Forget the upsell do the downsell

[pendelton]

Sounds crazy, but, give it a thought.

I thought about this while working with a programmer to make some software for me. I am going to have him make two versions. Version 1 will have all the features I ask him for and Version 2 will have about three quarters of the features. A couple items I consider the 'prime' features will be all that is missing.

I am planning on selling the full version for, say for grins, $99.00. Not a bad price for the software I am having designed.

If they opt out the visitor to my squeeze page will have another option shown to them, Version 2, for less than half price, $49.00. With an option to upgrade at no penalty if they do it within 12 months.

Why would they by Version 2? It could be that the functions I consider 'prime' are not to them, and the extra functions are not worth the extra $50.00, or they want to try it with a lowered cost.

I am going to make it a special offer, good for the first 100 orders.

[Fergal]

When I worked in sales, I liked to have a cheap version of our products in stock. This was very useful when customers objected to the price of premium products and compared them to lower prices of what some of our competitors were offering.

It was great to be able to say that yes we also sell cheaper products but I wasn't recommending them because of the disadvantages they had over the premium products. Very often this was enough to swing the customer to buying the premium product.

This only really works when the premium product has genuine advantages and superior quality and you actually believe in the value of that product. The same also applies to services.

[Thanoz]

Consider releasing some trial versions of your software to the public as it is a smart marketing strategy for software.
I really like your idea for the no-penalty upgrade you suggested.
By the way, what software is it going to be?

[pendelton]

I do not want to say too much, but, it does not having anything to do with business building. Educational.