Discover People Data Lab’s Getting Started page
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.
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
Create in-app content that encourages invites, referrals, and reviews.
People Data Labs increased conversion rates by delivering actionable, use case–driven quick-start tutorials and more directly inside its platform.
Antill reduced onboarding time by more than 77% by adding a self-service customer dashboard with Candu.
People Data Labs doubled conversion rates via a persona-based dashboard built with Candu.
Thought Industries increased in daily active users to its Knowledge Center by promoting TI Academy on a Candu-built dashboard.
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.
Implementing PLG successfully requires a structured framework that addresses every stage of the user journey. Here’s what a robust PLG framework entails:
To measure the success of your PLG strategy, focus on these key metrics:
Using tools like Candu’s analytics, you can track these metrics to refine your approach and maximize growth opportunities.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.