Yes, free trial versions count as free content. The first step is to get users to experiment with the product and get used to it. Only then, clients start to aim for premium subscriptions.

I shared several thoughts and techniques about the trial versions in another article. Here's a friend-link to it:

https://medium.com/better-marketing/how-marketing-bypasses-our-rational-thinking-ee12d3163e7b?source=friends_link&sk=a9ce1da96c6f56d154591be1cc80958e