Designing A SaaS Product: How To Create A Product People Truly Want

Software as a service (SaaS) is an approach to providing applications and software for end-users. Instead of installing the software, you use the application via a web browser or other access point. The result is lower costs and easier maintenance, making SaaS a popular option for small and growing businesses.

One thing that is often overlooked but can make a real difference in the startup’s success is good UX/UI design. Here are a few things you should know about SaaS design if you wish to build a product that engages and does not repel users.

Best Practices of SaaS Design

There are many ways to design a SaaS application. Still, there are also some essential best practices that you should always keep in mind to ensure an innovative, scalable, and secure design.

Intuitive navigation

The first impression is everything. When designing your SaaS platform, it is crucial to provide users with an intuitive and easy-to-learn interface. A well-designed SaaS platform offers an easy-to-use dashboard that allows visitors to quickly access relevant content – such as current products or featured articles – without straining their eyes with overcomplicated navigation. We recommend removing any unnecessary features so that it is readable by all.

Effortless Sign-Up

The sign-up process is a user’s first interaction with your product. And the easier it is, the more likely it will be that they will sign up. Design your sign-up process, so it takes only seconds to complete, and you’ll have more users joining on their first visit. If people can decide quickly, they’re more likely to act on it. Because of this, we feel it is essential to make the sign-up process easy and effortless for SaaS users to avoid scaring them away.

If you have the correct data, it can be the difference between a lead and a customer. Collecting the right information at the right time is critical for maximum engagement. The fewer hoops your users have to jump through (and there’s only so much you can do here), the better chance you get them on board with your product.

Reduced Onboarding Time

Onboarding is an essential part of your service’s lifecycle and aims to establish an emotional bond between users and the product in the shortest possible time. The onboarding flow should deliver rewards that keep people returning for more, reduce churn rates, and build value for your brand.

In addition to showing users how your product works, onboarding can be used as a tool to guide them through its features and value. A good onboarding experience should be brief and friendly without condescending; by implementing onboarding prompts, you can engage them with specific information while using the product, encouraging them to receive more value and become more loyal users.

Advanced Search & Sorting

To keep customers from getting lost any longer, filter your content. If the user is looking for information about the product in general, provide them with an overview of it. But if he/she isn’t sure how to achieve their goals, direct him/her towards a more detailed description of what you’re offering.

With the dynamic sorting feature, your users won’t have to scroll endlessly trying to find a meaningful or relevant result. This is because they will be able to refine their search so that they only receive what they need. Dynamic sorting is a great advantage as compared to traditional search engines where you might get irrelevant data gathered from the entire website. 

Pricing Page Optimized

To get the most out of conversion rate optimization, your pricing page has to be perfectly designed. But you should not start from scratch when making changes. Every decision, from product design to the description, from pricing to the call to action, should be based on a profound analysis and user testing.

Your pricing page needs to communicate the value of your product or service, and be attractive enough to get potential customers to click on “Buy.” A well-designed pricing page has a massive impact on the success of your business. Before you spend any time building one, make sure that it’s dynamic and easy for visitors to use.

Simplified User Interface

SaaS user interface design shouldn’t intimidate users. It should respect their time and make the navigation easy and enjoyable. In order to achieve that, consider the following tips:

• Keep your design elements minimal so they won’t distract users from what matters most
• Use simple and concise language to explain elements on the page, don’t use complex phrases or long words that cause confusion
• Use color coding to help users quickly find what they are looking for
• Make sure you have several ways to access any piece of data
• Think of your app or website as a living being, that changes over time just like people do and therefore needs updates on a regular basis.

Summing Up

You can never be sure which UI and UX best practices for SaaS will work. To find your own approach, you need to understand your users’ needs and preferences, adapt to the industry standards, and consider a variety of other factors impacting your project. The better you understand how users interact with your product and why, the easier it will be for you to design it.