5 Best PLG Examples from SaaS Brands that You Can't Afford to Miss

Are you waiting for an inspiration to build your PLG strategy? 

Or you might be wondering these:

"What's the secret ingredient for a successful Product-Led Growth (PLG) strategy?"

"How do the top players in the industry do it right?"

If those thoughts resonate with you, you're not alone.

In fact, many businesses are struggling with the same questions. Largely because PLG is a new way of doing business that requires a mindset shift and a different set of tools. But don't worry! We've got you covered.

While industry giants like Canva have taken Product-led growth to the next level with affordable pricing plans and countless templates, there are many lesser-known stars in the SaaS universe effectively leveraging PLG. 

In this article, we will explore the top SaaS companies that achieved exceptional growth with their innovative SaaS PLG strategies. We will look at their game plans, tactics, and key factors that led to their outstanding growth.

Let's dive in.‍

What Is PLG Marketing in SaaS? A Quick Recap!

PLG marketing is a customer acquisition strategy focusing on the product and its value proposition to drive sales. It's all about delivering what they want before realizing they are craving it!

The goal of PLG marketing is to create a memorable experience for your customers by delivering the highest quality product possible. This will help you build long-lasting relationships with your users, which can lead to higher revenue over time.

If you're new to the concept of product-led growth (PLG), check out our comprehensive guide, where we break down the various aspects of PLG marketing and how you can apply it to your business right off the bat!

5 PLG Examples from SaaS Companies in 2023

Here are the 5 PLG SaaS companies that are excelling in PLG marketing. 

We chose these companies because they have proven results and are some of the best PLG examples to grow your business.

So, let's dive in.

1. Figma

The first name on our list of top PLG companies is Figma. Figma made its grand entrance in 2013, shaking up the design space with its innovative web-based design tool.

Figma stood tall against its competitors, such as Sketch and Invision owing its success to its strategic implementation of PLG (Product Led Growth). 

Figma offered a free plan, including functionalities that their competitors charged for, such as multiple-image export and unlimited storage for up to three projects.

Figma offered more features in the free plan compared to some of its biggest competitors, like InVision, which focused on basic prototyping and collaboration. Figma's comprehensive functionalities, such as real-time collaboration and flexibility, made it a stronger choice for many users, setting it apart in the market.

Figma also had a rich template library that plays a huge role in user engagement. This library encourages users to interact with the tool, understand its capabilities, and explore new design possibilities. 

Furthermore, by continually updating the library with fresh content, they maintain user excitement and create reasons for repeated visits.

Key Takeaways:

1. Offer a generous free or freemium model to attract users to your platform.
2. Enrich your tool with engaging content like a dynamic template library. User-focused templates that address your target audiences’ pain points can boost PLG for your brand. 
3. Ensure a frictionless onboarding process to improve user retention and create longer-lasting users.

‍2. Airtable

The next name on our list of PLG SaaS companies is Airtable. Airtable made a breakthrough in the database management world with its debut in 2012. Airtable's success is deeply rooted in its efficient employment of PLG (Product Led Growth).

The platform's comprehensive free plan, user-focused features and use-case specific templates, particularly set Airtable apart. Airtable’s robust free plan includes some of the most demanded features, like solutions to centralize information, real-time collaboration, and customized workflows to their unique needs.

One of Airtable's key strategies contributing to Airtable’s successful PLG is an extensive resource library that consists of highly-effective templates, categorized based on use cases (See below image). 

 This tactic, paired with astute SEO optimization, has helped attract a broad user base, promoting organic growth.

Another pillar supporting Airtable’s PLG success is the excellent help documentation and tutorials. These learning resources are Comprehensive, and user-friendly, and help users in navigating the platform faster. With these tutorials, first-time users can grasp the product quickly and leverage it to its maximum potential- a significant factor in user retention and satisfaction.

‍Key Takeaways:

‍From Airtable’s success, we understand the following:

• Free plans should offer substantial utility to engage users, fostering trust, and encouraging upgrades.
• A broad template library can showcase your platform's versatility, facilitate user onboarding, and drive SEO performance.
• Detailed, user-friendly help documentation can significantly improve the user experience and foster long-term engagement.

3. ClickUp

ClickUp achieved success in the project management space by bringing in a fresh and modern approach to managing tasks, for different teams, at one place. Introduced in 2017, ClickUp delivered an adaptable and user-friendly interface with a comprehensive free plan, wooing users across sectors.

Just like Figma and Airtable, ClickUp's success is also visibly tied to its careful implementation of the Product Led Growth (PLG) model.

A highlight of ClickUp's free plan is the multitude of features it provides at no cost, including unlimited tasks, unlimited users, and 100MB storage, a strategy that aligns perfectly with the PLG model.

Two of ClickUp's key SaaS PLG strategies have incredible impact on their user acquisition and retention:

Interactive Courses: ClickUp offers interactive courses designed to onboard users quickly and effectively. These courses help users learn how to navigate the platform, utilize its features, and get the most out of the tool, increasing user engagement and satisfaction.

Interactive Demos: ClickUp's interactive demos are another valuable strategy to drive growth. By allowing users to explore the platform in a practical, hands-on manner before fully committing, ClickUp effectively lowers barriers to entry, boosts user confidence, and demonstrates the utility of their offerings.

Key Takeaways:

From ClickUp's growth, we learn the following:

• An interactive, educational approach can accelerate and improve user onboarding.
• Free plans include strong features and are perfect for small businesses with limited users, fostering trust and promoting longer-term engagement.
• Utilizing interactive demos to showcase features and functionality can influence users towards committing to your product.
• For a seamless SaaS PLG strategy, prioritize a user-friendly interface and invest in educational resources to help users leverage your platform.
• Balance an attractive pricing strategy with valuable free offerings to stimulate organic growth.

4. Miro

One of the top PLG companies is Miro. Miro introduced a transformational visual collaboration platform. Integrating manifold features with an easy-to-navigate interface, Miro has created an appealing proposition for teams of all sizes across diverse sectors. This interactive workspace's demand is amplified by its comprehensive yet free basic plan.

Miro's remarkable growth trajectory is attributed to its strategic Product Led Growth (PLG) model, namely, prioritizing the user-product interaction, making it the primary driver of user acquisition, conversion, and expansion.

The cornerstone of Miro's PLG strategy is its Freemium model. It not only engages users with a high degree of functionality and adaptability but also helps users quickly realize the value of the platform by addressing primary needs such as real-time collaboration and information centralization.

Another fundamental aspect of Miro's user growth strategy is the massive library of preset templates. These templates provide a way for users to fast-track project initialization and illustrate the product's versatility, encouraging organic growth.

Complementing its user-acquisition strategy, Miro enforces user retention by relentlessly focusing on User Experience (UX) optimization and Fast Time-to Value. Aiming to make the product easier to use and more efficient, Miro ensures users derive the maximum value from the product as quickly as possible. This user-centered approach, paired with a constant UX improvement initiative, has notably driven user engagement and satisfaction.

Key Takeaways:

1. A Freemium model with substantial utility can attract users, build trust and serve as a springboard for potential upgrades.
2. Capitalize on a broad template library to expedite project initialization for users, highlighting your platform's versatility and positively influencing SEO performance.
3. Embed Fast Time-to-Value demos into your product strategy to allow users to quickly comprehend the product's worth, thereby boosting engagement and user satisfaction.
4. Comprehensive, user-friendly help documentation and support improve end-user experience and nurture long-term engagement.

5. LinkTree

The final name on our list of PLG examples is LinkTree. Launched as a small side project in 2016, Linktree has revolutionized the way internet users connect with their followers' various online spaces.

Linktree's primary draw is its user-friendly free version, a boon to individual content creators and small businesses.

Linktree broke the "one link in bio" rule on social media sites like Instagram, making it easy for its users to direct followers to numerous online channels.

Its appeal is in its simplicity – anyone can create a functional and appealing listing page with all essential links, without any technical expertise or spending a penny.

Its free plan is accessible to everyone, easy to use, yet offering sufficient flexibility for users to customize their Linktree to mirror their personal brand or business.

Linktree's ingenious strategy was to create a product that is useful and indispensable for its users. Encouraging organic growth through word-of-mouth, Linktree has grown exponentially by giving away its service for free—a key factor in their success

The company's forethought in providing educational resources and templates further bolsters its service.

Offering an enhanced user experience, it helps content creators in optimizing the benefits derived from their Linktrees. Nurturing a positive user experience and encouraging customer loyalty, Linktree has created a snowball effect of sustainable and scalable growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Offering a free plan can be a huge draw for users – particularly beneficial when catered to a vast audience with varying needs, from individual content creators to small businesses.
2. Products that ease significant pain points can create organic, word-of-mouth growth. Simplicity and functionality should be at the core of such strategies.
3. Educational resources and templates improve user experience; clarifying the product's full potential can effectively maintain customer loyalty.

How Rivia Can Help with SaaS PLG?

How often do you taste a sample food before you buy it? If you're like most people, the answer is "always." 

Why?

Because, you want to ensure that what you buy at the store is fresh, delicious, and worth your money. 

The same goes for your website visitors: They want to know what's in store before deciding whether to sign up.

That's where the role of Rivia comes in. With Rivia you can capture, edit and create interactive demos that give you the flexibility to show off your app's features in a way that’s tailored to each visitor. 

You can also share these demo links with potential customers and partners, who will be able to view and interact with them on any device.

SaaS growth focused on the product can be a great perspective for B2B companies to standout in the crowd competitors who are charging a bomb to the users. 

So, what are you waiting for? Book a Product Demo!

Start building your growth strategy without making any PLG mistakes.