Powered By

Ever wonder how some companies get their name out there without spending a fortune on advertising? Enter the "powered by" tactic, a clever marketing strategy that turns your users into unwitting brand ambassadors. This approach involves adding a small tag or link to your product or service, which is then displayed when users engage with it.

The beauty of the "powered by" tactic lies in its simplicity and effectiveness. Instead of relying solely on traditional marketing methods, it leverages your existing user base to spread the word. Every time someone interacts with your product, they're potentially exposing your brand to a new audience, creating a ripple effect of awareness.

This strategy isn't just about increasing visibility; it's also a powerful tool for building credibility. When people see that a product or service they trust is "powered by" your company, it lends instant legitimacy to your brand. It's like getting a silent endorsement from every user, which can be far more persuasive than any paid advertisement.

For businesses looking to grow their reach without breaking the bank, the "powered by" tactic is a game-changer. It's particularly effective for software companies, website builders, and other digital services where the product can easily incorporate a subtle brand mention. By harnessing the power of your users' networks, you can achieve exponential growth with minimal effort and cost.

Why this works

The "powered by" tactic works so effectively because it leverages several powerful psychological and marketing principles:

1. Social proof. When people see a product or service is "powered by" a certain company, it implies that others trust and use this solution. This builds credibility and reduces perceived risk for potential new users.

2. Organic reach. Every user becomes a potential touchpoint for your brand, exponentially increasing your visibility without additional marketing spend.

3. Contextual relevance. Your brand appears in a natural, non-intrusive context where users are already engaged with a product or service they value.

4. Implied endorsement. The "powered by" tag acts as a subtle recommendation from the user to their network, carrying more weight than traditional advertising.

5. Curiosity trigger. People naturally wonder what's behind the scenes of products they enjoy, prompting them to investigate your brand further.

To implement this tactic effectively:

• Keep it subtle. Your "powered by" tag should be noticeable but not distracting from the main content or functionality.

• Offer value. Ensure your product genuinely enhances the user experience to maintain a positive association with your brand.

• Target strategically. Focus on partnering with or powering products that align with your target market.

• Measure impact. Track click-through rates and conversions from your "powered by" links to optimize placement and messaging.

• Provide easy integration. Make it simple for other businesses to implement your "powered by" tag, reducing friction for potential partnerships.

Real-world applications:

• SaaS company. A project management tool adds a subtle "Powered by TaskMaster" tag to shared project dashboards, exposing their brand to clients and collaborators of their existing users.

• Email marketing platform. An email service provider includes a small "Sent with LovelyMail" link at the bottom of emails sent through their platform, reaching potential customers directly in their inboxes.

• Website builder. A site creation tool adds a "Made with EasyWeb" badge to free-tier websites, showcasing their capabilities to visitors and driving organic growth.

• Payment processor. A fintech startup includes a "Payments secured by SafePay" note on checkout pages, building trust with shoppers and attracting new merchant accounts.

By implementing the "powered by" tactic thoughtfully, businesses can turn their existing user base into a powerful, cost-effective marketing channel, driving sustainable growth and brand awareness.

How you can steal this

Here's how you can implement the "powered by" tactic for your internet business:

1. Identify your product's touchpoints. Look for areas where your product or service interacts with end-users or is visible to a wider audience. For example:

• SaaS company. The dashboard, reports, or shared project views.
• Email marketing platform. The footer of sent emails or newsletter templates.
• Website builder. The footer or a small corner badge on created websites.
• Digital product marketplace. The download page or within the product itself.

2. Design an unobtrusive badge or link. Create a small, visually appealing "powered by" element that includes your brand name and optionally a logo. Keep it subtle to avoid detracting from the main content. For example:

• "Powered by YourBrand"
• "Made with ❤️ using YourProduct"
• A small logo with your company name

3. Add value for your users. Consider how your "powered by" element can benefit your users:

• SaaS company. Include a link to helpful resources or templates.
• Email marketing platform. Offer a free trial or template to recipients.
• Website builder. Provide a discount code for new sign-ups.

4. Implement strategically. Place your "powered by" element where it's visible but not disruptive:

• SaaS company. In the corner of shared reports or dashboards.
• Email marketing platform. At the bottom of sent emails, after the main content.
• Website builder. In the footer or as a small, dismissible corner badge.
• Digital product marketplace. On the thank you or download page.

5. Make it easy to implement. If your product allows for third-party integrations or white-labeling:

• Provide clear documentation on how to add your "powered by" element.
• Create plug-and-play code snippets or API endpoints for easy integration.
• Offer incentives (e.g., discounts, extra features) for partners who include your branding.

6. Track and optimize. Use analytics to measure the impact of your "powered by" tactic:

• Set up UTM parameters to track clicks and sign-ups from your branded links.
• A/B test different designs, placements, and copy to maximize effectiveness.
• Monitor user feedback to ensure the branding doesn't negatively impact experience.

7. Scale through partnerships. Expand your reach by partnering with complementary businesses:

• SaaS company. Offer your product as the backend for other software solutions.
• Email marketing platform. Partner with CRMs or e-commerce platforms to power their email functionality.
• Website builder. Collaborate with hosting companies or domain registrars.

8. Leverage social proof. As your user base grows, update your "powered by" messaging to include impressive stats:

• "Powering 1M+ websites"
• "Trusted by 500,000 businesses"

9. Create a tiered system. Offer different levels of branding based on user plans:

• Free tier: Prominent "powered by" branding
• Paid tiers: Option to remove or customize branding
• Enterprise: White-label solutions with optional "powered by" inclusion

Remember, the key to success with the "powered by" tactic is to strike a balance between visibility and user experience. Your branding should feel like a natural, valuable addition rather than an intrusive advertisement. By implementing this strategy thoughtfully, you can turn every user interaction into a potential marketing opportunity, driving organic growth for your internet business.

Examples of powered by

Here are some detailed examples of how different types of internet businesses can effectively implement the "powered by" tactic:

• Website builder. Wix includes a small "Made with Wix" badge in the corner of free websites created using their platform. This badge is easily removable for paid users, incentivizing upgrades while still leveraging free users for brand exposure. The badge links to a Wix landing page highlighting key features and offering a special discount for new sign-ups.

• Email marketing platform. Mailchimp adds a subtle "Powered by Mailchimp" link at the bottom of emails sent through their service. This link directs recipients to a tailored landing page showcasing Mailchimp's features and offering a free trial. The company reports that this tactic accounts for 30% of their new user acquisitions.

• Project management software. Asana includes a small "Powered by Asana" tag on shared project views and reports. When clicked, it opens a modal explaining how Asana enhances team productivity, complete with a one-click option to start a free trial pre-populated with the viewer's company information.

• Digital product marketplace. Gumroad adds a "Sold via Gumroad" badge to download pages and receipts for products sold through their platform. This badge links to a page highlighting Gumroad's benefits for creators, featuring success stories and a prominent "Start Selling" call-to-action.

• Form builder. Typeform includes a "Create a form like this with Typeform" link at the end of surveys created on their platform. This link leads to a template gallery, allowing viewers to immediately start customizing a similar form for their own needs.

• Scheduling tool. Calendly adds a small "Scheduling by Calendly" note on booking confirmation pages. When clicked, it opens a side panel showcasing Calendly's features and offering a 14-day pro trial, capitalizing on the positive moment of a successful booking.

• Invoice generator. Wave includes a "Created with Wave" watermark on free invoices. This watermark links to a comparison page highlighting the benefits of Wave's paid plans, effectively using the free product as a lead generation tool for premium services.

• Design software. Canva places a small "Made with Canva" badge on images created using their free plan. This badge links to a gallery of Canva templates related to the style of the viewed image, encouraging immediate engagement from interested viewers.

• Customer support platform. Intercom includes a small "We run on Intercom" badge in the corner of chat widgets. Clicking this badge opens a pop-up showcasing Intercom's features and offering a personalized demo, turning every customer interaction into a potential sales opportunity.

• Website analytics tool. Hotjar includes a "Feedback & Analytics by Hotjar" tag on feedback widgets embedded on client websites. This tag links to a landing page demonstrating how Hotjar's heatmaps and user recordings can improve website performance, complete with industry-specific case studies.

By implementing these "powered by" strategies, these internet businesses effectively turn their existing user base into a powerful, organic marketing channel, driving brand awareness and new user acquisition with minimal additional cost.