Research for SaaS White Papers

If you’re a SaaS solution provider, you can leverage customer data to create white papers as part of a marketing strategy that strengthens your positioning. White papers are beneficial to SaaS marketing — they provide in-depth analysis and insights into industry challenges. They establish credibility, showcase thought leadership, educate prospects, and generate leads. We’ll share some ideas on how to conduct research for SaaS white papers for your marketing strategy.

Data Collection & Preliminary Analysis

Start by collecting diverse sets of customer data from sources like user interactions, product usage, feedback surveys, support tickets, and demographics. Use analytics tools to identify trends, patterns, and insights. Key research areas include customer behavior, preferences, challenges, and needs.

Identify Patterns

Based on your preliminary analysis, identify themes, pain points, success stories, and industry trends. Look for common challenges that customers face, successful use cases of your product, and emerging needs within your market.

Formulate Research Questions

Use identified themes to formulate research questions that address more specific aspects of your data. These questions will guide your research and provide a framework for gathering additional information.

Conduct In-Depth Research

Conduct in-depth research, drilling down to gather supporting data, statistics, case studies, industry reports, and expert opinions to address your research questions. Leverage reputable sources, industry publications, market research, and academic studies to gather credible information.

Write the White Paper

Structure your research paper with a clear introduction, explanation of your methodology, findings, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations. Use data visualization like charts, graphs, and infographics to present complex information in a compelling and understandable way.

Include Customer Stories

Incorporate customer stories, testimonials, and quotes within your white paper to add authenticity and showcase the practical impact of your SaaS solution. Highlight how your product addresses specific customer challenges and contributes to their success.

Integrate with Your Marketing Team

Share the research with your marketing team to develop pinpoint marketing initiatives. Use the findings to create a variety of compelling content, including blog posts, social media campaigns, and webinars.

Engage with Industry Leaders

Also share your white paper with industry influencers, analysts, and media outlets to amplify your reach and credibility. Participate in interviews and seek partnerships to promote your research findings. Get published on SaaStr 🙂