Free Trial
A free trial is a time-limited period during which potential customers can access and use a paid software product or service without cost. This marketing strategy is widely used in SaaS businesses to reduce purchase friction and demonstrate value.
Types of Free Trials
Time-Limited Trials
- 7-day trials: Short evaluation period for simple products
- 14-day trials: Standard trial length for most SaaS products
- 30-day trials: Longer evaluation for complex software
- 60+ day trials: Extended trials for enterprise solutions
Feature-Limited Trials
- Core features only: Basic functionality available
- Usage limitations: Restricted number of projects, users, or actions
- Export restrictions: Limited data export capabilities
- Support limitations: Self-service only during trial
Credit-Based Trials
- Usage credits: Fixed amount of service usage
- API calls: Limited number of API requests
- Storage limits: Restricted data storage amounts
- Processing time: Limited computation or processing
Free Trials and Affiliate Marketing
Conversion Tracking
- Trial signups: Track initial affiliate-driven registrations
- Trial-to-paid conversion: Monitor upgrade rates from trials
- Attribution windows: Extended tracking for longer sales cycles
- Conversion value: Full customer LTV attribution
Commission Models
- Trial commission: Small payment for trial signups
- Conversion commission: Larger payment when trial converts
- Hybrid model: Small trial fee plus conversion bonus
- LTV-based: Commission based on customer lifetime value
Trial Optimization Strategies
Onboarding Experience
- Quick wins: Help users achieve value fast
- Guided setup: Step-by-step configuration assistance
- Use case templates: Pre-built scenarios for common needs
- Progress tracking: Show trial progress and achievements
Conversion Tactics
- Upgrade prompts: Strategic notifications about trial expiration
- Feature showcasing: Highlight premium features during trial
- Usage analytics: Show user engagement and ROI potential
- Personal outreach: Sales team contact for qualified leads
Trial Success Metrics
- Trial signup rate: Percentage of visitors who start trials
- Trial activation rate: Users who complete onboarding
- Trial engagement: Feature usage and activity levels
- Trial-to-paid conversion: Percentage upgrading to paid plans
Optimization Factors
- Trial length: Balance evaluation time with urgency
- Feature access: Which features to include or restrict
- Onboarding flow: Steps to activate and engage users
- Support level: How much assistance to provide
Best Practices for Affiliates
Content Strategy
- Trial walkthroughs: Show how to maximize trial value
- Feature tutorials: Demonstrate key capabilities
- Setup guides: Help users get started quickly
- ROI calculators: Show potential value and savings
- Limited-time offers: Create urgency around trial signups
- Bonus incentives: Additional value for trial users
- Success stories: Case studies from trial-to-paid customers
- Comparison content: Trial vs. competitor alternatives
Ready to promote products with free trials? LinkJolt tracks the complete customer journey from trial signup to paid conversion.
Start tracking trial conversions →