4 Customer Education Examples To Help You Improve Your SaaS Growth 

Customer Education

Examples

If you've ever found yourself wondering how some businesses seem to effortlessly keep their customers hooked, happy, and coming back for more, you're about to uncover some of their secrets. It's nothing more than the power of an effective customer education strategy. 

Seeing how other companies teach their customers to use their products can be a game changer for your business. It’s like learning from the best so you can make your SaaS product just as easy and fun for your own customers. This cheat sheet is all about that. We’ll look at four companies that are awesome at teaching their customers, and then we’ll show you how you can do the same for your business. So, let's get started right away! 
  • Importance of Customer Education in SaaS Growth
  • Customer Education Example 1 - Appen
  • Customer Education Example 2 - Shopify
  • Customer Education Example 3 - Mitsubishi
  • Customer Education Example 4 - Asana

Importance of Customer Education in SaaS Growth

Keeping your customers happy and engaged has become an important aspect of every company’s growth and success. But how do you make sure that your customers are fully using your products and enjoying them? The answer lies in customer education. It's all about teaching your customers how to get the most out of your product so they can achieve their goals faster and more efficiently.

Imagine your customers signing up for a new software that promises to organize their work life. They are excited to get started, but once they log in, what greets them is a bunch of features, and to their dismay, they have no clue how to use them. That's where customer education comes in. If that software had a simple tutorial or a few quick videos showing them around, they’d feel more confident and likely to use it daily. 

That's the difference effective customer education can make: turning confusion into clarity and users into loyal customers. Let's take a detailed look at some examples of customer education.

Customer Education Example 1 - Appen 

Appen specializes in providing high-quality data for machine learning and artificial intelligence projects. They know that AI can sound super complex and intimidating, so they’ve put a lot of effort into making it more understandable and accessible to their users.

Appen’s Customer Education Strategy 

  1. Educational Blog: Appen’s blog is full of articles that break down AI and machine learning concepts into easy-to-understand pieces. Whether someone is curious about how AI works or needs tips on managing data for an AI project, their blog has everything covered.
  2. Webinars and Tutorials: Appen regularly hosts webinars and creates tutorials aimed at educating users on the best practices for data annotation and collection. These sessions are great for both beginners and experts looking to sharpen their skills.
  3. Guides and Whitepapers: For those who like to dive deep, Appen offers detailed guides and whitepapers. These resources provide comprehensive insights into various aspects of AI projects, from starting your first project to ensuring high-quality data collection.
  4. Platform Tools: Appen provides tools on its platform that are designed to be user-friendly, helping users manage their data collection and annotation projects with ease. These tools come with instructions and tips to get the best results.
  5. User Forums: Appen encourages users to share their experiences and tips in forums. This community support helps users learn from each other and solve common challenges together.

Impact on Users and Business Growth 

By providing a mix of educational content, hands-on tools, and community support, Appen is empowering users to confidently tackle their AI and data projects. This education-first approach not only helps users succeed but also builds trust in Appen as a partner in AI innovation. 

As Appen makes AI less intimidating and more accessible, it encourages more businesses and individuals to explore the potential of AI, driving growth and innovation in the field. It has actually:
  • improved its customer onboarding process by reducing it by 50% 
  • and saved about $240,000 in training and support costs

Customer Education Example 2 - Shopify

We all are aware of Shopify and how it makes it super easy for anyone to start selling online. But they don’t just stop at providing a platform; they go all out to make sure their merchants really succeed.

Shopify’s Customer Education Strategy 

Shopify continues to put its effort into customer training and education, which is why they are massively popular among the public. Here is what they do to train customers: 
  1. Shopify Academy: This is like an online school where merchants can learn everything about running an online store. It has courses on how to get your shop set up, how to attract customers, and even how to make your store look good.
  2. Blogs and Guides: Shopify’s blog is packed with tips on selling online, from how to take great product photos to how to use social media to get people to your store. Their guides are super detailed and cover big topics, like email marketing and SEO, in a way that’s easy to understand.
  3. Free Tools: Shopify offers a bunch of free tools that can help merchants. There’s a logo maker, a business name generator, and even a profit margin calculator. These tools are great because they help customers with the tricky parts of running a business without costing a penny.
  4. Forums: The Shopify Community forums are where merchants can talk to each other, share experiences, and ask for advice. It’s a great place to learn from people who are doing the same thing as you.

Impact on Users and Business Growth

Shopify’s approach to customer education has impacted both customers and the business itself because it’s comprehensive and accessible. They offer a mix of learning options to suit different styles, from reading and watching videos to interactive forums and real-life events. This means that every Shopify merchant, no matter where they are or what they’re selling, has the tools and knowledge available to help them succeed.

The big win for Shopify is that when their merchants do well, Shopify does well, too. Happy, successful merchants mean more people using Shopify and recommending it to others. It’s a smart way to grow their business by making sure their users grow theirs.

Customer Education Example 3  - Mitsubishi 

Mitsubishi, known for its cars, takes a unique approach to educating its customers, ensuring they feel confident and satisfied with their vehicle purchases. 

Mitsubishi’s Customer Education Strategy 

Mitsubishi actually focuses on making sure car owners know how to use all the features of their car and maintain it properly.
  1. Owner’s Manuals: Every Mitsubishi car comes with a detailed manual. This book is a proper map, guiding the owner through all the car’s features, from how to adjust the seats to using the navigation system. It’s designed to be easy to understand, so the user can get the most out of his or her car.
  2. Maintenance Guides: Besides the owner’s manual, Mitsubishi provides maintenance guides. These guides are super helpful because they tell the user how to keep the car running smoothly, like when to change the oil or check the brakes.
  3. Video Tutorials: Mitsubishi offers video guides on their website and YouTube channel. These videos show you how to use different features of the car in simple steps.
  4. FAQs and Support: Their website has a section for frequently asked questions (FAQs), where you can find quick answers to common issues. Plus, if you have a specific question, you can always reach out to their customer support for help.
  5. Forums and Clubs: There are many Mitsubishi car clubs and online forums where owners share tips, advice, and their love for Mitsubishi. These communities are great for learning from other owners' experiences and getting support.

Impact on Users and Business Growth

Mitsubishi understands that buying a car is a big deal, and they want to make sure their users feel good about their purchase. By providing detailed guides, helpful videos, and a supportive community, they help customers know their car inside and out. This not only makes driving more enjoyable but also builds trust and loyalty towards the Mitsubishi brand.

Mitsubishi’s commitment to customer education ensures that car owners are not just satisfied with their vehicles but also feel part of a larger community. This approach is what increases long-term relationships and encourages customers to choose Mitsubishi again in the future. This is why Mitsubishi has a 99% customer satisfaction rate! (Shocking, isn't it?)
product-led-growth-community-led-growth-community-platform

Customer Education Example 4 - Asana

Asana is a widely-used platform that helps teams collaborate and manage projects efficiently.

Asana’s Customer Education Strategy 

Recognizing the diversity in their user base, from beginners to advanced project managers, Asana has developed a multifaceted education approach to ensure all users can maximize the tool’s potential:

1. Asana Academy : This is Asana’s flagship educational platform. It's designed like a collection of online courses covering a wide range of topics. The courses are structured to guide users through every feature of Asana, offering both foundational knowledge and advanced tips.
  • Beginner Courses: For new users, there are introductory courses that explain the basics of setting up a project, creating tasks, and assigning work.
  • Advanced Courses: For those already familiar with the basics, advanced modules delve into sophisticated project management techniques, custom templates, and automation features.

2. Interactive Webinars and Workshops:
Asana also hosts regular webinars and workshops that serve as interactive learning sessions. These are live, allowing users to ask questions and get immediate feedback. The topics vary from general introductions to Asana to talks on specific features or best practices for project management.

3. Resource Library: Beyond structured courses and live sessions, Asana provides a vast library of resources. This includes:
  • Guides: Written articles and tutorials that users can reference at any point to learn something new or solve a specific problem.
  • Videos: Short, instructional videos that demonstrate how to use Asana’s features. These are particularly useful for visual learners who benefit from seeing the platform in action.
  • Community Forum: A space where users can share experiences, offer advice, and ask questions. It’s a place for learning from peers, which can sometimes offer the most relatable and practical insights.

Impact on Users and Business Growth

Asana’s comprehensive approach to customer education has really helped users feel supported at every stage of their journey. This has a direct impact on Asana's business growth. Educated users are more likely to:
  • Engage more deeply with the software, utilizing a broader range of features.
  • Become long-term customers, as they achieve success in their projects thanks to the platform.
  • Recommend Asana to others, acting as brand ambassadors based on their positive experiences.
By investing in customer education, Asana not only enhances user satisfaction but also drives adoption and growth. This strategy demonstrates a clear understanding that the success of their users directly contributes to the success of the company.

What Steps You Should Take Right Now

These examples clearly demonstrate that a proper customer education strategy is key to unlocking the full potential of your business. With the right approach, you can empower your customers, drive engagement, and ultimately fuel growth. 

At MeltingSpot, we specialize in guiding businesses on their customer education journey. Our platform offers a comprehensive solution to streamline your educational resources, enhance user engagement, and drive long-term success. Let us help you take your customer education efforts to the next level. Just book a meeting and see for yourself how easy it is to boost your customer education efforts! 

Fix your hottest CS challenges with top notch Customer Education

In-product

multimodal

self-srvice

Analytics