From Start-Up to Stand Out

Case Study
Written By Kristofer Lenz

How an SaaS Firm Tripled Leads & Proved Investor Readiness

Overview

A high-potential SaaS start-up was preparing for a critical capital raise but faced significant hurdles: sluggish revenue growth, weak market penetration, poor SEO visibility, and no centralized marketing analytics. With a lean team lacking senior marketing leadership, they needed an experienced, full-stack marketing leader to build a scalable growth engine.

Key Results

  • 3x increase in qualified inbound leads

  • 40% improvement in SEO rankings for high-value keywords

  • KPI-driven marketing function established from scratch

  • Increased revenue, accelerating investor confidence

The Challenge

This early-stage SaaS company had built a solid product but struggled with revenue traction. They lacked clear market positioning, had low brand visibility in key segments, and weren’t leveraging data to optimize marketing efforts. With a capital raise on the horizon, they needed fast, measurable improvements to prove growth potential to investors.

Challenges at a glance:

  • Limited marketing expertise in-house

  • Weak SEO and low inbound traffic

  • No centralized tracking of marketing performance

  • Unclear customer acquisition strategy

The Kailos Approach

We stepped in as the company’s fractional growth leader, bringing strategic oversight, execution power, and automation expertise. Our process included:

1. Growth & Market Assessment

  • Conducted a full-funnel audit to identify bottlenecks.

  • Mapped customer personas and refined messaging for high-value segments.

  • Assessed competitive positioning to identify differentiation opportunities.

2. Demand Generation & SEO Acceleration

  • SEO Overhaul: Optimized website structure, improved content strategy, and secured high-authority backlinks.

  • Inbound Engine: Launched a content + email automation strategy to capture, nurture, and convert leads.

  • Paid Acquisition: Implemented data-backed PPC campaigns with 2.5x ROI.

3. Data-Driven Growth System

  • Built a custom KPI dashboard for tracking CAC, LTV, conversion rates, and ROI.

  • Established automated reporting, integrating CRM, Google Analytics, and ad platforms.

  • Shifted the team from gut-feel decisions to a performance-driven mindset.

The Results

The impact was immediate and measurable:

  • Monthly Inbound Leads: 150+ (3x growth)

  • SEO Keyword Rankings: 40% lift for page 1-2

  • Conversion Rate: 3.8% (3x increase)

Beyond the numbers, the company now had a scalable, KPI-driven marketing function—positioning them strongly for both short-term revenue gains and long-term investor confidence.

Key Takeaways

  • Growth isn’t luck—it’s engineered. A data-driven, full-stack marketing approach transformed the company’s trajectory.

  • SEO is a compounding asset. Targeted improvements led to sustained lead generation.

  • Investment readiness requires proof, not promises. Having the right marketing KPIs increased investor confidence.

Ready to Build a Growth Engine?

If you’re scaling a SaaS business and need strategic marketing leadership, let’s talk. Schedule a consultation.

Kristofer Lenz
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