30 Day Trial Period

Kinley · 10-04-2008, 02:42 AM

Hi all,

I'm looking for an idea on how to do something, I selling a php script that runs on the web server and help merchants with something. Now I think that giving a 30 day trial will be great, letting the user experience with the script etc... the problem is, the script is a script (a.k.a, you can see the PHP source code).

1. What do you think about giving a 30 day trial? Can it increase the conversion rate?
2. Any method to overcome the obstacle I just stated?

Thanks!

Stanley Tang · 10-04-2008, 02:53 AM

Perhaps you can try encrypting the script so people can't see it...

Dan Grossman · 10-04-2008, 02:56 AM

Encryption puts up a huge barrier to adoption by people that want to buy your product. It also almost always leads to an increase in customer support load for you, and if you give this away for any period of time, that means many more people asking for help getting IonCube or Zend or whatever decoder needed running on their infinitely variable hosting configurations.

My recommendation would be to presell as best you can so that you don't have to give a trial to make the sale. Use screenshots, testimonials, and video screencasts to show exactly what your product does without the user getting a copy until they pay for it.

Kinley · 10-04-2008, 03:18 AM

Hi, thanks guys!

I just thought about moving the operational side of my script to my website (service) and the logic will still be preseent at the buyer/tester's website. this way I can control each script!

Do you think it will work? Do you see any problem with this method?
Putting videos is a good idea, and a demo too. But I still think giving a 30 day trial would double the number of payments I recieve. Is it far fetched?

btw, I don't know if it's possible to encrypt a PHP script, you can obfuscate it but not encrypt it...

Thanks!

Sirius Lin · 10-04-2008, 03:22 AM

Kinley, I think a demo (working script on your site) is a great idea, but I'm not sure if a 30-days trial makes sense. I mean, if they wanted the trial, it means they want to use it on their OWN hosting accounts rather than yours, right?

~ Sirius

Kinley · 10-04-2008, 03:59 AM

Lin,

I meant that the script will be on the buyer's website but for instance, all the mailing processing will be done through my website. I can use this with strong obfuscation of the PHP script itself.

The thing is, I want to know whether it will surely increase purchases?
Did anyone studied trial periods?

Darrell Hagan · 10-04-2008, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius Lin

Kinley, I think a demo (working script on your site) is a great idea, but I'm not sure if a 30-days trial makes sense. I mean, if they wanted the trial, it means they want to use it on their OWN hosting accounts rather than yours, right?

~ Sirius

Agreed.

Working demos are pretty much standard practice for these if you want to increase sales. Its a try-before-you-buy method that works well.

Chris Lockwood · 04-10-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amrel

Giving a trial period is essential for sales on unknown product of unknown producer / author.

Wow, I guess it is a total fluke that I've been able to make a living the past 7 years.

When did this rule take effect?

David-JP · 04-10-2009, 01:28 AM

Can you put in some sort of callback to your server, that is required to keep the script functional?

David

10-04-2008, 02:42 AM	#1
Kinley Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	30 Day Trial Period Hi all, I'm looking for an idea on how to do something, I selling a php script that runs on the web server and help merchants with something. Now I think that giving a 30 day trial will be great, letting the user experience with the script etc... the problem is, the script is a script (a.k.a, you can see the PHP source code). 1. What do you think about giving a 30 day trial? Can it increase the conversion rate? 2. Any method to overcome the obstacle I just stated? Thanks!

10-04-2008, 02:53 AM	#2
Stanley Tang StanleyTang.com War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,193 Thanks: 14 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts Social Networking	Re: 30 Day Trial Period Perhaps you can try encrypting the script so people can't see it...
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10-04-2008, 02:56 AM	#3
Dan Grossman Happily Self-Employed War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 797 Thanks: 16 Thanked 345 Times in 53 Posts Social Networking	Re: 30 Day Trial Period Encryption puts up a huge barrier to adoption by people that want to buy your product. It also almost always leads to an increase in customer support load for you, and if you give this away for any period of time, that means many more people asking for help getting IonCube or Zend or whatever decoder needed running on their infinitely variable hosting configurations. My recommendation would be to presell as best you can so that you don't have to give a trial to make the sale. Use screenshots, testimonials, and video screencasts to show exactly what your product does without the user getting a copy until they pay for it.
	I'm Dan Grossman. I run Awio Web Services LLC. >> Know which 20% of your advertising generates 80% of your sales <<

10-04-2008, 03:18 AM	#4
Kinley Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 30 Day Trial Period Hi, thanks guys! I just thought about moving the operational side of my script to my website (service) and the logic will still be preseent at the buyer/tester's website. this way I can control each script! Do you think it will work? Do you see any problem with this method? Putting videos is a good idea, and a demo too. But I still think giving a 30 day trial would double the number of payments I recieve. Is it far fetched? btw, I don't know if it's possible to encrypt a PHP script, you can obfuscate it but not encrypt it... Thanks!
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10-04-2008, 03:22 AM	#5
Sirius Lin Free Stuff - see my sig! War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore. Posts: 1,082 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 14 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: 30 Day Trial Period Kinley, I think a demo (working script on your site) is a great idea, but I'm not sure if a 30-days trial makes sense. I mean, if they wanted the trial, it means they want to use it on their OWN hosting accounts rather than yours, right? ~ Sirius
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10-04-2008, 03:59 AM	#6
Kinley Active Warrior Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: , , . Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: 30 Day Trial Period Lin, I meant that the script will be on the buyer's website but for instance, all the mailing processing will be done through my website. I can use this with strong obfuscation of the PHP script itself. The thing is, I want to know whether it will surely increase purchases? Did anyone studied trial periods?
	http://www.easyipn.com/?promo=WarriorForum - Automate your online orders with PayPal IPN.

04-10-2009, 01:28 AM	#9
David-JP HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 472 Thanks: 8 Thanked 27 Times in 23 Posts	Re: 30 Day Trial Period Can you put in some sort of callback to your server, that is required to keep the script functional? David
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