Our solution is not geared for the one-man shop. We do have many solos using our software, but they tend to be very marketing savvy. Our average customer has 5 employees, does about a million a year in revenue and is growing fast. We have many larger companies and many smaller companies, but our real sweet spot is a company with 2 - 25 employees, doing $100,000 to $5,000,000 in annual revenue. That’s where over 90% of our customers sit.

Yeah…I get enterprise level software producers like Goldmine and Microsoft want to get into the SAAS space…however, that’s irrelevant for the small business owner doing under a million a year in gross revenue. Even cheap monthly fees from 1SC or aweber still create constraints to the small biz guy who requires content management overall…not just marketing.

Also, isn’t true that a one-size fits all platform creates constraints more often to a new business builder online than not…meaning, the small biz typically doesn’t have the foresight to see the constraints until they hit the wall.

Who is Infusion Soft’s target / perfect client?

I appreciate the conversation Clate - let me know your thoughts.

You’re right that we don’t provide the website. Many of our customers have a basic site they pay a few bucks a month for. Our intention is not to hit customers with a bunch of hidden costs. Most of our training is included for no additional charge, most of our prospects are well aware that we don’t provide a website and our 5,000 customers are happy to finally have a way to integrate and automate their online and offline marketing and sales efforts. Our software saves them the cost of a couple of employees and enables them to automatically follow up with their prospects, customers and partners, which propels business growth.

As for the viability of SaaS solutions, I’ll bet you a steak dinner SaaS is very much at the forefront of the software discussion in 10 years. Siebel laughed at Salesforce.com. ACT and Goldmine sat on the SaaS sidelines for years before entering the fray. Even Microsoft is trying to adjust many of its products to the SaaS model. Heck, nearly every software CEO today is trying to figure out how to convert to the SaaS model because consumers want to pay as they go and vendors like the predictable recurring revenue stream. I’m confident the model is good for consumers and good for vendors… and I’m so happy we started out from the very beginning as a SaaS solution.

Even those who are intermediate and up marketers will find that SAAS programs for managing a web business or the extension there of will fall short as things change…as they always do… tell me how the layperson is going to avoid the pitfalls of such a system…the pitfalls are many…but let’s mention a few…the upfront price tag is just the start…your customers must bring a site with them…so the hidden cost of a website design is inherent…then you charge for how to use it…that’s another hidden cost…my intention here is to point out that the days of SAAS systems are numbered…despite the infusion of capital you recently received.

Not sure Aberdeen considered the big picture…small business entrepreneur’s are becoming more savvy every day… are we interested in serving or simply trying to make something mired in hidden costs and pitfalls appear to be a long-term viable solution.

big debate…not enough time here…
Good luck…I think Aberdeen has half of this right…

I am impressed with the product so far and haven’t yet really looked at it. I truly believe our companies have a great synergy and I’d love to explore having you grow with our company.

BusinessIIBusiness is a company for CEO’s, Entrepreneurs and Business Owners. We network and connect online as well as offline at networking events each month nation-wide.

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I, myself, have a company that I partner with who does email marketing, but I wanted to take a look at the collaboration you have between eCommerce/eMarketing.

Jennifer Cannon
CEO, BusinessIIBusiness