Learnings from TallyForms for PLG-based SAAS startups

Learnings from TallyForms for PLG-based SAAS startups

The TallyForms story & their blog is a solid resource for PLG-based SAAS startups:

👍 $20K MRR, 36K+ total users

📈 1 year to get to $5K MRR, Another 8 months to 4x !!

😈 Beating Google!

👐 Building in public

👀 Team of 2 (Husband-wife duo)

To begin: Tally is the simplest way to create free forms & surveys! A user can create any type of form within seconds, without knowing how to code, and for free 💯

I am a big fan of what Marie Martens & Filip have built! Users of Google forms will relate.

Key principles from Tally's growth story, relevant for any start-up keen to explore PLG:

1 à Identify drawbacks in existing solutions and offer a superior solution for free!

Tally realised that existing solutions forced users into a specific format or paywalls. ;)

@Tally sought to build customizable forms with a clean interface.

FACT: 99% of its form-building features are free.

A key facet for PLG is that the product must be easy to use & intuitive for a user: Help centres beyond simple FAQs, Anticipate use cases, Public Roadmap

2 à The free product has to be its own acquisition channel!

No barriers to entry ▶ ️ More customers ▶ ️ Product delight ▶ ️Product sells itself ( "made with Tally" badge displayed on forms) ▶ ️ More customers ▶ ️Convert into 💸

3 à Laser focus on customer support:

The Tally team spends 50% of its time talking to users and answering questions on Slack!

Yes: Read that again :)

An independent & profitable business supported by subscription fees allows Tally to grow at its own pace. Their blog contains nuggets useful for bootstrapped founders including:

🤜 Launching on Product Hunt

🤜 Stealing users from large incumbents like Google

Any other emerging companies employing PLG that catch your eye? Do share your views.