If you’ve ever sat through a lifeless, generic product demo, you know how painful it can be. Now, you’re the one tasked with building a B2B product demo, and you want it to actually land. You’re using Slidebeam because it promises quick, good-looking presentations — but what you really need is a deck that doesn’t look like every other template out there.
This guide is for anyone who wants to take a Slidebeam template and make it feel like it’s actually theirs, without falling into the trap of wasting hours fiddling with fonts or ending up with a deck that’s more style than substance. I’ll walk you through everything: choosing a template, what to actually change, what to skip, and how to make sure your demo feels tailored for B2B buyers (not just “pretty”).
1. Pick the Right Starting Template (Don’t Sweat It Too Much)
Slidebeam has a ton of templates, and picking one can honestly feel overwhelming. Here’s the truth: for B2B product demos, most of the “pitch deck” or “product demo” templates are fine. The structure matters more than the visuals. Look for:
- A clear story flow. You want slides for the problem, your solution, features, value, and next steps.
- Not too many bells and whistles. The fancier the template, the more you’ll have to fight to make it suit your needs.
- Reasonable color scheme. Don’t pick something wild and then have to tame it.
Pro tip: Ignore the “inspirational” templates that are all about big images and minimal text. B2B demos need substance, not just vibes.
2. Strip Out the Filler (Seriously, Delete Ruthlessly)
Templates come loaded with generic placeholder slides. Before you do anything else:
- Delete slides you don’t need. Roadmaps, testimonials, or “meet the team” pages? Only keep them if you’ll actually use them.
- Clear out example text and images. Nothing screams “template” like leaving in that fake quote from “John Doe, CEO.”
This will save you from editing stuff that doesn’t matter and keep your demo focused.
3. Swap In Your Branding (But Don’t Obsess)
Here’s where most people get stuck: trying to “perfectly” match their company’s brand. Slidebeam makes it easy to change colors and logos, but remember, it’s a product demo—not a brand identity contest.
What to actually do:
- Upload your logo. Put it on the title slide and maybe in a non-distracting corner of each slide.
- Adjust the color palette. Pick two or three of your actual brand colors. Change the accent colors and button colors, but don’t chase pixel-perfection.
- Fonts: Use your brand’s font if it’s available and easy to read. Otherwise, stick with what Slidebeam chose (they pick solid defaults).
What to skip:
- Custom slide backgrounds
- Watermarking every slide
- Overly complicated animations
Keep it simple. The goal is to make the deck feel like yours, not to show off every brand guideline.
4. Rework the Narrative for B2B Buyers
Here’s the real work: tailoring the story for your audience. B2B buyers care about specifics, not slogans.
A winning B2B demo covers: - The pain. What problem is your prospect facing? Use their language. - Your solution. How do you actually fix it? Show, don’t just tell. - Key features. Highlight what matters—skip the laundry list. - Business value. ROI, efficiency, compliance, whatever moves the needle for them. - Next steps. Make it easy to know what to do next.
Pro tips: - Use slide headlines that make a point (“Cut onboarding time by 60%”), not just labels (“Features”). - Show real screenshots, not mockups or stock images. - If you can, insert a quick agenda slide up front so buyers know what’s coming.
5. Customize Visuals (But Don’t Get Lost in the Weeds)
Visuals help, but only if they’re clear and real.
- Replace all stock images. Use product screenshots, dashboards, or customer logos (with permission).
- Use icons sparingly. Stick to the Slidebeam icon set unless you really need something different.
- Highlight data, not fluff. If you have stats, use Slidebeam’s chart blocks—they’re easy and look good.
What to avoid: - Overanimated slide transitions - “Fun” illustrations that don’t fit your brand or message - Slides cluttered with more than one major visual
Don’t burn hours tweaking layouts. If it looks clean and tells the story, move on.
6. Tighten Up the Copy
Most B2B demos fail because they try to say too much, or nothing at all. Here’s a checklist:
- Ditch jargon. If you wouldn’t say it on a call, don’t put it on a slide.
- Short bullets. Aim for one idea per bullet, max three per slide.
- Clear calls to action. End with exactly what you want the client to do (“Book a live demo,” “Start a pilot,” etc.).
If you’re not sure, read your slides out loud. If you trip over a sentence, rewrite it.
7. Add Smart Personalization for the Prospect
If you want to really stand out, take five minutes to tailor the deck to the specific company or team you’re presenting to:
- Add their logo to the intro slide (discreetly).
- Reference their industry, use case, or recent news.
- Tweak your pain points or feature highlights to match their priorities.
You don’t need to rewrite the whole deck—just enough so they know you didn’t send the same thing to everyone.
8. Review, Test, and Share the Right Way
Before you call it done:
- Preview your deck in “present” mode. Double-check for broken layouts or weird spacing.
- Share a link, not a PDF. Slidebeam lets you send live decks. This way, you can update the deck if you spot a typo after sending.
- Test on a different device. Make sure nothing’s broken on a tablet or a different browser.
If you have a teammate, ask them to take a look. A fresh set of eyes will catch things you missed.
Honest Takes: What Actually Matters (and What Doesn’t)
Matters: - Clear story tailored to the buyer - Real product visuals - Branded enough to look intentional
Doesn’t matter: - Perfectly matched hex codes - Fancy animations - Slides stuffed with features no one cares about
Ignore: - Every single “best practice” you hear about slides needing exactly X number of words or images. Use your judgment.
Keep It Simple, Iterate, and Don’t Overthink
You don’t win deals with pretty slides—you win them with a clear, credible story that’s relevant to your buyer. Use Slidebeam’s templates to save time, but don’t let them box you in. Start simple, get feedback quickly, and tweak as you go. The perfect deck isn’t the one with the most slides—it’s the one your buyer remembers the next day.