How MapTiler doubled the number of Countries they Sell To By Using Strategic Partnerships
Between 2015 and 2020, MapTiler doubled the number of nations in which it is a customer. It is a Swiss-based SaaS company now helps governments, enterprises, and SMBs in over 120 nations through providing Map APIs for websites and mobile developers.
I had a chat with Tom Armitage, MapTiler's Senior Technical Writer about the ways MapTiler uses strategic partnerships to increase its customer base across the globe.
1. Use Affiliates As Local Sales Partners
MapTiler maintains documentation for developers in English -- and as the primary business language throughout the globe, it works very well for the majority of its customers.
"But there are some regions of the globe that would like to conduct business in a completely different way," Tom explained. "Maybe the documentation available to developers is fantastic but they'd rather be guided by a salesperson that speaks their local language."
This is when Tom's team seeks out affiliates who can serve as local MapTiler specialists. In understanding a specific region's native cultural and language, these strategic partners can provide a single point of contact for sales and marketing support.
MapTiler has seen an increase in revenue that is significant for countries with active affiliate partnership. For instance after they enrolled the services of an affiliate in Japan the sales of their business within Japan have increased by more than 300%..
S and boost revenue in new market.
2. Find Partners at Global Events and social media
MapTiler is committed to participating in developer-focused or other conferences that promote brand awareness. "We have a very engaged team of employees who is out and about making connections constantly: talking to people and telling them about how our wonderful cartography can improve their products."
However, the team uses live events to locate partners and establish strategic alliances with companies of other kinds.
Conferences and other industry events can be beneficial when you need to broaden your horizons and find out who's keen to collaborate. If you're seeking something particular, social media can also help.
"If we are aware of a country that requires this kind of service, we take an eye on who may be able to offer that services to us. Sometimes they just come to us through our website however, we also share on social media channels that we're in search of affiliations with firms."
MapTiler maintains its own partner page on its website for interested parties and is always on the lookout for partners who are willing to join.
3. Check to ensure that the Pricing and Checkout Are Localized
In the event that you're working with affiliates to increase sales in a local location, be sure the customers are able to easily checkout using their preferred language, currencies, and payment methods. It will make your partner their work much easier.
Based on our internal studies We found that the display of local currencies as well as payment methods can increase local conversions up to 50 percentage.
4. Choose Your Top Users
"Every time we have a devoted user that really likes our work. They truly appreciate us and they get them," Tom explained.
This is particularly useful in cases where the user who is championed is an influential person in their industry. "That is a great way to promote your brand without an arrangement for a paid partnership."
MapTiler's team supports these advocates by ensuring they're well-supported on the product. But they also make sure that sharing and promoting is a mutually beneficial process.
"If they're bloggers or similar, then we'll obviously be sharing and helping them spread the word about the work they're involved in and also."
5. Make It Really Easy for Users to Start
One of the main reasons for MapTiler's success lies in how easy to use this platform has become. Tom's team has spent a lot of energy creating support materials that make it easy for a new company to get started as well asfor current users to come up with ways to make use of the platform in new ways.
"You visit our site and you'll discover a wealth of information about how to build, integrate, and use the maps in your own service: tons and loads of code snippets and code samples.
Using a product-led growth (PLG) model that is based on a product-led growth (PLG) model, there are no-cost levels for all three of MapTiler's subscription services that are designed to offer "quick results" for those who are new to the platform.
Once you've signed up with MapTiler Cloud "there's a code sample that you can just drag and drop directly into whatever it is that you're working on so that you can very quickly, very simply begin."
If you're thinking of adding maps to your website or applications, you may avail a trial for free.