SAAS GROWTH TOOLS

Candu for Product-led Growth

Drive 39% YoY growth with product-led strategies. Build and launch no-code growth experiments in minutes—not weeks—inside your product.

how to Candu

Experiment with experiences that drive revenue and reduce churn

Discover People Data Lab’s Getting Started page

Convert sign-ups into customers

Turn your onboarding flow into a customer engine. Create no-code experiments that reduce drop-off.

See how a Product Manager built a no-code, in-app, self-serve onboarding experience that empowers and converts trial users.

Upgrade more accounts

Tease the value of new features that make upgrading a no-brainer.

Product-led growth is a priority for People Data Labs, and Candu is one of the most useful resources in our toolkit. It provides the flexibility we need to personalize our user onboarding experience by delivering relevant content based on each customer’s segment. The ability to quickly iterate has been invaluable for quick learning and experimentation

KATRINA, PRODUCT MANAGER AT PEOPLE DATA LABS

Turn users into advocates

Create in-app content that encourages invites, referrals, and reviews.

increase in
Activation rates
+10%

People Data Labs increased conversion rates by delivering actionable, use case–driven quick-start tutorials and more directly inside its platform.

Built with Candu

What our customers have created

Claudia Pravettoni
Gorgias
Caglar Ekim
Make
Guillaume Aubert
Gorgias
Get Started

Create product growth experiments in minutes

Candu Outcomes

What our customers have achieved

+ 77%

Antill reduced onboarding time by more than 77% by adding a self-service customer dashboard with Candu.

2x

People Data Labs doubled conversion rates via a persona-based dashboard built with Candu. 

+ 101%

Thought Industries increased in daily active users to its Knowledge Center by promoting TI Academy on a Candu-built dashboard.

Turn your ideas into UX today

Get a custom walkthrough of Candu

Request free trial

What Is Product-Led Growth (PLG)?

Product-Led Growth (PLG) is how today's fastest-growing SaaS companies acquire and retain customers through their product experience. While traditional companies spend 80% of revenue on sales and marketing, PLG leaders like Klaviyo achieve $700M+ in revenue by investing in seamless user experiences.

Unlike traditional approaches focused on sales-led growth (SLG), PLG empowers users to experience the value of your product firsthand through self-service trials, freemium models, or interactive product tours. This user-first approach creates a frictionless entry point, enabling prospects to discover your product's potential at their own pace. See how a sales platform Apollo mastered PLG >

At its core, PLG focuses on delivering immediate value to users. It emphasizes creating a seamless user journey with tools like Candu's onboarding checklists and interactive in-app guides. These features eliminate barriers to adoption by guiding users through your product's core functionalities. A strong PLG strategy doesn't just acquire customers; it transforms them into loyal advocates who champion your product's value.

The Product-Led Growth Framework

Implementing PLG successfully requires a structured framework that addresses every stage of the user journey. Here’s what a robust PLG framework entails:

  1. Attraction: Create personalized signup flows like Shopify's multi-persona survey that converts 2x more users.
  2. Onboarding: Design wizard experiences like Airtable's app builder that activates users before they even enter your product.
  3. Engagement: Deploy in-app announcements like Klaviyo's feature education that increased feature adoption by 10%.
  4. Expansion: Guide users to premium features with targeted in-app CTAs and banners.
  5. Advocacy: Convert power users into champions with personalized success stories and referral prompts.

Product-Led Growth Metrics

To measure the success of your PLG strategy, focus on these key metrics:

  1. Activation Rate: How quickly users reach their first value moment.
  2. Engagement Rate: The frequency and depth of user interactions within your product.
  3. Retention Rate: The percentage of users who continue to derive value over time.
  4. Expansion Revenue: Revenue generated from upsells, cross-sells, or higher-tier plan upgrades.
  5. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): A lower CAC is a hallmark of a successful PLG strategy.

Using tools like Candu’s analytics, you can track these metrics to refine your approach and maximize growth opportunities.

What is the difference between PLG and SLG?

PLG (Product-Led Growth) focuses on allowing the product itself to drive user acquisition, conversion, and expansion, often through free trials, freemium models, or product tours. SLG (Sales-Led Growth), on the other hand, relies on a more traditional approach where sales teams interact directly with leads to convert them into customers. While PLG emphasizes user experience and self-discovery, SLG often involves more one-on-one engagement and longer sales cycles. Companies like Slack and Zoom excel at PLG by letting users experience immediate value without heavy sales intervention.

What are some examples of product-led growth? 

Some of the best product-led growth success stories showcase how effective user onboarding drives adoption. Klaviyo, which achieved $700M in revenue with 39% year-over-year growth, uses personalized onboarding surveys to segment users and create tailored product experiences. Shopify masters multi-persona onboarding by configuring its product experience based on user needs, whether they're just starting out or already selling online. Airtable's wizard-based approach helps users create their first app before even entering the product, driving rapid activation through guided setup. Each of these companies places thoughtful user onboarding at the center of their growth strategy, demonstrating how in-product guidance can scale customer success.

Do self-service trials or freemium drive product-led growth?

Yes. Self-service trials and freemium models are foundational to successful PLG strategies. These approaches allow users to explore your product at their own pace, creating a frictionless way for them to see its value. Freemium models provide access to basic features for free, encouraging users to upgrade for advanced functionalities. For instance, Candu's onboarding checklists allow users to quickly realize value in their onboarding flow, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

How does product-led growth reduce customer acquisition costs?

PLG reduces customer acquisition costs by streamlining the onboarding process and eliminating the need for costly sales interactions. Instead of relying on a dedicated sales team, PLG uses tools like dynamic CTAs and interactive guides to lead users through the product. This reduces overhead while creating a scalable acquisition strategy that allows for exponential growth.

What does a product-led growth strategy look like?

A PLG strategy typically starts with creating low-friction entry points, like a free trial or freemium plan. Once users are onboarded, the product provides clear value through guided experiences and tailored recommendations. For example, Candu’s customizable templates enable businesses to deliver seamless onboarding and in-app prompts that guide users to success. A well-executed PLG strategy integrates analytics, personalization, and expansion loops to continuously engage users and encourage upgrades.

How does Candu support PLG strategies?

Candu’s platform enables businesses to implement PLG by focusing on user-centric design and actionable insights. Tools like interactive banners, modals, and analytics help guide users toward their goals while delivering measurable results. By simplifying complex workflows and offering dynamic templates, Candu helps businesses focus on delivering value through their product.

Can Candu improve in-app engagement for PLG?

Absolutely. With features like dynamic onboarding checklists, empty states, and hotspots, Candu makes it easy to engage users directly within your app. These tools ensure that users remain informed, motivated, and encouraged to explore advanced features—key aspects of a successful PLG strategy.

Why is PLG important for SaaS companies?

PLG is especially important for SaaS companies because it aligns with the user-first approach that modern customers expect. By allowing prospects to experience value immediately, PLG reduces churn and shortens the time to conversion. For SaaS platforms, delivering frictionless onboarding and showcasing clear product value is essential for long-term success, which Candu enables through its customizable templates and analytics-driven insights.

Turn your ideas into UX today

Get a custom walkthrough of Candu

Request free trial