Are you an online course creator looking to offer a free trial or preview for your Thinkific course? If so, you might wonder which option is best for your business.
While free trial and free preview are popular subscription periods for online courses, they have different purposes and benefits. This article will explore the key differences between a free preview and a free trial in Thinkific.
We’ll help you determine which option is the right fit for your course and your business goals. So, let’s dive in!
What is a Free Preview in Thinkific?
A free preview in Thinkific is a subscription period that allows potential students to access specific lessons within a course for free. The course creator usually selects these lessons to showcase the quality and content of their course.
Free previews are a great way for students to sample a course and determine the right fit. Setting up a free preview in Thinkific is a straightforward process. Here’s how to do it!
How to Set Up a Free Preview in Thinkific
- Log in to your Thinkific account and click “Manage Learning Content” from the dashboard.
- From the menu below, select “Courses.”
- Choose the course you want to set up a free preview and click on it in the Course Overview.
- Choose the specific lesson that you want to offer as a free preview.
- In the course editor, look for the lesson options on the right-hand side and check off the box to the left of “Make this a free preview lesson.”
- Finally, save your changes to activate the free preview for the selected lesson.
Benefits of Offering a Free Preview
A free preview in Thinkific can benefit the course creator and potential students. Some benefits of offering a free preview include the following:
Increased course visibility
Offering a free preview can attract more potential students to your course, as it allows them to preview the course content before making a purchase.
Higher enrollment rates
Free previews can entice students to enroll in the course, allowing them to see the content’s quality and the instructor’s teaching style.
Improved student satisfaction
Students who enroll after a free preview are more likely to be satisfied with the course. That’s because they’ve already seen a sample of the content and know what to expect.
Overall, free previews are a great way to give students a taste of your course and attract more potential students.
> > Click Here to Start Your Free Trial < <
What is a Free Trial in Thinkific?
A free trial is a subscription period offered by course creators in Thinkific that allows potential students to access the entire course or community for free for a specific period. It’s available when setting up a course, community, or membership subscription price.
The free trial is an effective way to entice students to try a course before purchasing. Setting up a free trial in Thinkific is easy. Here are the following steps to make this work.
How to Set Up a Free Trial in Thinkific
- Log in to your Thinkific account and click “Manage Learning Products” from the dashboard. From there, click on “Courses.”
- Find the course to which you want to add a free trial and click on its image.
- Click the “Pricing” tab and select “Subscription/Membership” from the payment options.
- Enter the amount you want to charge per payment for the subscription.
- Type in a number value in the “Paid every…” field and choose the payment interval for your subscription from the dropdown menu. It can be in days, weeks, or months.
- You can offer a Free Trial period before your user’s subscription begins by toggling the option below to on.
- Select the duration of the free trial period. You can choose a certain number of days or months.
- During the free trial period, all offerings within the product will be accessible to the student. For example, for a course with an attached free trial, all lessons within the course would be available unless a drip schedule has been implemented to prevent certain lessons from being accessed.
- Finally, click Save to activate the free trial for your course.
Benefits of Offering a Free Trial
Offering a free trial in Thinkific has several benefits, including:
Increased conversion rates
A free trial can increase the number of students who enroll in your course, allowing them to try it without committing to a purchase.
Improved student retention
Students who enroll in a course after a free trial are likelier to complete it, as they’ve already invested time and effort into it.
A better understanding of the course
Students who complete a free trial better understand what the course offers and are more likely to be satisfied with their purchase if they continue with the subscription.
> > Click Here to Start Your Free Trial < <
The Differences Between a Free Preview and a Free Trial
Regarding offering free subscriptions to students in Thinkific, two options are available: a free preview and a free trial. While both offer potential customers a way to experience your course or product before committing to a paid subscription, they operate differently and have distinct advantages and disadvantages.
A free preview, as discussed earlier, is a specific lesson or set of lessons made available for free. It provides a glimpse of what users can expect from the course or product, allowing them to decide if it fits their needs well. Free previews are best suited for courses with specific, tangible benefits, like learning a new skill or technique.
On the other hand, a free trial offers a limited period of full access to the course or product. Users can explore all aspects of the course, interact with other students or community members, and better understand what they will be paying for. Free trials are best suited for courses that offer more significant, transformative benefits, like personal development or career advancement.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Both options have their pros and cons. Free previews are a great way to give potential customers a taste of your course without committing to a full trial. They can help you generate interest and increase enrollments, but they may not be enough to convince some users to commit to a paid subscription.
On the other hand, free trials offer a more comprehensive experience and can effectively convert potential customers into paying ones. However, they may require more upfront investment and resources, and not all courses may be well-suited to this approach.
> > Click Here to Start Your Free Trial < <
How to Choose the Right Option for Your Course
Choosing the right subscription period for your Thinkific course is an important decision that can impact your enrollment rates and revenue. To make the best choice, you must consider various factors, including course content, target audience, and marketing strategy.
Here are some tips to help you choose the right option for your course:
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option.
Evaluate the pros and cons of a free preview and trial, and determine which aligns better with your course goals.
Define your target audience.
Consider who your course is aimed at, their needs, and what kind of experience they expect. This will help you identify which subscription period is more likely to appeal to them.
Identify your course content.
Consider the nature of your course content and how it will be presented. Courses with a clearly defined structure and discrete lessons may be better suited to a free preview, while those with more expansive, comprehensive content may require a free trial.
Assess your marketing strategy.
Determine how you plan to promote your course and consider which subscription period is more likely to attract potential customers. For example, a free trial may be a more effective way to generate leads if you plan to use email marketing.
Experiment and iterate.
Once you have decided, track your results and adjust your strategy as needed. Consider running A/B tests to compare the effectiveness of different subscription periods and use data to inform your decision-making process.
Ultimately, choosing between a free preview and a free trial will depend on your course and business needs. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option, your target audience, and the goals you want to achieve with your course. With careful planning and execution, either option can attract and convert customers to Thinkific.
> > Click Here to Start Your Free Trial < <
Thinkific’s Free Preview vs. Free Trial Period: Conclusion
Choosing between a free preview and a free trial on Thinkific can be tough, as both options have benefits and drawbacks. Free previews offer a taste of your course and can entice potential customers to enroll, while free trials allow users to fully experience your course before committing to a subscription.
When choosing between the two, it’s important to consider factors such as your course content, target audience, and pricing strategy. Additionally, it’s worth experimenting with both options to see what works best for your particular course and audience.
In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to whether a free preview or free trial is better for your course on Thinkific. By weighing the benefits and drawbacks and considering your unique situation, you can make an informed decision that will help drive enrollment and engagement for your course.