Issue #29: Moving slower to move faster 😮‍💨

Having a product that relies on LLMs is a blessing and a curse

The most painful aspect of working with LLMs is the lack of deterministic behavior. It can get frustrating especially when you’re optimizing a working solution. It feels like navigating a foggy landscape where you can only see the ground beneath your feet—each step finds the best slope for now, but you can’t guarantee it’s the best long-term path. Kinda running gradient descent in person. 😅 

This experimentation will never end, so I invested some time in structuring the code to make it easy and handy to do.

Table of Contents

Clean structure

The first time I played with LLMs was at the end of 2022 and I approached it with LangChain. I hated it. 🤯

I felt a big lack of control, and for every little requirement, I needed to customize the code heavily. After that bad experience, I always started from the bare bones of LLM calls and built my own abstractions on top, depending on what I needed for a specific project.

In this case, I focused on:

  • modularity: to make it easy to swap different pieces,

  • structured input/output: to have more control over what each piece requires and spits,

  • observability: to be able to be notified about the inner progress of a long workflow based on multiple LLM calls and tools.

The abstraction is very easy and they look like this:

  • Invocable:

    • An abstract class that provides the same interface to all the callable “pieces”

  • LLMUnit:

    • An invocable that corresponds to a single LLM call with a specific goal

    • Two text files:

      • system_prompt_template.txt: a template file that is filled with the fields available in the Input structure

      • user_prompt_template.txt: a template file that is filled that is filled with the fields available in the Input structure

  • Tool:

    • An invocable without any LLM call

  • Task

    • An invocable that composes different LLMUnits and Tools however you want

  • Workflow

    • An invocable that composes different Tasks however you want

    • This is pretty much the same as a Task, but this corresponds to an e2e product use case such as producing a blog post.

Each of them has corresponding Input and Output Pydantic models that are validated both before and after the invocation, and all of them are injected with an event notifier that notifies when an invocable starts, ends, fails, succeeds, etc. This level of observability enables the frontend to show the user a detailed understanding of what’s going on in real time.

An example of LLMUnit

Current status and early offering

The initial chat-based UX (you can check it here) was a bit annoying and in reality, was adding friction. I decided to replace it with a simple wizard. It took me some time to come up with the minimum fields possible to avoid overwhelming the user, but without losing any meaningful aspect to be taken into account.

Blog creation wizard step 1

Blog creation wizard step 2

For the sake of going to market ASAP, I’m considering to start launching a pay-as-you-go model where customers can buy blog posts in batches. This won’t have any feature other than generating a blog post (you can read here how I envision HeyEcho).

Example blog post

What follows is a blog post generated by HeyEcho without any edits, I literally copy-pasted the generated markdown. The request to HeyEcho was:

  • topic: importance of content marketing for b2b saas enterprises, especially focussed on blog posts and SEO

  • target audience: exec teams and c-level of b2b saas enterprises

  • tone: professional

A few notes:

  • I’m satisfied with the overall “sound” of the blog post as it doesn’t scream “I’m written by AI“

  • The data are properly sourced making the blog post accurate, factually correct, and data-driven,

  • I'm currently working on a refinement step to improve the flow between the sections and optimize the use of sources (there are a lot of repetitions right now).

Overall I’m quite happy about how this is shaping. ✨ 

Why Content Marketing Is Essential for B2B SaaS Growth: A 2025 Strategic Guide

Think traditional marketing is enough for B2B SaaS growth? Think again. 67% of B2B buyers now rely heavily on content when evaluating software solutions. With companies using content marketing seeing 5-10% higher customer retention rates, mastering this channel has become crucial for sustainable growth. Throughout this guide, we'll explore proven strategies to transform your content into a powerful growth engine for 2025 and beyond.

The Evolving B2B SaaS Landscape: Why Traditional Marketing Falls Short

The B2B SaaS market is undergoing rapid transformation. Traditional marketing tactics like cold outreach and interruptive advertising are losing effectiveness as decision-makers seek more valuable, educational content to inform their purchasing choices.

Research shows that 67% of B2B buyers now consume more content than ever before when evaluating software solutions. This shift reflects a fundamental change in how businesses make purchasing decisions.

Several key factors drive this evolution:

Extended Sales Cycles: B2B SaaS purchases involve multiple stakeholders and longer decision-making processes. Traditional push marketing fails to nurture these complex relationships over time.

Informed Buyers: Modern B2B decision-makers conduct extensive research before engaging with sales teams. 63% of companies without documented content strategies struggle to capture this self-directed buyer attention.

Technical Complexity: SaaS solutions often require detailed explanation and education. Short-form advertising cannot effectively communicate complex value propositions or technical specifications.

Trust Building: Business software represents a significant investment and operational dependency. Decision-makers need proof of expertise and reliability before committing.

Consider the experience of a typical B2B SaaS buyer: A CTO researching enterprise security solutions won't make a decision based on display ads or cold calls. Instead, they seek in-depth whitepapers, technical documentation, and expert analysis to build confidence in potential vendors.

This new landscape demands a different approach. While traditional marketing focuses on interruption and short-term conversions, successful B2B SaaS companies are shifting to educational content that builds authority and trust. Data shows that companies using content marketing see 5-10% higher customer retention rates.

The rise of specialized B2B SaaS marketing agencies further validates this trend. These agencies focus on creating expert content that addresses specific industry pain points and technical requirements, rather than general promotional material.

By understanding these market dynamics, B2B SaaS companies can better align their marketing strategies with how modern buyers actually make decisions. The key lies in replacing traditional interruption-based tactics with valuable content that educates and builds trust throughout the extended buyer journey.

The ROI of Content Marketing for B2B SaaS

For B2B SaaS companies, investing in content marketing isn't just another marketing tactic—it's a strategic necessity backed by compelling data. Recent studies reveal that content marketing delivers 67% more leads compared to traditional marketing methods, while improving customer retention rates by 5-10%.

The financial impact of content marketing extends across multiple business areas:

Lead Generation & Conversion

  • Companies with blogs generate 67% more monthly leads

  • Content marketing costs 62% less than traditional marketing while producing 3x more leads

  • Businesses using content marketing see 6x higher conversion rates than non-adopters

Customer Acquisition & Retention

  • Customer retention increases by 5-10% through strategic content marketing

  • Educational content reduces customer support costs by enabling self-service

  • Informed customers show higher product adoption rates and lifetime value

Organic Traffic & Brand Authority

  • One SaaS company achieved a 1,900% increase in SEO traffic through strategic content marketing

  • Quality content creates sustainable organic traffic, reducing paid acquisition costs

  • Consistent content publication builds domain authority and improves search rankings

Consider the success story of a mid-sized B2B SaaS company that transformed its marketing approach. By implementing a structured content strategy, they achieved a 300% increase in organic traffic within 12 months. Their key to success? Creating specialized content that addressed specific pain points in their niche, resulting in higher engagement and conversion rates.

However, maximizing ROI requires a strategic approach:

Focus on Quality Over Quantity

  • Create in-depth, authoritative content that answers specific industry questions

  • Target decision-makers and end-users with relevant, problem-solving content

  • Maintain consistent publishing schedules for sustained engagement

Measure and Optimize

  • Track key metrics like traffic growth, lead quality, and conversion rates

  • Use analytics tools to understand content performance and user behavior

  • Adjust strategy based on data-driven insights

Integrate with Sales Process

  • Align content with different stages of the buyer's journey

  • Create content that supports sales conversations

  • Use content analytics to identify qualified leads

Take note that 63% of brands operate without a documented content strategy. This presents a significant opportunity for B2B SaaS companies to gain a competitive advantage through strategic content marketing implementation.

For sustainable growth, treat content marketing as a long-term investment rather than a quick-win solution. The compound effect of consistent, quality content creation leads to increasing returns over time, establishing your brand as an industry authority while driving sustainable business growth.

Building Authority Through Strategic Blog Content

Blog posts act as your digital storefront, establishing your brand as an industry leader in the B2B SaaS space. When potential buyers search for solutions, they want expert guidance - not just product features.

According to recent research, 67% of B2B buyers now consume more content before making purchasing decisions than ever before. This presents a clear opportunity to influence decision-makers through strategic blogging.

Here's how blog content builds authority and drives growth:

Educational Value First: Focus on solving real problems your target audience faces. Instead of promoting products, provide actionable insights that showcase your expertise. This builds trust naturally.

Thought Leadership Content: Share unique perspectives on industry trends, backed by data and expert analysis. Studies show that companies consistently publishing thought leadership content see a 5-10% increase in customer retention.

Strategic Content Mix: Balance different content types to address various stages of the buyer journey:

  • How-to guides and tutorials for awareness stage

  • Industry analysis and trend reports for consideration

  • Case studies and comparison guides for decision stage

Expert Collaboration: Partner with industry experts and thought leaders to add credibility to your content. This approach has helped many SaaS companies enhance their authority - for instance, one company saw a 1,900% increase in SEO traffic by implementing expert-driven content strategies.

Content Depth: Create comprehensive resources that thoroughly address specific pain points. Research indicates that B2B SaaS buyers particularly value in-depth technical content from credible sources.

Consistent Publishing: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and signal to search engines that your site is actively maintained. Quality matters more than quantity - aim for 2-4 high-value posts monthly rather than daily low-quality content.

Remember that building authority takes time. Focus on creating valuable, well-researched content that directly addresses your audience's needs. Over time, this strategic approach to blogging will position your brand as a trusted advisor in your niche, ultimately driving qualified leads and conversions.

Use analytics to track which topics and formats resonate most with your audience. This data-driven approach helps refine your content strategy and ensures your blog posts continue to serve your audience's evolving needs while strengthening your position as an industry authority.

SEO as a Growth Engine for B2B SaaS

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) stands as a cornerstone for sustainable B2B SaaS growth. Data shows that 67% of B2B companies who prioritize SEO report higher lead generation rates compared to those relying solely on paid channels.

Think of SEO as your digital storefront that's open 24/7. For B2B SaaS companies, organic traffic brings quality leads who are actively searching for solutions to their business challenges. A real-world example comes from a SaaS company that increased their organic traffic by 1,900% through strategic SEO implementation.

To harness SEO's potential for your B2B SaaS growth, focus on these proven strategies:

Long-tail Keyword Targeting

  • Focus on specific, industry-related terms your prospects use

  • Target phrases showing clear purchase intent

  • Aim for keywords with lower competition but higher conversion potential

Content Optimization for Technical Audiences

  • Create in-depth content that addresses complex B2B needs

  • Include technical specifications and integration details

  • Add clear CTAs aligned with the buyer's journey stage

Authority Building

  • Secure backlinks from respected industry publications

  • Feature expert opinions and data-driven insights

  • Maintain consistent content quality and publishing frequency

Technical SEO Elements

  • Optimize page load speed for better user experience

  • Ensure mobile responsiveness

  • Implement structured data for rich snippets

Your SEO strategy must evolve with search engine algorithms and user behavior. According to ActualTech Media, successful B2B SaaS companies focus on building expertise in niche topics rather than broad, general content.

One effective approach is creating topical clusters around your core services. For instance, if you offer project management software, build content clusters about:

  • Team collaboration best practices

  • Project timeline optimization

  • Resource allocation strategies

  • Integration capabilities with other tools

Regular content audits help maintain SEO performance. Update existing content with fresh data, remove outdated information, and align with current search intent. This practice has helped companies achieve 5-10% improvement in customer retention rates.

Remember that SEO is a long-term investment. While paid advertising might bring quick results, organic search traffic builds lasting value. Companies that combine both strategies while prioritizing SEO create a sustainable growth engine that drives qualified leads to their business.

Creating a Scalable Content Strategy for 2025

A well-structured content strategy is crucial for sustainable B2B SaaS growth. Let's examine how to build a scalable content marketing framework that drives results in 2025.

Setting clear, measurable objectives is the foundation of a scalable strategy. According to Kalungi's research, successful B2B SaaS companies focus their content goals on:

• Brand awareness and thought leadership development • Prospect education throughout the buyer journey • Trust building with potential customers • Lead generation and nurturing

To build a scalable content operation, follow these proven steps:

1. Create a Strategic Content Calendar • Map content themes to your go-to-market strategy • Plan content for different buyer journey stages • Include diverse content types (blog posts, whitepapers, case studies) • Schedule content consistently - aim for 2-3 high-quality pieces weekly

2. Build a Robust Content TeamResearch shows that successful SaaS companies typically: • Hire in-house content strategists and editors • Work with specialized freelance writers • Partner with subject matter experts • Invest in content quality control processes

3. Implement Content Distribution Systems Maximize content reach through: • Owned channels (website, email newsletters) • Social media platforms • Industry partnerships • Paid promotion for high-performing content

4. Set Up Analytics and Tracking Track key metrics like: • Organic traffic growth • Time on page • Conversion rates • Lead quality scores • Customer acquisition costs

5. Create Content Production SOPs • Document content creation workflows • Establish quality guidelines • Define review and approval processes • Create templates for common content types

6. Focus on Scalable TopicsActualTech Media reports that successful B2B SaaS content strategies prioritize: • Industry-specific pain points • Technical how-to guides • Product comparison content • Thought leadership pieces

7. Optimize for Growth • Regularly audit content performance • Update existing content • Repurpose successful pieces • Test new formats and channels

For example, a mid-sized B2B SaaS company increased their organic traffic by 1,900% by implementing a scalable content strategy focused on use case pages, competitor comparisons, and in-depth blog posts.

To maintain consistent quality while scaling, use tools like: • Content planning platforms • SEO optimization tools • Analytics dashboards • Editorial calendars • Project management software

Remember to align your content strategy with your overall business objectives and regularly measure its impact on key performance indicators. This ensures your content marketing efforts directly contribute to your company's growth goals while maintaining efficiency at scale.

Transforming Content into a Revenue Driver

Content marketing stands as a proven growth driver for B2B SaaS companies, backed by compelling data. With 67% more leads generated compared to traditional methods and significant improvements in customer retention, the impact on revenue is clear.

Success requires a strategic approach focused on creating valuable, educational content that addresses specific industry challenges. Regular content audits, performance tracking, and adaptation based on data ensure continuous improvement and ROI.

Most importantly, view content marketing as a long-term investment in your company's growth. Focus on building authority through expert insights, maintaining consistent quality, and aligning content with your audience's needs. Want to start implementing these strategies? Begin by auditing your current content and creating a documented strategy aligned with your business goals.

Conclusion

It has been a while since the last meaningful update and I’m excited about what comes ahead! 🤩 

I hope you enjoyed this update!

If you’re interested in following my journey, make sure to subscribe or follow me on Bluesky and LinkedIn! 

Yeah, you read it right. I moved from X to Bluesky, so follow me!

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