SaaS Marketing Weekly

Ryan James, Rocket SaaS
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Actionable SaaS marketing strategies and campaign ideas for you to implement in your company to rocket your growth.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    #69: $236,000 ARR from 1 LinkedIn Thought Leader Ad

    In this episode, Ryan breaks down one of the most powerful, yet underused, ad formats on LinkedIn right now: Thought Leader Ads. He explains what they are, why they’re performing better (and cheaper) than company ads, and how to use them to grow both your personal brand and your SaaS business. From storytelling and video strategy to targeting and budgeting, Ryan shares the exact framework he’s used to turn simple posts into direct revenue — including one ad that’s brought in multiple clients and measurable pipeline. Takeaways: Thought Leader Ads are up to 80% cheaper than company ads — and far more engagingBest for top-of-funnel and brand-building — people buy from people, not companiesDon’t abandon company ads — use both together for full-funnel performanceHigh-performing ad formats: story-driven posts, short videos, memes, and educational carouselsInclude a soft call-to-action — subtle links work better than hard sellsRyan’s top-performing ad: “7 reasons RocketSaaS is better than hiring in-house” — directly led to new clientsBuild a content calendar: 80% educational, 20% promotionalPair with retargeting ads to nurture and convert engaged viewersGrowing your personal brand is the best long-term ROI — for both founders and marketersJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    20 min

  2. 28 OCT

    #68: SaaStock 2025: Was it worth it? My honest review

    In this episode, Ryan gives a full debrief of SaaStock 2025 - what it was like, what he learned, and whether it was worth the trip for Rocket SaaS. Fresh back from Dublin with his team, he shares the highlights, the ROI, the best stands and talks, and tactical lessons for anyone thinking about exhibiting or attending SaaS events. From clever networking strategies to a genius after-party play, this episode is packed with takeaways for SaaS founders and marketers looking to make events a genuine growth channel. Takeaways: SaaStock featured 100+ SaaS companies, live talks, and a smart new Meetup Room for pre-booked networkingThe pre-event matchmaking tool made lead generation easier and more structured than typical exhibitionsBest networking actually happened at the after-parties — relaxed conversations led to stronger relationshipsA clever play by Optik AI: host your own unofficial after-party near the venue for guaranteed visibilityBudgeted £7–8k for the trip (flights, hotels, food, and Guinness) — walked away with 27 leads and 6–8 hot prospectsTwo deals alone would cover the full cost thanks to RocketSaaS’s high-ticket pricing modelGreat stands included Optik AI, Human.Video, RealFlow, and BooksterTop tip: if you get a stand, bring at least two people — one to network, one to manage the boothUse incentives (like commission for your team) to drive active networking and lead collectionBeyond ROI, events are amazing for culture-building and team bondingJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    15 min

  3. 21 OCT

    #67: Controversial truth about ABM for startups, why it might not be right for you, with Jamie Skeels

    In this controversial episode, Ryan and Jamie discuss the realities of Account-Based Marketing (ABM) for startups and small businesses. Jamie, with his experience at Cognizant, explains why traditional ABM methods may be out of reach for smaller teams with limited resources. Instead of trying to copy big enterprise ABM strategies, he argues for a simpler, more sustainable approach. They break down the challenges of ABM, the importance of focusing on scalable tactics, and how small businesses can still use account-based targeting without breaking the bank. Takeaways: ABM isn’t always right for small businesses — it’s resource-intensive and often impracticalIf you’re a small team, don’t focus on pure ABM with one-to-one, one-to-few strategiesStartups can use ABM Lite: a simpler version with fewer resources but the same targeted approachFocus on a larger account list to scale your efforts, not a handful of accountsUse intent data to build relevant workflows and trigger sales outreachSmall businesses need to balance intent data with traditional marketing to avoid wasted effortDon’t rely on “random” ABM — focus on qualified intent signals to narrow down your target listABM Lite helps you build sustainable pipelines without huge budgets or a dedicated marketing ops teamJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    22 min

  4. 14 OCT

    #66: How a single £1k campaign resulted in £180k pipeline

    In this solo episode, Ryan shares one of Rocket SaaS’s most successful campaigns to date, which generated over £180,000 in pipeline. He breaks down exactly how the idea came about, how it was organised, what went right (and wrong), and how any B2B business can replicate the same formula.  Takeaways: The campaign cost under £1,000 and produced £180,000 in pipelinePromote across LinkedIn, email, and SDR outreach for maximum attendanceUse a simple landing page to collect signups and qualify attendeesJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    11 min

  5. 7 OCT

    #65: LinkedIn Ads Part 3: Budgeting and optimisation strategies, with Jamie Skeels

    In the final episode of this three-part mini-series on LinkedIn Ads, Ryan and Jamie cover everything you need to know about budgeting and optimizing your LinkedIn ad campaigns. They discuss how to structure your budget based on reach and frequency, how to avoid wasting spend on irrelevant audiences, and key metrics to monitor during the campaign. They also share actionable strategies for optimizing your ads and content as you go. Whether you’re just starting with LinkedIn ads or looking to improve your current performance, this episode has the insights you need. Takeaways: Set your budget based on reach and frequency: Target at least 80% reach and 5-10 frequency for remarketingDon’t over-invest in cold audience ads: Focus more budget on retargeting ads to people already engagedEvaluate targeting effectiveness: Start with data-driven audience segmentation using CRM and opportunity dataMaximize budget efficiency: Layer on intent data and external tools like Clay to improve targetingKey metrics to monitor: Reach, frequency, dwell time, engagement rate, and click-through rate for optimizationOptimize based on ad performance: Review targeting, budget allocation, and offer to fine-tune campaignsTest and iterate: The first few weeks should focus on data collection before making any big changesCreative matters: Keep ad design clear and simple, especially for mobile views, and ensure your offer is compellingJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    38 min

  6. 30 SEPT

    #64: LinkedIn Ads Part 2: Using Clay, targeting tools & intent signals, with Jamie Skeels

    In part two of the LinkedIn Ads mini-series, Ryan and Jamie dive into how to get your ads in front of the right people. They cover how to use your CRM data to define your ICP, the limitations of LinkedIn’s native targeting filters, and how to supercharge campaigns with intent signals and third-party data tools like Clay, Apollo, and Crunchbase. They also break down how to structure retargeting audiences for maximum impact — including segmenting by pages visited and recency. If you’re wasting ad spend on the wrong audience, this episode shows you how to fix it. Takeaways: Don’t decide targeting in a vacuum — use customer and opportunity data from your CRMBreak down data by firmographics: industry, company size, department, region, job titleLinkedIn’s filters are good, but not perfect — industries in particular can be messyBuild account lists with tools like Clay, Apollo, or Cognism for greater accuracyEnrich lists with intent signals: funding rounds, hiring patterns, leadership changes, M&AUpload these lists into LinkedIn for laser-focused campaigns with tailored messagingRetargeting is essential — don’t rely only on cold adsSegment retargeting audiences by page visited (pricing/demo) and recency (14, 30, 90 days)LinkedIn Insight Tag lets you retarget all website traffic, not just LinkedIn clicksRetargeting makes smaller SaaS brands appear bigger, more credible, and front-of-mindJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    33 min

  7. 23 SEPT

    #63: LinkedIn Ads Part 1: Proven content & ad formats for B2B SaaS with Jamie Skeels

    In the first part of a three-part mini-series, Ryan is joined by Jamie Skeels, Head of Strategy at RocketSaaS, to break down the fundamentals of running successful LinkedIn ad campaigns for B2B SaaS. They cover why most companies fail with LinkedIn ads, how to approach top, middle, and bottom-of-funnel campaigns, and which ad formats deliver the best results. If you’ve ever struggled to get ROI from LinkedIn, this episode gives you a clear framework to start building campaigns that convert. Takeaways: Most SaaS brands go straight for bottom-of-funnel demo ads — and it rarely worksTop of funnel: focus on educational content that addresses customer problemsThe best content formatsBest ad type at TOFU: single image ads (fast, low-friction, most consumed)Middle of funnel winning adsEffective MOFU ad formatsBottom of funnel to drive conversionsJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    48 min

  8. 16 SEPT

    #62: 5 ABM campaigns to land bigger SaaS clients, with Jess Chilman

    In this episode, Ryan is joined again by Jess Chilman, Head of Growth at Rocket SaaS, to share five high-impact ABM campaign tactics designed to help SaaS businesses move upmarket and close six-figure enterprise deals. From research outreach to direct mail, podcasts, events, and bespoke campaigns, they explain how to build relationships with C-suite decision makers, stand out from the noise, and create memorable touchpoints that convert. If you want to move beyond mid-market clients and start landing enterprise logos, this is the playbook. Takeaways: Start with the BFG framework (Buyer, Firmographics, Geography) to build your high-intent account listValidate your TAM and use intent signals (funding, hiring, leadership changes) to refine your ICP listCampaign 1: Research outreach – co-create content with your ICP via surveys, interviews, or advisory boardsCampaign 2: Podcast ABM – invite C-suite decision makers as guests to build relationships and authorityCampaign 3: Events – run low-cost networking breakfasts or private dining sessions to connect face-to-faceCampaign 4: Direct mail – send thoughtful, personalized packages (chocolates, handwritten notes, themed gifts) to create standout momentsCampaign 5: Tailored ICP campaigns – design bespoke plays around your target’s pain points (e.g., mystery shopping, funding celebration gifts)Align marketing and sales so every touchpoint has tight follow-upThese tactics work best together, creating multiple relationship-building touchpoints with decision makersJoin the SaaS Marketing Weekly Newsletter here: https://saasmarketingweekly.com/  Check out Ryan’s agency, Rocket SaaS, here: https://rocket-saas.io/  Send podcast guest pitches to: info@rocket-saas.io

    51 min
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About

Actionable SaaS marketing strategies and campaign ideas for you to implement in your company to rocket your growth.

Information

  • Creator
    Ryan James, Rocket SaaS
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Rocket SaaS Ltd
  • Show Website
    SaaS Marketing Weekly

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