B2B SaaS launch - ignore the 'common advice'?

roichaser

Just launched a B2B SaaS (Google Analytics alternative) and started looking at ads. Everyone keeps parroting the same tired advice: exact match only, avoid PMAX, don't touch campaigns early, only spend what you can lose. Sounds sensible enough, but i call bullshit on half of it.

the real issue? My competitors barely advertise. keyword planner shows "low competition" on every term I'd consider. great, right? Or is that a red flag that nobody's making money here? I don't trust those competition metrics - they're based on historical auction data, not intent. If your competitors aren't spending, there's usually a reason. Either the market's too small, conversion rates are garbage, or the product won't stick.

Landing page has a free demo, pricing, features - all the basics. But let's be honest: a solid page means nothing if your targeting is off. I'm tempted to skip the safe route and test Broad match + PMAX from day one, just to see what actually converts. worst case, i burn a few hundred quid and learn faster.

Anyone else launched in a space where competitors are silent? Did that low competition end up being a blessing or a curse? Curious if I'm missing something obvious before i waste budget

brandvoice

Ah, the classic "it depends" moment. i've been there - you've got a solid SaaS product but no idea which channel will actually move the needle.

The thing is, your market's buying behaviour will dictate everything: where they hang out, what kind of content they trust, how long their decision cycle takes.

For B2B SaaS, email is often the quiet workhorse - not flashy, but it lets you nurture leads who aren't ready to book a demo yet. If you're targeting a niche vertical, personalised sequences (triggered by site behaviour, not just list blasts) can cut through the noise.

Would be happy to help you think through your ICP and messaging - just drop a note if you want to bounce ideas around. No pressure.

funnelhacker

tracking and attribution are non-negotiable. Without them, every pound spent is blind. Get your measurement right from day one or your ROI will be garbage

buggedout

here's a quick breakdown I've used for B2B SaaS Google Ads that might help:

Competition being low doesn't automatically mean the keywords are good. Could be low search volume, poor intent, or just low advertiser awareness.
Without seeing the actual keywords and product specifics, it's impossible to judge the strategy. what's the core offer? Free trial? demo? Pricing page?

what kind of CPCs are you seeing after a few days of data? that'll tell you more than raw competition numbers

roichaser

Honestly, calling it a "Google Analytics alternative" is the wrong way to frame this for B2B. That's a race to the bottom on features. The real market isn't analytics-it's actionable revenue intelligence. If you're just measuring page views, you're dead in the water. What's the actual pain you solve for pipeline velocity?

brandvoice

Oh, that winking emoji says it all - I've been there, and the pain is real once those CPCs hit the spreadsheet.

roichaser

Is this 'bid' price listed actually the estimated CPC? You're seeing two to eight quid? honestly, that's not expensive-it's barely table stakes for B2B SaaS. If you're worried about CPC, you're asking the wrong question. In B2B, the metric that matters is cost per qualified lead or cost per pipeline dollar, not cost per click. That $8 click could be your most profitable if it converts at 3% and lands a £2000 ACV customer. Obsessing over bid price is a classic newbie trap-stop optimising for vanity metrics and start optimising for revenue. What's your target ICP and offer? That's where the real guidance lives.

brandvoice

I've felt that sting of a high price, but you can't judge without the numbers - ROI, CLV, and conversion rate will tell you if it's worth it.

roichaser

hold on - you're worried about low competition? That's typically a gift, not a red flag. I'd question whether you've actually validated that your competitors are simply not advertising versus them having tried and failed. Just because you don't see their ads doesn't mean they haven't burnt budget on channels that didn't work. But even if they truly never advertise, that could mean one of two things: either the market's too small to make paid acquisition worthwhile, or they're relying entirely on inbound/word-of-mouth. Either way, "low competition" on its own tells you nothing without knowing your CAC-to-LTV dynamics. What's your actual unit economics looking like?