presentation the demo

How To Prepare a Great Software Demo Presentation in 2024 [With Demo Scripts]

Last week we were at a friend's place for dinner when our friend's 10-year-old daughter appeared from the kitchen wearing her chef's hat and holding a pan with some delicious-looking pudding. She announced, "Look what I have whipped up for you all." And at once, we're all curious! 

Almost all of us asked in unison, "What is it?" She smiled and said, "Why don't you try it yourself?" We all took a spoon and tasted that yummy caramel pudding she had baked for us!

That's what a demo presenter is an expert in —-- to create a great demo experience for their potential client. 

In fact, the famous Pepsi Challenge campaign gained its popularity because the brand asked the same question to its audience. 

In the 1970s, Pepsi grew tired of being the second best to Coca Cola which dominated the soft drink industry at that time. To create a stir, Pepsi took to the shopping malls in America and asked the customers: Why don't you try it yourself? Shoppers were encouraged to taste both Colas, and Pepsi was preferred. The Pepsi Challenge became popular and has been in Pepsi's ongoing marketing campaign for years. 

Software companies can create a similar buzz with their product demos. This article will discuss the different aspects of a great software demo presentation. Plus, there are some free script templates for those who can hang around till the end. 😉 

What is a Software Demo Presentation?

A software demo or demonstration is a visual walkthrough of the software. Sales reps, solution engineers, and AEs heavily depend on product demos to show the product in action to their customers to engage, attract, and persuade them. A software product demonstration includes a complete rundown of its features, selling points, and how it solves the customers' pain points. 

The Anatomy of an Effective Software Demo Presentation

Now that we know what a software demo is, let’s understand the key ingredients of a software demo presentation. 

An Interesting Opening

Start your demo with something that sparks the viewer’s interest. It might be a fun welcome message, an interesting stat tying to their pain point, a success story of one of your customers with a similar problem, an image, or a video. 

Relevance to Audience and Their Problem

Before you start creating a software demo, understand the purpose of your demo. If the purpose of the demo is to solve a customer problem, understand the problem you're trying to solve. Once this is created, you can better focus on your demo. 

A Narrative that Ties Back to the Pain Point

Once you have gathered all the information, map the painpoints with your product features and how they ease your prospect’s painpoint. To maintain viewer engagement with your demo, don't just focus on guiding them through your product. Create a compelling narrative that ties back to the pain points. 

A Strong Demo Script

To build an effective software demo, you need a strong demo script where you can weave in a storyline that engages the customer. For example, a story that starts with a problem and then tells the solution and the product's benefits works best for a demo script.  

Product in Action

Of course, people want to see how your product works, but they also want to see and understand the step-by-step process of which button to click and how to make the most use of each feature button. So pay attention to breaking down the process in a small step-by-step guide. 

Engaging Visuals

Don't make your demo presentation too boring. Add visual elements like attractive title screens, icons, characters, and transitions to make the demo appealing. 

A Clear Call to Action

Your demo presentation should be tied back to the purpose of your demo creation through a strong call to action or CTA. For example, if your purpose is to drive more sign-ups for a free trial, your CTA should say, "Sign up and enjoy a free trial”!  

Track Engagement

Examine the analytics like when the demo was viewed, which screen had the longest and shortest view time, who all have viewed the demo, etc., so your sales team can follow up with the prospect. 

Secondary CTA

Some viewers might not reach the end of the demo. Encourage them to take action by placing a secondary CTA in the middle of the demo. 

What Not To Include in a Software Demo 

No matter how great your software is, if it's not presented well, it will fail to pique the interest of the decision-makers. In this section, you will learn where most sales reps go wrong so that you can learn from their mistakes.  

Curse of Knowledge - The Cognitive Bias

Most demo presenters don't visually emphasize the mouse pointer on the screen and help us see what they're doing on the screen. This happens from the curse of knowledge or cognitive bias that arises when you have used any tool for a considerable period. As a result, the sales rep assumes the software is easy for everyone unless someone points it out. 

How to solve it: Make sure to zoom in on where you're clicking so that everyone can see what you're doing. Highlight and mark important areas in the software so that everyone can see and understand easily. Zoomit.exe is a free tool that you can use for zooming and highlighting. 

Overloading with Features

Your prospective client doesn't want to listen to all the features of your product and how incredible they are. They are only interested in how those features can solve their problem.  

How to solve it: Highlight the features that will be useful for them. Remember to prioritize value over functionality. 

Sticking to the Script

It's always advisable to create a demo script and prepare and rehearse well before going for a demo presentation. But it may look awkward if the prospect asks you any question in between, but you draw a blank simply because it’s not in your script.

How to solve it: Learn to be flexible in using the script. For example, if the prospect is asking some questions, pause and take a moment to respond to the question. 

A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Software Demo Presentation

While you need to think and act quickly on the field while presenting a demo, it’s always helpful to think ahead and structure your demo to keep it under your control. It helps you stay prepared, feel confident, and have a structured flow to your demo presentation. 

Introduce Yourself

The main purpose of introducing yourself is to warm up with the prospect. Once you introduce yourself, give a brief context to your demo. Here’s an example as shared by  Alexander Mackinlay of Qobra: 

“I had planned 45 mins for our meeting today. Is that still okay for you? Do you have a hard stop afterward? What I had in mind for us today:

•  We'll start with a recap of what we discussed last time so that we can readjust if anything has changed.
•  Prospect X and Y *(who were not there at the first meeting)*, this recap will enable you to add your own points of view and to let me know what you are individually expecting from this meeting.
•  I have listed a number of questions I would like to ask you;
•  Then we can move on to the demo;
•  We'll need to keep 20 minutes at the end, where I'd like you to be in a position where 1) either you tell me that you want to move forward with us and we plan a potential next step, 2) you'd prefer that we stop our conversations there.

How does this agenda sound to you?”

Ending the introduction with a question always opens up room for initiating a conversation!

Tie Back the Product Features as the Solution to Their Problem

As we mentioned earlier, don’t stuff your demo with all the features and every little detail your tool has. Instead, focus on the prospect’s pain point and tie back the features as the solution to those pain points. Here’s an example as shared by Gong .  

You: As we discussed last week, it seems that (problem) is one of your major concerns at the moment. Is that right?

Prospect: Yes, that’s right.

You: Great, let’s dive in and allow me to show you how our product can solve your problem. 

Create a WOW Moment

Create a WOW moment that will compel the prospect to remember you and your product. It’s the time for the showmanship and you don't tell but show it to your prospect.

Using an interactive product demo is a great way to create this WOW moment sooner because it lets the prospect try out the tool themselves in a sandbox environment without the intervention of a salesperson.

Here's how Semrush uses Storylane's interactive product tours to showcase their platform👇

Also Read: How Horizon Education eliminated manual sandboxes for product trials with Storylane

Here’s a sample script:

‍ “Now let me show you how you can send emails to your entire email list by clicking this one button.”   

Encourage Them to Ask Questions

Prospects who’re more engaged are more likely to buy. Encourage them to ask questions to ensure they’re still engaged with your demo. Here’s how Gong suggests doing it.  

“I’ll pause here for you to ask questions, if any, before we move on to the next step. 

Is this something you’ll use for [the prospect’s problem]

How do you see you and your team using this tool?”

Next Step and Close

Reiterate the message at the end of the demo presentation and close it with a CTA or the next step. Do you want the prospect to sign up a form, schedule a follow-up meeting, or move into the final stage of signing the deal? Whatever may be your next step, add it to your demo script and communicate it clearly before ending the presentation. Here’s a sample:

"How does this compare to your current process?"

"You previously mentioned one of the things you are looking to solve is X. I just showed you how our platform solves that. On a scale of 1-10, how well do you feel we address your issue?"

Keep the question open-ended and be specific. That will encourage the prospect to speak. Avoid questions like “Do you have any questions?” which will mostly lead to a no, in most cases, especially if the prospect has already lost interest in the product. 

3 Software Demo Presentation Templates

 DEMO START

Recap customer's issues and ask to validate again. Then ask if things have changed or if we missed anything last time. Ask those who were not there prior to this meeting for their challenges and expectations for this meeting. Ask all questions you might need answers to before starting the demo.

DEMO SCRIPT

During the demo, ask validating questions after each feature presentation. 

For example, if the prospect says, “My current pain point is X,” your script should say, “Based on X pain that you mentioned, this is how the feature Y solves it.”

Here’s another example. 

If the customer says, “I’m concerned about data security,” your script should say, 

“Y is a SaaS Cloud-based platform with SOC2 certification. This means that your data is very secure.”

CLOSING THE DEMO

At the end of the demo, don't say, "Do you have any questions?" which will only lead to a "No, that's okay.” Prospects who lose interest during your demo won’t usually tell you what they think unless you ask them. Add a personal touch. You’d better say:

“What about this is most interesting to you?”

“How do you see this helping with [challenge or goal they shared during discovery?”

“Was there anything you were hoping to see on this call that you didn’t?”

“Was there anything you saw on this call that didn't meet your expectations?”

If everything goes as planned, these questions above should then naturally take your prospect to set up the next step around pricing and ROI with decision-makers.

- As shared by Alexander Mackinlay , Qobra

While scripting for a product demo, one of the most important things to highlight in the product demo is what is in store for the end user in the form of a value proposition. Missing the focus on the key benefits and only explaining the features is the biggest demo mistake one does in a product demo. 

The script should be organized in this sequence 

• Pain points your solution solve
• How that problem is solved
• What is the value added to the customer? 

Here’s a sample script template

‍ “In our last meeting, you mentioned how vendor management is one of your biggest concerns at the moment. Our product just solves that! We have built an integrated solution that [ tell how it solves the problem].

 One of our customers has been able to streamline their vendor management by [incorporate the result they have achieved here] and you can do the same”

- As shared by Disha Thakkar, PMM Expert

The first thing to understand is that a software demo is just an opportunity to understand prospects better and show how your software solves their challenges.

The actual software and its functionality - things everyone wants to show is irrelevant. No one can really follow someone quickly jumping from screen to screen demonstrating features (that can't sell) and any questions come only from some past experience with other software.

When you carry on a conversation based on features, it's hard to sell. So here is a sales-oriented software demo scenario below. 

💡Note: You have to insist on more decision makers to be present on the very first demo because usually different people in business have very different ideas about their needs and you can win by catering for different needs.

1/ Ask questions and be inquisitive to understand what is the problem they want to solve.

2/ Ask what they see as a perfect solution

3/ Ask what software they are using currently (used in the past) to achieve that

4/ Ask what is not working or is annoying (chances are that your software does it as well, but at least you know what the person dislikes before showing proudly what your solution can do - you can annoy them that way too)

5/ Only then jump into screen sharing and this is where you have to be innovative and do a demo from the perspective of a solution this person is seeking. It's important to understand that whatever is cool about your software is only interesting from the perspective of solving their challenge and nothing else. Therefore showing features that they don't ask for is nice ... but is not a reason why they will buy. Why? Because your wonderful features often sound as "too good to be true".

6/ You have to show enough that they "buy" the idea and express their feeling that that's what they need. Do not proceed to discuss the pricing until you reach this point in the conversation.

7/ When there are no more questions they have and you answered them all, I recommend asking “if it's OK to talk about money now.”

After a positive response provide a clear, easy-to-follow pricing structure and ask how they wish to proceed. 

If you did 1-6 right at this point any objections are about price and it's hard to object because they just stated they are happy and interested. Then there are special techniques to handle price objections.

- As shared by  Assia Salikhova , Managing Director, Smarketing Lab Limited, author of "7 Keys to Successful Cold Calling" course.

Top 5 Tips to Keep in Mind While Creating a Software Demo Presentation

1. know who you’re presenting to.

Are you presenting to an employee (who's perhaps going to use your tool) or a decision-maker in the company? 

Research and do your homework to learn as much as possible about the person. 

What are their pain points? 

What kind of solution they're looking for? 

Knowing the finer details can help you stay prepared for all meeting scenarios. 

For example, if the person is reserved, you need to prompt them with questions to initiate a conversation. If you get to know the person will ask many questions, come prepared with answers and customer stories to back them up. If the person is a multitasker and attending the demo while working on the phone or laptop, grab their attention by making a bold statement or humor that can grab their attention. 

2. Prepare a Script and Practice

Always prepare a demo script, especially how you will deliver the humor, punch lines, or Twittable sound bites ( a short sentence or phrase in audio or video format that can be Twitted to give an essence of your message) that can grab the audience's attention. 

Once your script is ready, practice and rehearse until you're comfortable delivering the demo. You can practice in front of a peer or a family member. Or, if no one is available, record your demo speech and review the flow by hearing the recording. While you don't need to memorize the whole script, you should know in detail each of the points and be able to speak in a conversational tone. 

3. Support Your Claims with Use Cases

If you have solved a similar problem in the past, begin your demo with the same problem and how your product overcame that problem. Emphasize how the prospect can too achieve a similar outcome. Supporting your claims with a use case makes a strong case for you, and the prospect can better relate to your product. 

4. Customize Your Demo

Not all audiences are the same, so you need to customize your demo accordingly. For example, if you demo a CEO, your demo should be customized with relatable use cases. Highlight the features that will be most relevant to the prospect. 

5. Follow Up

Don't assume they will remember everything once the demo is done. A good practice is to follow up with a thank you note. Share a link to the automated demo so they can see it again internally, share relevant documents and brochures, and give them an actionable next step. 

Elevating Your Software Demo Presentation with Storylane

Storylane is an interactive product demo software that lets you create effective demo presentations. The platform has some advanced features like analytics, personalization tokens, unlimited sharing, auto update of the demo when there is a new release, integration with CRM and Slack and many more. 

Do you know that G2 has recently recognized Storylane as the Demo Automation category leader? Book a demo today to empower your sales teams to perform better.

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"Previously, there was scope for error and we’ve gone from a process that could be time consuming and painful to a process that’s super quick."

—CHRIS LANCASTER, SUPPLY CHAIN PROJECT

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Demo Presentation Template

Captivate your audience by delivering a professional product demonstration. Show customers or investors how your product or service will benefit them.

Trusted by 65M+ users and leading companies

About the Demo Presentation Template  

This Demo Presentation Template helps you get your flow of ideas across easily and professionally. With this template, you can show potential and existing customers what your product or service can do.

When you have a visual presentation showing how your product works, customers can better understand how it solves their pain points. Use a demo presentation to enhance your sales presentation and stimulate interest in your product.

What’s a demo presentation?

A demo presentation is a meeting between your business and a client (or potential client) in which you showcase and present a product or service. It typically includes a full run-down of the product’s key selling points, uses, target audience , and other relevant features. 

The aim of a product demo is to demonstrate your product’s selling power and hopefully win over the client in question with a deal. It’s all about showing your product in the best possible light and answering any questions the client may have. 

An amazing demo presentation should inform, enlighten, and excite your client. 

While it’s important to be vocal about your product’s highlights and potential, a big part of any product demonstration should include a fair degree of listening. The essence of a demo presentation is to bring life to your business’ product or service and inspire clients to take action. 

What should a demo presentation include?

Miro is the perfect online presentation creator . When putting together a demo presentation, the following several boxes need to be ticked: 

Excellent product/services knowledge

If you don’t know your product inside and out, clients will be able to tell, and they’ll be put off as a result. Make sure to conduct a thorough analysis of your product well before the presentation starts. You need to be able to clearly communicate the product’s attributes and confidently answer any questions.

Real-life examples and scenarios

Clients will gain a much stronger impression of your product if they feel they can apply it to their own lives or businesses. Providing real-life examples of how they can benefit from your product is a crucial aspect of any demo or prototype presentation.

Effective visual aids

Make it even easier for clients to fall in love with your product by providing effective, well-designed visual aids. From infographics and images to demo videos, visual aids can make your presentation more impactful and increase the client’s likelihood of conversion. 

When to use a demo presentation

A demo presentation is helpful for connecting with clients. Just about every product and service can benefit from a strong presentation, such as: 

A sprint demo presentation. Within the Scrum framework , a demo presentation comes at the end of a sprint. Sprint demos are needed to showcase progress and project status to stakeholders who are invested in the outcome.

An app demo presentation. This type of presentation is especially useful if you’re trying to find investors for the development of an app. It sheds light on the potential app’s revenue and social impact.

A prototype presentation. A prototype presentation is also useful for gaining support from investors for a still-developing product. By presenting a prototype, you can summarize the problems your product is trying to solve and improve investors’ overall understanding of your product.

How to use the Demo Presentation Template  

If you’ve never created a demo presentation before, using a template can be tremendously helpful. Follow these simple instructions to make the most out of Miro’s Demo Presentation Template: 

Step 1: Fill in your template

You’ll need to fill in your template with information for each slide. You might include the following information in your slide deck:

the product’s identity

the target market

the revenue potential

key selling points 

potential risks along the way 

Step 2: Edit and customize 

Whether you’re creating an app demo or prototype presentation, this customizable template can suit your needs. Edit, refine, and polish the order, layout, visuals, and structure of your Demo Presentation Template to suit your business and what it offers. 

Step 3: Brainstorm ideas and collaborate

With Miro’s presentation mode , you can preview your entire presentation as a team. With an easy-to-navigate structure and flexible framework, your demo presentation plan can evolve and be improved with ease. When you’re ready for your final presentation, simply select this mode and use the forward and back arrows to move smoothly through your presentation.

Tips for a great demo presentation

Whether you’re delivering a sprint demo presentation, an app demo presentation, or a prototype presentation, here are a few helpful tips to bear in mind: 

Know your product well. Uncertainty and lack of knowledge aren’t going to win over clients. You want to demonstrate confidence, diligence, and professionalism. Make sure to do your research well and have answers prepped for questions you might be asked.

Have a clear intro, middle, and conclusion. Using a storyteller structure in your presentation can make it more digestible to clients. Use visuals and clear communication to break down your product’s features into distinctive, cohesive sections.

Listen well. Even though this presentation is about your product, it’s important to leave some room for others to speak. This will make the presentation more conversational and allow clients to flesh out your product from their perspectives.

Don’t be distracted. When delivering a professional demo presentation, you want to emulate reliability, uniformity, and expertise. Maintain strong eye contact and stay focused on the presentation’s goals. Make sure your connection is strong, especially if the presentation is virtual .

How do you start a demo presentation?

Your demo presentation should start with a brief description of its agenda. Then, dive into your intro, work your way into the main points, and end with a conclusion or call to action. An open Q&A session can be held at the end.

How do you prepare for a demo?

Prepare for your demo with lots of research on your product/service and the clients you will be presenting it to. The more you know about these things, the more influential your presentation will be.

What makes a good demo presentation?

An effective demo presentation should include relevant and accurate information about your product. The presenter should have great communication skills and use strong visual aids. Your demo presentation should have a clear structure and logical flow — which you can get using this Demo Presentation Template.

Get started with this template right now.

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The Top 7 Tips for Pulling Off a Great Demo Presentation

Demo presentations are a powerful tool for running and growing your business. When done well, a demo presentation allows clients, investors or potential customers to see and feel how things will be better for them if they buy or invest in your company or product. Often generic demo presentations do just the opposite, leaving the meeting participants bored and disinterested. Here are seven tips to pull off a great demo presentation.

What is a demo presentation?

A demo presentation is a visual demonstration of a product or service for current or prospective clients. A great demo presentation will grab your audience’s attention right away by clearly communicating what they care about and by using reliable, high quality video presentation tools.

Step one: determine who you are presenting to 

In order to deliver an effective demo presentation, you must know your audience. Do your homework and find out all you can about your prospects so you can tailor your presentation to them and be prepared for different meeting scenarios. This is vital in deciding how you’re going to best convey everything you need to get across in your presentation and what use cases you will share that directly relates to them. Here are four common types of meeting participants and how best to deal with them. 

The Wallflower

Do you know the person you’re presenting to is reserved? The wallflower may need you to prompt them with questions or ask them for their input to really spark a conversation. Having an open dialog with meeting participants will help you connect with them and personalize the presentation. As you continue your software demo, refer back to the participants’ contributions to continue to make them feel included in the presentation.

The Questioner

If you anticipate your audience asking a lot of questions, come ready with answers and customer examples to help back you up. If the questions are not adding value to the demo presentation or become too disruptive, politely ask the audience to hold questions until the end of the presentation.

The Combative

Going in knowing it’s going to be a tough sell? Do all your research beforehand and anticipate what their push back might be. No matter what, don’t get flustered during your demo presentation. When the audience senses your frustration, it’s likely to be a distraction, and it will not result in a positive outcome. Always remain professional throughout your presentation no matter how your audience behaves. If necessary, ask the audience members to hold questions and comments until the end of the meeting. 

The Multitasker 

Presenting to people who are using their phone or laptop during your demo? In order to grab their attention, start your presentation with a bold statement, humor or question. Continue to engage your audience by making your presentation interactive and relatable to pull them away from their devices. 

Three types of product demos

Pitching in your office.

This is the ideal place to host your presentation because you have home-court advantage. The Florida State football team won 37 games in a row at home for a reason: it’s an advantage. When presenting in your own office you get to use presentation tools that you’re comfortable with, limit distractions, control the environment and set the tone for the presentation. 

Pitching in their office

When you are presenting in an unfamiliar environment, it’s important to know which presentation tools are available so you can prepare in advance. Arrive early to the meeting to get set up, familiarize yourself with their presentation tools and practice a run-through of your demo to make sure everything runs smoothly. Also, arriving early gives you the opportunity to meet and connect with some of the people in the audience to help tailor your demo and customer stories to their experiences. 

Pitching remote

In order to save time and travel cost, doing a demo presentation over a video conference call is a great option. Make sure you use a high-quality, easy-to-use video conferencing solution. Don’t give off the wrong first impression by having a poor connection or pixelated video. Lifesize’s video conferencing technology will help you put your best foot forward to really wow clients with stunning 4K video quality and full motion 4K presentation sharing. 

Three ways sales demos can go seriously wrong

Confidential messages get shared on screen.

We’ve all been in meetings where the presenter’s private work and personal messages start popping up on screen and disrupting the meeting. To save yourself embarrassment and major distractions during your presentation, make sure you only share what is relevant to your demo.  Silence all notifications on your laptop and other smart devices before the start of your presentation.

Your video software flakes out

Technical snafus in the middle of a presentation is one of the most common ways demos go wrong. This not only looks bad for you and your company, but it has the potential to completely derail the entire presentation. Make sure you use a reliable video conferencing solution and test it out before the start of the presentation. Sometimes issues are outside your control, like a bad internet connection, so have a backup plan for your demo presentation.

Directly reading your notes or slides

Nothing is less engaging than a presenter directly reading from their notes or slides during a demo. Bring notes just in case you need to refer to them, but don’t directly read your notes or slides during your presentation. Your slides should contain just a few words or short sentences to set the tone of the topic you’re discussing but ovoid cluttering your slides with wordy paragraphs.  Practice your pitch until you can consistently and comfortably talk about your new product without reading from your slides or notes.

Seven tips for a winning demo presentation 

1. prepare a script.

Start off by preparing a presentation outline or script that follows a logical flow. Keep each section short, precise and easy to understand. If possible, try to work in bold statements, humor or simple tweet-able soundbites to really capture the audience’s attention. 

2. Practice and rehearse

Since you will not be directly reading your script during your presentation, practice memorizing and saying your script until you’re comfortable with it. You do not have to memorize your script verbatim, but you will need to be familiar enough with it that you can speak about each point in a conversational tone. Presenting to coworkers or family members is a great way to practice your demo and you can also record your demo presentation  to review the content and get comfortable with the flow.  

3. Anticipate questions

Each audience member will come to your presentation with different experiences and backgrounds so be prepared for a variety of questions. Try to anticipate possible questions and how you will respond to each one. When practicing your demo for coworkers or family members, ask them to help you come up with an exhaustive list of all the different questions that may be asked during your presentation.  

4. Tailor for specific audiences

Every audience is different, and your demo presentation should be too. The presentation should be built specifically for the prospect to reflect their unique business processes and include data that directly relates to their company. In addition, you should tailor how you conduct your presentation for each audience as well. An effective demo presentation for an HR manager may not go over as well for a CEO. Some prospects may be more interested in the details and appreciate graphs and diagrams while others may get more out of watching a video or live demonstration. Research the company and decision makers you are presenting to and find ways to make your demo engaging for them.

5. Provide use cases

One of the best ways to make your demo presentation relatable to your audience is to find examples of customers similar to them that have successfully used your product or service. Start with the pain points your customer was facing and give specific details of how your product or service solved those issues. Demonstrate how your audience can have the same positive outcome as the customers in your use cases. 

6. Have reliable video conferencing

Even if most of your audience is in the same room as you, video conferencing enables remote participants to get access to critical nonverbal communication elements. For virtual attendees, the quality of your video service will set the tone for your presentation. Partner with a solution that makes it easy for remote participants to join the demo presentation without having to download an app or install software.

7. Share slides & follow up

After you’ve completed the demo keep the conversation going by sharing your slide deck and following up with your audience. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that, if they heard a pitch once, they understand it. Chances are they didn’t get it all the first time so you must tell them again. In your follow up message, thank the audience for their time, reinforce the value your product or service can provide them and give them an actionable next step.

“Presentation time with potential clients is a precious and limited commodity so it’s important to make the most of it.  The more details you know about your prospects before the meeting, the better you can tailor your sales demo to speak to them as individuals. A generic presentation won’t stir up an emotional response.”

— Jeremy Wycherly, Senior Director, Inside Sales at Lifesize

How Lifesize demos products

Face to face.

To save time and travel costs, a face-to-face video conference call is a great option for demo presentations. The human element of face-to-face communication provides a more natural experience and helps you connect with the audience. Lifesize video and audio clarity makes you feel like you are in the same room as your audience and lets you present your business in the best light and make an unrivaled first impression.

Wireless screen sharing

From sharing your laptop screen to playing full-motion videos, Lifesize Share™  makes it remarkably easy to wirelessly present in the meeting room. You don’t have to waste time trying to find and pass along the right dongle or cord. Share your screen in real-time, play a video and control your presentation right from your mobile device or laptop with Lifesize Share.  

Full motion content sharing

No one enjoys sitting through a presentation with pixelated and poor-quality video. Lifesize’s 4K full-motion content sharing ensures that the quality and fine details of the product or service you’re demoing are maintained during your presentation. Prospects feel more confident purchasing a product or service when the presentation visuals are crisp, clear and realistic. The unmatched Lifesize full-motion 4K content sharing and stunning 4K video quality brings your demos to life.

You can have a great product or service but if your demo is not winning your audience’s attention, then you’ve wasted their time and yours. As you gain experience and become more confident doing demo presentations, you will soon approach them as an exciting opportunity to win new business rather than a daunting challenge. Communicating clearly, focusing on the things your audience cares about and using reliable, high quality video presentation tools will greatly improve your chances of closing the deal. Don’t give off the wrong first impression by having a poor connection or pixelated video. Lifesize video conferencing technology helps you put your best foot forward to really wow potential clients with stunning 4K video quality and ultra-high definition full motion content sharing.

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Improving the Video Conferencing Experience in the Era of Remote Work

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past six months, it’s clear that remote work and distributed teams are here to stay, even after the pandemic recedes. While some workers will gradually find their way back to in-person (office or otherwise) workplace settings, this is just the on-ramp to the highway of working from anywhere for many others.

How to Give A Good Product Demo Presentation

As a SaaS company, giving memorable product demonstrations is key to winning new customers. Effective product demos highlight your software's key features and benefits compellingly. Here is a guide for crafting and delivering impactful product demos.

Preparing to Wow Your Audience

A compelling product demo presentation is crucial for landing new customers and promoting your SaaS software solutions. When prospective witness a live, engaging demo of your product in action, they can deeply understand the key benefits and truly appreciate the value you offer.To give a standout product demo:

• Do your homework and practice beforehand.
• Ensure you are familiar with your product's capabilities and best use cases.
• Prepare some tailored demo scripts highlighting features and workflows that match the specific needs of your target prospect.

With practice, you'll sound more confident and be able to provide a smoother, more persuasive experience.

Setting the Right Expectations

On the day of your demo, set the right expectations. Explain the structure and objectives of the presentation to keep the audience focused. Start with an overview of your company and solution to provide context. Share your product's key differentiators and what problems you solve. Highlight recent growth, awards, or industry recognition to build trust in your brand.

Engaging Your Audience

Once you dive into the demo, highlight the key features and functions that would be most relevant and useful to your audience. Showcase how those elements can save time, reduce costs, increase revenue, or optimize key metrics. Share real-world examples and case studies from existing customers whenever possible. An authentic story is far more compelling than just theoretical benefits.As you move through the demo, encourage questions and discussions. Pause periodically to ask for feedback or ideas. An interactive presentation will keep your audience engaged and make the content more memorable. Address any concerns or objections openly and honestly. Explain how you overcame similar challenges for other customers.

Making a Compelling Call to Action

End your presentation with a clear call to action, such as setting up a private trial or scheduling follow-up meetings with your team. Leave time for informal Q&A and networking as your guests evaluate how your software could suit their needs. Follow up with all attendees within a day or two to keep the conversation going.

Mastering the Art of the Product Demo

With practice and persistence, you can master the art of product demo presentations. Highlight the key differentiators of your SaaS solution, showcase real customer stories, encourage active participation, and issue a compelling call to action. Great demos can lead to more conversations, demos, and long-term customers. Keep at it and stay confident in your ability to sell the value of your product.

Bringing Demos to Life with Interactivity

Interactive product demos, enabled by product demo tools like Folio, can make presentations even more engaging and memorable. With interactivity, you can give audiences hands-on control of your software, guiding them through workflows step-by-step. They can explore features at their own pace, ask questions, and provide instant feedback on what's most useful or confusing.Interactive demos create a highly immersive experience for your prospects. They feel like they're truly using your product instead of just watching a staged demo. This leads to a deeper understanding of capabilities and greater confidence in the value your SaaS solution can provide. Audiences will leave more impressed and ready to take further action.Folio and similar product demo tools make creating and sharing interactive product demos easy. While navigating the app, you simply record your screen and microphone, then trim and enhance the video. Add highlights, callouts, and more to keep viewers engaged. Interactive demos can include real-time collaboration for joint demo sessions with remote participants.Moreover, interactive product demos pay off through higher conversion rates, larger deals, and more successful implementations. When customers fully grasp how your software works before purchasing, they avoid costly rework or needing extra handholding. Use the interactivity to strengthen trust in your brand, simplify complex features, and ensure customers hit the ground running.

With the right tools and techniques, you can bring your product demos to life and boost demo impact. Whether recorded or live, interactive presentations allow for a multi-sensory experience that sticks with audiences long after the demo ends. Make interactivity a standard sales process to accelerate customer success and fuel business growth. Remember, an interactive approach and in-person and on-demand demos will establish you as a leader in customer experience and support.

Cover Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash

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Top 7 Software Demo Presentation Templates with Samples and Examples

Prerna Leekha

Have you ever thought about what would happen without software demo presentations? Due to limited understanding and lack of engagement, there will be no effective decision-making about software. This is when software demo presentation templates come into play. 

Software demonstration presentation is vital to check whether the software suits an organization. These demonstrations must evaluate software suitability, understand user needs. Software features and benefits must also be outsourced. Hence, creating a captivating software demo presentation requires thoughtful templates that align with the features and benefits of the software. These software demo presentations are essential to understand user needs and evaluate what updates are required in the software. The software demonstration is essential to check whether it suits your company or examine its functioning and other aspects. 

Read our blog Top 10 Software Design Proposal Templates with Examples and Samples.

SlideTeam presents top 7 software demo templates with samples and examples. You can invite your audience to explore the software's potential through these creative slides. These 100% editable and customizable slides will help you establish the purpose of your presentation. You can also highlight the software's unique selling points according to customer’s needs.   

Browse to understand how brands communicate their ideas.

Let’s know about the top software demo presentations!!

Template 1: Software demo evaluation form with requirements

A comprehensive approach outlined for software demo evaluation in our ready-to-use PowerPoint Templates will make the examination process efficient. Evaluate your software product by ticking off touch points like functions, activities, and general requirements, and also state the levels to meet company requirements. Software product evaluation for a company is necessary as it helps in analyzing if the software is a proper fit and meets the requirements of the organization. Through the help of the additional section, you can easily add comments for the required improvements to upgrade it. Download these templates to ensure the software demo evaluation process is more effective. 

Download it now

Template 2: Checklist for Enterprise Software Demo

Through our enterprise software demo PPT templates, you can demonstrate the software's key features related to the enterprise's operations. With this template, you can make a checklist stating the functionalities of the software. You can highlight advantages and the risks involved in the software selection. Highlight components like business opportunities, USP of the software suite, risks involved, data security check, data mitigation, training requirement, scalability and flexibility of software, and more. As these are customizable slides, you can add whatever content you need.

Template 3: Key Essentials for Enterprise Software Demo

To select software for the company, one must ensure that it meets the requirements of the business. Some significant components decide whether the software is suitable for a company or not. Through SlideTeam’s editable slides, you can bring attention to fundamental features like scalability, flexibility, data security and integrity, risks associated with ERP implementation, and the USP of the software suite. Download the PPT slides to gather the essentials for the enterprise software demo. 

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Template 4: Checklist for Comparison of Accounting Software

To examine accounting software, there are components whose information is necessary for an organization. Our accounting software demo PowerPoint Slide lets you easily demonstrate the accounting software's features. Use our PowerPoint Templates to reflect on features like on-site customer support, payment handling, and tracking expenses. Through the comprehensive checklist, you can quickly examine the accounting software. 

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Template 5: Building System Software Demo Agenda with Multiple Phases

To uncover the challenges and restate the objects for a successful software demo, you can download our PowerPoint Slides. You can highlight the agenda of the software demo in three phases. These three phases cater to objectives. You can outline the demo process into segments. For instance, in Phase 1, you can mention the current state of the software demo; in Phase 2, you can state the challenges faced by the software; and in the final phase 3, you can mention the end state, potential cost reductions, and overall investment returns. Download SlideTeam’s PPT Templates now to build a software demo agenda. 

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Template 6: Developers Working on Software Demo for Client

As a software developer, if you pitch a demo for the client, you must showcase some significant things while presenting. We have designed a PowerPoint Template for developers who are working on a software demo. You can edit the slides and include significant information you want to highlight, while presenting your ideas to clients. For example, you can mention key features and functionalities to streamline the product demo process. Save your time by downloading these PPT Templates for a successful pitch to your clients. 

Download now

Template 7: Consultant giving Software Demo Presentation to Technical Head

A software demo presentation must be precise and communicate well. While preparing a software demo presentation, consultants must provide significant information. Through our illustrative template, you can add information and communicate your software demonstration presentation well. You can add the strong aspects of your software to provide an understanding.  As SlideTeam has these PPT Templates, you can include the desired information in an attractive way. 

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ACE THE SOFTWARE DEMONSTRATION

In conclusion, software demonstration presentation templates will help you outline your software features. The PPT slides help form a clear understanding and showcase the software's essential features, functions, and benefits to the clients. With these ready-to-use templates, presenters can save time and effort in creating impactful presentations that resonate with their audience; whether showcasing the software's functionality or outlining a roadmap for future developments, a creative and informational template can make all the difference in a successful software demonstration. 

P.S . Embark on the software journey and read SlideTeam’s blog on top 10 software requirements templates with examples and samples for a clear understanding. 

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Presentation tips for a better product demo

Software demos can be stressful and overwhelming. Use these tips to deliver a confident and professional demo.

Giving product demos can be stressful and overwhelming. You need to focus on the software, your presentation and keep your potential client's needs at the front of your mind. These tips help me stay focused and deliver a confident and professional demo.

Be prepared

The most valuable step you can take to improve your product demos is preparation. I have written a demo preparation guide that outlines the research, planning and practice techniques that have helped me.

Don't go alone

It is very difficult to maintain your focus and enthusiasm for any presentation longer than half an hour. In my experience it is nearly always best to bring some backup from your team. An extra person can concentrate closely on questions, get a better read on how the demo goes, and give you a chance to catch your breath every now and then.

• Only bring people that will be able to contribute. I have found that using two presenters works well. One person takes control of the software and the other handles the introductions and company overview, and is the first call for questions.
• Each person included in the presentation should be given some space to contribute. It could be as simple as splitting the introduction and demo between you or handing off a standard technical explanation. There is nothing more awkward then sitting through an hour meeting and never having a chance to contribute.
• Try to include people to cover both business and technical expertise.

Be friendly but stick to business

It is very useful to break the ice with your audience before you kick on into the demo. My advice is to keep it simple and brief; you don't want to appear unfriendly but you also need to ensure you have time to show your software in the best light.

Mostly stick to your plan

Hopefully you have come prepared with a demo of some high-level user stories and a demo script. A demo where no one says anything is not a good sign but being peppered with questions and never getting into a groove is also an issue. You need to balance answering questions and adapting to the audience's preference with telling the story of your product the way you have planned.

• Let the audience know up front what you are going to show them. It gives them a chance to point out what is important to them and will also give them an idea of what will be shown so they don't need to jump ahead with questions.
• Always describe the software in business terms rather than technical functions. An easy way to remind yourself to do this is starting explanations with "As a [end user type] I can..."
• Stop and ask for questions at convenient spots in your presentation. For example, once you have completed some workflow.

Control your tempo

A problem that many developers have (including me) when presenting software is moving too fast. When you know the product well and have a time limit it is easy to blow through every function of the software at a million miles an hour.

• Don't try to show everything. You should spend the most time on your product's strongest features; no need to open every page.
• Deliberately pause at key discussion points. I normally mark these in my demo script. You want to leave on the screen interesting, strong features of the product as you pause and make your point.
• When you pause, take your hands completely off the keyboard and mouse. This is your cue to look at the camera or audience and speak using hand gestures.
• Go easy on the mouse. Try not to dart your mouse all over the screen. An annoying habit I need to be aware of is flicking my mouse all around the button I am talking about. Slow your mouse movement down and take your hand off completely when you talk.

Tips for presenting remotely over video

• Prepare your software and desktop. Get your product setup in its own window or tabs. Close down your chat app, email and anything else that could pop something embarrassing onto the screen.
• Share as little as possible. If you are demoing a web application, stick to the web browser. As above you want to limit the chance of oversharing.
• Keep your script on screen. If you have a big monitor and can limit your screen sharing to a single window it is very useful to keep your notes visible to the side of the main demo.
• Get the right window size and zoom level. With a big widescreen monitor sharing Fullscreen is not always the best option. Play around with window size and zoom level before the demo to find a good fit.
• Open by stating "We are looking at the homepage..." this should prompt someone to interrupt your screenshare is not working and is more natural than "can everyone see this?"
• Make sure you look at the camera. I have a habit of watching my own video feed when presenting. Because of this I tend to move my video to just below my webcam to ensure I am always facing the camera.
• Try a custom virtual background. For a simple, branded background try actionablebackground.com . If you know the audience well or have a nice office, I don't think this is necessary.

Tips for presenting in person

• Try to position yourself at the front of a meeting room (in front of the big screen) facing toward the audience.
• Pausing is your cue to look around and make eye contact. It is also a good way to encourage questions from your audience.
• Always assume the presentation equipment will be missing the cables and adaptors you need. Bring your own.
• As above, have a backup internet source ready to go.

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My presentation tips for running software demos https://t.co/PaikSK4ZU3 — Luke Lowrey (@lukencode) June 9, 2020

What are Product Demos and How to Use Them Effectively: 6 Examples

10 min read

Product demos are a crucial part of the sales process. This is true whether you’re adopting a sales-led or product-led growth approach.

They allow businesses to showcase their products and demonstrate how the product can solve a prospective customer’s problems.

An effective demo can, thus, help you generate leads and close deals.

In this article, we discuss what a product demo is, why they’re important, and how you can create them. We also highlight 6 examples of successful SaaS demos.

• A product demo is a video or interactive presentation that demonstrates a product’s features and benefits.
• There are many different types of product demos in SaaS, but the most common ones are product demo videos, live product demos from a sales team, product tours, interactive demos, and pre-sign-up product demos.
• When creating product demos, it is important to keep them interactive and tailored to the needs of the audience, demonstrate the product’s benefits , and end with a clear call to action.
• To determine the type of product demo you need, you must consider your approach to growth marketing ( sales-led vs. product-led) , the complexity of your product, and your onboarding method (high or low touch).
• An effective product demo can be the difference between a high-performing and a low-performing sales team. It increases your conversion rate which, in turn, boosts your revenue.
• To create a product demo, you’ll first need to decide on the type of demo suitable for that step of the buyer’s journey .
• Next, you’ll need to select a tool for creating the video, plan out your video script, and record.
• You can find good examples of SaaS product demos in Grammarly’s dummy content editor, Airtable’s captivating 2-minute sales video, SurveyMonkey’s template library, and more.
• To learn how Userpilot can help you deliver your product demonstration to the right audience at the right time, book a Userpilot demo today.

What is a product demo?

A product demo or product demonstration is a presentation that demonstrates the value, benefits, and uses of your product or software. Its main objective is to showcase your product’s features and capabilities and position it as an effective solution for your prospective customer.

Types of product demos in SaaS

The primary purpose of a product demonstration is to show value and educate users.

However, there are different product demo types in SaaS, each with its unique purpose. Some of the most common types include:

Product demo videos

A product demo video is a video that demonstrates how a product works and highlights its key features. It is used in the acquisition stage to help businesses educate potential customers about their products and close deals.

These video demonstrations often sit on websites and landing pages or are used in ads to showcase the product, capturing the potential customer’s attention and encouraging them to learn more about the product.

Good demo videos are engaging and easy to understand. They should also contain a clear call to action, such as signing up for a free trial or contacting you for more information.

Live product demos from a sales team

Unlike demo videos, live demonstrations from one of your sales reps are a lot more personal. They are a powerful way to engage a potential customer and show them how your product can solve their problems.

Live demos can be delivered in person, making it particularly useful for complex products. But they can also be delivered one-on-one via video conferencing or to multiple potential customers via webinars.

When properly executed, a live demo can be a great tool for generating leads.

They’re also powerful tools for showcasing how your product meets the customer’s needs and can help you close deals.

Product tours

A product tour is a pre-recorded demo video used to onboard new users. It is typically presented immediately after a user signs up to introduce them to the product’s key features and help them get started with it.

A wonderful addition to an onboarding toolkit, product tours help new users reach activation before they lose interest. They ensure that these new sign-ups know exactly how to extract value from your product.

These tours can be delivered in-app within the product or as a video tour. While in-app tours are more popular, video tours can be very helpful for more complex products with a lot of features.

Good product tours are concise, engaging, and specific to the target audience. When done correctly, they increase user engagement, eliminate friction in product and feature adoption, and reduce customer support costs.

Interactive demos

Interactive demos are a type of product demo that enables users to engage (interact) with the product while learning about it.

They are called “interactive” because customers experience the product’s value in real time as they click through the prompts. As a result, they are more engaging and immersive than your typical product demonstration.

An interactive demo, for example, may give you access to a demo account of the product with some dummy data. Using this demo data, users will experience firsthand how the product’s key functionalities work.

Note, though, that these are different from interactive product tours. Unlike product tours , which are designed for new users, interactive demos are sales and marketing materials used to show prospects the product’s potential.

Pre-sign-up product demonstration

A pre-sign-up product demo is a sales demo that’s presented to potential customers before they sign up for a free trial or purchase a product.

These are increasingly used in SaaS in place of product demo videos to generate leads and interest in a product. Much like a demo video, it can also be used to educate potential customers about a product’s features and benefits.

Pre-sign-up demos are often delivered as interactive, self-guided demos that allow prospective customers to explore the product independently.

Regardless of your chosen product demo type, ensure you keep it interactive and tailored to the needs of the audience. A good demo must also demonstrate your product’s benefits and end with a clear call to action.

Which type of product demo should you use?

Ultimately, your choice of a product demonstration type will depend on your type of SaaS business and your product. Let’s consider how some of these factors may affect your choice.

Sales-led vs. product-led growth

If you’ve taken a product-led approach to growth marketing, you already know that your product is your biggest marketing tool. As a result, product-led SaaS businesses are more likely to use interactive in-app product demos.

This is a no-brainer as interactive demos demonstrate the value of your product by getting the user to engage with it.

If, however, you’ve chosen the sales-led approach to growth marketing, you need a demo video that optimizes your sales process. This makes sales demo videos an ideal option as they make your marketing content more engaging.

High touch vs. low touch onboarding

The low-touch engagement model relies heavily on self-service content and knowledge base resources to help users navigate their customer journey.

For this model, you would need automated video demonstrations to enable customers to onboard themselves and solve their issues.

This is very different from the high-touch onboarding model, which relies on one-on-one assistance with actual humans. This model requires your sales team to personally engage prospective customers and guide them to success .

As a result, high-touch onboarding favors live video demos by a sales rep to ensure your high-ticket clients are well taken care of.

The complexity of your product

A final consideration before selecting a type of demo will be just how complex your product is. Complex products have a longer learning curve and require more thorough guidance to succeed.

Although a live demo might sound appealing here, as it allows you to handle each client personally and answer their questions, it isn’t. The complexity of the product can make this endeavor time-consuming. It may also be difficult for the client to remember everything you discuss.

On the other hand, you can record several product demo videos and add them to your resource center. This resource center will serve as an online learning platform for your users.

Users will, thus, be able to locate any video they need (when they need it) and revisit them as many times as they have to.

The impact of product demos on conversion rates

A great demo is a huge difference-maker when it comes to the success of your SaaS business.

As part of your sales process, a carefully crafted and well-executed demo can be the difference between a high-performing sales team and an underperforming one.

Think of it this way…

According to this extensive survey by David Skok and KBCM Technologies, the average SaaS company has an annual contract value (ACV) of approximately $21,000 and performs between 4 and 11 demos each week.

For most B2B companies, the demo close rate is somewhere between 20% and 50%.

Assuming you conduct 8 demos a week with a conversion rate of 20%, this will amount to ~$1.75 million in sales per year. At a 50% close rate, however, your total sales generated will amount to ~$4.37 million per year.

This is a potential loss of ~$2.62 million in sales due to an underperforming sales process. Thus, by simply using the right demo in your sales pitch, you can significantly shore up your close rate and boost your revenue.

How to create a product demo

Clearly, creating an effective product demo is no easy task. The process for creating a successful demo video that addresses users’ pain points can be divided into two main steps:

Decide which type to use at each step across the buyer’s journey

As earlier noted, there are certain factors you must consider before deciding on the best type of product demonstration for you. Similarly, you’ll need different demo types at different stages of the buyer’s journey.

At the awareness stage, the buyer is still in the discovery process. Here, you can use a short demo video to quickly introduce the potential customer to your product and its benefits in an engaging manner.

At the consideration stage, the buyer is beginning to compare products, so you need to show more depth. Webinars and live demos can help you show potential customers how your product can solve their specific problems.

Finally, at the decision stage, potential customers need a personalized demo that demonstrates exactly how your product can help them achieve their goals. This can be a live demo, a case study, or a targeted recorded demo.

Put simply, the buyer’s journey and your position in the sales cycle determine the ideal demo to move the prospective customer along the funnel.

Use a tool to create your own video

Next, it’s time to create your own video. Before you begin, though, you’ll need to decide on the best tool for your chosen demo format.

For example, if you want to pre-record a demo video and share it with prospective customers, you’ll need tools like Loom, Screencastify, or Camtasia to record your screen and edit your videos.

If, however, you’ve opted for a live demo instead, you’ll have to decide between tools like Zoom, Google Meet, Vimeo, and other live-streaming platforms.

Once you settle on a tool, take the time to plan out what you want to say. Keep in mind that a good product demo video should be short and to the point. It should also show (not tell) viewers how your product benefits them.

Most importantly, it should be engaging, with quality visuals and a good story. Go over your story a few times before you start recording, and make sure to edit for errors.

SaaS interactive demo examples

Let’s now consider some examples of SaaS companies that have incorporated interactive demos into their sales funnel.

Example 1: Loom

Loom abandoned the use of many sales reps in favor of the low-touch onboarding model. For this, Loom uses multiple in-app video demos to show new sign-ups how to complete different tasks.

The videos are bundled together in a resource library that appears immediately after sign-up. They address different use cases of the software and demonstrate how users can use them to address their pain points.

Example 2: Airtable

Airtable’s product demonstration video is a classic in the SaaS space. In this brief 2-minute video, Airtable demonstrates several use cases, taking a broad approach that shows users how they benefit from the product.

To keep viewers engaged as the video progresses, the information Airtable shares becomes even more specific.

Airtable realizes that anyone who views the video for longer than a minute is most likely a qualified lead who wants to learn more. They treat them as such by sharing more specific tactics and features.

Example 3: Zendesk

Zendesk sets you up for success from the moment you view their landing page. One of two primary CTAs invites you to view a demo of the product, even before you sign up.

Once you accept the invite to view a demo, you’re taken through a minor onboarding survey to determine your use case for Zendesk. Then, you’re presented with an interactive tour environment with dummy data.

Depending on your profile and use case, you’ll find varying numbers of product tours, each addressing a unique feature of the Zendesk software.

Example 4: Salesforce

Salesforce designed an entire demo center full of product demo videos to help prospects understand what CRM is and how each of their products works.

The demo center uses a playlist of videos to demonstrate how Salesforce can help a sales team resolve some of their pain points.

Example 5: SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey demos their product by showcasing survey templates across different categories on their website. You can explore each template by clicking on it to see what the survey experience will be like for users.

They also provide a screen selector area so you can view the survey on a PC, tablet, or mobile screen.

Example 6: Grammarly

Immediately after signing up for Grammarly, you’re transported to a demo content editor. The demo editor contains content riddled with errors, with Grammarly immediately highlighting the errors and offering corrections.

Not only does this demonstrate Grammarly’s uses, but it also shows the new user how to get the best out of it.

Product demo videos may require a bit of work and careful planning to create. Once they’re live, though, they’re an effective marketing tool that can supercharge your sales pitch.

Once you’ve prepared your product demo, Userpilot helps you deliver it in-app at the time and place of your choosing. Book a Userpilot demo to learn more.

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A Quick Guide To Conducting Amazing Sprint Demos

Get seven essential tips on making the most of your sprint demos.

Laura Paine,   Delivery Lead

• project management

The sprint demo takes place at the end of the sprint and it’s basically a way to look back at project progress and deliverables.

Think of it like this: sprint demos resemble a show-and-tell that many people did at school. For example, we’d take a photo of our dog or a cool rock that we were extremely proud of, and show it off to classmates and telling the story around it. Well, the sprint demo is a bit like that show-and-tell: it’s an opportunity for you and your team to show off the things you’ve done. 

What is a sprint demo?

A sprint demo in one of the four important sprint ceremonies . It’s an opportunity to bring together key stakeholders, your team, and anyone else who is interested to see what your team has worked on in the course of the last sprint. 

The sprint demo takes place towards the end of the sprint, typically on the last day along with your sprint retrospective. It can act as a good motivator for everyone to wrap up what they’re working on and get it reviewed and deployed (if it’s code based). 

It’s important to remember that sprint demos shouldn’t be used for other purposes that can be the focus of other meetings or processes. For example, don’t use sprint demos as change request meetings or a space for mystery voices to interject with scope changes.

Sprint demo vs sprint review

As a general rule, sprint demos and sprint reviews are terms used interchangeably. They’re both meant to serve as a time to review the work that has been done on the sprint.

How to conduct an effective sprint demo

The process to conduct an amazing sprint demo hinges on good preparation and facilitating your team’s involvement. Here are seven tips to help you out:

1. Plan ahead

You want to plan the demo out beforehand with your team—what’s the one killer feature they built or designed this sprint? What amazing piece of user research did your team do that you want to share? You might be the project lead, but make sure you get other people involved in this. 

Book a short meeting a day or two beforehand to prep for this and plan out who’s going to lead which section of the meeting. It doesn’t have to be one person, you can split it out across your team. Ideally, the person who did the bulk of the work on a particular aspect should talk about that. 

Note, there will always be folks who aren’t willing or comfortable presenting, so don’t force it—just make sure to give enough support if needed or get a good brief from them if you decide to do the talking yourself.

2. Invite people beforehand

These days, many of us are working remotely in some way or another. You might have a hybrid team or a fully remote team or just a few people working from a virtual location. You often need to consider this when holding sprint demos, as you can expect a larger group of people to join than with other meetings.

Work with your client or closer stakeholders to understand who should be invited. They might open it up to a wider group of people, and it can be quite a daunting thing to suddenly have 50 people on a call with you and your team if you’re not expecting it. Always send an invite in advance. It’d be best if this event is a recurring one when you’re working in sprints (so they may fall on the same day and time each sprint).

3. Prepare yourself for questions

Make sure to have enough time for questions at the end of the demo (try to allow 45 minutes to an hour to make sure you do). To prepare, you need to remember that there may be people who aren’t close to the day-to-day of the project, but have a vested interest in it (for example, a CEO). So, they may well have basic questions about the features or research you're sharing. 

It’s useful to have some data to back up the reasons why you’ve done something. Maybe a feature or deliverable is the result of a significant call with stakeholders, or some user research synthesis. Being able to point back to the decision points around the feature is so important to the process. 

This is the way to demonstrate that you’ve listened to users and put their needs at the heart of what you’re building.

4. Set expectations

Make sure you set expectations upfront and reiterate them at the start of the session.This is not an opportunity to start chipping in feedback, so make sure everyone knows what the route for feedback is—and make sure you and your client triage any feedback together. 

If Andy from Accounting suddenly appears on a sprint demo halfway through a project for the first time, and sends over multiple change requests on the call, you can gently push back. Andy might have made some really good points, in which case you can make a note and perhaps fold it into your backlog of work.

5. Set an agenda

This is particularly important if you’re expecting a lot of people on the call. Set a list of the items you’ll go through and allocate the last few minutes for questions. You’re steering the ship, and you know how many points you need to go through and in what order. 

If your sprint demo is happening online, you can also encourage people to drop questions into the chat, so your team (the ones not presenting at each time) can answer them. This will ensure no question is ignored but without interrupting the normal flow of the demo.

6. Rehearse and review

If possible, have a dry run of the demo. This might include having some dummy data at hand to show a particular feature being worked on, such as a form submission, or a test card to show a payment process. 

If you’ve created a presentation or slide deck to give people an overview of the project as a whole, ask someone to review it. This will help ensure there are no obvious mistakes and that the flow makes sense. 

It’s also a good idea to test any video software you’ll be using if it’s not something you’re familiar with. For example, if you’re used to Google Meet for your team meetings and suddenly have to use the client’s Microsoft Teams account, make sure to test it first. You don’t want to try to figure out how to share your screen in front of 50 stakeholders!

7. Try to enjoy it

This should be a really positive meeting: you and your team are showcasing what you’ve been working on! It’s a great opportunity to drum up enthusiasm from both people who aren’t close to the project and your team members. The sprint demo may be a way to gain support from influential stakeholders and excite you and your team for the iterations ahead.

Related reads

How to use backlog refinement effectively to improve your planning, 10 advanced project management best practices you may not have thought of, how to evaluate and measure the success of a project.

Sales | How To

How to Give Product Demos That Sell + Script Examples

Published April 20, 2023

Published Apr 20, 2023

REVIEWED BY: Jess Pingrey

WRITTEN BY: Bianca Caballero

This article is part of a larger series on Sales Management .

• 1 Qualify the Lead
• 2 Send Detailed Demo Meeting Invitations
• 3 Start with Expectations and an Agenda
• 4 Build Your Company’s Credibility
• 5 Explain Your Product’s Value
• 6 Provide Use-case Scenarios
• 7 Discuss Product Implementation
• 8 Answer Questions
• 9 Establish a Post-meeting Plan
• 10 Best Practices for a Successful Product Demo
• 11 Product Demo Statistics

Product demonstrations (demos) are a key component in the sales process that let leads see your product in action. They require lead qualification, formal invites, an organized agenda, and a focus on your product’s value and uses to be effective. By doing so, demos build trust in your brand and your business’ expertise. In this article, we show you how to give a product demo (with example scripts) and suggest tools to help you get the most value out of your demos.

What is a product demo and why does it matter?

A product demo is a presentation of a tangible product or software application and is typically presented live, either in-person or via video conferencing, or through a prerecorded video. For businesses like software as a service (SaaS) companies and office equipment retailers, product demos are a crucial stage in their sales pipeline . Demos could make the difference between winning and losing a deal, so there should be extensive sales training for reps in this area.

Now that you know the definition and importance of a product demo, you can begin filling your pipeline with leads and guiding them toward this stage. Follow these nine steps on how to give product demos that sell.

1. Qualify the Lead

Before inviting a lead to a product demo, make sure this potential customer is a good fit for what you’re selling. As part of the lead qualification process, ask extensive questions during your introduction calls or through email exchanges to understand their situation and purchase timing. This helps ensure you aren’t wasting time presenting demonstrations to buyers who don’t have a need (or budget) for your products.

Pre-demo questions also help you gear your demonstration to things that matter to your leads. To best understand their needs and priorities, you can refer to these example questions below as a guide to uncover important information before a product demo:

Qualification Questions

• What is your budget for this type of solution?
• Are you the primary decision-maker for this solution, or should other people be involved in the buying process?
• What specific problems are you looking to solve?
• Are there specific features or product attributes you want to get out of this solution?
• When would you like to implement this solution?

If any answers to these questions don’t fit your pricing, product or brand attributes, or ideal timeline, consider not moving forward with the demo.

Product Demo-related Questions

• What current product or provider are you using (if any)?
• Is there anything in particular that you like about this product or provider?
• Is there anything you’d like to see improved about this product or provider?
• Do you have any concerns about making this type of change?

Focus your demonstration on addressing the answers to these questions. This will be most applicable later during the product demo, specifically in step six, when we explore use-case scenarios.

2. Send Detailed Demo Meeting Invitations

Once the lead has agreed to allow you to present your product and you’re confident they are a solid fit, the second step in learning how to do a demo is to send out the invitations. It’s essential to have anyone involved in the buying decision present at the meeting. You should have found this information when asking about “other decision-makers” or “other people involved” during step one.

In addition to the actual invite (that’s likely a Zoom or other video conferencing call), you should include an email message acknowledging your appreciation for them taking the time and showing interest in a demo. Additionally, include directions required to get on the call and a brief description of what will take place.

Below is an example template to construct this email:

Email Template

Subject: Our Demo Call Next Thursday

Hi [lead name],

Thank you for agreeing to a product demonstration. While you may or may not be the sole decision-maker for a purchasing decision, please feel free to invite any other members of your business to the presentation.

Below are the instructions for logging into the meeting:

[Include meeting instructions, links, and any other relevant details.]

Per the information you’ve provided, the product demonstration will focus on [aspects of the product you want to show and addresses the lead’s pain points]. Please let me know if you have any questions prior to our meeting.

I look forward to speaking with you soon!

[ Email signature ]

If you are meeting with them in person at their office, rather than include instructions to your meeting, ask if there’s any information they need to know about parking, entering, security, and so on. If you are hosting the in-person meeting, your instructions should include basic directions to your office building and additional details they will need to know once they arrived.

Pro tip: Scheduling a product demo can be a breeze using scheduling automation tools like Calendly. This software lets you configure a system based on your needs and around your schedule. Users can also send a link to their leads in an email or using an online button, taking them to a scheduling portal to find a time that works for everyone. Upon creating a meeting, the attendees’ calendars are automatically synced with the Calendly event.

Team scheduling portal (Source: Calendly )

Visit Calendly

3. Start With Expectations & an Agenda

The next step in exploring how to make a demo presentation is to give brief introductions once all attendees have arrived. Some teams like to bring in a product or software expert from the organization to help explain some technical aspects—the sales rep should introduce that person. This is also when you’ll review the agenda and assure everyone you will stick to the allocated time established before the meeting.

Pro tip: Some video conferencing software like Zoom has a whiteboard or note-taking feature you can use to show your agenda before starting the meeting. You can even take notes throughout the meeting to send to the attendees upon completion.

Whiteboard feature for collaboration (Source: Zoom )

4. Build Your Company’s Credibility

The first section of your product demo presentation should be an overview of your business to build brand credibility. Quickly review your founding story, the products and services you provide, and the types of customers and clients you work with. This is also an excellent time to discuss any awards and accreditations your company, product, or key personnel (such as your CEO) have received.

You can also use testimonials or customer success stories. These help expand your credibility and trust by letting your customers and the value they’ve obtained speak for you instead of you building your brand without evidence or context.

Below is a demo script template you can use:

Script Template

In line with the agenda, I’ll briefly go over a little bit about our company. We were founded in [date founded] for the purpose of [mission or other purpose statements]. In addition to [product you’re doing a demo for], we also assist with [other products or services you offer].

Over the course of [years active] years, we’ve helped a multitude of [clients or customers], including [list clientele]. Our high-quality work has [won us {awards}, helped our company grow, and kept our customers happy].

Enough about us—let’s get into why you are here today.

It’s important to keep this section brief so you can focus on the product and customer needs of your attendees. Ultimately, the presentation isn’t for you to brag about past achievements, but to show how your product can help customers achieve their goals.

Pro tip: For product demonstrations, you may need copywriting, graphic design, or video production services. Fiverr is a cost-effective platform that connects your business with talented freelancers to help in these areas. The platform makes it easy to find freelancers, assign projects, and pay them all in one place.

Popular freelance services (Source: Fiverr )

Visit Fiverr

5. Explain Your Product’s Value

Once you’ve established trust and credibility with your leads, go right into the product they want to see and share its unique selling proposition . If the product has an interesting backstory, such as a unique way it was designed or an initial purpose different from today, share that story with them so they can understand your product better. Next, go into how the product works by describing its architecture, design, and how it’s delivered and hosted.

After the baseline product description, walk through the specific features of the product. During a software demo presentation, you could show the modules, such as the home dashboard that lays out the button options for navigating the platform. You might even dive deeper and show how a data entry is made in the system, then talk about the advantages and benefits of your product’s design as opposed to others.

For example, if you were selling software, go into how it’s cloud-based so the data isn’t stored on-premise and can be automatically backed up. If you are showing something tangible, such as a multipurpose printer, go through the subfeatures of the unit to show it printing, scanning, and faxing. When you show the features of a product, focus more on the end result to help your prospect remember how your product can help address their pain points.

6. Provide Use-case Scenarios

This step is arguably the most valuable one in the eyes of your lead attendees. It is your chance to take those features you briefly showed and put them into action through real-life scenarios. Directly address a pain point or daily activity the lead or their employees face. You can refer back to the answers they gave to your demo-related questions in step one.

Let’s say you’re selling a customer relationship management (CRM) system specifically for marketing agencies. Your platform has a built-in project management and content management system (CMS) . Marketing agencies often struggle with collaboration because of the many different specialists involved, such as content developers and project managers. Some of them aren’t necessarily employees of the agency, but contractors for other companies.

Therefore, focus your use-case scenario on this pain point by showing the project management module in use. Show them exactly how it works by creating projects, adding personnel, creating and assigning tasks, uploading content and materials, then updating the project status. The point is to take the “explain product” step further by adding relevant context.

7. Discuss Product Implementation

After presenting the product features and use cases, outline the implementation process. It could be a simple one-day installation, one-week order to deliver, or more complex, like a three-month process of subscribing and then going through training. This is also an excellent time to explain any infrastructure requirements of your product.

For example, your software might only work for certain operating systems, integrate with specific tools, or be restricted to cloud or on-premise environments. If it’s an industrial printer, it may need specific space dimensions and power channels to be fully installed. On the other hand, a cleaning spray might require a certain temperature for safe storage. These details should be discussed during your presentation, along with purchase costs.

Total cost, pricing model (flat fee, per unit, per user, and so on), financing options, and any warranties, free trials, or return policies should be explained. You may also have customizable options or a tiered pricing system if the lead wants to purchase from you but needs to stay within a certain budget.

Pro tip: Download and customize our free estimate templates to quickly and consistently lay out your proposed pricing model for your product or service. Our article also comes with tips for writing estimates.

8. Answer Questions

While answering questions during a question-and-answer (Q&A) session seems simple, it’s best to anticipate what might be asked prior to the product demo. Be prepared to re-show the product in use as common demo questions involve going over a feature a lead wants to see. If a question is asked but you do not know the answer, include your response in the post-meeting plan to address it in a follow-up email.

Additionally, you can offer to set up another meeting that will address the questions or concerns they had during the initial demo you were unable to answer. You can also record a video to include in your follow-up email that answers their questions.

Pro tip: You might also get outspoken concerns during this session such as the cost or fear of change or commitment. These are considered sales objections you can easily manage by reading our how-to guide for overcoming objections in sales . You’ll learn how to take various common concerns and turn them into opportunities.

9. Establish a Post-meeting Plan

The final component of a product demo is developing a plan to move forward. Odds are, the lead won’t be ready to make a purchase decision after the demo and will need some time. You’ll need to listen carefully to the position they are in during that moment. They might need to include more people in the buying process, take the idea to the board, or learn more about the product before making any decision.

To keep control of the process, offer to send anything relevant to their current position. For instance, if they expressed interest in pricing, send a proposal or quote information . Send product information following the call if they need upper management to review anything first or want to learn more about the product. Also, reference that you’ll get answers to their unanswered questions and provide them with the next steps based on their situation.

Below is one of the product demonstration examples you can use to conclude your product demo:

I hope we addressed your questions, and concerns, and “wowed” you with what our product can do. As for the next steps, based on where you are now, I’ll send a follow-up email with [proposal, quotes, more product information, an invite to another call, and so on] for you [and/or upper management, other decision-makers, other users] to reference.

I’ll also get [answers or confirmation] to those questions you had about [unanswered questions]. Feel free to reach out if you need anything else in the meantime.

Even if the lead is undecided on a purchase decision, sending more information following the demo keeps you fresh in their minds. After a demonstration, it may still be months to a year before the decision is made, especially for high-dollar sales deals with multiple decision-makers. Don’t be discouraged, as timing can be a factor despite plenty of interest. Continuously follow up to check in with the lead and see if anything will speed up the process.

Best Practices for a Successful Product Demo

An effective sales demonstration is customized to the prospect’s business needs and process. It should show your client how they would use your product or service and how the latter can address their problems or pain points. Below is a list of best practices to meet your product demo objectives.

Gather Information About Your Customers

Discovery is an essential step you need to take before presenting your product. This involves gathering data from your current customers, market research, and potential prospects. Find out what they want in a product like yours and if other stakeholders will be present during your demo. Use the information you have gathered to establish rapport with your customers and their need for your product or service.

Highlight Important Points

At some point in your demo, your prospect might be distracted and miss some important points of your presentation. To regain their attention, you can pause for a moment, address your prospect by name, and briefly highlight your point.

Keep Your Mouse Under Control

During your presentation, your prospects will be following the movements of your computer mouse. Avoid jerky and unnecessary movements and only move your cursor when needed, like when you want to show how to execute a command.

Manage Your Time Wisely

Most modern buyers research your product before scheduling a demo and are likely looking into another brand. That said, it is best to keep your presentation short and simple by tailoring it to their needs and pain points. While demos usually run for 30 to 60 minutes, the ideal time for one is 15 minutes or less.

Be Prepared for Fails & Crashes

When you give a software demo, you are bound to encounter fails, bugs, and app crashes. Prepare yourself to deal with these contingencies by opening in advance the apps or pages that take a while to load. When any of these things happen, it is best to tell the prospect the truth about what’s going on. You can also use such an instance as an opportunity to walk them through the process of contacting your support team.

Record Your Demo

When you record your live demo, you can replay it to review your performance and refine your technique in closing deals. You can also use prerecorded demos as a tool to market your product and to screen qualified prospects. It will encourage prospects who are genuinely interested in your product to get in touch with you.

Key Product Demo Statistics

Whether you’re conducting a live presentation or recording a demonstration video, these statistics show just how valuable product demos are and objective ways to optimize them:

In 75% of situations in small businesses, it takes more than three days between a demo request & the actual demo.

Takeaway: As mentioned in the previous section, customers nowadays do their own research on multiple products before attending a demo session. It is best to shorten your response time to a demo request so you can get in touch with your prospect quickly and find out how to address their business needs.

(Source: Navattic )

A standard sales demo lasts 30 to 60 minutes.

Takeaway: Demos don’t need to be as comprehensive as product training. Keep your presentations shorter by focusing on the product features relevant to your prospect’s needs.

20% of prospects engage with products via interactive demos.

Takeaway: Interactive product demos are a great way to let prospects engage with your product without the lengthy setup process. The rise of this engagement process shows users are looking for ways to try a product before they commit to a paid subscription.

96% of users have watched an explainer video to gain information about a product or service.

Takeaway: An overwhelming majority of customers and internet users watch an explainer video to learn more about a product or service. In addition, 89% of them said that doing so helped convince them to make a purchase.

(Source: Wyzowl )

36% of marketers used product demo videos in 2022.

Takeaway: Business marketers create various videos, and prerecorded product demos were among the most widely used last year. As mentioned in the previous section, demo videos are useful not only for marketing, but also for screening prospects.

Bottom Line

Business owners and sales management personnel must develop compelling product demo procedures to convert interested leads into potential buyers. This stage of the pipeline helps prospects gain confidence in your brand and see how your product will help them achieve their goals. By using our guide on how to give a product demo, product demonstration examples, and recommended software tools, you will close more deals and help your business scale.

About the Author

Find Bianca On LinkedIn

Bianca Caballero

Bianca Caballero is a subject matter expert at Fit Small Business who covers Sales and Customer service topics. Prior to working at FSB, she was in field sales and territory management. When she launched her career as a writer, she worked with companies from the US, Australia, and China. At present, she uses her 12+ years of writing experience to provide FSB readers with the best answers to their questions.

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The Ultimate Guide to Sales Demos That Close Prospects

Learn how to create and implement sales demos for your team that will help you close more deals.

PERFECTING THE PITCH

PandaDoc and HubSpot came together to give you an actionable guide, scripts, and templates for closing the toughest sales deals.

Updated: 11/03/21

Published: 06/20/19

Have you ever considered buying a product or signing up for a service but felt you needed to see that product or service in action prior to making your decision? Maybe because you were unsure of how it actually worked or you didn't know whether or not if would solve a challenge you were facing.

What Is a Sales Demo?

Sales Demo Basics

Sales demo steps, sales demo best practices.

That's where a sales demonstration comes in handy.

What is a sales demo?

A sales demonstration, or a sales demo, is when a sales rep delivers a presentation to a prospective customer to show them the features, capabilities, and value of the product or service. The purpose of a sales demo is to close a deal.

Before we dive into the sales demonstration process, let's look at the difference between a sales demo and a product demo, as they're often confused terms.

Sales Demo vs. Product Demo

To reiterate, a sales demo is the process of providing a prospect with a demonstration of your product or service. A product demo is the same process but it involves a current customer .

The point of a sales demo is to create a sale whereas the point of a product demo is to show an existing client how to use the product or service they already invested their time and money in.

Now, let's answer a few more questions that may come up as you begin thinking about your business's process and as you prepare to start delivering demos to prospective customers.

Use HubSpot's Sales Hub to organize and manage all aspects of your sales processes including your demos.

Who delivers a sales demo?

At virtually every company, a sales rep will deliver a demo to the prospective customer.

Why deliver a sales demo?

You deliver a sales demo to close a deal. With a sales demo, you're showing a prospect exactly how your product or service meets their specific needs and can mitigate any pain points and issues they're experiencing. This makes your prospect want to buy your product or service (or at least want to learn more about it so they can convert later on).

When do you deliver a sales demo?

Sales demos typically occur after a visitor becomes a lead. Depending on where a prospect is in the buyer's journey, there are a few specific points in time when you might deliver a sales demo (or ask if your prospect is interested in a demo).

• When a visitor completes a micro conversion (signs up for your newsletter or requests more information)
• When a lead contacts a member of your sales team to learn more about your product or service
• When a lead requests a consultation

How do you deliver a sales demo?

There are a number of channels through which you can deliver your sales demos. You might offer your prospects different options to be flexible and meet their needs.

Ensure you have all of the tools needed to offer these sales demo delivery methods. For example, if you decide to deliver a sales demo via video chat, make sure you have access to software like GoToMeeting or Zoom , which allow easy screen share, face-to-face video chat, messaging, call features, and more.

Here are some more examples of common sales demo delivery channels:

• Automated/ pre-recorded video
• Live video chat
• Research your prospect
• Confirm the sales demo
• Plan your sales demo before the meeting
• Humanize the sales demo
• Set an agenda for the demo
• Summarize past conversations
• Provide background
• Explain the product or service
• Address any questions the prospect has
• Set expectations for next steps

1. Research Your Prospect

The first step in the sales demo process is to research your prospect. As the rep who's delivering the demo, you should have a deep understanding of the prospect's needs and pain points as well as what it is the company they work for does.

This will allow you to tailor and customize the demo to the prospect's specific needs and situation, which is a critical component of a successful sales demo .

2. Confirm the Sales Demo

A sales demo is something that's almost always planned in advance — so it's important to remember to confirm the demo prior to it happening. Make sure the planned time of the demo still works for the prospect and give them a window to postpone if they've accidentally double-booked or if something else came up.

Send a calendar invite as soon as you've confirmed the date and time of the demo (don't forget to include any dial-in information if needed). Ask if anyone other than the person (or people) you listed on the invite will be attending so you can add them. Then, follow up with a confirmation email the day before, or a few hours prior to, the demo.

Use free scheduling software to efficiently plan, organize, and manage all of your meetings.

3. Plan Your Sales Demo Before the Meeting

There are many ways to plan your sales demo in a way that will enhance it and make it more engaging depending on the channel you choose to present through.

For example, share your screen during the call with tools like the ones we mentioned above , create a personalized slide deck (with a tool like Canva) , and have any relevant links loaded and ready to go in tabs on your browser to reference so you can easily incorporate them throughout the presentation. Examples of these resources include a customer case study, an informative infographic, and any other web pages, like your testimonial web page, you think may come in handy during the demo.

You should also prepare statements around each tool or service you plan to show your prospects as well as any tie down questions — which spark agreement and invite the prospect to better define the value of a given tool or solution for their business — to ensure your prospect is following along and understanding the given information.

Plan tie down questions for each tool or section in your demo to ensure your prospect is following along, understanding your descriptions, and grasping how these tools can help them solve their problems. You want to lay out a clear path from A to B so they can envision the way your product or service can resolve their challenge.

4. Humanize the Sales Demo

If you start the demo with, "Hi. I'm Kristen ... Let's start the sales demo now!" you officially sound like a sales zombie.

To avoid coming off as a pushy, untrustworthy, and possibly unpleasant, ensure you're personable and show your caring, human side at the beginning of the call. After all, at this stage in the sales cycle, you and the prospect probably don't know each other that well. You might ask the prospect how they've been, how their latest project went, if their dog is finally potty trained, whatever. Time is precious, but so is rapport.

And rapport does not stop here. Build it at the beginning of the call and ensure it's continually injected throughout all other parts of the sales demo as well to establish a human and trusting relationship.

5. Set an Agenda for the Demo

Your sales demos should always follow an agenda. Prospects should be informed of this agenda prior to the demo beginning and can also be reminded of which stage of the agenda they're actually in throughout the demo. This sets expectations and keeps everyone organized and on task. Knowing what will happen during the demo will put the prospect at ease.

Emphasize there will be time at the end of the demo for the prospect to ask detailed questions (but you can also stress questions are welcome at any time).

6. Summarize Past Conversations

As you begin presenting the demo, mention any past conversations you've had with this specific prospect. This will remind them why they needed your assistance to begin with, why they considered doing business with you in the past, and how you determined you can help them during any previous conversations.

One way to neatly do this is by outlining the prospect's goals, plans, challenges, and timeline (GPCT) . Once they confirm this information is right, you can use this presentation slide (or brief discussion) as a springboard to jump into the meat of the demo.

7. Provide Background

As a rep, gaining the trust of the prospect is a critical component of closing any deal. To do this, provide some background information about your company. This will establish your company as a reputable and innovative potential partner for the prospect.

The ticket here is avoiding generic babble and incorporating specific facts about your company and it's products/ services that align with the needs of the prospect and their company.

7. Explain the Product or Service

Now, it's time to explain your product or service. When doing this, you'll want to ensure the explanation is both specific and tactful.

Start with an overview or the product and it's basic features. Explain why this product exists, and link it to the prospect’s needs (which you already confirmed with the GPCT) . Each feature being presented in the demo should tie back to why the product is the best solution for the prospect's challenge.

Next, bring in the "wow" factors. This should answer the question, "What unique value does the product offer?"

This is where personalization is key. For example, if a HubSpot prospect mentions they want to improve their blog's SEO, you could feature the SEO, Content Strategy, and Keywords tool . You can also always refer back to any previous conversations and plans you worked on with the prospect during earlier conversations and ask a tie-down question to ensure you're all on the same page at this time as well.

Furthermore, if your company provides excellent customer service to help with the onboarding process and beyond, include that information in this part of the demo. Knowing help will be available when needed does wonders to reassure a doubtful prospect.

9. Address Any Questions the Prospect Has

As mentioned, you'll want to ensure every demo has time for Q&A at the end of the demo. Throughout the demo, try to anticipate possible objections the prospect might have by listening to their tone and even watching their facial expressions (if they're on a video call or meeting in person).

By picking up on these emotions and concerns, you can frame your responses and answers in a more personalized way. You can also determine whether or not you should pull out that extra infographic or show an example of a customer successfully solving the same problem using the tools being referenced. This builds social proof , credibility, and shows the prospect that others have succeeded by partnering with you.

10. Set Expectations For Next Steps

Whew! You've officially completed the delivery of the sales process. Now, the big question: Is the prospect interested in moving this conversation forward to possibly make a deal?

Let the prospect know upfront what's required on their end for the solution to be successful. For example, show a final slide to summarize the discussion in terms of the prospect’s necessary commitment, skills, time, willingness to learn, and budget for the solution to be a worthwhile investment for them.

If they're interested in learning more or keeping the conversation going, you can set up a follow-up conversation. Or — even better — if the demo was highly effective in convincing the prospect, it might be time to begin a closing sequence to complete the deal (yay!).

There are some best practices you'll want to make sure you follow and consider while working on your sales demos to meet the needs of your clients and develop a consistent, effective, and repeatable process for you and your fellow reps.

Personalize the Sales Demo

Personalize the sales demo to fit the needs of the specific prospect you're speaking with. You always want to distill your demo down and customize it to your audience's situation with only the essential information they need.

To do this, make sure your demo demonstrates the ways your product is suited to address their pain points and meet their needs. Prospects and customers only care about the features that impact them in a positive way, so you'll want your demo to highlight those.

Always Explain "Why"

With everything you present and share throughout the demo, you must explain the "why" behind it. Why is your product better than your competitor's products? Why is your product or service ideal for managing the prospect's issue? Why should your prospect want to do business with you? Why do your current customers love your product?

These are the types of points and comments that may just move your prospect from an interested lead to a new and loyal customer — they differentiate you from other companies and make your demo significantly more convincing.

Remember To Be Adaptable

The sales demo steps are a bit like an adaptable script you can refer to and pull from to ensure you're providing all prospects with an on-brand, consistent, and professional experience.

You can also make sure you run through various situations regarding the reasons why prospects might need your product or service and how it can help them with your sales manager so you're ready for all scenarios. Additionally, you might choose to review some possible questions the majority of prospects currently ask the rest of your team so you're ready to provide quick, helpful, and impactful responses on the fly.

And remember, every interaction, prospect, company, and situation is unique, so prepared to adapt the demo as needed. Your job is to meet your prospect where they are to show your support, flexibility, and commitment to their success.

Prior to, during, and after the delivery of any sales demo, it's critical you listen to both the prospect and your fellow reps.

You need to listen to your prospect's needs, pain points, concerns, questions, hesitations, and positive or negative feedback. This will allow you to customize the demo and all future conversations to fit their needs and tailor the points you make during the demo to highlight the ways your product can resolve their challenges.

Additionally, you need to listen to your fellow reps. Your demo process is ever-changing and you're the group people who are actually working with prospects, conversing with them about their issues and needs, and delivering the demos every day.

So, who better to ask for feedback on the current demo process (what should stay the same and what could be improved) than the other members of your team? Because, maybe they've uncovered something you've never thought about or encountered (and vice versa).

Include Real Data

Data speaks volumes about your products, services, and ability to positively impact your customers. As we mentioned earlier, in your demos, don't be afraid to include real data about your company's success, the percentage of current customers who have solved problems similar to those of your prospects with your product or service, and more.

If a prospect asks for specific information about one of your product's capabilities, you can also pull in real data about the ways in which your solution works and functions.

Begin Creating Your Sales Demo Process

The demo is to sales what the climax is to a movie — this is the part where all the action has built up and resulted in one big moment where everything comes together.

That's why it's so important to get the demo right. Take the time to prep, understand your prospects, and determine how to tie your product back to the prospect's needs and challenges. This way, it'll be smooth sailing and improve the likelihood of closing a deal.

Don't forget to share this post!

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• Product Demos
• Video Series
• Walnut News

Product Demos: The Different Options and Their Benefits

Updated on July 14, 2022.

Want to make a bigger splash with your prospects?

Nah, we’re just kidding. We obviously know that you do. Who doesn’t want their prospects to enjoy buying from them?

Probably sociopaths. That’s who.

But for everyone else, the most effective way to showcase your product’s value in today’s SaaS sales ecosystem is by offering quality product demos. 

And you can trust us. Because we’re obsessed with demos.

What are demos?

• Interactive product demos

Pros of interactive product demos

Cons of interactive product demos.

• Interactive product tours for marketing

Pros of product tours for marketing

Cons of product tours for marketing.

• Pre-recorded sales demo video

Pros of sales pre-recorded demos

Cons of sales pre-recorded demos.

• Marketing product demo videos

Pros of marketing product demo videos

• Cons of marketing product demo videos 
• Product presentations

Pros of sales product demo presentations

• Cons of sales product demo presentations 
• Live product demos
• Pros of live product demos  
• Cons of live product demos  

The best demo option in 2022

Faqs about product demos.

• How do I give a SaaS product demo?

How do you present a product demo?

How do i create an interactive product demo, why are product demonstrations important.

A product demonstration , or product demo, is a presentation where a team member (usually a sales rep) demonstrates the value and benefits of a product or software to a prospect.

Showcasing your product’s value early should be an integral part of your sales process . Consider this:

The focus on value shouldn’t come to anyone as a big surprise. People who are interested in buying a new software want to see the product, learn how it works, and understand how it’ll benefit them. They have pain points they are working to solve and need to see how your product can help solve them.

That’s why the demo’s main goal is to show how your product (and its features) solves your prospect pain points, and to position your solution as the most efficient tool to achieve this goal. Many reps also use sales demonstrations as part of their buyer enablement strategy to help customers navigate the buyer journey.

But what’s the best way to present your product so that customers learn its value and become ready to buy?

Great question, random person on the internet. It’s a difficult thing to do—even for Boromir.

Sorry, we couldn’t resist adding this sales meme .

Anyhow, let’s go through these one by one and understand their pros and cons.

1. Interactive product demos

An interactive demo is a software demo that allows prospects to interact directly with it, giving them a demo experience that’s closer to the experience they’ll have when they use your product.

Interactive product demos often include built-in guides that direct prospects through the product demo so that they can enjoy the demo with or without the assistance of a sales rep. 

If you’re using an interactive demo software like Walnut, these demos are also really easy to build, customize, and share so that you can send the perfect demo for each prospect regardless of where they are in the sales process. 

For example, SDRs can send links to a mini interactive demo in their cold outreach or their schedule a demo email template while AEs can send or share more thorough sales demos in their demo follow-up emails when prospects are more serious.

And once you send your demo to your prospect, you can track how they engage with it, who they share it with, and which parts they enjoy the most. This will help you optimize your sales process as you move forward.

• Closer to actual experience: Prospects get the demo experience of clicking through your product.
• Personalized: Reps can easily add the prospect’s name and company to give the feel of how the product will look.
• Focused: You can tailor your demo to meet the customers’ specific pains. 
• Save time and money: No need for developers or production teams to create a high-quality demo.
• Easy to create and customize: Quickly create interactive demos with demo maker software .
• Scalable: Once you’ve created one demo “template”, duplicate (and edit) your demos easily.
• More engaging for prospects: Allows prospects to click through themselves and focus on what’s interesting to them.
• Shareable: Instead of leaving a demo leave-behind, send prospects the demo itself to share with colleagues.
• Can be used throughout sales process: Give your buyers a chance to see the product ASAP.
• Provides key data and analytics: Track key metrics to optimize your sales process.
• Requires product demo platform: While it’ll save you time and money in the long run, you’ll need to start using a demo platform to create interactive product demos.

2. Interactive product tours for marketing

A product tour for marketing is usually a short (or more in-depth) interactive walkthrough of your product that showcases it’s value.

This method of marketing is called product-led growth and is a great way for SaaS companies to let top-of-the-funnel prospects fall in love with their product. You do this by giving them the chance to experience it for themselves directly on your website.

Marketing teams can embed an interactive tour on their website or in their marketing materials and use it to gather leads. This can help your prospects quickly understand your product’s value without needing to first book a meeting.

• Let prospects try before they buy: Buyers love to try products out for themselves to see if they enjoy using them. 
• Engaging: Allows prospects to click through themselves and focus on what’s interesting to them.
• Provides key data about your leads: Gather leads and track how they use your product.
• Learn about your product: Track which features your prospects click on to understand what’s resonating with your audience.
• Requires product demo platform: While it’ll save you time and money in the long run, you’ll need to start using interactive product demo software to create product tours.

3. Pre-recorded sales demo video

A lot of sales professionals will use pre-recorded product demo videos during their call with prospects. 

The goal of this kind of video is to demonstrate the product’s value while showing it on the screen. In other words, it’s kind of a product walkthrough that explains how some of the product features solve a prospect’s pains and bring them value. 

During these demos, the sales rep will explain the product’s value verbally while illustrating how the software enables it. 

The main issues with this type of demo is that it is unable to be customized for specific use cases and can’t be personalized for each buyer. In addition, the prospect would usually expect to try the product and to see it live at some point in the process.

• Not super expensive: Doesn’t require a full production and can be done in-house.
• Focused: Zeros in on specific pains.
• Failure-free: Since the demo isn’t happening live, there are no risks of bugs and updates.
• Time-consuming: Needs to be re-created over and over again.
• Not customized: Generally doesn’t show only the relevant features that each prospect wants to see.
• Not personalized: Rarely includes the prospect’s brand assets.
• Not interactive: The prospects don’t see the product live and can’t try it.
• Not engaging: Prospects have to simply sit and watch. They can’t request the presenter to focus on specific features.

4. Marketing product demo videos

A marketing product demo video is usually a short clip that features your product value. 

The goal is to push the visitor to purchase a plan, start a free trial, or request a demo . They can be animated, text-based, or show real-life use of the product. They’ll in general show the product value while explaining how it solves the specific pains of the target audience. 

Since these videos address a wide audience (which is what marketing is about anyway), they’ll usually have an entertaining aspect and will be easy to understand even for people who aren’t familiar with the industry or technology. 

This kind of video is great to attract the attention of the prospects , explain the value of the product, and create awareness. 

However, while they’re a great asset for top-of-the-funnel leads, they aren’t the most efficient tool to close deals that require financial commitments. Advanced stages in the sales process require more advanced SaaS demos that the sales team will handle

• Easy to understand: While hard to do, engaging product videos can show your product in an entertaining way.
• Re-usable and multifunctional: You can use them on the website, for user acquisition/lead generation purposes, email marketing, and more. 
• Benefit brand awareness: If done well, videos can help raise brand awareness.

Cons of marketing product demo videos 

• Expensive: They generally require full production, which can be very costly.
• Not interactive: Videos need to be very captivating in order to engage an audience, and product videos rarely are.
• Not precise enough: Most prospects would want to understand the product more in-depth and even try it.

5. Product presentations

A cheap and efficient way of presenting a product is by using a good old Powerpoint or Google Slides presentation. 

This allows the sales rep to create templates for each vertical or use-case of prospects that they can edit by themselves. Demo presentations also allow a more readable and easy-to-digest format. They’re meant to be scalable and straightforward. 

Basically, presentations have a lot of good s(l)ides but there is one major downside: The prospect doesn’t get to know the product—and this can feel not reliable. 

In other words, the problem is that product demos should be about demonstrating a product/software not presenting it—a small nuance that means a lot. That said, they can be a great tool to use between the cold outreach stage and the live demo stage, but they can’t replace the demo itself. 

• Time-saving: Presentation tools are easy to use and to duplicate.
• Resource-saving: Everyone can do it. They don’t require the need for technical help.
• Personalized: Each prospect can get a personal presentation featuring their brand.
• Focused: Each prospect gets a tailored answer for his needs.

Cons of sales product demo presentations 

• Doesn’t show the product in action: While you may show screenshots and even GIFs of specific features, it’s not covering the full scope. 
• It’s boring: When’s the last time you sat through a slide deck presentation? Now imagine one that’s about a SaaS product. 
• It doesn’t do your product justice: Your product is rich and your UI may be amazing, but your prospect will never know.

6. Live product demos

Live product demos are one of the most standard ways to demonstrate a product/software. 

Sales pros simply explain the value of their product’s features while using it in real-time in front of the prospects—via a conference call tool that’s part of their sales tech stack or face-to-face. 

This kind of demo allows you to walk the prospect through your real interface, at your rhythm. In addition, it generates more trust to see a live product than a video or something else. 

However, live demos are notorious for bugging. Software updates, internet connectivity issues, product bugs, and more can lead to some really awkward moments for the sales rep.

Likewise, it can pose security risks by opening up the potential for data leaks, privacy breaches, and other sharing of confidential information. 

Pros of live product demos  

• Creates trust: The prospect sees the actual product in action. 
• Time-saving: You just have to show the product as is, no need to record or customize anything.
• All encompassing: You can show all the features the prospect wants to see.

Cons of live product demos  

• Not personal enough: If you want to customize your product for each prospect you’ll need to require help from the dev and design team which is time and resource-consuming.
• Bugs and updates: Sh*t happens. If your product crashes in the middle of a demo, it’s hard to recover from it.
• Overwhelming: Rich software can be overwhelming for prospects looking to answer specific needs. 
• Security concerns: You may unintentionally leak customer information or share confidential data.

Based on everything we discussed here, it’s no surprise that SaaS companies are flocking to product demo platforms like Walnut to supply them with highly converting product demos or product tours for marketing .

Not only can Walnut provide you with better demos for use throughout your B2B sales funnel , it is also leading the fight to optimize the otherwise painful B2B buying process.

Consider these stats:

So start making your prospects love buying from you by showing them what they need to see early on. This way, you’ll meet your quotas quicker and they will buy your SaaS product quicker and be able to move on with their lives. 

It’s truly a win-win.

So to sum it up:

Cons of creating your interactive product demos with Walnut? 

• Couldn’t find any. Maybe their marketing is a bit too humble. 

How do I give a SaaS product demo ?

There are many ways to demonstrate your SaaS product.

But the best solution is to create a completely safe demo environment that prevents crashes and data leaks.

If you created your product demo with a demo platform like Walnut (wink, wink), you can simply send your prospect a link that they can use to walk through your product on their own. You can also schedule a demo call with your prospect and go through the demo together.

One way to create an interactive product demo is by using a demo experience platform like Walnut. Our platform lets you create interactive product demos without the need to code.

A product demonstration is a key part of the sales process. This is where your prospects can experience the product for themselves and understand the pains this product solves.

What are you waiting for? Revolutionize your sales by clicking that “Get Started” button.

Create demos your prospects will love today.

You may also like....

Best Practices for Embedding a Demo on Your Website 

7 Interactive Product Demo Tips For Sales Teams

What Are Sales Demonstrations? The Ultimate Guide

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15 inspiring product demo video examples to help you drive results

What type of content do you primarily create?

When you’re selling a product online, static images and text only go so far. 

Interested shoppers can’t hold your products in their hands, but a product demonstration video offers the next best thing.

Also known as promo videos , these videos can highlight a product’s features, explain how they solve relevant problems, explore what life could be like with the product, and stress the challenges people face without it.

There’s more than one way to make this video content part of your product marketing strategy. Here are 15 product demo video examples you can learn from, and tips on how to create your own.

How to make a product demo video

Before we get to the examples, let’s quickly go over the steps to create a product demo :

• Define your audience. Think about your target audience’s frustrations, motivations, and favorite video platforms. For example, if you’re selling running shoes to a Gen Z audience, a short-form TikTok video might be the best format for a product demonstration.
• Set clear objectives. Every product demo aims to drive sales, but it can also meet other objectives like educating customers or creating brand awareness. 
• Create a script and storyboard. Storyboarding is a key part of any video production process because it keeps your video focused. Plan out each scene and write an accompanying script to talk viewers through how your product solves their problem. If you use Descript, you can script and storyboard in the same place you record and edit your video. 
• Choose a format and length. Consider how your target audience consumes content. If they prefer short-form videos, create sub-60 second vertical videos for Instagram Reels or TikTok. If they have time to invest in lengthier content, create longer landscape videos for YouTube and your website. 
• Create a shooting setup. You don’t need a fancy studio to record a product demo video. You can film professional videos at home with your smartphone camera, its built-in microphone, and natural light. Video editing can do a lot of the heavy lifting. 
• Record your product demo. Hit the record button and start filming your product demonstration. Give a 360-view of your product and show off its best features. Either record yourself throughout the video or add a voiceover after. 
• Edit your video. Make your product demo video more professional with an editing tool like Descript. It lets you edit videos like a text doc, and you can also remove filler words in one click, enhance speaker audio with AI, record your screen, and more in one video editing platform. 

15 of the best product demo video examples

• Sierra Design

1. Slack promotes Canvas as a product, not a feature

If you’re creating a product demonstration video for a software company, you can focus on a single key feature instead of covering everything your app does in one video. 

Communications platform Slack takes this approach by marketing each feature like a product. Instead of telling users everything they can do with its software, Slack singles out Canvas and the main problem it solves: sharing and organizing knowledge in a crowded workplace messaging app. 

2. WHOOP partners with creators to demo its watches

Sometimes the best product demonstration videos don’t feel like ads. WHOOP, for example, uses a TikTok-style video produced by a creator to showcase its stress-monitoring watch in action.

The watch isn’t the protagonist of the video. The story centers on the creator who uses her watch to monitor her stress as she watches the Women’s World Cup. The video subtly shows how WHOOP watches work, the different color bands available, and what its reported stress levels actually mean. 

3. Nespresso gives a visual tour of the Aeroccino Plus

Nespresso creates product demos for each of its coffee machines. But instead of diving right in with feature explanations, there’s a five-second introduction that uses video editing techniques—like slow motion and zoom—to build up to the demo you’re about to watch. 

Nespresso is positioned as a luxury brand, and it communicates the same brand values in its video. There’s no talking head or voiceover, just a smartly dressed coffee connoisseur showing you how to make coffee with its machine.

4. Apple shows off the AirPods Pro by visualizing sound 

Apple’s creative team regularly produces incredible product demonstrations for new items. Take this product launch video for the new AirPods Pro. Switching between close-ups of the earbuds and subtitles to highlight its best features, there’s an exciting background track and accompanying sound effects to keep the viewer’s attention.

To echo Apple’s creativity, the product demo video also showcases a dancer using the AirPods. These elements come together to create a short, simple advertisement that makes people want the product even more.

5. Rhode Skin is used in Hailey Bieber’s skincare routine

Rhode Skin is a skincare brand founded by celebrity Hailey Bieber. Instead of the traditional product demo format where the product is in the foreground, Hailey published a YouTube video walking potential customers through her skincare routine using her own Rhode Skin products.

This type of explainer video is often more impactful because viewers can connect with the founder—in this case, a celebrity they already know and trust. Plus, when people can see a real-life application of a skincare product, they can answer their own question of whether it’ll work on their skin.

6. YETI shows instead of tells with lifestyle videos

YETI is no stranger to video marketing . Its YouTube channel is home to full-length documentary videos to showcase its connection with an outdoor lifestyle. Mixed among those videos are short-form product demonstrations, like the one for its M30 Cooler. 

This product demo video example doesn’t explicitly tell you about the cooler’s features—instead it shows you how the product works through real life moments. Viewers see a 15-second video of a sea diver heading out on their boat and jumping into the sea. When they get back on board, they pull a canned drink from the YETI cooler that has kept their beverages ice cold. 

7. Sierra Designs overlays lifestyle footage with feature specs

Like the last product demonstration video example, Sierra Designs sells their products as part of a lifestyle. We see two people heading up a mountain carrying the brand’s hiking backpack. That’s interrupted by B-roll footage of a close-up of two different bag sizes, with the product’s unique selling points appearing at certain points of the video. 

Sierra Designs also uses subtitles instead of voiceovers. Viewers can listen to a light, upbeat background track and focus the rest of their attention on the story being told in this product demonstration video.

Tip: Take the same approach with your product demonstration video by leaning on Descript’s built-in library of royalty-free music and sound effects .

8. HelloFresh uses animation to explain how its service works

HelloFresh is a meal delivery service that uses an animated product demo video to show how its service works. It addresses the pain points of its ideal customers within the first 15 seconds, promising people they “don’t need to worry about meal times” when signing up for a subscription. 

What’s also interesting about this video is that it’s optimized to reach people on YouTube who are searching for terms like “food delivery subscription” or “fresh meals.” When a new customer finds HelloFresh through this video, they’re primed on exactly how its subscription model works and can address any objections they have about joining. 

9. Mixpanel turns a screen recording into an in-depth product tour

Mixpanel is a business analytics tool that uploaded a product demonstration video to YouTube. At over 11 minutes, it’s longer than the other examples, but is broken down into sections through YouTube chapters (insights, charts, segmentation, etc.) to help people navigate to the feature they’re interested in. 

The software demo video also uses screen recording to walk through the dashboard. This helps people visualize their own data inside the software, and can make the interface feel less overwhelming to new customers once they sign up.

10. IKEA Place uses first-person camera to simulate the app

IKEA is a brand known for its experiential retail experiences. In-store shoppers see entire room setups furnished with IKEA products. As a way to give online shoppers the same experience, the brand launched its own augmented reality app to let you see products in your own home using your smartphone camera.

Its live action video uses the holiday season to showcase how the app works. We see four people choosing where to place an IKEA tree in their home. In the final scene, the 3D model becomes a real tree as several more trees pop up to show off the rest of the product collection.

11. Duolingo enlists its mascot show you around the product

Duolingo is a language-learning app that created an animated video to demonstrate how the app works. Against funky background music, viewers see the brand mascot—a green owl—jumping around the screen and using its most popular features.

12. HOKA combines different video styles to show off its sneakers

Storytelling is a great video marketing technique for engaging viewers. Sneaker brand HOKA takes this approach with its product demo video. It starts by showing two people racing across a city, interrupted with 360-view footage of its new Mach X sneakers. 

Around 17 seconds in, triathlete Sunny Margerum (a credible spokesperson for HOKA’s target audience) starts talking about the sneakers. There are several jump cuts to keep the viewer engaged—including a close-up of the sneakers, a breakdown of its materials, and someone tying their shoelaces on a running track. 

13. Headspace brings the ambiance of the app to its product video    

Headspace is a meditation app that helps people feel more calm and relaxed, so it’s no surprise that its animated product demo video has the same ambiance. The voiceover artist has a calm and soothing voice that’s overlaid onto relaxing background music. 

Headspace also anticipates any doubts and hesitations by addressing them in the video. If a viewer wants to join but thinks they won’t have time to mediate, the product demonstration highlights their “three-minute sessions for when you’re short on time.”

14. Pipedrive shows what happens on screen and behind the screen

Pipedrive is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform for businesses. It’s packed with features, but this product demo video example prioritizes the most impactful ones.

Screen recordings make up the bulk of this video to show the software in action while mixing in live footage of the people behind the tech. A salesperson talks over the recording to explain what they’re demonstrating, the benefits of using Pipedrive, and how customers can extract more value from their own CRM dashboard.

15. Descript embraces YouTube to demo features made for YouTubers

Sure, this is biased. But at least we put ourselves last. Descript has a large collection of YouTube videos that act as both product tutorials and demos for different features in our video editing software.

The example here covers Regenerate : a tool that lets you make those awkward speaker audio cuts sound smooth and liven up voices through the magic of AI.

The introduction covers why Regenerate exists. Then our host Ramdy offers screen recorded tutorials on how to use Regenerate in ways that resonate with YouTubers.

What makes a great product demo video?

As these product demonstration examples show, there are a lot of ways to show off a product or service. But there are key concepts they all use to capture a viewer’s attention and convince them to buy.

You can create a product demo video that does the same by ensuring it checks the following boxes:

• Clear product presentation. The goal of a product demo is to show your product in the best light. Make that possible by putting it front and center, using different camera angles and shots to replicate the experience someone would have interacting with your product in person.
• Emotional appeal. People buy things they’re emotionally connected to . Use your product demo as an opportunity to connect with your viewer and evoke emotion—whether it’s happiness, frustration, or motivation. Bonus points if you can position your product as the solution to a negative emotion.
• Professional production quality. From audio improvements to fancy transitions, the right video editor can turn even screen recordings and iPhone footage into an impressive product demo video.
• Call to action. Don’t assume people who watch your product demonstration will immediately visit your website and buy on their own. Ask them to do so with a call to action that includes a strong verb like “go,” “try,” or “buy.”

Script, storyboard, record, and edit product demos in Descript

As these product demonstration video examples illustrate, the editing process can turn even simple screen recordings into professional video productions.

Descript is a video and audio editing software anyone can use to create product demo videos with features like:

• Professional voiceovers using Studio Sound to enhance speaker audio with AI
• Voice cloning and a roster of stock AI voices for narrating your videos or making changes to speaker audio without rerecording
• Automatic filler word removal that identifies words like “um” and “like” 
• Screen recording functionality to film your screen, camera, and mic 

Sign up for free and start creating your product demo video today.

Product demo video examples FAQ

What should be in a product demo video.

A great product demo video showcases your best product features, use cases, pricing, and the challenges it solves for your target audience. 

How to make a good demo video?

• Determine your target audience
• Set clear objectives
• Create a script and storyboard
• Choose a format and length
• Create a shooting set up
• Record your product demo
• Edit your video with Descript 

How long should a product demo video be?

This depends on the platform you’ll be publishing it on. Social media demo videos should be short-form and grab attention fast, whereas product demo videos published on your website or YouTube can be several minutes long.

What is the difference between brand video and product video?

A brand video talks about a company’s values, products, or services. A product video , however, focuses on a single product. It covers the product’s best features and use cases.

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Take it from the B2B marketers who are already doing it: 73% say that webinars are their best method for attracting high-quality leads.

What is sound design? Elements & practices of sound design

Sound design can pop up in many forms of art. Sound designers create sound effects, source pre-recorded songs, create original music and build layers of ambiance.

How to overcome your fear of being on camera

Whether you're a vlogger, an influencer, or simply someone who wants to be more comfortable with video calls and virtual presentations, here are some strategies to help you feel more at ease in front of the camera.

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Ready to Get Started with Marketing on Social Media? Here’s What You Need to Know

What is social media marketing, and how does it build brand awareness? We’ll explain the basics and show you how it can help your business.

Protecting your intellectual property as a content creator: Tips from an IP lawyer

Whether you’re working with partners or going completely solo, there are steps you can take to protect your intellectual property that will spare you tons of headaches down the road.

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