# SaaS Marketing Stack — Tools + Channels + Metrics

Stop guessing which marketing tools to buy. This playbook maps the right stack to your stage.

## Tool Recommendations

Analytics, attribution, email, CRM — matched to your stage and budget.

- **$0–$1K MRR**: Free tier tools — PostHog, Brevo, Notion CRM, Google Analytics
- **$1K–$10K MRR**: Starter paid plans — Mixpanel, ConvertKit, HubSpot Starter, Hotjar
- **$10K+ MRR**: Growth stack — Amplitude, Customer.io, Salesforce/HubSpot Pro, Clearbit
- **Principle**: Don't overbuy; upgrade when you outgrow, not when you "might need it"

## Channel Prioritization

Which channels work at each spend level.

- **$0/mo (organic only)**: SEO content, community engagement, referral programs, Product Hunt
- **$10K/mo**: Add Google Ads (branded + competitor), LinkedIn Ads (small ICP audiences)
- **$100K/mo**: Scale to Facebook/Instagram retargeting, podcast sponsorships, events
- **Framework**: Score channels on CAC, time-to-result, scalability, and founder-fit

## Content Marketing Engine

Sustainable organic growth through strategic content.

- **SEO foundation**: Category pages, comparison pages ("X vs Y"), alternative pages
- **Blog strategy**: 2–4 posts/month targeting long-tail keywords with commercial intent
- **Distribution**: Repurpose to LinkedIn, Twitter threads, newsletters, syndication platforms
- **Internal linking**: Hub-and-spoke model connecting pillar pages to cluster content

## Paid Acquisition

When to start paid, how to test, and when to shut it down.

- **Start signal**: Organic CAC established, conversion funnel proven, LTV > 3x target CAC
- **Testing framework**: $500–$1K per channel test, 2-week minimum, clear success criteria
- **Kill criteria**: If CAC > 2x target after 4 weeks of optimization, move on
- **Scale signals**: Consistent CAC at target, positive ROAS, increasing budget doesn't spike CAC

## Metrics Framework

North star metrics, leading indicators, and reporting cadence.

- **North star**: Net new MRR (combines acquisition, expansion, minus churn)
- **Leading indicators**: Signups, activation rate, PQL count, trial-to-paid conversion
- **Weekly reporting**: Channel-level CAC, pipeline created, conversion by stage
- **Monthly review**: Cohort retention, LTV trends, channel mix optimization

## Related Gingiris Skills
- Full version: https://clawhub.ai/skill/gingiris-b2b-growth
- All skills: https://clawhub.ai/user/gingiris
- Follow: [@WeiYipei on X](https://x.com/WeiYipei)