simplistic advertising

Lately i've been telling my friend about SL. Allot of them have already herd about it, but haven't taken a serious look. Some thing I have herd from them, and keep hearing from them is their confusion, and distrust generated by the advertisement 'Free 7 Day Trial'. My friend seem to think 'Free 7 Day Trial' means that they should be able to sign up. With out choosing a pay account, and with out needing to give their credit information.
I have tried to warn them, and explain to them in advance that 'Free 7 Day Trial' will requires them to use a credit card, but warning them doesn't seem to make much of a difference. I can only guess what they're thinking. I know when I first signed up, I had similar feelings. I know for me it was like meeting some one for the first time, and the first thing out of their mouth seems to contradict what they just said.
Personally I think the best part of the basic SL account, is not that people can cancel in the first 7 days, and get their money back, It's that the account is only 9 dollars, and it's only a one time fee. I think that huge, when almost every online 3d game charges a monthly fee, even if some one just logs in ones every couple of months.
So i'd like to suggest, that the advertisement is changed to some thing else. Some thing that may not confuse some customers. And some that also ether plays up all the advantages, that it is a one time fee, or that explains how the free part ties into signing up.
Maybe the advertisement slogan could be some thing like: "Trail Membership", "7 Day Trail", "Find Out More", "Find Out About The 7 Day Trial", "Unlimited Access for One Time Fee" or "Join Today for Only 9 Dollars", "Join The Fun Today for Only 9 Dollars", "Join The Fun Today", "Join The Fun for Only 9 Dollars". Onnestly I don't know what it should be.
But I think some careful wording, in the advertisement. weather it's clearly explained some where in the add, changing the slogan slogan, or adding some ting to the first and second page of the sign up prosss. But a few changes might increase the rate at witch trail / basic account are purchased.
Even add a short paragraph like "Sign up for the basic account, and if you don't like the game, cancel in the first 7 days, and your credit card will not be billed. But your registered carrecter will be deleted" Some thing like that might remove some of the confusion, that some people are experiencing when looking at the page.
Maybe this is some thing to test with a costumer study group.

Kurt, unfortunately, this one can be chalked up to the mindset as well as simply the ad. I've also seen several adspaces with a multitude of banners for Second Life (including a couple on the popular sites Penny Arcade and 8-Bit Theater), and the prevailing ad I've seen has been "What will you do with YOUR Second Life?"

Personally I find the slogan to be simple and effective.

Furthermore, with regards to "Seven Day Free Trials," let me dispell the preconception that these don't include your credit card. Many companies now, specifically for Second Life's cousin the MMORPG, post about free trials in the same manner, and upon any attempt to take advantage of it, ask for your credit card. I realize your post is not about changing the root behavior in this, merely the phrasing - and, given many of the community do herald from these places, I don't see that as being a problem.

Unless card input scares your friends... at whichpoint I'll remain silent. Really I see this as standard operating proceedure.

However, if you're truly concerned about it, I would advise speaking with the relevant Lindens in-world. They're usually open to this form of suggestion.

I don't get what the problem is here. Sure, we all had to input our card to get our 7 day trial, but the card wasn't charged until we actually came back several days later and clicked the "sign up" button. I think there may even have been a $1 temporary authorization charge put on my card during the trial, but even still... who cares?

You're not putting money up before the trial, you're just giving them the means to charge you if you do decide to join. AOL did this (they may not anymore, I'm not sure), and pretty much any company anywhere that offers a free trial wants billing information upfront. In the case of SL, the credit card serves a second crucial function: it "proves" you're not a minor, or at least guarantees it to a degree that is legally defensible.

Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. SL will now charge you no matter what unless you cancel your account beforehand.

Oh, you mean it automatically bills you and subscribes you unless you explicitely cancel?

I still don't see much of an issue here. This is a standard business practice, and it's been around for awhile (think mail order book or music clubs). Free isn't always free. Nevertheless, you do, in fact, get to try SL for 7 days without paying, and you can get out without paying a dime if you want to.

I started back in August 2003 when things were different. If I'd been required to enter a credit card number for my free trial back then, I'd have just closed the browser window and gone elsewhere. As it was, I didn't wait out the week, but signed up after 3 or 4 days, and I'm still here. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I still refuse to sign up for any so called Free Trials if I need to give them a credit card number in advance.

Same here.

Not having signed up in a while, this is an unhappy surprise as I still state it when proslytis... ummm recommending SL to people.

I'm not challenging your word, Mol, but could you please say if you read this, heard this, or have affirmative "yeah, my friend Fred signed up for free trial and was autobilled for subscription".

When I signed up in August 2004, the deal as I understood it was that my card would be automatically billed after 7 days if I didn't cancel, but only for the $9.95. I waited 5 days, then bought the basic membership, so I didn't have a chance to be auto-billed, but I knew that would happen if I did nothing. It didn't bother me particularly that they wanted my credit card up front-- I knew I could cancel if I wanted to, I knew they were trying to check for minor status (not that I think a credit card does much good, as applications are now being sent to 8th graders), so I thought it over, checked to make sure it was a secure connection, looked around online a bit to see what the reviews were in case someone thought the whole thing was a scam, and signed up.

I'm not saying people shouldn't be more cautious than I am. Someday I may end up getting badly scammed or ripped off this way. I also don't know where my attitude falls on the scale from "credit card flooze" to "credit card paranoid." But that was my experience, anyway.

Neko

This is in the FAQ for Second Life from a link from the front page:

7. When do I have to pay?

If you cancel before your trial expires you won't be billed. Otherwise, you will be charged for the plan you requested when you downloaded Second Life.

We did an experiment about a year and a half ago (when Siobhan signed up!) where we didn't require a credit card. The primary result was a HUGE increase in griefing which we attributed in part to a lack of accountability (no way we could track them down). The credit card also helps to minimize the number of minors who enter SL.

Kurt - you make some good points, and we'll take a look at trying to make the sign-up system more understandable.

Hope you're not implying I'm a griefer, Robin... *cries*...

Haha Siobhan, not at all! You should be proud to have survived the chaos of that time!

I can understand the need to keep sl safe. I'm all for it, and I don't mind having to pay to play. My post was lengthy, and now I can say the real point was, people click on free 7 day trial. Start signing up, and find out on the 2nd page that they have to pay to play. Instead finding out on the first page.
I should have said that from the beginning, but I guess it took a day to collect my thoughts.
I'm glad there is a Q and A page on the front page.

I don't mean to point out the obvious, but as it is clearly stated here in red and white,

the main part I wanted to ask about was this??? if you noticed sometime back in what was the time frame AUG of 2003, that when you allowed people to sign up for free, and with them able to have NO 'accountability' that the result was 'a HUGE increase in griefing' then why still in almost MARCH of 2007 3 1/2 years later, with OVER 4 MILLION served, are accounts still given out freely, and with NO 'accountability'???? I think it would be safe to say that Second life is growing at a TREMENDOUS RATE, I mean what was it NOV/DEC of 06 that you hit 1 MILLION Residents, and now barely 2 or so months later that number is over 4 MILLION, don't you think the brush fire has begun? Isn't time to start doing something about to control the HUGE influx of new players, (maybe to assist in giving the TECH team at LL a chance to catch up with scalability of the hardware to support these numbers?) and a way to assure 'accountability'? I understand that LL wants to allow the game to grow and spread to the masses as easily as humanly possible, but I am merely suggesting that LL take some steps to scale back the INTENSE amount of growth to a level that their current staff, and hardware can handle.

(Please understand I am not in any way an expert in this matter, nor am I attempting to sound like one, I am merely trying to offer suggestions to assist in building upon this wonderful game we all play and love.)
I would like to make a few suggestions if I may:

1.) Change the types of Memberships:
1a.) Have a Free Membership Level (that you verify the persons identity, age, and such by having them enter a valid credit card number this grants LL the ability somewhat to track people and who owns what account, and how many.) This account would be like the Basic account is now, they can play for free as long as they like. can't own land, things of that nature

1b.) Create a 'Verified Account' type, this account would be charged a nominal fee for becoming verified, Say $1.00 USD, these account types would have increased flexibility, they could have higher buy/sell LindenX exchange abilities, or they could receive (one time) 250 L$ free for becoming verified. something like that.

1c.) Create a 'Business Owner Account' type, this account would be charged the monthly fee they are charged currently $9.95 get the standard things that a Premuium account has now, the stipend, the 512m of land, the ability to own land, things like that.

1d.) Create a 'Island Owner Account' type, this account would be for people who own private SIM'S. since they already pay in upwards of almost $200.00 USD a month they would not be charged the Business owner Account type fee of 9.95, it would be in their Island ownership payment. I mean we have to reward the people who pay their hard earned money every month to own their own ISLAND and create that type of CONTENT for others to enjoy somehow

(NOTE: I am not a SIM Owner, I would fall into the Business Owner Account type')

I mean these are all just suggestions and they can be looked into, or ignored, or flamed as you choose. I just thought that maybe I would throw in my 2 cents. Because I for one truly enjoy playing SecondLife, and I am very pleased for the ability to be able to create artistically as I am in SL, I have yet to find any other game that allows the players to create, and influence the gaming experience as I have here in SL.
With that said, I would love to see SL prosper for many years to come, and expand to a global level, with the staff, technology, and hardware to support not just the present users, but many upon many of millions more.

If you got this far, then thank you for your time in reading my what now seems to be a very long winded post.

Very interesting quote from Robin Linden, I'm kind of confused about the rest of your message though... it seems like you may be confused about what linden Labs already offers:
We already have this. It's called a verified Basic account.
Why would paying a nominal fee make a difference?
We have this, it's called a "Premium Account".

Well Yes it would seem I don't know what LL has to offer as you took everything I said out of context, if you read the entire post line for line, you would have seen that I was talking about having ALL memberships backed by a credit card, or a paypal account, something that would lead to 'accountability' if you know you can be tracked, your less likely to just up and create an ALT (which can be linked to you) just go grief, thus my post. Robin stated and I quote:


("This would have been about AUG of 2003"

That is why I stated an 'option' to change the membership types, making them all backed by form of item that can be tracked, that will lead to: 'accountability'

Voted best necro-post of the year.

Yes, I got that. I've said more or less the same thing, so have maybe a hundred other people. And I really appreciate your finding this gem, because it sure does make the current open-enrollment system even more inexplicable than ever.

What I didn't get was why, as well as getting rid of the unverified accounts, you're proposing changing the names of the other accounts and adding an extra "verified" one that isn't any more "verified" than the regular basic account. I still don't get it.