{"id":3716,"date":"2021-03-03T13:43:31","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T18:43:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paperlesspipeline.com\/blog\/?p=3716"},"modified":"2021-03-03T13:43:31","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T18:43:31","slug":"free-trial-vs-sales-demo-try-before-you-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paperlesspipeline.com\/blog\/free-trial-vs-sales-demo-try-before-you-buy","title":{"rendered":"Free Trial Vs. Sales Demo: Try before you buy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We’ve all had that demo before: The salesperson doesn’t take the time to understand your business or your needs. The complexity of the setup process is glossed over\u2014or worse, never even mentioned. Pricing isn’t revealed until the end. They highlight fancy features, but you’re left wondering “How the heck does this apply to me?”.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast forward a few months, and now you\u2019re smack in the middle of busy season, overwhelmed with a real estate software that\u2019s difficult to use, isn\u2019t<\/em> simplifying your workflows, and to top it all off \u2014you\u2019re locked into a contract that isn\u2019t up until the following year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take control of the conversation\u2014start with a free trial<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have time to waste, so why let a quota-driven salesperson take an hour of your time, control the conversation and withhold important information such as pricing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A free trial will allow you to see exactly what the software looks like, how it functions, and how you will actually<\/em> interact with it. That way, you won\u2019t have to rely solely on the word of a salesperson, or a list of features found somewhere online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But won\u2019t scheduling a demo first save me time?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It seems fair to think that scheduling a demo first will save you time\u2014after all, it’s typically just a 30 minute meeting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, showing you the product isn’t the reality of a sales demo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most software products, the truth is that scheduling a sales demo is giving a salesperson control of the conversation, what you see, and your time. They know their product and know exactly which areas to highlight\u2014and which to avoid. On most sales demos, you\u2019re viewing the product through their <\/em>lens, and never getting the chance to experience how the product will work uniquely for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you choose to go with a real estate software based only on what you\u2019ve seen through a demo, you run the risk of not knowing exactly what you\u2019re getting into, which can ultimately cost you more time and money in the long run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of booking a demo first, invest just a few moments of your day to start a free trial.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\u2026 what if I don\u2019t have time to try it out?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re pressed on time and don\u2019t have the chance to start with a free trial first, here are some quick steps you can take to ensure your demo is personal, informative and worthwhile.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Know your process<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To better understand how new real estate software could work for your business, team, or brokerage, it\u2019s important to start by clearly identifying your current process.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get thinking about your current process, here are a few questions you could ask yourself prior to the demo:<\/p>\n\n\n\n