When we launched OpsCheck a few weeks ago, we decided to include a short registration form that had to be filled out in order to complete the download. The form didn’t ask for much, but we did want to capture some information so we could (a) learn more about the people interested in OpsCheck, and (b) deliver product-related updates to users of OpsCheck. However, only about half the number of people who clicked to download OpsCheck actually filled out the form — meaning we lost 50% of the people who expressed an interest.

We knew when we started this project that people don’t like forms (heck, I don’t like to fill out forms either, and I’m in marketing!), but it turns out… people who might use OpsCheck REALLY REALLY don’t like forms — so much so that they would forgo the download of a useful free tool to avoid completing a form.

And you know what? That’s fair. Although it would be a marketer’s dream to know who’s downloading our tools, it’s far more important to simply get our tools out there, which is why we will be taking down the form and actually putting our free tools on free download sites as well. Honestly, if I could drop OpsCheck and ConfigCheck CDs from a plane I would do it.

There’s a balance between driving awareness and capture names/market data. And honestly, at this point for vWire - a startup within Tripwire — we need all the awareness we can get. And we won’t get much from behind a registration form.

ConfigCheck, downloads, free tools, OpsCheck, Tripwire, virtualization, vMotion, vmware, vWire

This entry was posted on Friday, March 20th, 2009 at 12:43 pm and is filed under Virtual Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.