The Mistakes Teams Keep Making with Niche Scoring for B2B SaaS
Five mistakes that show up across most B2B scoring sessions.
Mistake 1: Scoring at the Industry Level
"SaaS" or "healthcare" is not an ICP. Score at the role plus segment level: VP of RevOps at 50-200 person SaaS.
Mistake 2: Confusing TAM With Reachability
Big TAM does not mean you can reach them this quarter. Score by warm channels available now.
Mistake 3: No Decision Speed Score
Two niches can score equal on pain and spend. The one with 90-day cycles will starve you. Score decision speed explicitly.
Mistake 4: Founder Halo on Builder-Fit
The founder used to work in fintech, so fintech wins builder-fit. That is interest, not access. Score by current network.
Mistake 5: Stopping at the Score
Score is the start, not the answer. Ten interviews validate or kill the top pick.