"fake" members sections for trial users - crappy
 

Occasionally I signup for a site because I want to checkout the members section before promoting, or once in blue moon I do it purely as a "surfer" because I find the content exceptional.

Anyway, the last two sites that I signed up for have had these "fake" members sections for trial users ... they offer very little content, are often buggy (don't ask me a why, just an observation) and the last thing they make me want to do is signup for a FULL membership after I've been "ripped off" already by the site.

Do these things really increase retention / trial-to-full conversions? All I can see it doing is pissing off surfers who have already proven that they have a credit card and are willing to use it... :disgust

Thoughts?

-P

a discussion is worthless with names and specific examples.

:thumbsup

Try 60 percent conversion.

Why the hell do you think ppl do it?

I no longer promote sites with trials, just straight to full membership, trials suck for the program, and the affiliate. The only person who gains is the surfer

trials suck ass I think. I don't want $3 for a sale if they signup for 2-3 days.
But ya alot of members sections suck ass

I would imagine that with the advent of multiple downloading software (net transport for example) a surfer could buy a trial, download as much of the site in the trial period as possbile, and then walk away with a months worth of strokage material without that "nasty" 24.95 billing...

I'd had a lot of success with the one program I promote that does this. I agree that some surfers probably feel ripped off and leave, but the ones who really want the good often convert right away. Trial to full membership ratio went way up for me when the program switched to this method.

Why? You can't discuss a strategy without giving example? Find some on your own.

Yes, depending on the way in which the content is delivered, this is definitely a possibility and part of the reason for these "fake trial" members sections I suppose. BUT, I still think that a super high quality members section with the promised content is more beneficial to everyone in the long run.

-P

True, but if the surfer was that smart then he probablly has other means to find porn rather then paying for it. Like passwords, spoofing or whatever. :2 cents:

it's bullshit

I think it's a good idea. I personally just raised my prices early last year and saw conversion get better. Raised my 3 day trial to 9.99 monthly to 34.99. Now I'm honestly thinking of raising the 3 day trial to 13.99, and I'm going to start a tour without tours at all. Even though I'm sure I'd have to lower my trial prices way down for it to work I would love to try this method too, as I'm sure conversions rock. I just don't have the time right now to build or maintain a mini trial area right now.

True enough. Unless your webhost has something in place to prevent it, that is exactly what people do. I guess the key's to have software in place to stop it, and more than enough content, video, and so forth to take longer than your trial period.

However, I think trial's are crap for webmasters, good for surfers. Unless you have a kick ass tour teaser. People are more willing to shell out $2 for a site that $20.

:pimp

yeah, i'd offer a trial members area with the full extent of the content there, but only a limited amount accessable.
such as 50mb an hour or something, cap it by data usage, by time, or just dont have all the links working...

It surely helps pull trials to full memberships.

:upsidedow

Learn to use sponsors that PPS on trials and market the site as $2.95 membership