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Show, Don't Tell

🀫 Show, Don't Tell #56 - Bet you've never seen an integration library before


Read Time: 3.3 minutes

Welcome to our 56th edition of Show, Don't Tell. A newsletter to help you build REMARKABLE interactive demos...3 tips at a time.

This week we show you that:

  1. Demo glossaries are a thing now
  2. ...Integration libraries are too
  3. Less design is actually more

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!​
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Tip #1: Your Glossary Needs a Demo

We've talked about demo placement a lot. But one place we haven’t seen a demo: the glossary.

Think about it. Your prospects are searching for terms like "S5 Audit" or "Financial Controls." They land on your glossary page > they read > they learn. And then what?

They hit the end of the page and Operations1 has this perfect moment waiting for them:

"Get to know the software in just 3 minutes"

Here's why this is so damn smart:

  • It's not a pushy next step like β€œTalk to Sales”
  • It answers the "okay, but how does this actually work in your product?" question

Whether someone landed there organically through search or they're already familiar with your brand, the demo makes sense. Your prospects are already there. They're already interested. You're just giving them the thing they didn't know they wanted.

​→ Check out Operation1's glossary setup​

Tip #2: Show Every Single Integration

When you're in the software business, you need to integrate with other software. And don't tell your sales reps this...but prospects need more than a bunch of logos and a "trust me, it works.”

Airbyte knows they need to see it.

That's why they created a demo library dedicated to integrations. And not just a few, might I add.

40 different demos showing exactly how their product connects to your existing stack. This is the first time we've seen someone go this deep on integration demos, and honestly? We're a little jealous someone beat us to it.

It’s so good because instead of making them wonder, Airbyte said: "Pick your tool and see exactly how we fit in."

If you operate in a space where compatibility matters, this is your blueprint.

​→ Explore Airbyte's integration library​

Tip #3: Design Doesn't Need to Be Complicated

Appara reminded us that sometimes the best design is the one that gets out of the way.

Their demo center is refreshingly simple. The hero says "Product Tours." That's it. No tagline. No flowery language. No mysterious animation that makes you wonder what you're about to see.

Then each tour has a custom thumbnail built from an actual screenshot of the product, paired with huge, clear text that tells you exactly what you're getting.

As much as I like a big creative swings, we love this because:

  • My brain doesn't have to decode anything, and immediately understands what I’ll get from it
  • The custom thumbnails feel professional without requiring your design team to work overtime

We've praised beautiful demo centers before, and we'll do it again. Nice work, Appara.

​→ See the cleanest demo center this side of the Mississippi​

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Are you personalizing your demos?

I haven't met a sales engineer who doesn't conduct the same demo multiple times per week. According to Navattic, 94% of sales engineers report spending time conducting repetitive demos.

Time that could be better spent acting as strategic advisors on complex, high-value opportunities.

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.

One best practice that is clearly a game changer, is demo personalization.

Navattic found that demos had a 48% increase in view rate when they were personalized to the buyer or company they were being sent to.

In Navattic, you can easily personalize your demos in a couple of ways:

  1. Interest demos - This is where you present your buyers with an intro step, asking them to select the features or capabilities they're most interested in. You can then tailor their demo to the things that matter most.
  2. User / account properties - this is where you use the data you've collected through demo forms to personalize the copy or even your app for a specific buyer or account.

The best part β€” Navattic makes it easy to do both of these without any complex coding, letting YOU create a personalized demo experience that wows your buyer and leads to better demo engagement.

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, Feb 18th at 12PM ET.

​→ Register now - It's 100% Free​

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So that’s it. Our 56th 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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