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Pre-Launch Planning

3 Things to Do BeforeLaunching Outbound for SaaS

Essential preparation steps to ensure your geospatial software outbound campaigns succeed. Avoid common mistakes that tank conversion rates from day one.

12 min readBy Justin GriffioenUpdated December 2024

Most B2B SaaS companies rush into outbound marketing without proper preparation, leading to poor response rates, damaged sender reputation, and wasted resources. For geospatial and location intelligence companies, the stakes are even higher due to longer sales cycles and technical complexity.

This guide outlines the three critical preparation steps that separate successful outbound campaigns from expensive failures.

3 Essential Pre-Outbound Steps

1

Define Your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP)

Clearly identify who benefits most from your geospatial solution

3-5 days

Complete Checklist:

Analyze your best existing customers for common patterns
Define company size, industry, and geographic parameters
Identify key technology indicators (current GIS tools, data volume)
Document pain points your solution solves best
Create buyer persona profiles for key stakeholders
Warning:
Starting outbound without a clear ICP leads to poor targeting and low conversion rates.
2

Validate Your Value Proposition

Ensure your messaging resonates with your target market

2-3 weeks

Complete Checklist:

Test messaging with 10-15 existing customers
Validate key pain points through prospect interviews
A/B test value propositions in small email campaigns
Gather feedback on pricing and competitive positioning
Refine messaging based on market validation results
Warning:
Unvalidated messaging leads to poor response rates and longer sales cycles.
3

Build Your Technology Stack

Set up tools and systems to execute and measure outbound effectively

1-2 weeks

Complete Checklist:

Choose and configure outbound platform (Outreach, SalesLoft, etc.)
Set up CRM integration and lead tracking
Implement email deliverability best practices
Configure LinkedIn automation tools if needed
Set up analytics and reporting dashboards
Warning:
Poor tool setup leads to deliverability issues and ineffective measurement.

Common Pre-Launch Mistakes

Skipping Market Research

Low response rates and poor targeting

Solution:

Invest 2-3 weeks in customer interviews and market analysis before launching

Generic Messaging

Messages sound like spam and get ignored

Solution:

Develop specific, pain-point focused messaging for each buyer persona

Poor List Quality

High bounce rates and deliverability issues

Solution:

Use verified contact databases and validate emails before sending

No Follow-up Strategy

Miss opportunities from prospects who need multiple touchpoints

Solution:

Plan 6-8 touchpoint sequences with varied messaging and timing

Inadequate Tracking

Can't optimize performance or measure ROI

Solution:

Set up proper analytics from day one to track all key metrics

Pre-Launch Readiness Checklist

Market Understanding

Ideal Customer Profile documented and validated
Buyer personas created for key stakeholders
Competitive landscape analyzed
Market size and opportunity quantified
Customer pain points clearly articulated

Messaging & Content

Value proposition tested and validated
Email templates created for different personas
LinkedIn message sequences developed
Landing pages optimized for conversion
Social proof and case studies prepared

Technology & Process

Outbound platform configured and tested
CRM integration working properly
Email deliverability optimized
Lead scoring system implemented
Reporting dashboards set up

Team & Resources

Sales team trained on messaging and process
Lead qualification criteria established
Sales enablement materials prepared
Budget allocated for tools and data
Success metrics and goals defined

8-Week Quick Start Timeline

1

Week 1-2

Research & Planning
Analyze existing customer data
Conduct customer interviews
Research target market and competitors
Define ICP and buyer personas
2

Week 3-4

Messaging Development
Create value proposition variants
Develop email and LinkedIn templates
Build landing pages and forms
Prepare social proof materials
3

Week 5-6

Technology Setup
Configure outbound platforms
Set up CRM integration
Implement tracking and analytics
Test all systems end-to-end
4

Week 7-8

Testing & Launch
Run small test campaigns
Validate messaging and targeting
Optimize based on initial results
Scale successful approaches

Pre-Launch Success Indicators

80%+
Message Validation
Positive customer feedback
95%+
Email Deliverability
Inbox placement rate
100%
System Integration
All tools working properly

Ready to Launch Your Outbound Campaign?

Our team can help you complete this checklist and set up your outbound systems for maximum success from day one.