Free Trials To good to be true
 

Has anyone noticed that your "trial" signups go down after switching to free trials. I know it sounds crazy but people are a little hardened when it comes to "FREE" stuff on the net. Like the saying goes if it sounds to good to be true it usually is...

We went from $3.95 to FREE and the signup ratio is less could be something else but wondered what everyone else is experiencing.

Wethoney

You mean number of people going from free trial - recur is less or number of free signups is less? The first case is usually true since surfers want free stuff. As for the second, my stats speak otherwise...

WG

I think she means the trials themselves. I agree with WiredGuy, I also have more free trial signups than paid trial signups. Of course, free trial is more likely to cancel than recur, but paid doesn't necessarily mean conversions are awesome, I discovered that with 2 big companies, so it's just a question of traffic, promotion and luck.

is anything in life really free including freedom?

Think it depends on the site. If the site/tour is good or quite niche then the surfer has a perceived value and thinks something is up if the site is dishing out free trials.

If the site/tour is average then the surfer will maybe take a chance and signup but they are more liable to cancel afterward.

So what is the census out there concerning the actual money being made Free->Convert in comparison to Pay->Convert


You get more free signups but less convert so you are paying for more "free" bandwidth. Is it worth it compared to "Pay" signups with less converts?

Wethoney

isn't free based on hoping the surfer forgets how to concel within three days?

Another ? is should the surfer have the option of signing up for the "FULL PRICE" in the "dropdown" box of membership types to signup for or ONLY the FREE one?

Well our site is definately Niche so maybe that is the problem.

Trials suck. My trial is $24.99 for the first month, $19.99 thereafter. In a way, trials devalue the site in the surfers mind. If I see a site that has free trials or $3.99 or something, I assume the content is no good.

Doesn't meant it is - just what I am thinking.

And I would say I would always think a free trial is a scam, or something I wouldn't want anyway. Why would I want a free trial? Isn't there plenty of free content in a tour and gallery pages, so why do I need to give a cc or email address.

I think in many "Joe surfer's" minds - the world of i-porn has divided into 2 camps. Free stuff, which usually sucks, and premium content, which is expensive.

I give every surfer a "free trial" in a away with some free gallery pages at the site. If they like that content, they'll buy, and I don't need a business model based on hoping people forget to cancel.

Excellant point. I'm entitled to agree with you and how I buy stuff on the net. Anyone else have the same opinion?