How to Test Prices on a Digital Product Without Misleading Buyers
You probably won’t know the right price for a new digital product on day one. Testing a few prices is a sensible way to learn what your audience values. The catch is that some common price tactics, such as “was” prices and countdown deals, can mislead buyers if they’re not real. Here’s how to test while staying on the right side of honest pricing.
Know the FTC’s Basic Rules on Price Claims
The Federal Trade Commission’s Guides Against Deceptive Pricing (16 CFR Part 233) set out a few principles worth knowing:
- A former price used in a “was $X, now $Y” claim should be a genuine price you openly offered to the public, in good faith, for a reasonably substantial period. An inflated price set briefly so you can “cut” it is treated as fictitious.
- The reduction should be meaningful. The guides use the example of a $10 item “reduced” to $9.99 as misleading.
- Claims that an offer is limited should be true.
- An “advance sale” with a promised price increase should reflect a good-faith plan to raise the price later.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you’re unsure whether a specific claim is allowed, check with a qualified professional.
Practical Ways to Test Prices
Test Over Time
Run one price for a set period, then another, and compare results. Keep the periods long enough to be meaningful, and avoid using a short-lived high price as a reference for a later “discount.”
Test Packages Instead of Discounts
Offer two or three versions at different prices, for example, a core product and a version with extra templates or worksheets. Watching which version people choose tells you a lot without any comparison pricing at all.
Label Launch Pricing Honestly
An introductory price can be useful. Say plainly that it’s an introductory price and when it ends, and then follow through.
Keep Simple Records
Write down each price you ran, the dates and anything else that changed, such as a new sales page or an email promotion. Those notes help you compare tests fairly and give you a record if you ever need to show that a former price was real.
Prices in your tests are your call, and results vary from product to product. Treat each test as information, not a guarantee.
More PLR Guides
- How to Write a Sales Page for a Product Built From PLR
- Reviews, Testimonials and Affiliate Links: FTC Basics for PLR Sellers
