While tech industries — specifically software, app and gaming companies — often encourage trial marketing, it’s not uncommon for other industries to use this strategy. Cosmetic companies, for example, could offer free trials of wrinkle cream, or fitness clubs could extend a free week-long trial membership to new clients. Content creators are ideal partners to promote a free trial, educate customers about the benefits and uses of your product, and offer incentives to help trial members convert to paying customers.
Trial marketing allows potential customers to try a product or service without an upfront cost, but it’s more than just creating a 30-day trial offer. It’s about creating a seamless experience for customers to see the value of your product and become loyal customers. No matter your industry, if you’d like to encourage trial marketing for your brand, influencers could be the key.
Benefits of working with influencers to boost trial marketing
Lower cost
You’ll pay influencers for their time, content, and education but the costs are often much lower than working with a professional production studio or agency.
Increased brand awareness
Influencers and free trials make a great team. Giving influencers a link or code for a free trial further incentivizes their engaged audiences to try the product or service beyond the trust they already place in influencers. To customers, offering a free trial signals to customers that you believe in your product so much that you’re willing to let them try it without any commitment. The trial intrigues potential customers, especially when an industry influencer touts it.
Increased brand loyalty
When you convert trial members to customers, you can nurture the relationship and build brand loyalty. Once you have paying customers, you can recommend additional products or services that could be of value. Plus, if you offer the influencer a free subscription, the creator is more likely to continue using the service or product and promoting it to their audiences organically.
Tips for leveraging trial marketing
As you put together your trial marketing plans, here are a few things to consider:
Find influencers in your industry
Consider working with an influencer in your industry to promote the free trial. You can search for influencers on social media platforms or expedite your search by using an influencer marketing platform like IZEA Marketplace. You can find and narrow your search results in minutes, review profiles, and reach out to your top-ranked influencers all in one platform.
Leverage social media
Once an influencer is on board, collaborate on a campaign that interests customers in your free trial.
When NordVPN wanted to generate buzz around its trial offer, marketers teamed up with a tech influencer to show customers how to take advantage of the deal.
https://www.youtube.com/@VPNprochannel
As you encourage trial marketing for your brand, add email to your strategy. It’s a great complement to an influencer-promoted trial. You can send the trial details to a warm list of leads to drive the number of signups.
This email, for example, prompts customers to start their free trial.
You can also automate emails, like setting up a drip campaign that delivers emails based on triggers. As the signup period winds down, schedule a final reminder to go out, like this one:
Gated content
You could use gated content to create a list of leads. Consider creating an ebook or hosting a webinar that targets potential customers. When they sign up for access, you can send your trial offer via email shortly after, provided they’ve agreed to receive additional marketing materials.
Offer special discounts to close the deal
Once someone completes the trial period, create a special offer encouraging them to become a paying customer. Consider monetary incentives like 20% off the annual fee. It’s also a good time to mention additional perks, like 24-hour customer support or access to free educational videos.
Your incentives might even include access to exclusive influencer content, like a members-only Q&A, an influencer-led workshop, or video tutorials.
Utilize referral programs
Part of your trial marketing strategy should encourage new customers to refer their friends. Incentivize people to share their experiences and persuade others to try your product or service.
An influencer can help promote the program, too. You could do a multi-part campaign with an influencer who endorses your product and encourages people to sign up, and a few weeks into the campaign, that same influencer could tout your referral program.
How do you promote a free trial offer?
To get people interested in a free trial, consider these steps:
- Create a low-hassle way to sign up that doesn’t require credit card information
- Promote the free trial through multiple methods
- Work with influencers, run social ads, leverage traditional marketing channels
- Create an onboarding strategy
- Educating users in small, digestible emails is common
- Make a plan to convert free trial users to paying customers
- Email a discount to join or have sales reps follow up
Trial marketing can help you increase brand awareness and turn potential customers into paying ones. With these tips, you can create your trial marketing strategy and start introducing your product to new people.
Influencers:
Looking to partner with industry-leading brands? Create your free profile today.
Marketers:
The world’s biggest brands trust IZEA’s influencer marketing software and managed solutions. Find out which solution is right for you.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
IZEA MANAGED SERVICES
Strategy and execution from the company that launched the industry.
