to rival businesses.
Not to worry, now is the time to remain calm and collected as you’ve stumbled across a masterpiece. In this article, I am going to take you through the best tactics to create a user adoption strategy that future-proofs your business against all odds.
Understanding SaaS user adoption
SaaS user adoption is ensuring you offer a market-fit product that becomes the go-to option for every user. When you offer a product and devise different strategies to get it out to your target audience, you expect users to patronize it. However, if it fails to meet their expectations, you’ll likely lose them to other competitors.
So the idea is to make sure users give preference to your product over any other and eventually gain their unwavering trust and loyalty.
Now that you’ve understood this concept, it’s high time you learned how to create an effective SaaS user adoption strategy. Let’s jump right in;
1) Formalize your services with digital forms
If there’s any way to enhance the effectiveness of your user adoption strategy, it’s by introducing a SaaS order form at inception. For some SaaS companies, digital forms are perceived as complex and time-consuming processes, and for others, the cost of designing and implementing is a limiting factor.
However, you have a lot to gain from bringing it into the picture. This form helps you formalize your services by providing an outline of the terms of the service agreement, the pricing details, and an overall picture of what users stand to benefit from. This paves the way for transparency and eliminates the possibilities of confusion.
That’s not all. SaaS order forms can do more than just that. Here are other ways it can enhance your user adoption process;
- Data collection for personalization: Digital forms allow you to collect all necessary information needed to personalize user experience. When users have a positive experience with your product, it increases their satisfaction and user adoption rate.
- Effective billing and payment processes: Data forms have sections where you can collect billing and payment information. This allows you to establish a smooth and proper billing cycle that enhances user retention and the likelihood of adoption.
- Trackable metrics and review collection: Order forms contain tracking systems that allow you to monitor user progression through the adoption phase. It equally contains sections where you can get user reviews to identify obstacles and improve your SaaS service.
The benefits of SaaS order forms also cut across data compliance, simplified onboarding processes, and long-term scalability. Although some SaaS companies may have tenable reasons to avoid using digital forms, you must factor in your business needs and the circumstances surrounding them before deciding to neglect its usage.
2) Provide contextual in-app guidance
Oftentimes, first-time users may need help with using your software effectively. That doesn’t make your product bad. However, you may want to simplify the process to ensure they have a smooth onboarding experience.
One way to do that is to offer in-app how-to guides, product tours, and instructions about different sections and features to get users up to speed with your software. Taking users on an interactive walkthrough leaves a good first impression and gives them personalized assistance that sets the foundation for user adoption.
3) Prompt tooltips to provide personalized and just-in-time training
Tooltips are graphical UI elements that bring about a positive user experience on a whole new level. They usually appear as text labels that aim to enhance the user journey by prompting them to take action.
There may be scenarios where users find themselves stuck when carrying out tasks that require them to use new tools or visit unfamiliar pages of your product. That awkward feeling of not being able to proceed with tasks seamlessly may cause customers to start thinking of alternatives.
By triggering tooltips, you can provide users with just-in-time learning, to serve as an additional guide or step-by-step instruction to start and complete tasks easily.
4) Acknowledge efforts by gamifying user experience
Gamification involves the usage of typical gaming elements like badges, points, and awards to serve as a motivation for users to complete activities and accomplish new goals. It’s intended to make tasks more pleasurable to drive user engagement.
Everyone loves to be recognized and rewarded each time they complete tasks and reach new milestones. So introducing elements of fun facilitates an interactive atmosphere that gets customers to engage with your product more often. This eventually leads to higher customer retention and user adoption rates.
5) Introduce new features to users through in-app messaging
In-app messaging has been making waves recently as one of the most viable ways of introducing new features to your users. It allows you to engage your audience better by sending personalized messages on important updates and changes.
If you want to optimize your in-app messaging, you need a well-thought-out plan that involves segmenting your customer base based on certain criteria which may include user behavior, location, and demographics.
Then, decide the most convenient time for users to receive your notifications. Finally, weigh your options and choose which notification type perfectly suits the kind of message you want to pass across.
This lets your users find value in your latest app updates while increasing their likelihood of adoption.
6) Garner user feedback and act swiftly
Remember, the most effective user adoption strategies are those that are based on user inputs. Take the time to roll out surveys to get valuable feedback from your customers regarding their experiences with your software service. This feedback may include reviews from different social media handles or discussions from community platforms.
You may also decide to reach out to past users who have opted for rival products. Knowing what prompted their decision to leave and how you can make up for the lapses can have a great positive impact on your user adoption rates.
Once you’ve collected a handful of feedback, ensure you carefully go through them and take note of the most valuable points. Be proactive in using the insights you gained to work on the areas that need improvement. While this ensures that your product remains relevant, you get to capitalize on the pitfalls of rival businesses.
7) Build a community using age-old customers and power users
Never underestimate the power of referrals. One of the fastest ways to increase your user adoption rates is by leveraging the influence of age-old customers and users who have already tasted the benefits of your service.
While new connections may find themselves dawdling on their decision to stay loyal to your product, age-old users can offer peer-to-peer insights and cast a stronger influence on new and prospective connections in a manner that your organization’s HR team may have a hard time doing.
Build your strategies on a user-centric approach
Digital transformation is changing the narratives and revolutionizing the business landscape. SaaS businesses of all categories including startups and large-budget firms are becoming more creative in crafting an unparalleled user adoption strategy.
As a SaaS company, you must understand that user demands are insatiable and their needs change with the birth of new technological initiatives. To ensure you stay relevant and formidable in the fierce competition, ensure you place your users at the center of your business tactics and operations.
And there you have it, seven beautiful tips that will help you create a winning SaaS user adoption strategy to future-proof your business against all odds. Thanks for reading and I hope you utilize this piece to the fullest.
