4 ms·

This isn't spam, its marketing to people who opted into receiving communications from you in exchange for a free trial of your service. As long as you stop shor

by joewee 13y ago

This isn't spam, its marketing to people who opted into receiving communications from you in exchange for a free trial of your service. As long as you stop shortly after the trial period there is nothing wrong with it in my opinion. I actually really enjoy a good series of marketing communications from a product I'm evaluating to 1) show me how others are using the product 2) point out a product benefit I might not have notice 3) to remind me to actually use the product during the trial

arkitaip 13y ago
"I actually really enjoy a good series of marketing communications from a product I'm evaluating" Said no user ever. As people interested in the business of software I think we're all a bit damaged when it comes to how much marketing nonsense we're ready to accept.
- joewee 13y ago
  Well, at least one person said it! ;) I signed up for a free trial of bigcommerce to compare it to another e-commerce platform. I signed up and just never got around to using it. And then bigcommerce sent me a customer service email titled "Need some inspiration?" with examples of how other companies are using the service, three days later "Hear from other successful online merchants" with case studies of successful bigcommerce entrepreneurs. Finally I received "Your trial is almost over — give me a call to keep your store" from their customer service rep, I'm sure this too was automated but I did end up on a telephone call with their regional sales rep and I'm now a paying user. So it absolutely does work and you can provide value to trial users if you schedule your emails and the content of your emails correctly.
  - arkitaip 13y ago
    I'll make a mental note that this might work for certain apps provided clear opt-out is given and the email frequency is reasonable.
    - porker 13y ago
      Frequency is key. Possibly twice a week, but preferably once a week maximum.
lucian1900 13y ago
> in exchange for a free trial So I pay for the trial by being spammed? What kind of logic is that? You're telling your users "buy this product to get spammed even more!". Are you sure you want your users' money? They aren't, at this point. Marketing must always be opt-in. > I actually really enjoy a good series of marketing communications from a product I'm evaluating I suspect you are in a small minority.
- amirmc 13y ago
  You've completely glossed over the fact that sending those emails leads to people using the service. Are you suggesting that those users are angry and still handing over the card details? Of course it would be much better if companies could only email those users who they knew were going to pay (and not bother the other percentage who wont). Until this magic exists, companies will send email because it works. Those who do not are holding themselves back.
- jasonkester 13y ago
  I suspect there are still a few users out there that consider receiving four emails in exchange for a free month of a $50/month product to be a fair exchange. Or at least not unfair enough to get this upset about. Over the years, I imagine I must have sent out something like twenty thousand of those mails for S3stat alone. Some people do indeed click the Unsubscribe link on those mails. I've never had anybody complain that they were "spam" though, since "hey, I hope you're enjoying the service, let me know if you have any questions!" doesn't really trip too many people's rage filter. Apologies if you've signed up for our trial and I sent you a thanks message. I didn't mean anything by it.
  - lucian1900 13y ago
    Almost everything I sign up for these days ends up sending me several emails reminding me that I have done so. Yes, I did sign up. No, I don't want to be reminded of it all the time. It is becoming annoying enough that I avoid signing up for things in the first place, or at least give them an email address I can easily filter.

by joewee 13y ago

arkitaip 13y ago

"I actually really enjoy a good series of marketing communications from a product I'm evaluating" Said no user ever. As people interested in the business of software I think we're all a bit damaged when it comes to how much marketing nonsense we're ready to accept.

joewee 13y ago
Well, at least one person said it! ;) I signed up for a free trial of bigcommerce to compare it to another e-commerce platform. I signed up and just never got around to using it. And then bigcommerce sent me a customer service email titled "Need some inspiration?" with examples of how other companies are using the service, three days later "Hear from other successful online merchants" with case studies of successful bigcommerce entrepreneurs. Finally I received "Your trial is almost over — give me a call to keep your store" from their customer service rep, I'm sure this too was automated but I did end up on a telephone call with their regional sales rep and I'm now a paying user. So it absolutely does work and you can provide value to trial users if you schedule your emails and the content of your emails correctly.
- arkitaip 13y ago
  I'll make a mental note that this might work for certain apps provided clear opt-out is given and the email frequency is reasonable.
  - porker 13y ago
    Frequency is key. Possibly twice a week, but preferably once a week maximum.

lucian1900 13y ago

> in exchange for a free trial So I pay for the trial by being spammed? What kind of logic is that? You're telling your users "buy this product to get spammed even more!". Are you sure you want your users' money? They aren't, at this point. Marketing must always be opt-in. > I actually really enjoy a good series of marketing communications from a product I'm evaluating I suspect you are in a small minority.

amirmc 13y ago
You've completely glossed over the fact that sending those emails leads to people using the service. Are you suggesting that those users are angry and still handing over the card details? Of course it would be much better if companies could only email those users who they knew were going to pay (and not bother the other percentage who wont). Until this magic exists, companies will send email because it works. Those who do not are holding themselves back.
jasonkester 13y ago
I suspect there are still a few users out there that consider receiving four emails in exchange for a free month of a $50/month product to be a fair exchange. Or at least not unfair enough to get this upset about. Over the years, I imagine I must have sent out something like twenty thousand of those mails for S3stat alone. Some people do indeed click the Unsubscribe link on those mails. I've never had anybody complain that they were "spam" though, since "hey, I hope you're enjoying the service, let me know if you have any questions!" doesn't really trip too many people's rage filter. Apologies if you've signed up for our trial and I sent you a thanks message. I didn't mean anything by it.
- lucian1900 13y ago
  Almost everything I sign up for these days ends up sending me several emails reminding me that I have done so. Yes, I did sign up. No, I don't want to be reminded of it all the time. It is becoming annoying enough that I avoid signing up for things in the first place, or at least give them an email address I can easily filter.