How to become a thought leader in SaaS

In this insightful episode of the Tekpon SaaS Podcast, Bohumil Pokstefl and Cristian Dina delve into the essentials of becoming a thought leader in the SaaS industry, with a particular focus on social selling strategies and startup founders’ journeys. Bohumil Pokstefl shares his wealth of experience and knowledge, drawing from his entrepreneurial ventures and his current role with Deal Harvest.

Why should you start social selling?

Bohumil explains that a successful social selling strategy revolves around simplifying the process for clients, which, in essence, should take them only about two hours per month. This involves the active participation of both the CEO and the marketing team. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on a niche audience and a clear value proposition, especially for small B2B tech businesses. Ideal Customer Profile is defined as B2B tech companies with an annual contract value over €10,000 and fewer than 100 employees. The shift toward social selling is significantly influenced by the increasing activity levels on LinkedIn, presenting a valuable opportunity for genuine engagement with potential clients.

Highlighting the essence of building relationships and trust, Bohumil advises founders to provide valuable content on LinkedIn continuously. This approach fosters a genuine connection and positions the business as a thought leader. For startup founders, he offers critical advice: ship products fast, start selling even before the product is fully ready, and avoid becoming too attached to the product rather than the problem it solves.

Deal Harvest, the main topic of this episode, is a service designed for B2B tech companies to outsource their social selling efforts. It encompasses thought leadership content creation, organic growth strategies, targeted ads, and direct message outreach. Deal Harvest has demonstrated significant results in accelerating sales cycles and building trust and brand equity through a collaborative approach between marketing and sales.

Bohumil’s story

Bohumil’s entrepreneurial journey is filled with notable experiences. He co-founded and served as CEO of Kontentino, a social media management tool for advertising agencies, which was bootstrapped and later sold internally. Post-Kontentino, he sold another project, Newsletter Pilot, and embarked on a sabbatical. During this time, he teamed up with Ivan Homola to start SaaS Garden, aiming to support young entrepreneurs by matching them with promising projects and providing guidance, particularly in marketing and sales.

Bohumil’s vision extends beyond just immediate business success. With SaaS Garden, he aims to nurture a new generation of SaaS entrepreneurs who can build sustainable, profitable businesses without relying on external funding, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of startup failures and economic crises. SaaS Garden’s founders, typically sourced from events and identified for their potential during “roasting sessions,” receive comprehensive support in all business aspects, mainly marketing and sales.

In summary, the episode provides a comprehensive look at social selling strategies, the journey of building successful SaaS businesses, and the personal insights of a seasoned entrepreneur, making it a rich resource for aspiring SaaS thought leaders.