This is part 2 of a 5-part series: How to convert more software trials to purchases.

There are three camps about asking for contact info before a trial starts:

A.  Ask for nothing – Maximize number of downloads; minimize barriers.
B.  Show 1 – 4 fields - Make them optional. Get what you can, then get out of the way.
C.  Show 14 fields – Get their street address. Only serious people will download so you don’t waste your time with crap trials.

Allow me to convince you that B is the way to go.

Let’s first dispense with C.

If the world of free social media has taught us anything, it’s that “invasion without permission” is dead. You haven’t earned people’s contact information so they won’t give it.

Our aim is to sell software and not to socialize with family or friends, you probably think, so what good could a bunch of pretty pictures bring to business? Well, we think there is potential in images, especially in photos when it comes to better promoting your website.

So we’ve started by posting to Flickr photographs taken during our participation to different events. Then, we’ve used the Flickr widget on Avangate website.