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My Software Is Finished... Need Advice

by dreck
12 replies
Hey Warriors!

I just finished my first software product and I am almost ready to launch, but before I do that, I need a little advice on my sales funnel.

The main reason for me making this thread is because I am unsure if I should down sell trial versions.

I have 2 versions of my software and trials for both of them...
1.) Main software
2.) Trial to main software
3.) Upgraded software
4.) Trial to upgraded software

My funnel will basically work like this...

===============================
---> Main Software ---> Upgraded Software
---------------|------------------------------|
---------------|------------------------------|
---------------V----------------------------V
--------Trial to Main------------Trial to Upgraded
===============================

I have little experience with funnels and don't think I have seen anybody try to down sell
2 trials.

Let me know what you think.
#advice #finished #software
  • Profile picture of the author arindamb
    Trial offers in the form of downsells should work well. Conversion rates might go up.
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  • Profile picture of the author profitableblog
    downsells might be more or less effective based on the software segment and the price. The more risk, the greater effect the downsells might have. Additionally, the better the software experience, the better effectiveness the downsell will have because buggy, terrible software won't convert but great software with easy user experience will convert like crazy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fat Wolf
    down sell the trial versions will bring you more Potential customers
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Why don't you make it an SAAS? Juicy recurring income
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  • Profile picture of the author C G
    The funnel looks ok to me.

    But as usual, you will never know until you test it out.

    Cheers,

    C.G.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      The funnel doesn't make sense to me.

      Why are you down selling a trial version. Your main goal when it comes to software is to get it in their hands which is why a trial version is used.

      I wouldn't be charging for the trial version either but that is something you can test. Again, a trial version is suppose to sell the program.
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      • Profile picture of the author dreck
        Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

        The funnel doesn't make sense to me.

        Why are you down selling a trial version. Your main goal when it comes to software is to get it in their hands which is why a trial version is used.

        I wouldn't be charging for the trial version either but that is something you can test. Again, a trial version is suppose to sell the program.
        Thank you for this helpful information. I think I know what to do know.

        The main reason I did this is because users can't upgrade to the backend product unless they paid the full amount for the frontend product. So, if they have the trial for the frontend, they cant upgrade.

        But if they buy the frontend product, then they can upgrade if they want. If not, then they can try the upgrade.

        That was my thinking for everything.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I agree with Thomas. Software basically sell themselves. Once you
    get the trial version in the prospect hands then the software should
    sell itself by its usefulness in solving the user's problems. I think you
    are over-complicating things. "Funnels" seems to the catchword
    these days but you don't have to get that fancy to sell software.

    -Ray Edwards
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  • Profile picture of the author AlexSchneider
    Depends on the price point of the software and what you want to achieve.

    I would use the trials for PPC traffic and the full price version for a regular launch without trial downsells.

    I like to have both options on my sales page and usually I would make the advanced software so compelling (if it is an added-value extension of the main software) that the visitor must buy this version.

    As an upsell you should consider having a training on how to use the software to make money.

    This should do very well.

    But as "C G" has written above: you need to test it out because no one will know for sure.

    You could also check out sales pages/funnels of competing software products and see how well they sold.

    Take care
    Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author Marx Vergel Melencio
    Dreck,

    What I'd do is promote the trial version as a free, fully functional 30-day opt-in offer with limited support in exchange for the user's email. Then, I'd charge an inexpensive one-time price for the main version with standard support and free updates; and

    After 15 days or so of downloading the trial version and after 45 days or so of buying the main version, I'd contact them trial version users and them main version users to offer the free, fully functional 3-month trial upgrade with standard support as an exclusive promo (only for trial version users and main version users), with them main version users having the option to revert back to the main version any time or when the trial upgrade expires. Then:

    I'd then offer the full upgrade at an inexpensive annual price, including free updates, free upgrades and exclusive premium support...
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  • Profile picture of the author high_plains_drifter
    Never heard of any company selling a trial version??

    Trial versions are usually free, it's a way of getting potential customers to try the software and hopefully convert them

    Definitely agree with the SaaS points brought up
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    • Profile picture of the author dreck
      Originally Posted by high_plains_drifter View Post

      Never heard of any company selling a trial version??

      Trial versions are usually free, it's a way of getting potential customers to try the software and hopefully convert them

      Definitely agree with the SaaS points brought up
      Maybe I shouldn't have used the word trial? It is not a subscription product.

      It is a product users can download on their computer. When I said trial, I meant that they can try the full version for 30 days only. Then they have to purchase it.
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