Free Trial vs Money Back Guarantee

[The Niche Man]

In the process of testing. But all things being equal, meaning copy text, product and price, which do you guess would encourage more orders?
Note: Both require credit card payment.

Has anyone else actually tested this? If so what were your results?


90 Day Money Back Guarantee
or
90 Day Free Trial

[aaron_nimocks]

Free trial would work better imo.

Havent test though just personal experience on what I would rather do.

[BacklinkExcellence]

Free (or very cheap) trial > money back guarantee.

The thing is that many people want to get access to the product as quickly as possible for as low as possible. If they go for a trial, they can grab the product (given it is not a physical item that has to be shipped), go through it and cancel at their convenience. With money back guarantee, they have to pay the full price and if they don't like it they have to go through sometimes a painful process to get a refund.

[ARSuarez]

It's not that simple, really.

I usually offer a "XXX Day Risk-Free Trial." But if you want to actually go the soft offer route - giving it free for X days - you must have two things in mind:

1) You will have non-payment

2) If you're not dealing in electronic goods, you will have to have the ability to go temporarily negative and be sure you can quickly recoup that investment from your accounts receivable within the whatever-day period.

That being said, I love soft offers. I encourage my clients to have at least one soft offer in their business to help get people in the door. A newsletter, ala Bottomline Books. Maybe use it as a downsell if people aren't going for the initial offer (try it free for 30 days - don't pay unless you like it r whatever).

You'll have to test it.

You'll make more solid greenbacks by offering a money back guarantee. You'll get more orders with a free trial.

But, which one results in the most $ at the end of the month? That's how you find out.

At the end of the first month, the money back guarantee has made you $8,000. But at the end of 3 months, the risk free trial has made you $29,000. Which one wins?

Something to consider.

Warm regards,

Angel

[Alex Cohen]

In the direct mail space, a 31-day hold (free trial) is by far the biggest response booster.

Joe Karbo used it with great effect for his mail order book, "The Lazy Man's Way to Riches".
The order form said ...

"Send me the Lazy Man's Way to Riches. But don't deposit my check or money order for 31 days after it's in the mail. If I return your material --- for any reason --- within that time, return my uncashed check or money order to me."

I've used the same idea on the Internet. I offered a high-ticket lead generation system and let my clients use it free for the first 30 days. Worked great.

Alex

[chilidawg]

I like the free trial. Money back always makes me nervous that it will be a huge pain to actually accomplish it.

[danielsteven]

I agree with the above...free trials are more appealing, money back guarantees work well but 90% of people would rather not pay an initial investment

[hpgoodboy]

The free trial will get way more orders.

[wrcato2]

I would test a $1.00 half month trial plus a full 90 day money back gaurantee.
Does the 90 day gaurantee make you sweat? if not then make a better gaurantee.

[AdwordsMogul]

I think you might want to try using both - free trial for say 7 - 30 days and then a money back guarantee.

[Mitt Ray]

Free Trial of-course, as there's no need to pay any initial amount.

[davemiz]

free trial by far. you'll get way more customers..... but then you gotta remember you're getting free trial customers.... not players.