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TMMF #018 · June 5, 2024

The SaaS Email Marketing Maven

Mastering Product Positioning, Crafting Engaging Email Campaigns & Balancing Founder Life TMMF #018).

Guest: Jane Portman Messaging Show notes

Why listen

The signal, minus the noise.

In this episode, we explore the world of SaaS email marketing with Jane Portman, the co-founder and CEO of Userlist. With a background in UI/UX design and years of experience helping SaaS businesses craft effective email campaigns, Jane shares her insights and strategies for success.

We dive into the importance of product positioning, finding the right language for your target audience, and creating email campaigns that engage users and drive product adoption. Jane also shares her thoughts on leveraging behavioral data for personalization and finding the balance between automation and human touch.

As the host of two popular podcasts, UI Breakfast and Better Done Than Perfect, Jane discusses how these shows have helped her build relationships and gain industry insights. Finally, we explore how Jane balances her family, passions and hobbies with the demands of running a SaaS company and being a mom.

Key topics covered

A skimmable map of the conversation.

Start with the idea you need, then jump into the full episode when something catches.

Jane’s Journey: From Creative Director to SaaS Founder

At 01:44, Chris and Jane dig into jane’s journey: from creative director to saas founder — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Building Userlist: Challenges and Learnings

At 03:51, Chris and Jane dig into building userlist: challenges and learnings — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

The Importance of Positioning and Messaging

At 06:46, Chris and Jane dig into the importance of positioning and messaging — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Effective Email Marketing Strategies for SaaS

At 21:28, Chris and Jane dig into effective email marketing strategies for saas — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Effective Pricing Models and Visual Guides

At 26:03, Chris and Jane dig into effective pricing models and visual guides — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Behavior-Based vs. Time-Based Emails

At 26:46, Chris and Jane dig into behavior-based vs. time-based emails — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Tailoring Messaging for Different Personas

At 27:46, Chris and Jane dig into tailoring messaging for different personas — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Challenges in Consistent Messaging

At 29:50, Chris and Jane dig into challenges in consistent messaging — a useful jump-in point if you want the practical part of this episode without scanning the whole conversation.

Show notes

Jump to the right moment.

Use the timestamps as shortcuts: scan the arc, skip the obvious bit, replay the useful bit.

01:44

Jane’s Journey: From Creative Director to SaaS Founder

03:51

Building Userlist: Challenges and Learnings

06:46

The Importance of Positioning and Messaging

21:28

Effective Email Marketing Strategies for SaaS

26:03

Effective Pricing Models and Visual Guides

26:46

Behavior-Based vs. Time-Based Emails

27:46

Tailoring Messaging for Different Personas

29:50

Challenges in Consistent Messaging

31:08

Overcoming Email Marketing Obstacles

32:18

The Role of Podcasting in Marketing

36:46

Researching and Preparing for Podcast Guests

43:54

Balancing Personal Interests with Professional Life

45:54

Conclusion and Where to Find More

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