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Apollo.io is a sales engagement platform that provides tools to help businesses identify, engage, and connect with potential customers more effectively. The core value proposition of Apollo.io lies in its ability to streamline and optimize the sales process through several key features:
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Overall, Apollo.io's core value proposition is its ability to empower sales teams with the data, tools, and automation necessary to increase efficiency, improve lead generation, and ultimately drive more sales.
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B2B Table:
Criteria | ICP1 | ICP2 | ICP3 |
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Persona |
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Name | Dhananjay Menon | Jashank Pohani | Deepak Menon |
Designation | Business Development Manager | Head of Investor Relations | Senior Business Development Manager |
Company Size | 100 | 60 | 350 |
Location | Mumbai | Mumbai | Mumbai |
Funding Raised | Self Funded | Self Funded | Publicly Listed |
Industry Domain | Marketing Agency | Venture Capital | Fintech |
Stage of the company | Growth Stage | Growth Stage | Mature Scaling Stage |
Organization Structure | In the digital advertising industry, focused on particular industires and target specific set of customers and not be a part of the clutter, ready to pay for quality lead generation and engagement. | In the VC space, targeting HNIs with a high risk high reward asset class, hence looking for a solution with verfied contacts and ready to pay for pain points of reaching out to verified leads regularly. | In the Fintech space, solving issues related to cashflow management for organisations of different sizes. The product is at a mature scaling stage and since the product can be used for companies of all sizes, they need a tool to for a mass reachout and have a large sales team, the tool optimises the lead generation and outreach process hence enabling the sales teams for faster conversaions. |
Decision Maker | Founder | Founder | Head Of Business |
Decision Blocker | Finance | Finance | Finance |
Frequency of use case | Daily, to generate leads and get contact details of target audience / leads | Daily, to generate leads and get contact details of target audience / leads | βDaily, to generate leads and get contact details of target audience / leads |
Products used | Slack, Whatsapp, Gsuite | Asana, Teams, Microsoft 365 apps | Microsoft 365,Teams, Hubspot |
in workplace | google docs | pipe drive, clenti | Microsoft 365,Teams |
Organisational | slack | teams, microsoft 365 | Hubspot |
Goals | Primary: Financial Goals | Primary: Financial Goals | Primary: Financial Goals |
Preferred Outreach Channels | Email, phone, whatsapp | Email, phone | Email, Phone |
Conversion Time | 2-3 days | 4-5 days | 15-20 days |
GMV | 15Cr | 20cr | 252 Cr |
Growth of company | Growing stage, challenger in the industry, plans to grow by servicing more verticals & industries | Challenger in the industry, steady plans to grow in the industry, adding more funds in their portfolio | Challenger in the cashflow Saas space, growing at a faster pace by entering into new geographies and unexplored territories |
Motivation | lead generation for services provided and certain levels of revenue & size companies at scale | lead generation for HNI's, c suite owners with vaild contact details | verfified lead generation for existing markets and leads to enter into new markets |
Organization Influence | Flat organisational structure, they value teams or have a collaborative environment, current goal is to grow in the existing industries they service and explore new industires and markets. Earlier were working on inbound inquiries. High expectation from the tool since they are paying a decent size of money for its subscription | Flat organisation structure, have a collaborative environment. Current goal is to get more investors through invetors and family offices and long term goal is to have bigger funds. Earlier used to generate leads through the network of founders and sales associates. | In between a flat and hierarchical organisation. Current goal is to get more clients onboard in domestic and international markets. Earlier leads were generated through old school processes of finding relevant leads through linkedin, etc. |
Tools Utilized in workspace | Slack, g suite, whatsapp | Teams, microsoft 365, pipedrive, asana | Microsoft 365,Teams, Hubspot |
Decision Time | 2-3 days | 4-5 days | 15-20 days |
Technology /software know how | knows how to navigate through softwares and is sufficiently aware inspite of not havign a tech. background | knows how to navigate through softwares and is sufficiently aware inspite of not havign a tech. background | Is a from a techbackground and in a tech co. so can navigate through multiple use cases of the tool and easliy integrate with new and existing products for better results |
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User Type | Casual | Core | Power |
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Usage Characteristics | Is a free user. Logs in 2 times a week to generate leads, and uses export credits in the free plan. Has not integrated any other tool that compliments apollo.io | Logs in every alternate day. has added the chrome extention to identify relevant leads while browsing LinkedIn to generate leads. Uses the sequences to reach out to multiple leads. Has done only a single integration with an email marketing tool. | logs in daily. Uses multiple features of the tool not just to reach out but uses features for outreach & engagement extensively. Has integrated multiple tools like email marketing tool, CRM, Number for Automated Calling, etc. Reviews analytics and reports provided by the tool |
Recency of use case | last week | Day before yesterday | yesterday |
Natural Frequency | Twice a week | Alternate days | Daily |
Monetary/AOV/Revenue Generated | No Monetary Gain | managed to create a strong pipeline, revenue generated - INR 3,50,000 MRR | Has a healthy pipeline and generates revenue of 10,00,000 MRR |
Pain Points | limited tech knowledge, doesnt know if the leads has responded to their outreach mails & messages | Has only one tool to integrate, doesnt have bandwidth to monitor every feature | Challenge with support from internal IT team to use domain name for email outreach |
Valued Features | Search feature - to find leads | search feature, Send grid (mass email) integration | Email integration, website vistion integration, buyer intents in search, tech used by cos. filter. Integration with with CRM and auto update of lead stages |
Core Value Proposition | Comprehensive Data Access | Comprehensive Data Access,Advanced Search and Filtering,Integrations | Comprehensive Data Access,Advanced Search and Filtering,Integrations,Analytics and Reporting |
JTBD of the persona | Primary Goal: Functional | Primary Goal: Financial | Primary Goal: Financial |
Discovery | LinkedIn Ad | LinkedIn Ad, Email Marketing | LinkedIn Ad, Email Marketing, Word of mouth from other sales execs. |
Level of Engagement | low level of engagement | medium level of engagement | high level of engagement |
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define how is a user activated on your platform and who would classify as an active user. Then move one to defining your core EnR metric, don't forget to mention the why!
(also scope out the Engagement Framework you will be taking up for your product and the rationale behind it)
An active user for Apollo.io would be, a user to finds leads (their ICP) through apollo and the key action of reaching out to the lead at least once a week.
Engagement Framework | Relevance | Key Metric to be trackedβ | Rationaleβ |
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Breadth | Primary | MRR | A paid subscriber has more access to features which will enable the sales exec (ICP) to generate revenue through the leads generated and nurtured on Apollo |
Frequency | Secondary | DAU | A sales exec (active user) who uses the tool more frequently will be able to generate more revenue or atleast will have a strong pipeline. |
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you need to build at least 5 separate engagement campaigns, yes 5 is important! Remember to bring the campaigns to life- give them structure and body.
(use this and add more depth/parameters in this framework)
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Engagement Campaign | Hypothesis | Channel of Distribution | Persona/Type of User | Theme | Target feature | Pitch and Content | Goal of the campaign | Offer | Frequency and Timing | Success Metrics | Milestones for the campaign |
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β | (what lead you to choosing this particular campaign and why do you think it will work?) | (Is is this a physical/digital campaign, how will the users come across this campaign) | (which user segment is this campaign targeting) | β | β | β | (are you trying to convert casual users to power users? | (what are you giving and what is the logic behind the same, what could be the possible budget for the same?) | (when will you launch the campaign, is it a one time thing/recurring) | β | (In case of products, where results will show after 9-12 months, what are the key milestone and what is the logic behind the same) |
Campaign 1 - Casual user activationβ | Casual users who perform the key action but dont use the tool daily at their job. This campaign will be to build habits and one step closer to a power user | LinkedIn Ads & email campaings | Casual user | Educational Content How different filters in the search feature can benefit the user | How basic filters like job title, departments, industry & location can help to generate more targeted leads | Make casual users to daily active users | There is no offer here. This campaing is to create a habit with the free user to use more features which will drive value for the sales exec | An email will be sent daily with the pitch of using the free features to lead them to perform the key action and LinkedIn Ad will be used once a day | DAU | The user will be defined as daily active user if they use the featurs once a day for 7 working days | |
Campaign 2 | This campaing is to build further commitment for casual users who are now daily active users but dont use more features on the tool. | Linkedin Ads & Email | Casual User | Educational content | Sequences. After generating leads on the tool, how the user can create an outreach using sequences | Build habit for daily active users to become power users | There is no offer here. This campaing is to create a habit with the free user to use more features which will drive value for the sales exec | An email will be sent daily with the pitch of using features of sequencing to lead them to perform the key action and LinkedIn Ad will be used once a day | 1st sequence | Atleast one active sequence | |
Campaign 3 - Power User Masterclass Series |
β | The campaign will be delivered through webinars, in-app notifications, and email invitations. Users will also be targeted via LinkedIn and YouTube ads. | Target ICP3 (Fintech) users, specifically Senior Business Development Managers and Heads of Business who are familiar with tech but may not be leveraging all features. | Master the Tools, ride the rocket ship called Apollo | API integration, automation, and advanced lead filtering. |
β | Convert casual or underutilizing users into power users by educating them on advanced features and best practices. | Free access to the masterclass series, with additional one-on-one sessions offered for high-engagement users. Estimated budget: INR 8L-10L for production, promotion, and expert fees. | Launch the campaign as a quarterly series, with each series running over 4 weeks. Follow-up sessions to be scheduled based on user engagement. | Increase in feature usage, webinar attendance rates, and post-webinar engagement. | β
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Campaign 4 - Success Stories Spotlight | β
| Email newsletters, social media posts (LinkedIn, Twitter), blog posts, and in-app notifications. Success stories will also be featured on the Apollo.io websiteβs customer success page. | Target ICP1 (Marketing Agencies) and ICP3 (Fintech), as these users are often motivated by results and may benefit from seeing how others in their industry have successfully used Apollo.io. | "Your Success, Our Mission" | Lead generation, CRM integration, and analytics tools. |
β | Inspire and motivate users to engage more deeply with Apollo.io by showing them whatβs possible. Encourage them to explore features they may not yet be using. | Exclusive access to detailed case studies, a downloadable eBook summarizing success stories, and a webinar series featuring client success stories. Budget: INR 3L-4L for content creation, video production, and promotion. | Launch as a monthly spotlight feature, with ongoing updates to the success stories library. Quarterly webinars featuring a deeper dive into the success stories.β | Increased engagement with featured content, uplift in feature usage post-campaign, and higher satisfaction scores | β
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Campaign 5 - Referral Rewards Program |
| Email, in-app notifications, social media, and a dedicated referral program page on the Apollo.io website. | Target all ICPs (ICP1, ICP2, ICP3) but prioritize users who are already highly engaged or have expressed satisfaction with Apollo.io, as they are more likely to refer others. | "Grow Together with Apollo.io" | The overall Apollo.io platform, emphasizing ease of use and powerful lead generation capabilities. |
β | Increase user engagement through referrals, foster a sense of community, and expand the user base. Encourage users to stay engaged by offering ongoing rewards. | Reward referrers with discounts on their subscription, gift cards, or access to premium features. New users referred also get a discount or free trial. Estimated budget: INR8L- INR 10L for program setup, rewards, and promotion and as cost (freebies) to get more users | Launch as an ongoing program with periodic boosts (e.g., double rewards month). Run campaigns quarterly to encourage continued participation. | Number of referrals, conversion rate of referred users, and engagement levels of referrers post-referral. |
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Month | ICP1 (Retention %) | ICP2 (Retention %) | ICP3 (Retention %) |
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1 | 95% | 93% | 90% |
3 | 90% | 88% | 85% |
6 | 85% | 82% | 80% |
9 | 80% | 75% | 70% |
12 | 75% | 70% | 65% |
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Observations from the trend:
go back to your user insights and figure out the number one reason of churn by listing down all the factorsβ
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These resurrection campaigns are designed to address specific pain points and re-engage users by offering targeted value, ensuring users not only return but also remain engaged long-term.
Resurrection Campaign | Hypothesis | Channel of Distribution | Persona/Type of User | Theme | Target feature | Pitch and Content | Goal of the campaign | Offer | Frequency and Timing | Success Metrics | Milestones for the campaign |
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β | (what lead you to choosing this particular campaign and why do you think it will work?) | (Is is this a physical/digital campaign, how will the users come across this campaign) | (this section is extremely important for resurrection campaigns, who do you want to prioritize and why?) | (suggestion: connect the theme to the user calls) | β | (are you trying to convert casual users to power users?) | (what are you giving and what is the logic behind the same, what could be the possible budget for the same?) | (when will you launch the campaign, is it a one time thing/recurring) | β | (In case of products, where results will show after 9-12 months, what are the key milestone and what is the logic behind the same) | |
Campaign 1 - Feature Reintroduction for High-Value Users | β
| This campaign will be delivered via personalized email and in-app notifications. The users will also be targeted through retargeting ads on LinkedIn. | Focus on ICP2 (Venture Capital firms) and ICP3 (Fintech) users who have churned within the last 6 months. These users likely left due to unmet expectations around feature utilization or ROI. Prioritizing them ensures targeting users with high potential LTV (Lifetime Value). | Unlock the Full Power of Apollo.io | Advanced lead verification and bulk outreach capabilities. | β
| Convert previous users into active, engaged users by emphasizing the underutilized features that align with their business goals. | Provide a free 1-month premium access trial with dedicated support to assist with feature utilization. Budget for personalized content creation and ad targeting is estimated at INR 5L - INR 8L. | Launch as a one-time campaign during the last quarter, with a follow-up 30 days after initial contact. |
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Campaign 2 - Limited-Time Exclusive Offer for Budget-Conscious Users | β
| Email and social media ads on platforms like LinkedIn, targeting specific job titles. Retargeting ads on Facebook and Instagram. | Target ICP1 users (Marketing Agencies) who churned due to budget constraints. These are typically smaller companies that might reconsider if the cost-benefit ratio improves. | Get More for Less | Industry-specific lead generation filters and sequencing |
| Re-engage cost-sensitive users by offering an appealing financial incentive. | A 20% discount for the first 6 months of subscription. Estimated budget: INR 3L - INR 5L for discounts and ad spend. | Run the campaign at the start of the financial quarter to align with budget planning cycles. | Re-subscription rate, discount usage, and post-discount renewal | β
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Campaign 3 - Feature Usage Challenge for Technically Savvy Users | β
| In-app notifications, email, and a dedicated landing page. Supplement with LinkedIn ads. | Target ICP3 (Fintech) users who are technically skilled but left due to insufficient feature exploration | Master the Tools, Master the Market | API integration and automation tools |
β | Increase feature engagement and turn casual users into power users through gamification. | Rewards such as extended trial periods, access to premium features, or even physical rewards like branded merchandise. Budget for rewards and gamification: INR 8L- INR 12L. | Run as a recurring monthly challenge with quarterly major events. |
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Campaign 4 - Personalized Support for Struggling Users | β
| Email outreach with follow-up calls from customer success managers. | Focus on ICP1 and ICP2 users who churned due to integration or usability issues. | Weβre Here to Help | CRM and communication tool integrations |
β | Resolve user issues and increase confidence in the platform, leading to reactivation. | Free personalized onboarding or integration support for a limited time. Estimated budget: INR 5L - INR 8L for additional support resources. | βLaunch during times of historically high churn, with follow-ups every 2 weeks until issues are resolved. |
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Campaign 5 - Community-Driven Reengagement for Collaborative Users | β
| Social media groups (LinkedIn, Slack), webinars, and community forums like Reddit. Tech Saas influencers on youtube with tutorials along with webinars | Target ICP1 and ICP2 users who value collaboration and community | Join the Apollo.io Community | Shared templates, best practices, and collaborative tools |
| Build a strong user community to enhance loyalty and reduce churn by increasing user engagement. | Exclusive access to community resources, discounts on future events, and priority support. Estimated budget: INR 8L - INR 10L for community management and event hosting | Launch as a continuous campaign with monthly webinars and quarterly major events. |
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