If your marketing strategy feels like it’s trapped in a cookie-cutter loop of mediocrity, you’re not alone. Most SaaS companies play it safe, and that’s exactly why they blend into the background. The market is flooded with identical LinkedIn posts, generic PPC ads, and formulaic email campaigns.
Here’s the truth: Safe is risky.
Want to make an impact? You have to be unpredictable, fearless, and unconventional. The best marketing doesn’t follow a script—it surprises, provokes, and creates genuine connections.
Today, we’re diving into bold, SaaS Growth Strategies that will set your company apart, ignite engagement, and make you impossible to ignore.
The Problem with Playing It Safe
The biggest mistake in SaaS marketing? Following the crowd.
The Limitations of Conventional Marketing
- Everyone does it. If you’re using the same playbook as your competitors, you become white noise.
- Customers are fatigued. People are bombarded with ads, emails, and “thought leadership” posts. They tune out anything predictable.
- It stifles innovation. Repeating “best practices” kills creativity and limits your ability to break through.
The Opportunity: Becoming Unpredictable
The SaaS brands that truly stand out do one thing differently: They reject mediocrity. Instead of relying on tried-and-tested methods, they embrace unpredictability.
Let’s explore how to build a fearless, high-impact marketing strategy.
1. Flip the Script: Do the Opposite of What’s Expected
Most companies follow marketing formulas because they’re “proven.” But what if you flipped those strategies upside down?
The Playbook Reversal Method
Look at what everyone else is doing in your industry—then do the opposite.
🔥 Example: While most SaaS companies write long-form whitepapers, Notion launched a marketing campaign using TikTok influencers and memes. Result? Mass adoption.
🔥 Example: Tesla doesn’t run traditional ads. Instead, they focus on Elon Musk’s viral tweets, product drops, and guerrilla marketing.
🔥 Example: Basecamp deleted their social media accounts entirely and turned their stance into a PR story—driving more engagement than if they had stayed.
👉 Takeaway: Predictability = invisibility. Flip the expected marketing narrative and surprise your audience.
2. Steal from Other Industries (Not Competitors)
If you only study other SaaS companies, you’ll copy what’s already been done. Instead, borrow marketing strategies from completely different industries.
Cross-Industry Inspiration
🚀 Fashion & Luxury: Hype-building, scarcity tactics (ex: Supreme’s limited drops).
🚀 Music Industry: Emotional storytelling, personal branding, fan-driven marketing.
🚀 Consumer Tech: Gamification, community-driven launches (ex: Clubhouse’s invite-only model).
🔥 Example: Red Bull isn’t just a drink—it’s an extreme sports brand. Their SaaS equivalent? HubSpot, which turned itself into a media company (HubSpot Academy, podcasts, educational content).
👉 Takeaway: Look outside your industry for inspiration. That’s where true innovation happens.
3. Create a Signature Viral Stunt
Every SaaS company needs a moment that people can’t stop talking about.
What Makes a Viral Marketing Stunt Work?
✅ Surprise Factor – It defies expectations.
✅ Emotional Hook – It sparks excitement, humor, or shock.
✅ Shareability – It’s something people want to talk about.
🔥 Example: When Superhuman launched, they did the opposite of most SaaS brands: They made people apply for access. The exclusivity created demand, turning a basic email client into a $1 billion brand.
🔥 Example: Salesforce staged a protest against software licenses during a major tech conference. Instead of buying an expensive booth, they generated headlines.
🔥 Example: Slack’s marketing focused on quirky, personality-driven storytelling, rather than “business benefits.” Result? 10M+ daily users.
👉 Takeaway: The best SaaS Growth Strategies aren’t campaigns—they’re about moments.
4. Partner with the Unexpected
Influencer marketing works. But the problem? Everyone partners with the same B2B LinkedIn influencers.
Instead, think about unexpected collaborations.
Unconventional Partnerships That Work
🚀 Work with non-tech influencers – Think designers, productivity gurus, or even fitness influencers who use your SaaS.
🚀 Brand mashups – Combine two unexpected brands (Ex: Spotify + Starbucks playlists).
🚀 Underground communities – Find niche, highly engaged groups (ex: Reddit, Discord, indie hacker forums).
🔥 Example: Notion partnered with book lovers, designers, and students instead of SaaS influencers—expanding its audience far beyond tech.
🔥 Example: Zapier used Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) sessions to position itself as an automation authority without running ads.
👉 Takeaway: Forget traditional influencers—partner with people who aren’t “tech celebs” but have devoted audiences.
5. Make Your Customers the Marketers
The best SaaS growth strategies don’t come from your marketing team—it comes from your users.
How to Make Your Users Sell for You
✅ Referral Gamification – Reward customers for bringing in friends. (Dropbox grew 3900% using this alone.)
✅ Co-Creation – Let customers submit feature ideas and vote on them.
✅ Community-First Strategy – Build a thriving user group that naturally promotes you.
🔥 Example: Webflow’s user-generated content (UGC) strategy helped it dominate the design space without paid ads.
🔥 Example: Figma turned its product into a collaborative social experience, making word-of-mouth its #1 growth driver.
👉 Takeaway: The fastest way to grow? Turn your customers into your marketers.
Final Takeaways: Building a Fearless SaaS Marketing Machine
🚀 Ditch generic SaaS marketing playbooks. They’re outdated.
🚀 Be unpredictable. The best marketing isn’t safe—it’s bold.
🚀 Steal from outside industries. SaaS can learn from fashion, music, and consumer brands.
🚀 Create viral moments. A single big stunt can outperform years of content.
🚀 Let users do the marketing. Build a community that spreads your brand for you.
📌 Action Step: Pick one of these strategies and start experimenting today.
Written by: Tony Zayas, Chief Revenue Officer
In my role as Chief Revenue Officer at Insivia, I am at the forefront of driving transformation and results for SaaS and technology companies. I lead strategic marketing and business development initiatives, helping businesses overcome plateaus and achieve significant growth. My journey has led me to collaborate with leading businesses and apply my knowledge to revolutionize industries.