Ever wondered how to make your product or service truly come alive for potential customers? Enter the "try it yourself" approach - a powerful marketing tactic that lets people experience your offering firsthand. This method goes beyond simply telling customers about your product's features. Instead, it allows them to see, touch, and interact with it in real-time, creating a memorable and persuasive experience.

The beauty of the try it yourself tactic lies in its ability to cut through the noise of traditional marketing messages. In a world where consumers are bombarded with ads and sales pitches, giving them a chance to test drive your product stands out. It's like taking a car for a spin before buying it, but applied to a wide range of products and services. This hands-on approach builds trust and confidence, as customers can see for themselves how your offering solves their problems or meets their needs.

Implementing a try it yourself feature can be a game-changer for businesses, especially those with complex or innovative products. It removes the guesswork for potential customers, allowing them to visualize how your product would fit into their lives or work processes. This direct experience can be far more convincing than any written description or sales pitch, potentially leading to higher conversion rates and customer satisfaction.

While setting up a try it yourself option may require significant effort, the payoff can be substantial. It not only engages visitors more deeply but also provides valuable insights into how people interact with your product. This feedback can be invaluable for improving your offering and tailoring your marketing messages. By giving customers a taste of what you're selling, you're not just making a sale - you're creating believers in your brand.

Why this works

The "try it yourself" approach taps into powerful psychological principles that make it highly effective for digital businesses:

1. Reduces uncertainty. By allowing potential customers to experience your product firsthand, you eliminate doubts and hesitations that might prevent a purchase.

2. Leverages the endowment effect. Once users interact with your product, they begin to feel a sense of ownership, making them more likely to follow through with a purchase.

3. Provides concrete value. Instead of relying on abstract promises, users can immediately see how your product solves their problems or improves their lives.

4. Builds trust and credibility. Offering a try-before-you-buy option shows confidence in your product and transparency in your business practices.

5. Creates a memorable experience. Hands-on interaction is more likely to stick in a user's mind than passive consumption of marketing materials.

Here are some effective ways digital businesses can implement the "try it yourself" tactic:

• Interactive demos. SaaS companies can offer limited-feature versions of their software that users can explore without signing up.

• Free trials. Subscription-based services can provide time-limited access to their full product suite.

• Sandbox environments. Tech platforms can create safe spaces for users to experiment with features without affecting live data.

• Virtual try-ons. E-commerce stores selling clothing or accessories can use AR technology to let customers "wear" products virtually.

• Sample content. Digital product creators can offer free chapters, lessons, or modules to showcase the quality of their paid offerings.

• Live chat simulations. As demonstrated by UserLike, companies can let visitors test how their product would work on their own websites.

The success of UserLike's "Try It Yourself" widget, which led to 40% longer site visits and a 24% increase in sign-ups, underscores the power of this approach. By allowing visitors to paste any URL and see how the chat software would function on their site, UserLike effectively demonstrated their product's value without overwhelming potential customers with feature lists.

To maximize the impact of a "try it yourself" feature:

1. Make it prominent. Place the option where visitors can easily find and use it.

2. Keep it simple. Ensure the process is straightforward and user-friendly.

3. Provide guidance. Offer clear instructions or a brief tutorial to help users get the most out of the experience.

4. Collect feedback. Use the interaction as an opportunity to gather insights about user preferences and pain points.

5. Follow up. Reach out to users who've tried your product to address any questions and guide them towards a purchase decision.

By implementing a well-designed "try it yourself" feature, digital businesses can significantly boost engagement, conversions, and customer satisfaction.

How you can steal this

Here's how you can implement the "Try It Yourself" tactic for your digital business:

1. Identify your core value proposition. Determine the key feature or benefit that sets your product apart. This will be the focus of your try-it-yourself experience.

2. Design an interactive demo. Create a simplified version of your product that showcases its main functionality. For example:

   • SaaS company. A project management tool could offer a pre-populated board where users can move tasks around and experience the interface.
   • E-commerce store. An online clothing retailer might develop a virtual dressing room using AR technology.

3. Make it accessible. Place your try-it-yourself feature prominently on your homepage or landing pages. Ensure it's easy to find and use without requiring sign-up.

4. Provide clear instructions. Offer a brief, step-by-step guide or video tutorial to help users navigate the demo effectively.

5. Limit the scope. Focus on demonstrating 1-3 key features rather than overwhelming users with every aspect of your product.

6. Collect user data. Implement analytics to track how visitors interact with your demo. This can provide valuable insights for product improvement and marketing strategies.

7. Follow up strategically. Set up an automated email sequence for users who try your demo, offering additional information and gentle nudges towards conversion.

8. A/B test different versions. Experiment with various demo formats or highlighted features to determine which resonates best with your audience.

9. Integrate social proof. Include user testimonials or case studies alongside your demo to reinforce the value of your product.

10. Offer a seamless transition. Make it easy for users to move from the demo to a free trial or purchase with clear calls-to-action.

11. Mobile optimization. Ensure your try-it-yourself feature works well on mobile devices, as many users will access it on smartphones or tablets.

12. Gamify the experience. Add interactive elements or challenges to make the demo more engaging and memorable.

13. Personalize when possible. If feasible, allow users to input their own data or scenarios to make the demo more relevant to their specific needs.

14. Provide a sandbox environment. For more complex products, create a safe space where users can experiment without fear of breaking anything.

15. Time-limited access. Consider offering full product access for a limited time, like a 14-day free trial, to let users explore all features.

Remember, the goal is to give potential customers a taste of your product's value, reducing uncertainty and building trust. By letting users experience your offering firsthand, you're more likely to convert interest into action.

Examples of try it yourself

Here are some compelling examples of how digital businesses have successfully implemented the "try it yourself" approach:

• SaaS company. Canva, the graphic design platform, offers a fully functional design tool right on their homepage. Visitors can immediately start creating designs without signing up, allowing them to experience the intuitive interface and vast template library firsthand.

• E-commerce store. Warby Parker revolutionized eyewear shopping with their virtual try-on feature. Using AR technology, customers can see how different frames look on their face through their device's camera, reducing uncertainty in online purchases.

• Digital product creator. Coursera provides free access to the first week of many courses, allowing potential students to experience the teaching style, course structure, and content quality before committing to a full program.

• Marketplace app. Airbnb's "Interactive 3D Tours" let potential guests virtually walk through properties, providing a immersive experience that goes beyond static photos.

• Software company. Ahrefs, an SEO tool suite, offers a free "Website Authority Checker" that gives users a taste of their data capabilities while demonstrating the value of their paid offerings.

• Subscription box service. Birchbox allows potential subscribers to build a sample box on their website, choosing products they'd like to try. This gives a tangible sense of the subscription experience.

• Language learning app. Duolingo offers a quick placement test that immediately engages new users in language exercises, showcasing the app's gamified learning approach.

• Project management tool. Trello provides a public demo board that visitors can interact with, allowing them to move cards, add comments, and experience the platform's collaborative features.

• Video editing software. Lumen5 lets users create a short video using their AI-powered tool without signing up, demonstrating how easy it is to produce professional-looking content.

• Cloud storage provider. Dropbox offers a guided tour of their interface, complete with sample files and folders, giving potential users a clear idea of how the service works.

• CRM platform. HubSpot provides a free CRM with basic features, allowing businesses to start using the tool immediately and upgrade as their needs grow.

• Website builder. Wix's ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) creates a custom website based on user inputs, providing an immediate, personalized preview of what's possible with their platform.

• Financial software. Mint offers a demo account filled with sample transactions and budgets, allowing users to explore the app's features without inputting their own sensitive financial data.

• Social media scheduling tool. Buffer provides a free plan that lets users connect one social account per platform, giving them a practical demonstration of how the tool streamlines posting across networks.

• Virtual event platform. Hopin offers free "test events" where potential customers can experience attendee, speaker, and organizer views of their platform in action.

Remember, the key to a successful "try it yourself" feature is to provide a meaningful experience that clearly demonstrates your product's value proposition without overwhelming the user. Keep it simple, focused, and easy to access for maximum impact.