"The metrics you track are the metrics you improve."

As the founder of DataDab, a SaaS marketing agency, I understand the importance of metrics in measuring the success of our marketing efforts. However, not all metrics are created equal, and it can get real challenging to know which ones truly matter. In this article, I want to unlock the secrets of SaaS marketing metrics and provide a guide for what every marketer needs to know.

SaaS Metrics by Stage of Growth

First, let's define what we mean by "SaaS marketing metrics." These are metrics that are specific to marketing software-as-a-service (SaaS) products.

One of the most important things to understand about SaaS marketing metrics is that they often differ from traditional ones. For example, website traffic is a valuable metric for any business, but it is significant for SaaS companies because it can indicate the potential for future conversions. Additionally, lead generation is important for all businesses, but for SaaS companies, it can mean the potential for future revenue.

Another critical thing to understand about SaaS marketing metrics is that they are often more complex than traditional marketing metrics. For example, customer acquisition costs (CAC) can be challenging to calculate because it involves not just the cost of acquiring a customer but also retaining that customer. Additionally, calculating a customer's lifetime value (LTV) can be complex because it involves not just the revenue generated but also the cost of acquiring and retaining that customer.

With that said, there are a few key metrics that every SaaS marketer should be aware of:

Key SaaS Marketing Metrics & Their Formulas
  1. Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR): This metric measures the recurring revenue generated by customers every month. For example, let's say you have 100 customers paying $50/month for your SaaS product. Your MRR would be $5,000 (100 x $50 = $5,000). To calculate MRR, you multiply the number of customers by the average monthly revenue per customer (ARC).
  2. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): This metric measures the cost of acquiring a customer. For example, you spent $10,000 on marketing and sales and acquired 100 new customers. Your CAC would be $100 ( $10,000 / 100 = $100). To calculate CAC, you would divide the total cost of sales and marketing efforts by the number of customers acquired.
  3. Lifetime Value (LTV): This metric measures the total revenue generated by a customer throughout their lifetime. For example, let's say a customer pays $50/month for your SaaS product and stays a customer for 24 months. Their LTV would be $1,200 ( $50 x 24 = $1,200). To calculate LTV, you would multiply the average revenue per customer per month by the average customer lifespan in months.
  4. Churn Rate: This metric measures the percentage of customers that cancel their subscriptions. For example, let's say you have 1,000 customers, and 20 cancel their subscriptions in a given month. Your monthly churn rate would be 2% (20/1,000 = .02 or 2%). To calculate the churn rate, you would divide the number of customers that canceled by the total number of customers and then multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
  5. Net Promoter Score (NPS) measures customer satisfaction and loyalty. For example, you conduct a survey and ask customers to rate their likelihood of recommending your product on a scale of 0-10. Let's say you have 100 responses 60 are 9-10 (promoters), 30 are 7-8 (passives), and 10 are 0-6 (detractors). Your NPS would be 30 (60-10 = 50). To calculate NPS, you would subtract the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters.
  6. Customer Retention Rate: This metric measures the percentage of customers that continue to pay for a service or product over time. For example, you have 1,000 customers, and 800 continue to pay for your product after one year. Your customer retention rate would be 80% (800/1000 = .8 or 80%). To calculate the customer retention rate, you would divide the number of customers retained by the total number of customers and then multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
  7. User Engagement: This metric measures how much customers interact with a product; it can be measured by the number of active users, usage time, etc. For example, if you have 1,000 registered users and 800 of them log in and use the product at least once a month, your user engagement rate would be 80% (800/1000 = .8 or 80%). To calculate the user engagement rate, you would divide the number of active users by the total number of registered users and then multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
  8. Referral Rate: This metric measures the percentage of customers that refer new customers. For example, let's say you have 100 customers, and 10 of them refer a new customer to your product. Your referral rate would be 10% (10/100 = 0.1 or 10%). To calculate the referral rate, you would divide the number of customers who referred others by the total number of customers and then multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
SaaS Metrics by Department
Understanding these metrics and tracking them regularly is crucial for any SaaS marketer, but it's important to remember that these are just a few examples, and many other metrics are necessary depending on the business model, industry, and target audience. The key is identifying which metrics are most important for your business and tracking them consistently over time.
SaaS Metrics for Product Adoption

Another critical aspect of SaaS marketing metrics is understanding how to analyze and interpret the data. For example, a high CAC may indicate that your marketing efforts are inefficient, but it could also suggest that your product is precious to a specific customer segment and, therefore, worth the higher acquisition cost. Similarly, a high churn rate may indicate a problem with customer retention, but it could also suggest that your product is not a good fit for specific customers, and they are naturally churning.

It's important to take a holistic view of the data and not just focus on one metric. Instead, look at the data in the context of the whole picture, and try to understand the underlying causes behind any changes in the metrics. This can be done through A/B testing, surveys, and customer interviews to gather more insights.

Another vital aspect of SaaS marketing metrics is creating a process for tracking and analyzing the data. This can include setting up regular reporting and meetings to review the metrics and having a clear plan for how to act on the data. It's also essential to clearly define each metric and how it should be measured so that everyone on the team is on the same page.


SaaS marketing metrics provide valuable insights into the performance of your marketing efforts, customer acquisition, and revenue potential. You can make data-driven decisions and optimize your marketing efforts for maximum ROI by tracking and analyzing these metrics. The above formulas are just examples; you may need to tweak them to suit your business model.

FAQ

What is SaaS Marketing?

SaaS (Software as a Service) marketing refers to the marketing of cloud-based software applications. In contrast to traditional software that is installed locally on a user's computer, SaaS products are hosted on remote servers and accessed through the internet. The goal of SaaS marketing is to generate leads, increase brand awareness, and drive customer engagement and growth for the SaaS product. This is achieved through a variety of channels, such as content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing, and more.

How is SaaS Marketing different from Digital Marketing?

SaaS marketing is a subcategory of digital marketing, which encompasses a wider range of marketing activities that are performed online. Digital marketing includes everything from website design and search engine optimization to social media marketing and paid advertising. SaaS marketing, on the other hand, is focused specifically on promoting cloud-based software applications.

The difference between SaaS marketing and digital marketing lies in the target audience and the marketing strategies used. SaaS marketing is focused on attracting and retaining businesses and organizations that will use the SaaS product as a solution to their problems. This requires a deep understanding of the target audience, their needs, and pain points, as well as an understanding of the competitive landscape and how to differentiate the SaaS product from other solutions in the market.

In comparison, digital marketing is focused on a wider audience, including individuals and organizations. The strategies used in digital marketing are more generalized and may not be as tailored to a specific product or industry. SaaS marketing requires a more specialized skill set, as well as a deep understanding of the SaaS market and the software itself, in order to effectively promote the product and drive growth.

How do you market your SaaS product?

Marketing a SaaS product requires a multi-channel approach that leverages a combination of inbound and outbound marketing strategies. Here are some of the key tactics that are commonly used in SaaS marketing:

  • Content marketing: This involves creating and distributing high-quality, valuable content (such as blog posts, eBooks, webinars, and more) to attract and engage potential customers. The goal is to educate prospects about the SaaS product and how it can solve their problems.
  • Email marketing: This involves sending targeted and relevant emails to prospects and customers to keep them engaged and informed about the SaaS product. This can include newsletters, promotional offers, and more.
  • Paid advertising: This involves placing ads on search engines, social media platforms, and other websites to drive traffic and generate leads. Paid advertising can be a highly effective way to reach a large audience quickly, but it is also one of the most expensive marketing tactics.
  • Search engine optimization (SEO): This involves optimizing the SaaS product's website and content to rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find the product.
  • Social media marketing: This involves using social media platforms to engage with prospects and customers, build brand awareness, and drive traffic to the SaaS product's website.

These are just a few of the many tactics that can be used in SaaS marketing. The specific mix of tactics used will depend on the SaaS product, the target audience, and the marketing goals.