Free Trial

Some businesses, like selling health supplements, give a referral fee. But to get one prospect in your network, some people would actually want to know if the particular health product is worth a buyer's buck. In other online businesses, free trials would also be necessary when introducing a product to a rather hesitant, skeptical client. Do you go for free trials when applicable?

Originally Posted by clarise Do you go for free trials when applicable?

Not usually. Not even the free samples in Costco.

That is what some of the companies do to recruit new members, but I also encountered some who gave out free membership all the way. The main thing that is making it hard for me is in marketing the products. So, I tend to shy away from them.

For computer games, I do like to have a trial before buying the game. Free trials and free memberships are just ways to get people join their site. I guess this is not unusual even in the real world marketing. There are companies that will offer free trial in order for people to test the product. For me, I guess its ok.

Originally Posted by encoder For computer games, I do like to have a trial before buying the game.

Before I buy software I always download the trial software first.

Originally Posted by AZBroker Not even the free samples in Costco.

My kids can't pass these in Costco without wanting to stop for a free sample. I feel bad about trying but not buying so I just avoid them.

I think it is a good idea to give out free samples or free trials so people can test your product or service. This gives the consumer a choice of whether they want to buy from you or not.

Originally Posted by clarise Some businesses, like selling health supplements, give a referral fee. But to get one prospect in your network, some people would actually want to know if the particular health product is worth a buyer's buck. In other online businesses, free trials would also be necessary when introducing a product to a rather hesitant, skeptical client. Do you go for free trials when applicable?

I think a free trial is generally a good idea *if* the little bit of product you offer is going to demonstate what the product can do. For instance, like the health supplements mentioned... If they make a patient feel like a new person without any aches and pains "within two weeks," then you don't want to give a free trial because in the 5 or 7 day trial period, there'd likely be no difference and thus, a LOT of lost sales. So I'd say make sure that the sample is truly going to show the benefits.

Effective free trial of services are generally structured so the buyer has to actively opt out of moving to paid membership. Plenty of them are borderline dishonest like the thinkall products which seem really cheap but hide a pricey subscription deal in the very fine print.

Yes I did try the free quart when I was searching for a good liquid nutritional supplement and I'm still taking that product 19 months later. That company has the best customer service I have ever seen. There is no obligation to continue ordering and no penalty for cancelling future orders and all requests for changes to my orders are processed immediately.

Of course since it is an MLM company, I became a distributor to earn the money to pay for my own product and was able to do that and much more right away because the free quart made it easy for people to try and the product results were so desirable they continued ordering like I did.

So I would say that my experience with a free trial has been superb!

Karen