It seems software is truly a commodity these days.  Just at the point you think you've thought of the killer app, a simple Google search reveals that there are just over 14 billion competitors out there doing the same things you are.  Oh and they've been in market longer, have more money, and probably look better in a tux.  What to do?  Here are some ideas, but I'd like more:

 1.  Create an opinion-driven web presence - Too often, legal and brand restrictions take the most innovative idea and dumb it down to the point that it looks, surprisingly, like all the rest.  But is it so bad to take a stance in web marketing?  What if your site has a personality and some attitude?  What if you tell everyone you hate cats and cat-lovers are NOT allowed to use your software no matter what.  Would that work?  Would you look foolish?  Does looking foolish in the Saas community = blog references and digg spots?  That might be worthwhile.

2.  Do free trials work? Everyone wants the software to sell itself during a trial.  But what if you charged for people to get access to your trial (a one time fee, call it $12), but then offered every trialist their own shirt.  "My father tried XYZ software and all I got was this lousy shirt."  What about a free iTunes card for twice the amount of the trial cost (If they actually login to the software and complete a survey at the end).  Maybe it's stupid, but people like shirts and music, and if they paid for access to the trial they might be more invested in truly trying to let your software sell itself.  Plus if you offer $20 in iTunes value for $10 in trial signup fees, it really only cost you $10 to get a trialist.  Does that work with your current model?  Will the viral impact actually help?

3.  Direct Mail - Everyone wants to advertise online (PPC, Email).  But if it costs you $20 to get a trialist to your software, and you could direct mail a call-to-action with a pen or that iTunes card we talked about earlier (with an activation code online when they complete their trial), could you stand out?

 Just some ramblings late one Tuesday night.