By letting tons of customers test its service for free.

FORBES: The 'Freemium' Fallacy

Outside a store in Denver planned for a spring 2000 opening, customers will test-paddle kayaks and canoes on the South Platte River.

FORBES: Backpackers meet bottom line

Benioff also saw that as these chunky apps went online, where customers could test-drive them (instead of taking a salesguy's word for it), they had to be marketed more like soda pop than spreadsheets.

FORBES: Magazine Article