The number of people buying products online is rapidly increasing. The general public’s strong interest in online sales demonstrates the substantial potential of websites.
You can quickly transform a web page into a revenue-generating machine with proper affiliate marketing campaigns.
If you are looking for effective ways to grow your affiliate network and SaaS business, investigate the world of SaaS affiliate programs. The SaaS technology stack combines programming languages, software, frameworks, libraries, and other tools to supercharge your SaaS business.
If chosen correctly, a SaaS marketing automation tool can help you use your financial resources wisely and stand out from competitors. This post will guide you through selecting the right SaaS software and explain how your affiliate marketing campaigns can benefit from them.
What Is a SaaS Tech Stack?
A SaaS, or Software as a service, tech stack combines various technologies for running SaaS software. It includes software languages that infrastructure developers use to maintain functioning SaaS platforms.
When it comes to e-commerce, SaaS implies a licensing and delivery model in which a vendor uses a cloud server to host an application. As a result, other users can access this application using their web browsers.
For instance, companies can select a SaaS provider package that covers server maintenance, server security, regular backups, software and storage issues, and other technical problems that may arise. The provider stays responsible for the SaaS software and cloud maintenance.
The SaaS tech stack forms a solid foundation that supports the entire development process. The best product and sales teams can’t perform successfully without suitable SaaS software.
How Can You Use SaaS for E-Commerce Marketing?
The implementation of SaaS tools is a recent innovation aiding e-commerce websites and e-commerce stores in retaining customers and cultivating loyalty. Before, online shopping was possible due to on-premise storage. It means the company had to purchase a server offering specific storage space, and then they kept it on their property.
However, the companies had to deal with certain limitations:
- The storage capacity could be insufficient for their needs.
- It could stop functioning due to tech issues.
With time, the increased traffic led to the demand for increased storage space. Since on-premise storage options were not sustainable anymore, other storage options had to be developed. As a result, cloud storage, which included SaaS products, emerged.
SaaS platforms are used now for various purposes. In the world of marketing automation, SaaS tools took the form of subscription-based SaaS, affiliate marketing, and e-commerce software that users can access on the go.
Now that you have a better idea of what SaaS software is, here are some popular providers working in the sphere of SaaS marketing.
The Shopify platform is one of the most prominent players in the marketing automation software field. Other well-known brands are Demandware, Goodsie, Magento Go, NetSuite, Big Cartel, and Venda.
Each SaaS platform targets a specific audience by offering relevant service packs. Thus, Demandware is a perfect fit for large companies, while Big Cartel services artistic ventures.
How Can You Benefit From SaaS Marketing Automation?
Though the most significant benefit of SaaS platforms is their increased storage space, you can also take advantage of SaaS products’ other features, such as affiliate link tracking.
You Are Not Responsible for SaaS Platforms Maintenance
Since SaaS software utilises remote access to a server from a third-party company, the customers of this SaaS company don’t have to service the server itself or the SaaS software. The provider’s duty is fixing bugs, installing recent updates, and managing other tech-related issues.
Companies without a strong IT team can benefit the most from provider-supported maintenance chores.
You Use Ready-to-Go E-Commerce Websites
E-commerce marketing platforms provide SaaS products you can start using instantly. It saves you time and money. Such intuitive software solutions enable you to create a final version of your product quickly and effectively.
You Can Adjust The Storage To Fit Your Needs
Scalability is another advantage of SaaS platforms compared to on-premise storage. Using a cloud server allows customers to use bandwidth expansion and on-demand storage. It helps e-commerce stores and businesses use affiliate marketing for lead generation purposes to react promptly to increased traffic and adjust product management.
SaaS Provider Guarantees Data Security
Nowadays, cybersecurity is not an issue that can be taken lightly. Security breaches can lead to colossal reputation and financial losses for any company. Luckily, the SaaS platform provider remains responsible for PCI compliance and data security. They must update their systems and fix existing bugs to avoid security corruption.
You Can Save on E-Commerce Platform Costs
Operating a ready-to-go e-commerce platform costs less than creating a custom one from scratch. Since a SaaS platform doesn’t require development or maintenance costs, you can purchase it at a reduced price. However, remember that the cost will increase if you require specific features.
Factors To Consider When Selecting a SaaS Tech Stack
More often than not, e-commerce stores and other businesses use marketing automation software as part of their martech stack. However, a wide variety of options makes it challenging to make the right choice. Let’s discuss what you should consider when building your SaaS stack.
SaaS Tech Stack Cost
Your SaaS stack size can range anywhere between 3 SaaS tools to more than 20. The length of your operations determines the SaaS software cost. Knowing whether these solutions fit your budget can help you balance them against your business ROI.
User-Friendliness
While all software-as-a-service solutions require some introduction training, using easy-to-use tools is a good idea. Ideally, you should have access to a knowledge base with tutorials or expert-led training options.
SaaS Stack Compatibility
A reliable SaaS tech stack has a digital ecosystem of tools that enables cross-channel marketing and efficient data transfer. The SaaS tools you choose to supercharge your affiliate marketing efforts should combine multiple solutions.
Customer Support
Last but not least, ensure that SaaS company customer support is available during your business hours so you can access it through a medium of choice. It gives you peace of mind regarding potential technical issues and software glitches.
How To Balance SaaS Tech Stack Budget Against ROI
Since SaaS tools unlock new revenue opportunities, your financial investment into a SaaS stack won’t disappear into thin air. However, it is a good idea to weigh the money you spend against the potential ROI of each tool.
You can do so by comparing the expenses for a given period against the potential gains. Consider increased sales or reduced labour costs as such gains.
To get a more accurate number, develop an optimistic estimate (lowest cost and highest ROI) and a pessimistic estimate (highest price and lowest ROI). Then, you can factor this estimated ROI into how much money you allocated to your SaaS tools.
How Do SaaS Affiliate Programs Work?
E-commerce affiliate marketing programs are among the most effective ways to boost both parties’ conversion rates and return on investment.
SaaS companies can get numerous advantages from implementing affiliate programs. Referral programs built on a business partnership are at the core of SaaS affiliate marketing.
SaaS affiliate marketing improves lead generation, so affiliates can benefit financially from attracting leads through their blogs or affiliate platforms.
One of the most significant advantages of SaaS affiliate programs is their cost-efficiency. When you develop a budget for your affiliate program, consider how much value your new customers can add and your preferred spending. Typically, affiliate programs rely on a commission-per-sale remuneration.
Does an Affiliate Program Suit Your SaaS Business?
Consider specific criteria before investing in SaaS affiliate programs to avoid challenges in creating a sustainable affiliate marketing model. Here are some of them:
- Ensure you are comfortable paying cash commissions to affiliates every time a sale occurs. The commissions you factor into your profits are a small price to pay for driving sales leads who can become your long-term customers.
- Check your customer retention rates. For businesses whose customers stay with them for a prolonged time and generate revenue, a SaaS affiliate program is a perfect fit.
- Develop your potential affiliate network. Invest in building relationships with content creators who could become your affiliates. Stick to content creators in the same niche who target the same audience as your company.
- Communicate your ideas with content creators. Content creators will promote your SaaS products to bring in more high-intent leads. Don’t hesitate to voice your ideas about how they should present your brand.
What Can You Use a SaaS Affiliate Program For?
Let’s discuss the practical benefits of launching SaaS programs for affiliate marketing.
You Can Improve Brand Awareness
A SaaS company can target a broader audience that can be otherwise difficult to reach. As a result, increasing brand awareness among potential customers helps boost your sales. The most significant advantage of SaaS affiliate programs is that you don’t need a dedicated team to bring in potential customers.
You Don’t Overpay for Customer Acquisition
You can improve your businesses’ upselling opportunities and conversion rates using SaaS affiliate programs. After all, it’s a viable alternative to traditional marketing tools. Since SaaS providers pay commissions only after the purchase, it is a cost-effective way to reach new customers.
You Work With Highly Targeted Leads
Partnering with affiliates helps business owners acquire new customers who demonstrate a genuine interest in their products. Affiliate programs can also positively impact a company’s search engine optimisation (SEO). They achieve it by generating backlinks readressing to the SaaS company’s website. SaaS companies appeal to affiliate audiences to quickly generate organic traffic.
You Can Improve Trust and Credibility
SaaS marketing automation helps build trust and credibility with your target audience. By cooperating with trusted affiliates, businesses can create long-term relationships with brand ambassadors and develop customer loyalty.
You Can Monitor Affiliate Conversion
SaaS affiliate programs can bring valuable insights and help collect data about customer behaviour. This information can become the backbone of your future marketing strategies. Tracking affiliate links and conversion enables you to understand your audience’s preferences better and optimise your lead generation efforts.
Pro tip: you can facilitate the tracking of affiliate links by using affiliate tracking software solutions.
Is Integrating SaaS Tools into Your Affiliate Marketing Efforts a Good Idea?
Affiliate marketing is a great way to increase conversion rates, especially if you already have a website that attracts paid or organic traffic. However, the additional revenue generated through it requires time and commitment.
Luckily, there are multiple marketing automation tools you can benefit from. Thus, the right SaaS tech stack can help you minimise expenses and drive motivated sales leads through affiliate partnerships. Using cloud-based storage and ready-made tools helps reduce costs and optimise development.
That’s why building a SaaS stack is of paramount importance. The SaaS software you choose will significantly impact your e-commerce store’s efficiency. Select the optimal SaaS provider based on your budget and project requirements. Always ensure you set clear goals before picking your technology stack. Opt for easy-to-use software solutions that can be integrated with your existing tools. Lastly, pay close attention to SaaS company customer support quality.
