Welcome to the Journey blog, where we share all things accounting tech growth.
Dive into our latest articles to discover how to understand accountants better, execute marketing plans swiftly, and unlock scalable growth for your business.
How do we revamp Australian accounting events for maximum impact, and how did we get here?
How do we revamp Australian accounting events for maximum impact, and how did we get here?
Australian accounting events are in a dire state. I'm not here to highlight the problems; I'm here to advocate for real change.
The current landscape is bleak – events are becoming increasingly stale, un-engaging, and frankly, a complete waste of time and resources.
Vendors are pouring money into events that accountants and bookkeepers simply don't want to attend. More concerning is the trend of every vendor wanting to host their own event next year. I've heard this sentiment echoed at least nine times in the last three months alone. This is a recipe for disaster – a proliferation of micro-events all vying for the attention of the same audience, leading to even more poorly attended gatherings.
The content being served up is underwhelming at best, often feeling like a rehashed webinar from the week prior. Like many of you, I'm utterly fed up with the same old talks and lacklustre networking opportunities.
So, what's the solution? Here are a few thoughts on how conference organisers can truly shake things up:
We need real, actionable content. No more theoretical fluff. Give us the nitty-gritty details on how to navigate significant changes within a firm, such as exiting a partner, buying into a firm, or flipping 3,000 clients to the cloud. Show us the step-by-step process, the challenges faced, and how they were overcome. Don't just tell us the grass is greener; show us how to tend to the soil.
It's time to rethink networking. We need curated meetups with purpose, not just awkward gatherings with a limited bar tab.
Create environments where meaningful conversations can happen, and ensure there's a fun element too. Accountants and bookkeepers want to enjoy themselves, not shout over a dated rock band or play pin the tail on the idiot.
Attendees should leave with practical skills they can immediately apply. Workshops should cover mastering accounting tech usage, effective client communication strategies, and navigating complex regulatory changes. Real skills for real-world application are what's needed.
The frustration from both vendors and professionals is palpable. Conference organisers have the budget and capability, yet often seem out of touch or too focused on who's paying for stage time. I understand it's a business, but it's high time for a change. The heavily discounted stands I've seen recently are a clear indicator that it's time to either step up or step out.
We're at a tipping point. It's time to transform these events from snooze-fests into valuable, engaging experiences that truly add value to our professional lives. Let's not settle for mediocrity. It's time for a revolution in Australian accounting events.
Following this call to action, a question has been circulating:
"Trent, I hear you're running your own accounting events this year. Is that true?"
Let me address this directly:
No, I'm not.
At this point in time, I'm not remotely interested.
If last year I vocalised how dire the state of accounting events is in Australia (and some of you mentioned abroad as well), then it stands to reason that adding more events into the mix is not the solution we need.
So, no.
Not right now. The last thing I want to do is add the wrong fuel to this already blazing fire.
What we need is a reset, which, in my opinion, means fewer events, not more. A few of these large-scale events will need to fail and exit the scene first. We need to let the dust settle, focus on our businesses, our client work, and perhaps then we'll be ready for something new.
The draw card for future events should not just be innovative content. The need for community, fun, and bringing people together will likely be a bigger attraction. Building connections and shared learning experiences with your crew holds more value than a big-box event with 100 talks, where 70% come with a sales pitch disclaimer.
So, if you've been wondering what my stance is on the future of accounting events, there you have it. Now you know.
The path forward should be about quality, not quantity. We need to create spaces where real learning, meaningful connections, and genuine enjoyment are the priorities. Let's focus on making the few events we do have count, rather than flooding the calendar with more of the same. It's time for a change, and it starts with us demanding more from the events we choose to invest our time and resources in.
Simplify your SaaS pricing for clarity and growth. Break free from complexity. Your customers deserve transparency.
If your client can't figure out how much your SaaS app will cost them in the next 5-10 seconds, we've got a problem. Okay, okay, I'm not really mad. I still love you. But let's be real, pricing for your SaaS needs to be as simple as ABC for everyone involved - prospects, leads, and your loyal customers.
Just yesterday, I found myself tangled in two separate conversations about pricing. Despite our best intentions, we often end up in the same predicament. It seems we're caught between a rock and a hard place, trying to extract maximum value or making it easy for clients to scale with our solution. Ironically, figuring out the price turns out to be the hardest part.
Here's the thing - customers don't lose sleep over the mechanics of your pricing. What keeps them up at night is wondering:
- How much is this going to cost me every month?
- How does this fit into my budget?
- Does the cost justify the value I'm expecting to receive?
- Is this price set in stone, or should I expect some surprises?
If your client is scratching their head trying to work out your pricing, you're already on the back foot. They're not pondering whether to buy; they're stuck on "how much does this thing cost?"
So, what's the fix? I won't sugarcoat it - pricing is a beast.
You've got a ballpark figure of what you want to make. You've got estimates on product usage. So, draw a line in the sand and present a three-tier package: small usage + users, medium + advanced functionality, and large + custom options.
Aim to place your desired average monthly recurring revenue (MRR) at either the entry-level or the middle tier, then upsell the rest. Granted, this advice is pretty broad and might not fit everyone's bill. And if it doesn't work for you?
Well, that's not my problem. 😂
But if you're constantly getting feedback that your pricing model is as clear as mud, it's time for a rethink. Yes, simplifying your pricing is tough. But right now, you're making it tough for your customers or potential customers. We need to shift the burden from them to us.
And you know what? That's perfectly fine. You're resilient. You're capable. You'll crack this nut. So, here's to making things simpler. For everyone.
Transparency is key. Your pricing structure shouldn't be a puzzle that clients need to solve. It should be straightforward, allowing them to quickly assess the value of your product against its cost. This clarity not only enhances the customer experience but also builds trust. When clients feel confident in understanding what they're paying for, they're more likely to invest in your product.
Moreover, consider the psychological aspect of decision-making.
A complex pricing model can lead to decision fatigue, where too many options or unclear costs lead to indecision or avoidance. Simplifying your pricing not only aids in quicker decision-making but also reduces the cognitive load on your clients, making them more inclined to proceed with a purchase.
So, take a hard look at your pricing model.
Is it as clear as daylight? Does it facilitate or hinder your sales process?
Remember, the goal is to make it as easy as possible for your clients to say "yes." By demystifying your pricing, you're not just easing their decision-making process; you're also setting the stage for a smoother customer journey and, ultimately, fostering long-term relationships.
Happy hunting, and good luck. Remember, keep it simple, idiot!
Discover key GTM insights from Journey's 2023 success with global Accounting SaaS vendors.
In 2023 we worked with more than 20 vendors. We helped them to execute their GTM strategy in the accounting industry here in Australia, the United Kingdom, South Africa and North America.
Over the last 12 months I saw a lot of things that worked really well. And I saw a lot of things that made me want to bang my head against the wall until the pain went away.
At Journey, we've had a big year of experimentation and strategy refinement.
Today I’m breaking down my key takeaways from 2023 on what worked well for the Accounting SaaS community, or at least for the vendors we were working with.
My goal here, whether you work with Journey or not, is to help you think through all the areas of your GTM strategy, what are you gaps, what is your opportunity and what are you digging into in Q1 of 2024 to get back on track.
Let’s break it down.
It's startling how many businesses overlook this.
Last year, we went the extra mile by asking our clients' customers about their product usage, the problems it solves, and their overall experience.
Our approach was comprehensive. We conducted detailed interviews and surveys, asking pointed questions about how they use our clients' products, the specific problems these products solve, and their overall experience.
This wasn't a superficial exercise; we delved into the nuances of their responses, seeking to understand not just the 'what' but the 'why' behind their usage.
The insights gained from this exercise were eye-opening. We learned that what we thought were the key features of a product weren't always aligned with the customer's perspective.
In some cases, features we considered minor were actually making a significant impact on the customers' day-to-day operations. This revelation was a game-changer in how we approached messaging and positioning for our clients.
You absolutely need to start the year by doing customer research. Write it down.
We offer this as a service and would be more then happy to show you through how we were able to capture over 400 pieces of product feedback in the past few months for our clients.
How often are you engaging with your prospects?
Relying on a single channel for marketing is a strategy that will likely fail. It's important to keep a mix of activities – both big and small – to maintain a healthy and consistent funnel.
Social media alone won't cut it, email marketing alone doesn't cut it, that FaceBook group that had 7 people tag your solution alone doesn't cut it.
The magic happens when these channels work together.
Imagine a potential customer seeing your brand on social media, then receiving a well-crafted email that addresses their specific needs, followed by an invitation to an exclusive webinar.
This approach creates multiple touchpoints, each reinforcing the other, and keeps your brand top-of-mind for prospects. The same happens when you start partnering with other brands that operate in the same channel.
Moreover, this strategy allows for flexibility and adaptability.
Different segments of your audience might prefer different channels, and a multi-channel approach lets you cater to these preferences.
It also enables you to test and learn which combinations of channels and content types work best for different audience segments.
This is a core offering at Journey. This is the majority of work we are rolling out and implementing for our clients at the moment.
The effectiveness of your sales team hinges on their structure and discipline.
We've seen the best results when roles are clearly defined – for instance, separating the responsibilities of SDRs (Sales Development Representatives) and BDMs (Business Development Managers).
Having someone do both the SDR work and BDM work, as in, all the call and all the demos will be ineffective, compared to 2 people splitting the work and focusing on just making calls and/or just doing demos.
This specialisation allows each team member to focus and excel in their area, significantly improving efficiency and deal closures.
Keep it simple and the results will flow. I do a lot of consulting on sales functions and getting this process right.
We’ve seen amazing results with some clients seeing a 206% lift in revenue in 2023 alone after we made changes to their sales and marketing flow.
Customer engagement methods are evolving rapidly.
We've embraced webinars, interactive demos, and other innovative interaction methods to keep our engagements memorable and accessible.
Webinars, for instance, offer a platform not just for education but for prospect interaction.
They allow you to delve into key themes and topics, showcase your expertise, and most importantly, engage in real-time with your audience.
Similarly, interactive website demos have transformed from standard presentations to dynamic, tailored experiences where prospects can see firsthand how your solutions can solve their specific problems straight on the website, before they’ve even spoken to anyone.
Integrating these interactions with your CRM can provide invaluable insights and streamline your sales processes.
We implemented a number of interactive demo’s last year and the results were crazy, in the first month alone, a brand new solution we helped launch had 400 interactions inside the first 30 days, before converting roughly 20% - without even speaking to the on the phone.
A critical yet often neglected aspect is the handover between marketing, sales, and customer success teams.
This transition should be smooth and well-coordinated, with each team understanding their role in the customer journey. Automating these handovers in your CRM can prevent manual errors and ensure a seamless experience.
By automating the process, you eliminate the risk of human error – no more missed emails or forgotten follow-ups.
This automation ensures that every piece of critical information is captured and made available to the right team at the right time.
Furthermore, it allows for a smoother transition of the customer through different phases of their journey, from initial engagement with marketing to sales negotiation, and finally to ongoing support from the customer success team.
Last year, I encountered too many SaaS vendors struggling with disconnected systems. A cohesive CRM system is non-negotiable.
It should be the central hub where your sales and marketing efforts converge and should be well-integrated with your website and other tools.
We’re officially Hubspot implementation partners. This is our weapon of choice but we play nice with all systems. We find Hubspot does an amazing job of bringing visibility and cohesion in your GTM team.
These insights are more than just observations; they are the foundation of a robust GTM strategy.
If your current GTM strategy doesn't align with these points, it's time for a change.
At Journey, we specialise in crafting and refining these strategies to help you scale your sales and marketing efforts.
If you're looking to enhance your approach in 2024, let's have a conversation.
This is what we do
Journey partners with Translucent, transforming Xero into a top-tier multi-entity solution, leveraging our growth marketing expertise.
Translucent, the software that turns Xero into a multi-entity accounting solution, has chosen Journey, the growth marketing agency for accounting-tech, as a global partner.
Translucent turns your existing accounting software into a multi-entity accounting solution. Translucent consolidates accounting data to create a single source of truth and gives you all the multi-entity apps you need – including Group Reporting, Intercompany, Bank Consolidation, Multi-Entity Search and Live Sheets.
Translucent was founded by Michael Wood (Co-Founder Receipt Bank, aka Dext) and is backed by prominent names from the accounting industry including Craig Walker (Co-Founder Xero & Former CTO), Gary Turner (Former MD of Xero EMEA), Guy Pearson (Co-Founder Ignition) and Jamie McDonald (Co-Founder Hubdoc).
Journey will play a central role in launching Translucent across international markets. With its deep expertise in the SaaS and accounting tech sectors, Journey has already helped launch XBert as a household name with 206% revenue growth, while client Dashboard Insights recently won “Practice App of the Year” at the Xero Awards in Australia.
“I’ve experienced first-hand the problems that multi-entity businesses face so I am delighted to be able to bring to market a one-stop-solution for multi-entity businesses. Given Journey’s expertise and experience they were the natural partners to help us shape and supercharge our ambitious growth plans.” says Michael Wood, CEO and Founder at Translucent.
Trent McLaren and Jordan Vickery of Journey will also serve as brand ambassadors for Translucent, leveraging their extensive industry experience and networks to promote Translucent's innovative solutions and expand its global presence.
“Translucent has the potential to be a true game changer in the world of financial software – this is very much not ‘just another app’. We believe that for many teams it will soon be ‘the’ app,” adds Trent McLaren, Director at Journey.
About Translucent
Translucent turns your existing accounting software into a multi-entity accounting solution.
Founded by CEO Michael Wood, who had previously co-founded Dext, (formerly Receipt Bank). Launched in 2022, London-based Translucent has to-date raised £7.7M from LocalGlobe, Chalfen Ventures and angel investors, including Gary Turner and Craig Walker (both from Xero), as well as founders from fintech and accounting tech leaders including GoCardless, Jeeves, Karbon, Libeo, ComplyAdvantage, Ignition, Hubdoc and KashFlow.
About Journey
Journey, a pioneering growth agency, specialises in unlocking and scaling revenue streams for accounting technology companies across the globe.
Established by industry veterans Trent Mclaren, Liss McLaren and Jordan Vickery, the agency brings over 30 years of combined expertise in the accounting tech sector to the table. Journey functions as an extension of your team, acting as the in-house growth marketing arm for accounting tech companies. Their mission is to not only boost revenue but also to forge enduring brands, making a worldwide impact in the accounting industry.
A complete transformation that mirrors the disruptive spirit of our accounting tech clients
Rebrands can be such a bore! Wow, you changed your logo and chose a slightly different corporate blue pantone for your website – *slow hand clap* Well done you! But every now and then, a rebrand comes along that does it RIGHT. A rethink that’s not just a cosmetic airbrushing of the existing brand, but a complete rethink of the style, attitude and ethos of the brand.
Journey is launching its new brand with a bang. We’re the same cutting-edge growth marketing agency we always were – with a razor-sharp focus on the accounting technology market. But now we’re wearing new threads and walking a new walk.
Dive into www.letsjourney.io and see just why we stand out from the crowd, and how we’re more motivated than ever to help accounting tech startups become industry rock stars.
A rebrand isn’t about commissioning an expensive new logo. A good rebrand builds on previous successes by re-focusing the mission, vision and clarity of what your brand’s about. So, if you’re going to do more than just tick the usual boxes, you need a sharp focus on your customers.
Journey’s customers are accounting tech founders, disruptive innovators who’ve shaken up the industry. They spot a niche, develop never-before-seen technology and disrupt the market. It was only fitting to match that energy with the new Journey brand and to crank it up to 11.
Our new brand is all about blending the rebellion and disruptive spirit of these punk-rock innovators, with clear, no-nonsense visuals and content that tells it how it is.
We keep things simple, but we also fire up the energy and drive for growth that’s the lifeblood of any great accounting tech startup. The brand reflects the SaaS founder’s drive for independence and disruption. But we temper this with deep knowledge, incredible industry insights and content that truly brings a startup's story to life.
We infuse our content with the energy of a punk rock concert, where the audience feels the adrenaline, the passion, and the exhilaration of being part of a movement.
But we also dial down the volume, slip some yacht rock onto the stereo and bring things down to basics – setting the marketing foundations for solid, dependable growth and revenues.
Fire up the new rebranded site and see for yourself how Journey has changed.
Our mission is clear: Journey 2.0 is here to unleash scalable growth for accounting tech startups across the globe. We’ve got the knowledge of the industry, the tried-and-tested strategies, and a team who know the accounting industry like the back of their hand.
At Journey, we've cracked the code to scaling-up accounting tech apps. With 30+ years of combined industry leadership between us, we're here to help ambitious startups crank it up to 11 – from Seed to Series C and beyond.
What’s it like working with Journey? Our three-point approach is the engine room of our clients’ growth, helping them switch from organic growth to hyper-growth scale-up in the blink of an eye.
These three pillars are what delivers accounting tech growth:
1. We pull back the cover on your customers & product
2. Assemble your strategy & growth team
3. No-holds-barred execution and iteration
Just like all the best punk idols, we don’t hold back when talking about our skills. We’re a global team of accounting aficionados, who know this industry inside out. That knowledge, network and experience is what gives our accounting tech clients a gigantic competitive advantage.
Collectively, we’ve spent three decades scaling SaaS companies across Australasia, Europe and North America. Our team is made up of strategic leaders, growth marketers, creative designers, copywriters and bespoke services for turbocharging your growth.
Check out our About Us page to learn our story and meet the dream team.
The accounting tech industry has evolved at a stratospheric rate in the past decade. Journey is here to write the next chapter in the story, turning the cream of the accounting tech crop into industry superstars and driving the next wave in the accounting technology revolution.
Strap in. Get ready. Crank up the volume. We’re going on a Journey!
The journey behind our brand's punk-inspired transformation — fusing innovation, rebellion, and authenticity.
Rebranding is more than a facelift; it's a fundamental transformation of a brand’s soul and identity. For Journey, the leap from a quick solution logo to a symbol of exponential growth mirrors our own radical evolution. It's here where our rebranding story unfolds.
What began as a modest image refresh swiftly transformed into a profound self-examination of our identity, echoing the essence of Journey itself.
It started as a simple notion of 'let's tweak our image,' but quickly evolved into a profound introspection of who we truly serve and why.
This transformative journey was driven not just by our creative specialists but also by our founder, Trent, who questioned why a team of 20 innovative minds working for clients worldwide wouldn't leverage their own strengths. He emphasised the opportunity for deeper collaboration on a project close to our hearts.
I’ve always found it harder to design things for yourself. It’s hard to be objective, and the possibilities are endless.
Our new logo was more than a visual exercise; it was an embodiment of our mission and a symbol of the clients we proudly champion. Our logo's design is an exploration of the profound journey we undertake with our partners, and it carries a narrative that unfolds in layers of symbolism.
Embedded within our logo is the sequence of '1, 2, to 4,' a visual representation of exponential growth—a fundamental principle that drives our collaborative efforts with clients.
It’s a transition from the linear, step-by-step progression to a dynamic surge forward, readying our clients for a new chapter of expansion. This is where Journey steps in, ready to fuel the fire of growth with strategic marketing and creative innovation.
Our logo zooms out from the concept of a fixed destination.
The three dots serve as dynamic waypoints on an ever-evolving path that we go on with our clients.
In contrast to our previous 'X' marks the spot logo, the trio of dots symbolises an endless journey. It underscores our commitment to guiding our clients through transformative growth, not just to singular achievements but through the countless stages of their business evolution.
Our logo is more than just an image; it is a covenant — a promise that Journey is unwavering in catalysing and accelerating growth.
It is a pledge to assist our clients in not merely advancing but soaring to new heights.
A brand is more than just a logo, and our journey to a punk-inspired brand began with a simple idea: to create an identity that would resonate with both our team and our clients. We sought to capture the rebellious and innovative spirit that drives our founder-based audience, uniting us under a common philosophy.
As we embarked on the creative application of our new brand, we drew inspiration from the raw, DIY energy of 1970s punk posters.
These iconic visuals were more than just images; they were manifestos, declarations of independence, and fervent calls to action. Their boldness and urgency spoke to us, compelling us to infuse our brand with a similar sense of rebellion.
Inspired by punk poster art, we meticulously developed a visual language that honours the punk ethos while adapting it to the modern digital age.
One of the key elements we've embraced is Vintage Cut-outs, featuring carefully selected words and phrases from 1940s and 50s publications, adding a touch of curiosity and innovation to our brand while aligning with our founder-based audience.
These are all hand-cut phrases from magazine clippings I’ve discovered in antique stores and markets and kept aside over the years, waiting for the perfect opportunity to use for a project.
Similarly, we use Black Tape as a visual guide, signalling new sections in digital content, akin to labelling a guitar case or a toolbox, we use these elements for easy navigation on websites and within documents.
Our use of Black and White Halftone Cutouts pays tribute to halftone printing and the creative remixing of limited materials used by punk artists of the 70s. It also serves a practical purpose to unify visuals from varying sources (remote team!) and adding depth and intrigue.
Our Hand-drawn Marker and Pen elements inject a human touch into our digital designs, highlighting essential elements like CTA buttons and headline keywords.
These are just some of the elements that come together and infuse our brand with a sense of history, innovation, and a tactile dimension, bridging the past with the present.
In parallel, we cultivated our anti-agency approach, forged from our determination to challenge the conventional norms of the marketing industry.
Traditional agencies, often bound by rigid structures and slow response times, couldn't keep up with the dynamic landscape. Having witnessed these shortcomings firsthand, we set out to offer something different.
Our commitment to clients is unwavering. We integrate seamlessly into their teams, functioning as their outsourced growth marketing department.
This integration allows us to provide the expertise of strategists, specialists, and executors—all at the cost of a single full-time hire. We prioritise communication, participation in stand-ups, and rapid responsiveness. We're not just a service provider; we're partners, invested in our clients' success.
"I love our new brand and identity. I’ve always been the guy scrapping his way through his career, a rebel with a cause, building the car while we’re driving it.
Our new brand encapsulates our attitude and approach to guerrilla marketing and problem-solving.
While it's visually polished, it intentionally showcases a punk aesthetic.
I was the guy wearing ripped jeans at a keynote in Latvia in front of 800 accountants—ripped jeans was the brand.
For me, it was a way to project a bit of a bad-boy persona, someone confident, unafraid to break the rules, and think outside the box to execute some of the most unorthodox campaigns in the accounting SaaS industry.
We were always finding ways to growth hack our way through problems and we created a space where it was okay to break stuff if it meant we were learning and pushing for a bigger goal—break it, learn from it, go again, adapt, adapt, adapt.
Then COVID happened, and guess what? We had one of our biggest sales years ever. We challenged ourselves, picked up our tools, and got to work with what we had in front of us.
I love the new brand; I think it’s a great representation of who we are and what clients can expect when working with us."
"My approach to branding is all about exploring the abstract, turning over stones that others may not, and communicating those ideas in a simple way.
The intersection of different branches of thinking is where genius happens. This is where brands create new categories for themselves, cutting their own path. Iconic brands are born by appealing to those who resonate with bold decisions and leadership.
The punk idea refused to go away, persisting under many stones despite my attempts to set it aside. It evolved and moulded into what it is now—a handsome brand with many paths leading back to the original nucleus of the idea. At its core, it embodies an authentic, rebellious spirit of innovation.
There’s always risk in doing something new, but there’s also risk in doing the same old thing. I could talk about this endlessly, but suffice it to say that we chose to bet the house on authenticity and swinging big.
'Time to Value' is revolutionising accounting tech startups. Learn to measure and maximise this metric for rapid customer satisfaction and business growth.
Is your accounting tech startup spending enough time talking about 'Time To Value' or TTV? In a SaaS sector where delivering value is fundamental to your offering, you’d assume that TTV is baked into your KPI dashboard, right? But, in our experience, many software startups in the accounting sector are not tracking and measuring TTV effectively.
Ask your team this: ‘How long does it take for our customers to experience value in our product for the first time?’ If you don't know the answer, then getting a better grip on TTV and the focus of your value offering is probably long overdue.
Let’s start by getting the lowdown on the true meaning of TTV – and why it’s a client experience and value performance metric that should be front and centre in your accounting tech dashboard.
Time To Value (TTV) measures the time it takes for a customer to realise the benefits and value of your product or service – in this case, your accounting technology solution.
In other words, TTV is a measurement of how long it takes your customer to go from ‘What’s this new app?’ to ‘We couldn’t live without this app!’. TTV is a key indicator of the effectiveness of your software, a barometer of customer satisfaction and a measure of how quickly your product becomes invaluable to your audience.
It’s about how long it takes for your customers to:
The quicker you can move the implementation and adoption phases, the sooner your customers will get that warm, cosy feeling that ‘added value’ brings to the table. And turning your customers into rabid brand advocates is a major pathway towards growing the business.
Why is TTV such a critical metric for your accounting tech startup? It’s all down to what it tells you about your customers’ perception of the product.
Yeah, you want to have a solid pipeline of sales bringing in recurring revenue. But you also need those paying customers to get the value you’ve promised. If your tagline is ‘Transforming your practice management with smart AI tools’, you’d better bloody deliver on that value promise!
What your TTV score does is give you a way to quantify and drill down into that value proposition, so you can start refining, nuancing and improving your offering.
Shortening your TTV can lead to:
So, what does a shorter TTV tell you? Basically, it’s a great indication that your accounting tech solution is easy to implement, user-friendly and quickly delivers value to customers (in other words, you’re killing it!). Startups with a good TTV score are likely to have higher customer satisfaction, increased retention rates and incredible word-of-mouth marketing.
So, what can you do to boost that TTV number and start seeing better results?
Here are some core areas to focus on:
Boosting that TTV score should be high on your priority list, as the founder of an accounting tech startup. But being able to stand back and objectively judge where your solution is slowing down the all-important TTV score isn’t easy when you’re on the inside looking out.
At Journey we’re the experts in growth marketing for the accounting tech sector. So we know exactly what’s going to shorten that TTV time and get your accountant audience paying attention.
Partnering with us helps you:
Get in touch to find out how Journey can shorten that TTV time, transform your customer experience and help you start delivering explosive growth for your accounting tech startup.
Unlock potent sales strategies for accounting tech, boosting conversion rates and client engagement. Elevate your sales team's performance.
You’ll never become a great accounting tech success story without a grade-A sales team.
That’s the truth of it. Your sales people are there to win customers, convert opportunities and keep prospects flying into your funnel. Without them, you can wave goodbye to those ambitious sales targets and your new Tesla. So, at Journey we realise the critical role that sales plays.
However, there’s a big difference between an effective sales function and a sales department that’s limping like a wounded dog towards its monthly target.
So, what makes you a killer SaaS sales person? In a recent sales consulting session, we went through all the things sales reps get wrong (and how to get things back on track)
Here's the no-nonsense breakdown and what you can learn👇
We’ve all been there. You put weeks of work into warming up a prospect, it looks like they’re about to sign on the dotted line, and then they disappear into the ether.
Learn from it, don't cry over it. That’s a philosophy to have tattooed somewhere visible every time you end up getting let down by your latest prospect.
Sales is about discipline, repetition and your ability to learn, extract and then turn that into value you can bring to your prospect.
You're gonna get A LOT of ‘no’s along the way: deal with it.
A demo is a MAJOR chance to make your case for your product. Sales and marketing have done all the hard work to get you in front of this client, with a laptop primed to show off all the latest product features. So, don’t bugger it up before you’ve even started.
Use language that hits home. If it's not adding value, cut it. Don't talk in circles, be precise and transparent. Don't beat around the bush. Show me exactly WHY I need this product in my tech stack and do it as quickly, clearly and simply as possible.
Less is more should be your motto. You're here to deliver a good demo, not a long demo.
If you don't know what your client wants, you're shooting in the dark.
Too many reps have meetings booked automatically in their calendar, and the big mistake they make is not calling the prospect in advance to:
Don't turn up to demo/meetings blind. Call the prospect the day they book the meeting!
Qualify your leads rigorously to focus on those who actually might buy. There’s no conceivable world where every potential buyer you target will be a good fit. So do your absolute best to sort the good from the bad before you start trying to warm them up as a prospect.
You should know in the first 5-10 minutes if this person is qualified to buy your product. It may be obvious from the get-go that both buying signals and pain points are not identified.
If that happens, finish that demo early.
DO NOT WASTE 40 MINS FIGURING OUT THIS BUYER IS A BAD FIT AT THE END.
Clients have specific problems they need resolving. Whether their pain is slow reporting or a need for real-time data, show them how you solve these precise problems. Don’t just run them through all the generic features and tools the product has to offer.
The JTBD framework does a great job of helping you speak to your prospects’ real needs. What job are they trying to do, what's the pain connected to it and how can you solve it?
No pain, no gain. You get it?
Your pitch should be a laser, not a shotgun. Focus on what matters to the client, not showing off every tool and widget that your product can offer.
The good news, you're gonna practise how you pitch 20-30 times per day. Which means you're gonna practise it around 100-150 times in a week.
If you're only picking up the phone and pitching 2-3 times per day, because you're consumed by emails, you're doing it all wrong.
Pick up the phone. Get some face-time with prospects. Get talking about your product!
You need to be clear but also show you understand and care about the prospect’s needs. People buy from people, so a bit of humanity goes a long way. But there’s also no point beating around the bush when you’re here to sell.
Key actions you can take:
Bottom line: Understand the client's needs, be direct in your approach, and don't waste time on what doesn't work.
If you’re reading this and thinking ‘Sh*t, my sales team really needs to up their game!’ then maybe it’s time to come and have a chat with Journey.
We’re the growth marketing experts for tech companies in the accounting space. What we don’t know about sales, growth marketing and scaling up your tech business isn’t worth knowing.
Get in touch and let's add some polish to your sales shine.
Dive into groundbreaking strategies that turn accounting software into market leaders. Read now and revolutionise your growth journey.
You have the best goddamn SaaS solution in the accounting space, right? You had an inspired business idea, found your industry niche and spent months developing the absolute best software solution. The challenge now is to TELL people about your badass software?
Getting your brand and your messaging out into the world is a skill. But knowing which channels to use can be a major challenge. With an eye-watering choice of sales, marketing, PR and social media avenues to explore, there’s real value in working with a team of marketing and content experts – and this is where Journey enters, stage left.
We’re the growth marketing specialists for SaaS companies that want to build a rockstar brand in accounting. And we’re here to rip up the growth marketing rulebook.
Your Software as a Service (SaaS) product is your baby. You’ve birthed it, nurtured it and helped it take its first faltering steps. You’ve gone way beyond the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage and what you now have is a software solution that’s stable, feature-rich and ready to roll.
But there’s a problem. You may know every single feature and line of code that belongs to your solution, but do you truly understand what makes your app stand out from the competition? For some SaaS founders, it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees (or the customer value from the code, to drag this into a tenuous technological metaphor).
You could talk for hours about your feature set and how you’ve used smart automation, artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning to create a truly innovative software product. But that doesn’t always mean that you understand how your product changes the lives of your accountant/bookkeeper audience (and their many business and personal clients).
It’s almost impossible to see your SaaS product from the outside in, when you’re so intrinsically part of the creation and management of this software tool. What Journey does is shine a spotlight on your product, so you can see the glint of gold that lies within.
When you work with us, we’ll:
You can forget about the content, design, marketing and social content. We’ll take that load off your back, so you’ve got more time to get out there and talk to people about your product.
So, while you’re out making connections and delivering demos, the Journey team is on the case, firing out content and telling the accounting world just how awesome you are.
Journey is a young business, but we’re chockers full of experience in the accounting industry. Between us, we’ve worked in dozens of accounting-focused tech businesses (including Xero, Ignition, Weel, Capitalise and Deputy). And we’ve all worked closely with accountants and bookkeepers across Australia, New Zealand, USA, the UK and more.
We know that accountants and bookkeepers can be a tricky audience to sell to. As practitioners, they can be extremely analytical and risk-averse when it comes to trying out new software tools. But we also know that accountants are always on the lookout for ways to improve efficiency, cut costs and get a better handle on their practice management and firm admin.
If you want to find out what makes accountants and bookkeepers tick, we’ve got the answers:
There are probably hundreds of marketing agencies in your nearest city. And they could no doubt help you run a campaign, or take on the management of posting your social media content. But we’re a different breed of growth marketing beast.
Journey isn’t the norm. We’re the gritty, sparky new kid on the block, kicking down the traditional SaaS walls and cranking up the volume so your promotion is heard everywhere that matters.
We’re not a discrete string quartet that you’d hire for your wedding. We’re the loud, raucous punk band that gets the audience pushing the chairs back and dancing on the tables.
We’ve ripped up the rule book and come up with our own ideas, strategies and methodologies. Working with us is a high-paced rollercoaster ride, but, man, will you see your growth journey speed up when you’re onboard with our team.
We stand out from the crowd because:
In our first nine months as Journey, we’ve worked with 14 vendors, grown to 19 team members and helped our clients add $millions in ARR revenue. And that’s happened because our SaaS clients have TOTAL belief, faith and conviction in the Journey way of doing things.
If you’re bored of dull marketing and slow, organic growth, now’s the time to switch up your approach. Our campaigns and content are loud, in your face and guaranteed to get results.
We’re your go-to-market specialists. Whether it’s building a brand and driving demand in your home market or launching into a brand new country…we’ve you covered!
Journey exists to help you scale revenue and grow a rockstar brand in the accounting industry. Now’s the time to reach out, drop us a line and find out what we can do for you.
Book a meeting and let us take you on a journey…
