Ask HN: Should I put my trial version download behind a contact form

[koraybalci]

Hi there, I am about to release a software product (won't give the name since website is not ready yet) and I need your insight.

1. The software is targeted to specific people, mostly architects and civil engineers. It's a windows app, nothing web based. 2. It will be a commercial app, with a single type of license (to keep it simple in the beginning). 3. I will be giving a trial version (I am thinking to make it valid for 10 days). 4. In the website, I am planning to put the trial download behind a contact form, so that I can contact people who downloaded the trial later on.

However, I am not sure to go with this plan, putting a contact form might alienate my potential customers. What are your thoughts and experiences on the subject?

[grok2]

You really should simply try it out (A/B testing) and see what happens...your own data will help you decide.

1) Initially don't require the contact form for some time 2) Then, require contact form for some time 3) Finally, try having an optional contact form -- they can still download the trial even without filling out the form.

One of the reasons to try this out instead of relying out info from others is that the behavior may be specific to the kind of software you are selling and specific to the target niche and so generic advice won't be suitable.

[mryan]

My personal opinion is that this is a bad idea - unless I have to use a specific software package, asking for my contact info before I try your software is enough to make me close your website and go on to the next one.

Beginning the download is the first thing a user does after deciding "this looks cool, I'm going to try it out" - do you really want that first impression to be a negative one? dreamux seems to have nailed it - make it easy for them to download, and even easier to contact you to purchase when they are ready.

[dreamux]

I usually vote no on such ideas from the standpoint that if they don't like the trial, the won't want to be contacted either. However, if you want to reduce the pain for customers to reach out to you or purchase a license -- make it easy to do from the trial software (a prominent upgrade/purchase/contact button with as few click-throughs as possible)