Marketing for SaaS: the channels that bring paying users
Go where your users already look for a tool like yours.
Facts checked 11 Oct 2026 · by the AdSworn team
SaaS marketing works best where people already look for a tool: Google searches like "best [tool] for [job]", comparison and review articles, tutorial videos, and newsletters in their field. The reliable mix is your own content for search, paid search for ready buyers, and sponsorships on the comparison pages and tutorials your users read while choosing. Test one channel at a time for 4 weeks and judge it on trials and paid sign-ups, not clicks.
The channels, by how close they are to a sign-up
| Channel | Where users are | Cost model | Time to results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid search | Searching for your category now | Per click, auction | Days |
| Sponsorships on comparison and review pages | Choosing between tools | Fixed price per term | Days |
| Tutorial video sponsorships | Learning the job your tool does | Fixed price per video | Days to weeks |
| Your own content (SEO) | Searching for answers | Your time | Months |
| Partnerships and integrations | Inside tools they already use | Revenue share or swap | Months |
Why comparison pages convert
Someone reading "the best video editing apps" is shopping. A sponsored post inside that article puts your tool in the shortlist, in the site's own words, while the reader decides. Because the article keeps ranking, it keeps reaching new shoppers every week of the term. Check the searches behind the page first: they tell you whether the readers are buying or browsing.
| Page | Search that brings readers | Banner / 4 weeks | Featured / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The 12 Best Online Video Editors of 2026 (Free and Paid)Flocksy | “video editor” · 4 clicks | $25 | $2,000 |
| The 8 Best Video Editing Apps for iPhone and Android (2026)Flocksy | “best video editing app for android 2026” · 1 click | $25 | – |
A four-week test plan
- Pick three pages your users readEach found by a search that names your category.
- Run one offer, one tagged link per pageThe same free trial everywhere, so the pages are the only difference.
- Count trials and paid sign-upsNot clicks. See work out sponsorship ROI.
- Renew the winner, swap the restOne page that converts is worth more than ten that don't.
| Page | Audience, last 4 weeks | Banner / 4 weeks | Featured / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Top 7 Logo Makers – Reviewed and Rated – Logo Design Magazinelogodesign.org | 130 page views | $25 | $270 |
| The Best Freelance Marketplaces (UPDATED 2026)hatchwise.com | 162 page views | $25 | $335 |
| The History Of The MrBeast Logohatchwise.com | 375 page views | $25 | $195 |
| My Honest Review of Design Shifu Unlimited Graphic Designs [Updated for 2026] – Logo Design Magazinelogodesign.org | 38 page views | $25 | $150 |
| The 12 Best Online Video Editors of 2026 (Free and Paid)Flocksy | 200 page views | $25 | $2,000 |
| The History Of The Amazon Logohatchwise.com | 191 page views | $25 | $150 |
On AdSworn you can search pages by the searches behind them, see their traffic read from Google, and book a sponsored post for 12 weeks from $75. More in how to advertise a design tool and test a new audience with a sponsorship.
Straight answers
What is the best marketing channel for SaaS?
The one where your users already look for a tool: usually Google search and the comparison pages and tutorials they read while choosing.
How do SaaS companies get their first users?
By showing up where people search for the job the tool does: their own content, paid search, and sponsorships on the comparison pages and tutorials those people read.
Do sponsorships work for SaaS?
They work best on pages read by people choosing a tool, such as comparisons, reviews and tutorials. Judge them on trials and paid sign-ups from a tagged link.
How long should I test a SaaS marketing channel?
About 4 weeks, with one offer and one tagged link per placement, so you can compare sign-ups fairly.