{"id":18993,"date":"2023-04-13T13:59:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-13T13:59:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finoit.com\/?p=18993"},"modified":"2023-11-17T12:50:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T12:50:10","slug":"saas-product-market-fit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finoit.com\/blog\/saas-product-market-fit\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs Your B2B SaaS Product is Out of Product-market Fit: How to Regain Your Footing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Landing on a solid SaaS product market fit is a dream come true for any startup, but what happens when that dream turns into a nightmare? Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for a company to fall out of favor with its target audience, leaving founders scratching their heads and struggling to regain their footing.<\/p>\n

According to a recent survey by CB Insights<\/a>, the main reasons for business failure were a lack of capital and an inability to get financing\/investor interest, while a lack of market demand was close behind. In fact, 42% of the surveyed startups cited this as the primary reason for their downfall.<\/p>\n

As entrepreneur and investor Marc Andreessen put it, \u201cProduct market fit means being in a good market with a product that can satisfy that market<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d But as markets change and customer preferences evolve, even the best products can become irrelevant.<\/p>\n

So, what can you do when you realize that your product is no longer resonating with your target audience? The answer may lie in understanding your customers on a deeper level. You’ll need to ask tough questions, listen to feedback (even if it hurts), and be willing to pivot your strategy if necessary. It’s not easy, but it’s necessary if you want to avoid becoming another statistic.<\/p>\n

In this article, we’ll explore some common warning signs that your SaaS product may be falling out of product-market fit, and offer tips and strategies for how to get back on track. So, whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, read on to learn how to keep your product relevant and your customers happy.<\/p>\n

What does it mean to fall out of product-market fit?<\/h2>\n

Falling out of product-market fit means that your SaaS product is no longer meeting the needs of your target market. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as changes in the market, increased competition, or a failure to innovate. When you fall out of product-market fit, your business may experience a decline in revenue, growth, and customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n

\"Product<\/figure>\n

Image source:- Dan Olsen\u2019s <\/em>The Lean Product Playbook<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

What are the signs that you’ve fallen out of product-market fit?<\/h2>\n

Product-market fit is essential for the success of any SaaS business. It is the stage where your product or service meets the needs and desires of your target market. However, there are signs that you may have fallen out of product-market fit, which can negatively impact your revenue and overall success. Here are some detailed examples and statistics to help you recognize the signs:<\/p>\n

Surviving the revenue downturn<\/h3>\n

If your revenue is declining or stagnant, it may be a sign that your product or service is no longer resonating with your target market. For example, Transpose, a comprehensive information management platform, failed to achieve product-market fit due to a flawed business model, which ultimately led to its closure in 2015. Despite raising between $1M-$10M in funding and employing 10-50 people, the platform was unable to generate enough revenue to sustain its operations<\/em><\/strong>. Transpose’s case underscores the importance of having a sound business model that is closely aligned with the market’s needs and demands to achieve and maintain b2b SaaS product market fit.<\/p>\n

Turning the tide<\/h3>\n

Decreased customer satisfaction is a glaring indication that a business is losing its grip on product-market fit. Delite, a B2B wholesale order platform, is a prime example of this. Despite its attempt to simplify the wholesale ordering process for businesses, it failed to cater to any real customer needs, resulting in a decline in satisfaction levels and, eventually, its demise in 2017. <\/em><\/strong>This highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing authentic customer pain points to establish and sustain product-market fit.<\/p>\n

Finding your way<\/h3>\n

Lack of focus is a key reason why startups fall out of product-market fit. When a product or service loses relevance, it opens the door for competitors to gain an edge in the market. Krit’s experience in 2015 is a prime example – they launched Ink, a promising tool for freelancers, but failed to make it work due to lack of focus. However, they didn’t give up. Krit pivoted and built a successful consulting business, showing that it’s possible to bounce back from failure with perseverance and determination.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Breaking through the growth barrier<\/h3>\n

If you are struggling to grow your business or enter new markets, it may be a sign that your product or service is not compelling with your target product market fit. For instance, in 2020, Airbnb faced significant challenges in growing its business due to the pandemic’s impact on travel. This struggle to grow highlighted a potential gap in Airbnb’s product-market fit.<\/p>\n

Key Insights into Measuring Product-Market Fit<\/h2>\n

Product-market fit is crucial for the success of any SaaS business, and falling out of it can be detrimental. Here are some steps you can take to get back on track:<\/p>\n

Retain and sustain<\/h3>\n

Over and over, we heard retention is a crucial output metric that serves as a strong indicator of user value, especially throughout the startup lifecycle. As stated by Dan Olsen, a product management trainer and author of the lean product playbook, “Retention rate is the best measure of product-market fit, because it is a behavioral measure of repeat usage.” It is important to define retention clearly for your product and understand its “value metric.” To measure retention, follow these steps outlined by Gustaf Alstromer, a Partner at Y Combinator:<\/p>\n