Forced free trial
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A forced free trial is a direct-marketing technique, usually for goods sold by regular subscription, in which potential buyers are sent a number of free samples of a product, usually periodic publications. Quite often publishers distribute free copies and the reader is not even asked to subscribe. His address appears on a piece of paper that goes out with the mag – a label carrier that could so easily contain a promotional message. The copies are being sent out anyway, so the postage is already paid: the additional cost of promotion is negligible. And when the reader subscribes, you’ve already got his name and address pre-printed on the form. Add in some cross-selling opportunities (e.g., conference, directory or newsletter) and the lifetime value can be huge – from a subscriber that cost you just pence to acquire.[1]
It is said that announcing a three-issue free trial and sending out a fourth issue works well to ensure good subscription rates.[citation needed] There are several places in which free trials can be found. Free trials are used by many different companies offering products and services. It is a marketing and advertising move in which the company or maker of said product or service is so confident in their offering that they give it to you in a trial test format. Once you make up your mind that you do like the product or service which you tried the company knows they will have your business.
However a free trial in exchange for credit card details can not be stated as a free trial, as there is a component of expenditure.
References
- ^ "Forced free trials". www.inpublishing.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
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