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How accounting SaaS companies can leverage control points to drive growth

How accounting SaaS companies can leverage control points to drive growth

The best SaaS products have control points—features that make switching impossible. Learn how to build and market them to drive retention and growth.

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How accounting SaaS companies can leverage control points to drive growth

The best SaaS products have control points—features that make switching impossible. Learn how to build and market them to drive retention and growth.

At Journey, we worked with 44 accounting SaaS companies last year, helping them sharpen their positioning, build strategic marketing campaigns, and create stronger connections with their audience. One of the biggest differentiators between SaaS companies that thrive and those that struggle is control points - the unique aspects of a product that make it indispensable to users.

While many SaaS companies focus on new feature releases or competitive pricing, the real power lies in control points - the things that keep customers locked in, drive retention, and ultimately increase lifetime value.

What are control points in accounting SaaS?

A control point is a feature, integration, or functionality that makes your product a core part of a user’s workflow - something they can’t easily remove without significant disruption. These create stickiness, ensuring that once a customer starts using your software, it becomes incredibly difficult for them to switch to something else.

In the accounting SaaS space, common control points include:

  • Deep integrations with accounting software – If your product connects seamlessly with Xero, QuickBooks, or MYOB and eliminates manual work, users will be reluctant to move away.
  • Automation of critical workflows – Features that save time and eliminate repetitive tasks create dependencies.
  • Compliance and regulatory requirements – If your product helps accountants stay compliant, it becomes a non-negotiable tool.
  • Data ownership and history – If your platform holds years of client records, transactional data, or approval histories, moving to another tool becomes a costly and painful process.

How accounting SaaS companies use control points to win

At Journey, we’ve seen the best accounting SaaS companies leverage control points to drive growth, reduce churn, and protect their market position. Some real-world examples include:

1. ApprovalMax – Compliance as a control point

ApprovalMax integrates deeply with Xero and QuickBooks, ensuring businesses stay compliant with financial approval processes. Because compliance is not optional, ApprovalMax becomes a key control point for businesses that need structured approval workflows. Once an accountant or bookkeeper builds their approval hierarchy in ApprovalMax, switching away would require recreating an entire compliance framework from scratch - making it unlikely they’ll ever leave.

2. Pinch – Payment automation as a control point

Pinch payments doesn’t just process payments—it integrates directly into accounting workflows, ensuring recurring payments, direct debits, and reconciliation happen automatically. Because payments are tied to cash flow and client relationships, moving away from Pinch would mean retraining staff, adjusting workflows, and dealing with potential disruptions to billing.

3. Dext – Document processing as a control point

Dext (formerly Receipt Bank) processes invoices, receipts, and bank statements, pushing clean data into accounting systems. Their AI-driven automation, historical transaction data, and workflow dependencies mean that once a firm starts using Dext, switching to a competitor would be a major disruption, requiring staff retraining and risking potential errors.

How to leverage control points in your marketing

It’s not enough to simply have control points - you need to market them effectively. Here’s how leading SaaS companies ensure their control points are front and centre in their sales and marketing efforts.

1. Make your control points the core of your messaging

Many SaaS companies focus too much on features rather than the unique value they provide. Your messaging should highlight why your product is essential rather than just "nice to have."

  • Instead of: “Our platform integrates with Xero.”
  • Say: “We eliminate manual data entry and automate reconciliation, saving firms 10+ hours per week.”

2. Position your control points as industry standards

Reinforce that your control points aren’t just a convenience—they’re the expected way of doing business in the industry.

  • Example: “Thousands of firms rely on [your software] for compliance automation—don’t risk falling behind.”

3. Use control points to strengthen sales & retention

  • In the sales process, highlight how painful switching would be for a prospect (without making it sound like a trap).
  • In customer retention strategies, reinforce the long-term benefits of staying with your platform, such as continuous improvement, industry partnerships, or compliance updates.

How to identify and strengthen your control points

If you’re not already using control points to your advantage, now is the time to start. Here’s a simple framework to assess and leverage them:

Step 1: Identify your strongest control points

  • What key processes break if your product is removed?
  • Where does your software integrate into an accountant’s daily workflow?
  • What data, history, or compliance needs does your product manage?

Step 2: Double down on these control points in product development

  • Strengthen integrations with accounting platforms.
  • Expand automation features to make switching even harder.
  • Ensure your platform remains compliance-friendly for regulatory needs.

Step 3: Align marketing & sales to control points

  • Make your essential value clear in messaging, not just features.
  • Use case studies and testimonials to reinforce why customers stay with your platform.
  • Train sales teams to articulate the pain of switching without being aggressive.

Final Thoughts

At Journey, we’ve seen firsthand how control points can be the deciding factor in whether a SaaS company scales efficiently or struggles with churn. Accounting SaaS companies that build strong control points—through integrations, automation, compliance, and workflow dependencies—will own their space, reduce competition, and create lasting customer relationships.

If you’re an accounting SaaS company, ask yourself: Are you making the most of your control points?

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That's a wrap! How we helped clients achieve $17M in revenue, and brought 20,000 accountants together in 2024!

In 2024, Journey helped clients generate $17M in revenue, supported 180% growth for key accounts, and brought 20,000 attendees together across global events.

Year 2 as a business is in the books for Journey. It’s been a huge year of ups and downs and today I’m giving you the Journey WRAP!?

Like everyone else, I’m always motivated for a good wrap-up following my Spotify wrap, which we can all admit is the real OG for end of year reviews. 

This year, the Journey team helped accounting SaaS orgs break records, navigate challenges, and achieve incredible milestones. From driving $17 million in client sales to bringing 20,000 people together across all the events and webinars, this has been our most impactful year yet.

When we started Journey, I’ll be honest, we didn’t really know what this was going to be.

I had 15 years of experience at my disposal, a long list of connections who I thought could use my help and an appetite to run something of my own, build it fast and build it big. 

It’s a testament to our entire team. Collectively we’ve got 22 real-life humans (and 100s of AI bots) that are absolutely crushing it for our clients and new projects. I’m incredibly proud of everyone's contribution and importantly how much they all give a damn about the work they do.

A huge shout to both our APAC and EMEA teams. Liss, Jordan and I are in awe of the work you do and the fact that you love bringing your all to the business - it’s incredible to see.

We are open to welcoming new clients in 2025 and remain steadfast in our mission to help enable and scale accounting SaaS all over the world to grow revenue, brand and trust with accountants and bookkeepers. 

I’ll now take a minute to share the wins, the lessons and the opportunities. If you’re not currently working with us - hopefully you’ll pick up a few things you can take back to your team. 

Celebrating our achievements

Welcoming new faces

Our team grew significantly in 2024, with 22 talented individuals now spread across the globe. Each new addition brought fresh ideas and skills, enabling us to push boundaries and deliver even more for our clients.

Partnering with industry leaders

This year, we worked with 44 outstanding brands and companies across the accounting and SaaS industries. 

These included global giants like Intuit, FloQast, Constant Contact, Sage, Change GPS, The Access Group, and Experian as well as industry bodies and media partners such as the ACCA, ABN, CAANZ, XU Magazine and AccountantsDaily.

Together, we’ve raised the bar for what’s possible in the accounting tech space and made a huge leap of clients we serve and were able to execute for in market.

Making events happen

Journey played a pivotal role in some of the biggest accounting industry events in 2024. From virtual summits to in-person conferences, our efforts brought together 20,000 attendees across the EMEA, AMER and APAC. These events were well-attended; they were highly engaging, impactful, and full of value for everyone involved.

Driving client success

One of our biggest achievements this year has been helping our clients reach new heights:

  • $17 million in sales collectively achieved through our campaigns.
  • 180% revenue growth for key clients navigating commercial challenges and opportunities.

We’re incredibly proud of the results we’re getting for clients in market and look forward to bigger challenges to solve in 2025.

Key lessons from 2024

1. Earn their trust, then ask for the sale


Too many brands are expecting sales/growth without putting in the hard yards of earning trust with the accounting community. I mean who do you think you are? These folks are inundated with countless late nights due to government changes, client queries and software updates (not to mention the price rises).

It’s important more then ever that you invest the time to build trust with this audience, add value to the community and showcase how you’re solving key challenges in their business operations. 


Trust building comes down to:

  • Consistent brand building
  • Truly value added content/education
  • A product that delivers on its promises
  • Advocates that share the good word for you (without asking them to)

2. GTM partnerships amplify success

This year proved that the right GTM partnerships can make a world of difference. Collaborating with other SaaS brands and accounting thought leaders helped amplify our clients’ reach and credibility.

Creating brand advocates and getting them in front of your customers is still one of my biggest and best recommendations for all accounting tech folks.

3. Customer-led marketing is king

Letting customers tell your story is one of the most effective marketing strategies. Their testimonials and success stories drive trust and engagement like nothing else.

Another nod to my comment on brand advocates above.

4. Video content continues to dominate

Video remains one of the most powerful tools in marketing, and we saw this again and again in 2024. From social clips to customer interviews, video content drove strong results across campaigns.

We went hard at tools like Riverside to help bring this content to life and the results and impact as been staggering. With recent changes to Linkedin focusing on more video content, expect to see more of it in 2025.

5. Clarity over cleverness

This year reinforced the importance of clear messaging. Being clever is great, but clarity ensures your message lands effectively. Don’t over complicate, don’t try to be to smart.

Just tell me what the damn thing does and how it will help me, is the short answer.

6. Balanced strategies deliver results

You can’t rely on just one channel. Success comes from a balanced approach that includes email, word-of-mouth, sales enablement, and even product marketing.

Not enough companies are leveraging in product displays, messages and pop-ups to help communicate with your clients.

We rely so heavily on email marketing that you’re struggling to fit it all in your schedule.

You can’t be emailing clients and prospects 3-4 days per week, you’ll burn them all out.

Missed opportunities

While 2024 was a strong year, the industry as a whole missed out on a few key opportunities:

  • Underinvestment in product marketing
    Many businesses didn’t fully leverage the potential of product marketing to drive growth and adoption. Which is dumb, this is your whole business. Spend more time on product marketing in 2025.

  • Limited focus on NPS and data insights
    Net Promoter Scores and customer feedback data remain underutilised tools that could uncover valuable insights about friction points and success areas. It’s also the shortcut to finding your raving fans, people that will fuel your customer led marketing.

  • Neglecting customer-led data
    Using customer data to drive marketing strategies is still not as widespread as it should be. There’s untapped potential here for deeper insights and better decisions.

    Every Journey project kicks off with customer led research, we call it the cheat sheet to getting up to speed quickly. Always overlooked, sometimes confusing for our clients because they say…. “We already know our clients, why are we doing research?”

    My reply, typically, then “why are you here chatting to me? And why does your messaging sound like it’s stuck in the mud with no idea who you are and what you’re solving for…?”

    You get my point. Clients hold all the answers. Ask them what they think of you and ask them.. If you were to sell my product, what would you say and how would you say it.

Looking ahead to 2025

Excited to take the lessons from 2024 and build on them for an even bigger year ahead.

  • Empowering customer advocacy:
    We’ll double down on customer-led marketing, letting their voices drive engagement and trust. More videos, more podcasts, more content!
  • Expanding product marketing:
    Product-led growth strategies will be a major focus in 2025 as we help clients align their marketing with their offerings. Particularly in product displays and in-product marketing opportunities.
  • Doubling down on video:
    Video content will continue to play a central role in our strategies, helping clients connect authentically with their audiences.
  • Building stronger partnerships:
    Collaboration remains a cornerstone of our work, and we’re excited to explore new opportunities with existing and new partners.

A huge thank you to our team and clients

To our clients: thank you for trusting us with your goals and allowing us to play a role in your success. To our team: your hard work, creativity, and dedication have been the foundation of everything we’ve accomplished this year.

Here’s to making 2025 even bigger and better—together.

Signing off,

Trent, Liss & Jordan

Founders & Directors @ Journey

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Journey announces partnership with Adfin to help Accountants, Bookkeepers, and their clients get paid: faster, cheaper, easier.

Journey announces a strategic partnership with Adfin, an accounts receivable & payments platform designed to help businesses get paid: faster, cheaper, easier.

Journey, the leading go-to-market (GTM) agency for accounting technology, announces a strategic partnership with Adfin, an accounts receivable & payments platform designed to help businesses get paid: faster, cheaper, easier. This partnership will help to launch Adfin’s platform to the market, available for use both by accounting & bookkeeping firms, and their clients.

Getting paid isn’t easy. Late payments, high payment fees, and fragmented systems mean that managing & chasing payments is a time-consuming and expensive exercise for many professional service businesses. Adfin plans to tackle this challenge by providing a single platform containing automated invoice sending, chasing, and reconciling, along with a world-class payment experience consisting of direct debits, card, and open banking payments, providing a complete solution for businesses to manage payments efficiently.

All of this is supported with a simple, no-nonsense, transparent pricing model. No tiers, no monthly fees, just a flat rate that will only ever come down. Read about Adfin’s ‘Transparency Manifesto’ here.

“We’ve been working with Adfin on some early product feedback and all of the signals suggest there is a strong need for this, both with accounting & bookkeeping firms directly and their clients’ businesses,” said Jordan Vickery, Global Director and Head of EMEA at Journey. “It’s an exciting product combining fragmented payment methods together into a single platform with some intelligent workflows for chasing and failed payment options. We’re excited to partner with them on their journey”

Tom Pope, Co-Founder at Adfin, added, “Partnering with Journey is a significant step in expanding our reach and impact within the industry. Their extensive experience and deep understanding of the accounting-tech market will be invaluable.”

Key features of Adfin include:

  • Works with any invoice: Adfin’s powerful OCR and AI allow you to import any invoice by simply dragging and dropping it into the UI. Adfin also seamlessly synchronises with Xero and QuickBooks 
  • Multichannel distribution: Adfin is the first platform that allows you to distribute over email, SMS and WhatsApp 
  • Automated reminder workflows: Adfin intelligently handles chasing for payment, continuously optimising timing and messaging to ensure timely payment
  • Prompt payment discounts and late penalties: Before Adfin, offering discounts or applying penalties was too complex - now, it’s one click 
  • All payment methods in one place: Accept payments via cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Direct Debit, and bank transfers - all dynamically managed to increase success rates and reduce fees
  • Failed payment retries: Automatic retries of failed payments using higher success methods
  • Automatic reconciliation: Consolidated reconciliation of all payments directly into the accounting system - tested by leading accountants to be best-in-class
  • Transparent, fair pricing. No subscription or minimum fee. Everything in the platform is available to everyone for one fee - which is only charged on successful payments. Adfin’s Transparency Manifesto makes them the first in the industry to commit to lowering prices as underlying payment costs fall

You can learn more about Adfin and get started here.

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Journey Announces Multi-Year Partnership with ACCA UK to Drive Tech Advancement in Accounting

Journey has entered a multi-year partnership with ACCA UK. This collaboration will focus on two key initiatives aimed at enhancing professional growth.

New collaboration to deliver national roadshows and member benefits focused on the future of accounting tech.

Journey, the leading GTM agency for accounting-tech, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with leading global accountancy body ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. This multi-year partnership will see Journey become an events partner for ACCA UK, organising national roadshows and providing exclusive member benefits through access to innovative software solutions.

Journey, renowned for its expertise in go-to-market strategies for accounting technology, has entered a multi-year partnership with ACCA UK. This collaboration will focus on two key initiatives aimed at enhancing the professional growth and technological advancement of ACCA UK members.

The first initiative involves Journey taking on the role of an events partner for ACCA. This partnership will kick off with the 'Accounting Futures' roadshow in October, which will tour six locations across the UK. The roadshow will feature industry experts discussing critical themes such as People, Process, Technology, and Sustainability. Attendees will gain valuable insights and learn directly from peers about solving the challenges of today whilst preparing for the future of tomorrow.

"We are thrilled to partner with ACCA UK on these national roadshows," said Jordan Vickery, Global Director & Head of EMEA at Journey. "Our goal is to provide ACCA members with unique opportunities to engage with industry leaders, explore new technology, and equip themselves with the knowledge to navigate the evolving landscape of accounting."

In addition to the events, Journey will collaborate with ACCA UK to offer exclusive member benefits. By leveraging its portfolio of innovative software vendors, Journey aims to provide ACCA UK members with access to the latest technological advancements designed to support their firms and clients effectively.

"Partnering with Journey allows us to deliver significant value to our members," said Mark Jackson, Partnership Development Manager at ACCA UK. "The combination of expert-led events and cutting-edge technology solutions will empower our members to stay ahead in the dynamic field of accounting."

Last year's roadshow organised by Journey attracted over 500 ACCA members from various UK locations, demonstrating the strong interest and demand for such initiatives. This new partnership aims to build on that success and further support ACCA members in their professional journey.

About Journey
Journey is the leading GTM agency for accounting tech globally. SaaS leaders work with Journey to accelerate revenue growth, scale brand awareness and eliminate wasteful spend using 30+ years of proven playbooks, industry knowledge and global connections.

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Journey Announced as Marketing Partner To Help Launch Tax Torch

Journey have been announced as the marketing partner to help launch Tax Torch in order to revolutionise real-time tax planning for accounting professionals.

Collaboration aims to transform personal tax planning for accounting professionals in the UK.

London, UK, [10th July]: Journey, the leading go-to-market (GTM) agency for accounting-tech, is proud to announce its partnership with Tax Torch, a real-time and proactive personal tax planning product set to launch in September/October 2024. This partnership aims to provide accounting professionals with new tools to deliver personal tax planning at scale.

Tax Torch offers a suite of features designed to simplify and enhance the tax planning process, allowing accountants to deliver proactive advice and real-time updates to their clients. This innovative product is expected to set a new standard in the industry, helping firms & their clients to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving financial landscape.

"Journey is excited to support Tax Torch in their mission to transform tax planning," said Jordan Vickery, Global Director & Head of EMEA at Journey. "Our experience with over 20 vendors across the UK, Australia, and the United States positions us perfectly to help drive the success of this innovative product in the accounting channel."

Robert Davidson, Co-Founder of Tax Torch, added, "Partnering with Journey ensures that our product reaches the right audience and achieves its full potential. Their expertise in the accounting-tech market is invaluable as we prepare for our launch."

About Journey

Journey is the leading GTM agency for accounting tech globally. SaaS leaders work with Journey to accelerate revenue growth, scale brand awareness and eliminate wasteful spend using 30+ years of proven playbooks, industry knowledge and global connections.

About Tax Torch

Tax Torch is a new cloud-based personal tax planning product, combining an individual's personal income, business performance and goals. Tax Torch aims to create consistency and value while lowering the barriers of entry and making easy tax planning available to all.

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Journey partners with Digital Accountancy Show to accelerate show growth and support exhibitors

Journey teams up with Digital Accountancy Show to enhance event growth and exhibitor engagement.

Journey, the leading go-to-market (GTM) agency specialising in accounting technology, is excited to announce a strategic marketing partnership with the Digital Accountancy Show. This collaboration aims to drive attendee growth for the show and offer exclusive support packages to exhibitors, to ensure they maximise their ROI. 

The Digital Accountancy Show, now heading into its fifth year after four consecutive sell-out shows, is poised to continue its growth as a staple part of the UK accounting events calendar, with Journey acting as its marketing engine. 

As well as handling all aspects of marketing for the show, Journey will also be supporting the show's 100+ exhibitors with exclusive support packages, including product messaging, stand design, pre-show communications, and follow-up strategies.

"Having worked with Dan and the team in a consulting capacity for 4 years as their Head of Content, it makes complete sense for Journey and our incredible agency team to step in to support the show's ambitious growth targets and plans for 2025” said Jordan Vickery, Global Director and Head of EMEA at Journey. "With our experience supporting 20+ vendors globally with their GTM, we’re also in a great position to be able to support the show's exhibitors to ensure they maximise their value from the event with clear positioning, marketing, and exhibition design"

Dan Cockerton, Founder of the Digital Accountancy Show, added, "Journey's proven track record in the accounting tech space makes them the perfect partner for us. Their approach and deep understanding of our profession will undoubtedly help us take the show to new heights in 2025."

You can learn more about the packages available for exhibitors here. 

About Journey

Journey is the leading GTM agency for accounting tech globally. SaaS leaders work with Journey to accelerate revenue growth, scale brand awareness and eliminate wasteful spend using 30+ years of proven playbooks, industry knowledge and global connections.

About Digital Accountancy Show

The Digital Accountancy Show is your front row seat to the future of accounting & finance. Join them on the 1st and 2nd April 2025 in London to join 4000+ of your peers at the leading technology conference like no other.

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Australian Accounting Events Suck! But They Don’t Need To

How do we revamp Australian accounting events for maximum impact, and how did we get here?

Australian accounting events are in a dire state. I'm not here to highlight the problems; I'm here to advocate for real change. 

The current landscape is bleak – events are becoming increasingly stale, un-engaging, and frankly, a complete waste of time and resources.

Vendors are pouring money into events that accountants and bookkeepers simply don't want to attend. More concerning is the trend of every vendor wanting to host their own event next year. I've heard this sentiment echoed at least nine times in the last three months alone. This is a recipe for disaster – a proliferation of micro-events all vying for the attention of the same audience, leading to even more poorly attended gatherings.

The content being served up is underwhelming at best, often feeling like a rehashed webinar from the week prior. Like many of you, I'm utterly fed up with the same old talks and lacklustre networking opportunities.

So, what's the solution? Here are a few thoughts on how conference organisers can truly shake things up:

1. Cut the Crap (Content)

We need real, actionable content. No more theoretical fluff. Give us the nitty-gritty details on how to navigate significant changes within a firm, such as exiting a partner, buying into a firm, or flipping 3,000 clients to the cloud. Show us the step-by-step process, the challenges faced, and how they were overcome. Don't just tell us the grass is greener; show us how to tend to the soil.

2. Networking That Matters (Hold my gin)

It's time to rethink networking. We need curated meetups with purpose, not just awkward gatherings with a limited bar tab. 

Create environments where meaningful conversations can happen, and ensure there's a fun element too. Accountants and bookkeepers want to enjoy themselves, not shout over a dated rock band or play pin the tail on the idiot.

3. Hands-On Skill Workshops (Deep & Practical)

Attendees should leave with practical skills they can immediately apply. Workshops should cover mastering accounting tech usage, effective client communication strategies, and navigating complex regulatory changes. Real skills for real-world application are what's needed.

The frustration from both vendors and professionals is palpable. Conference organisers have the budget and capability, yet often seem out of touch or too focused on who's paying for stage time. I understand it's a business, but it's high time for a change. The heavily discounted stands I've seen recently are a clear indicator that it's time to either step up or step out.

We're at a tipping point. It's time to transform these events from snooze-fests into valuable, engaging experiences that truly add value to our professional lives. Let's not settle for mediocrity. It's time for a revolution in Australian accounting events.

Following this call to action, a question has been circulating:

"Trent, I hear you're running your own accounting events this year. Is that true?"

Let me address this directly:

No, I'm not.

At this point in time, I'm not remotely interested.

If last year I vocalised how dire the state of accounting events is in Australia (and some of you mentioned abroad as well), then it stands to reason that adding more events into the mix is not the solution we need.

So, no.

Not right now. The last thing I want to do is add the wrong fuel to this already blazing fire.

What we need is a reset, which, in my opinion, means fewer events, not more. A few of these large-scale events will need to fail and exit the scene first. We need to let the dust settle, focus on our businesses, our client work, and perhaps then we'll be ready for something new.

The draw card for future events should not just be innovative content. The need for community, fun, and bringing people together will likely be a bigger attraction. Building connections and shared learning experiences with your crew holds more value than a big-box event with 100 talks, where 70% come with a sales pitch disclaimer.

So, if you've been wondering what my stance is on the future of accounting events, there you have it. Now you know.

The path forward should be about quality, not quantity. We need to create spaces where real learning, meaningful connections, and genuine enjoyment are the priorities. Let's focus on making the few events we do have count, rather than flooding the calendar with more of the same. It's time for a change, and it starts with us demanding more from the events we choose to invest our time and resources in.

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The Golden Rule of SaaS Pricing: Keep It Simple, Idiot!

Simplify your SaaS pricing for clarity and growth. Break free from complexity. Your customers deserve transparency.

If your client can't figure out how much your SaaS app will cost them in the next 5-10 seconds, we've got a problem. Okay, okay, I'm not really mad. I still love you. But let's be real, pricing for your SaaS needs to be as simple as ABC for everyone involved - prospects, leads, and your loyal customers.

Just yesterday, I found myself tangled in two separate conversations about pricing. Despite our best intentions, we often end up in the same predicament. It seems we're caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to extract maximum value or making it easy for clients to scale with our solution. Ironically, figuring out the price turns out to be the hardest part.

Here's the thing - customers don't lose sleep over the mechanics of your pricing. What keeps them up at night is wondering:

- How much is this going to cost me every month?

- How does this fit into my budget?

- Does the cost justify the value I'm expecting to receive?

- Is this price set in stone, or should I expect some surprises?

If your client is scratching their head trying to work out your pricing, you're already on the back foot. They're not pondering whether to buy; they're stuck on "how much does this thing cost?"

So, what's the fix? I won't sugarcoat it - pricing is a beast. 

You've got a ballpark figure of what you want to make. You've got estimates on product usage. So, draw a line in the sand and present a three-tier package: small usage + users, medium + advanced functionality, and large + custom options.

Aim to place your desired average monthly recurring revenue (MRR) at either the entry-level or the middle tier, then upsell the rest. Granted, this advice is pretty broad and might not fit everyone's bill. And if it doesn't work for you? 

Well, that's not my problem. 😂

But if you're constantly getting feedback that your pricing model is as clear as mud, it's time for a rethink. Yes, simplifying your pricing is tough. But right now, you're making it tough for your customers or potential customers. We need to shift the burden from them to us.

And you know what? That's perfectly fine. You're resilient. You're capable. You'll crack this nut. So, here's to making things simpler. For everyone.

Transparency is key. Your pricing structure shouldn't be a puzzle that clients need to solve. It should be straightforward, allowing them to quickly assess the value of your product against its cost. This clarity not only enhances the customer experience but also builds trust. When clients feel confident in understanding what they're paying for, they're more likely to invest in your product.

Moreover, consider the psychological aspect of decision-making. 

A complex pricing model can lead to decision fatigue, where too many options or unclear costs lead to indecision or avoidance. Simplifying your pricing not only aids in quicker decision-making but also reduces the cognitive load on your clients, making them more inclined to proceed with a purchase.

So, take a hard look at your pricing model. 

Is it as clear as daylight? Does it facilitate or hinder your sales process? 

Remember, the goal is to make it as easy as possible for your clients to say "yes." By demystifying your pricing, you're not just easing their decision-making process; you're also setting the stage for a smoother customer journey and, ultimately, fostering long-term relationships.

Happy hunting, and good luck. Remember, keep it simple, idiot!

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What did SaaS vendors get right in their GTM strategy in 2023?

Discover key GTM insights from Journey's 2023 success with global Accounting SaaS vendors.

In 2023 we worked with more than 20 vendors. We helped them to execute their GTM strategy in the accounting industry here in Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and North America. 

Over the last 12 months I saw a lot of things that worked really well. And I saw a lot of things that made me want to bang my head against the wall until the pain went away.

At Journey, we've had a big year of experimentation and strategy refinement. 

Today I’m breaking down my key takeaways from 2023 on what worked well for the Accounting SaaS community, or at least for the vendors we were working with.

My goal here, whether you work with Journey or not, is to help you think through all the areas of your GTM strategy, what are you gaps, what is your opportunity and what are you digging into in Q1 of 2024 to get back on track. 

Let’s break it down.

1. Deeply Understand Your Customer

It's startling how many businesses overlook this. 

Last year, we went the extra mile by asking our clients' customers about their product usage, the problems it solves, and their overall experience. 

Our approach was comprehensive. We conducted detailed interviews and surveys, asking pointed questions about how they use our clients' products, the specific problems these products solve, and their overall experience. 

This wasn't a superficial exercise; we delved into the nuances of their responses, seeking to understand not just the 'what' but the 'why' behind their usage.

The insights gained from this exercise were eye-opening. We learned that what we thought were the key features of a product weren't always aligned with the customer's perspective.

In some cases, features we considered minor were actually making a significant impact on the customers' day-to-day operations. This revelation was a game-changer in how we approached messaging and positioning for our clients.

You absolutely need to start the year by doing customer research. Write it down.

We offer this as a service and would be more then happy to show you through how we were able to capture over 400 pieces of product feedback in the past few months for our clients.

2. Active and Diverse Funnel Activities

How often are you engaging with your prospects?

Relying on a single channel for marketing is a strategy that will likely fail. It's important to keep a mix of activities – both big and small – to maintain a healthy and consistent funnel.

Social media alone won't cut it, email marketing alone doesn't cut it, that FaceBook group that had 7 people tag your solution alone doesn't cut it.

The magic happens when these channels work together. 

Imagine a potential customer seeing your brand on social media, then receiving a well-crafted email that addresses their specific needs, followed by an invitation to an exclusive webinar. 

This approach creates multiple touchpoints, each reinforcing the other, and keeps your brand top-of-mind for prospects. The same happens when you start partnering with other brands that operate in the same channel.

Moreover, this strategy allows for flexibility and adaptability. 

Different segments of your audience might prefer different channels, and a multi-channel approach lets you cater to these preferences. 

It also enables you to test and learn which combinations of channels and content types work best for different audience segments.

This is a core offering at Journey. This is the majority of work we are rolling out and implementing for our clients at the moment.

3. A Disciplined Sales Team

The effectiveness of your sales team hinges on their structure and discipline. 

We've seen the best results when roles are clearly defined – for instance, separating the responsibilities of SDRs (Sales Development Representatives) and BDMs (Business Development Managers). 

Having someone do both the SDR work and BDM work, as in, all the call and all the demos will be ineffective, compared to 2 people splitting the work and focusing on just making calls and/or just doing demos.

This specialisation allows each team member to focus and excel in their area, significantly improving efficiency and deal closures.

Keep it simple and the results will flow. I do a lot of consulting on sales functions and getting this process right. 

We’ve seen amazing results with some clients seeing a 206% lift in revenue in 2023 alone after we made changes to their sales and marketing flow.

4. Innovative Customer Interactions

Customer engagement methods are evolving rapidly. 

We've embraced webinars, interactive demos, and other innovative interaction methods to keep our engagements memorable and accessible. 

Webinars, for instance, offer a platform not just for education but for prospect interaction. 

They allow you to delve into key themes and topics, showcase your expertise, and most importantly, engage in real-time with your audience. 

Similarly, interactive website demos have transformed from standard presentations to dynamic, tailored experiences where prospects can see firsthand how your solutions can solve their specific problems straight on the website, before they’ve even spoken to anyone.

Integrating these interactions with your CRM can provide invaluable insights and streamline your sales processes.

We implemented a number of interactive demo’s last year and the results were crazy, in the first month alone, a brand new solution we helped launch had 400 interactions inside the first 30 days, before converting roughly 20% - without even speaking to the on the phone.

5. Seamless Transition Between Teams

A critical yet often neglected aspect is the handover between marketing, sales, and customer success teams. 

This transition should be smooth and well-coordinated, with each team understanding their role in the customer journey. Automating these handovers in your CRM can prevent manual errors and ensure a seamless experience.

By automating the process, you eliminate the risk of human error – no more missed emails or forgotten follow-ups. 

This automation ensures that every piece of critical information is captured and made available to the right team at the right time. 

Furthermore, it allows for a smoother transition of the customer through different phases of their journey, from initial engagement with marketing to sales negotiation, and finally to ongoing support from the customer success team.

6. A Functioning CRM: The Heart of Sales and Marketing


Last year, I encountered too many SaaS vendors struggling with disconnected systems. A cohesive CRM system is non-negotiable. 

It should be the central hub where your sales and marketing efforts converge and should be well-integrated with your website and other tools.

We’re officially Hubspot implementation partners. This is our weapon of choice but we play nice with all systems. We find Hubspot does an amazing job of bringing visibility and cohesion in your GTM team. 

Final thoughts

These insights are more than just observations; they are the foundation of a robust GTM strategy. 

If your current GTM strategy doesn't align with these points, it's time for a change. 

At Journey, we specialise in crafting and refining these strategies to help you scale your sales and marketing efforts.

If you're looking to enhance your approach in 2024, let's have a conversation. 

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