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Show, Don't Tell

🀫 Show, Don't Tell #54 - You're probably wasting your demo's last step


Read Time: 3.9 minutes

Welcome to our 54th edition of Show, Don't Tell. A newsletter to help you build REMARKABLE interactive demos...3 tips at a time.

This week we:

  1. Make text move without using video​
  2. Build one demo page instead of fifty​
  3. Give people something at the end​

Let's get after it...

Supported By:

  • Navattic is our favorite interactive demo platform ❀️
  • It's easy to build demos of your product, that feel like the real thing
  • With HTML screen captures, easy editing, lots of sharing options, and powerful analytics
  • ​Try building your first demo for free!​
​

Tip #1: Animate Your Text As Much as You Can

Developer tools need to show code updating automatically. AI features need to show they can write. So most companies will drop in a video.

At first, we thought Octeto did the same thing. But after further inspection (and clicking around), we were dead wrong.

They use animated text that looks exactly like their product. Same colors, same formatting, same everything.

We think the trick is making sure that the text you animate is already on the screen before you capture the HTML code. It feels like you're watching the product work instead of smoke and mirrors.

​→ Watch Octeto's animated code​

Tip #2: Make Your Demo Easy to Find

We've covered a ton of demos. But we haven’t talked a lot about discovering them.

Lattice does an incredible job of placing their demos and tracking performance.

They put "Take a Tour" CTAs all over their site…and we mean…all over. But each CTA takes you to an individual page with a full-embed demo.

We like this because:

  • You can track who's landing there and from where
  • You've got a template that can be used for a quick turn-around

If your demo placement is a bit too complicated, you might want to take a page from Lattice.

​→ Check out Lattice's approach​

Tip #3: Finish Your Demos With a Gift

Most demos end with "Book a call" and that's it. Maybe a thank you message if you're lucky.

But not Lyra.

They used a mobile frame, introduced a character named Carlos, walked through his experience. All good stuff for any demo.

But at the end? They embedded a case study video right there with the CTA.

So you just finished the demo, you're interested, and instead of just being asked to book a call, you get a real customer talking about real results. It answers the "does this actually work?" question before you even think to ask it.

Plus…it makes that last step feel less like filling out a form and more like getting something sent to you.

​→ See how Lyra ends their demo​

How often are you sharing interactive demos during your sales cycle?

Here's a common misconception: if a prospect is active in your sales cycle, you should only show them the product on a live demo call.

However, the truth is actually the complete opposite.

In fact, Navattic's State of Demo Automation Report shows that deals with two to three automated demo touches had a 72% win rate compared to a 59% win rate on deals that had zero automated demo touches.

Instead of thinking that your interactive demo competes in some way with your live sales demo, think of it more as a value add and a way to get in front of buying committee members that never attend your live demo call.

By making it easier for people to explore your product on their own time and share demos across their company, you actually enable your champions to help sell your product.

All this data comes from Navattic's State of Demo Automation Report, where they analyzed 40k+ demos and surveyed 70+ SEs to discover how demo automation is impacting sales cycles, and what best practices make a real difference.

If you want more best practices like this and some pretty compelling stats to help you build a case for demo automation, check out the report below.

​​→ Read the full report!​

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Ask the Dash Bros πŸŽ™οΈ

A live, FREE coaching session to help you build better interactive demos (and make them your top marketing asset.)

In these 45-minute coaching sessions, Eric and Jason answer your questions about demo strategy, distribution, sales enablement, and any other challenges you're facing with interactive demos.

The next session is Wednesday, Apr 22nd at 12PM ET.

​→ Register now - It's 100% Free​

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So that’s it. Our 54th edition of Show, Don’t Tell.

3 useful tips to help you build remarkable interactive demos.

Tune in next Tuesday for more advice from DemoDash.

P.S.

If you know anyone else who would love these tips, please consider sending them this edition so they can subscribe πŸ™
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​Jason and Eric​
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Show, Don't Tell

Learn how to create remarkable interactive demos that make your SaaS product easy to understand and buy. 3 practical tips and examples every Tuesday.

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