So you’ve got a SaaS product, and you want to show it off. Not with another boring slide deck or a wall of screenshots, but with a real, interactive demo. That’s where Storylane comes in—it gives you templates to get started, but let’s be honest: if you just use them as-is, your demo will look like…well, everyone else’s.
This guide is for marketers, founders, and product folks who want to make Storylane templates work for their product—not just slap on a logo and hope for the best. I’ll walk you through what actually matters, what you can skip, and a few mistakes I see all the time.
1. Start With the Right Template (But Don’t Get Precious)
Storylane offers pre-built demo templates for common SaaS flows—onboarding, feature walkthroughs, integrations, you name it. These are a great starting point, but don’t get too hung up on picking the “perfect” template.
What actually matters: - Pick something close enough. Look for a template that matches your flow’s general vibe: is it a guided tour, a self-serve sandbox, or a side-by-side comparison? - Templates aren’t sacred. You’ll be changing a lot anyway—don’t waste an hour debating between two templates that are 90% the same.
Pro tip: If your product is a bit weird or doesn’t fit the molds, start with the simplest template. It’s easier to add complexity than to rip out features you don’t need.
2. Map Out the Real User Journey (Not the Happy Path)
Most templates show a “happy path”—everything works, nothing confusing, no dead ends. Real users don’t have those journeys.
Here’s what works: - Jot down the steps your actual users take. That includes the awkward bits: toggling settings, fixing mistakes, hitting a permissions wall. - Decide what to highlight and what to skip. Not every feature needs airtime. Focus on what makes your product different or solves a pain point. - Cut, rearrange, or add steps. Edit ruthlessly. If a template has 10 steps and you only need 5, delete the rest. If you need to add a detour for something important, do it.
What to ignore: Don’t try to showcase every feature. That’s demo death. Keep it focused.
3. Use Real (Or Realistic) Data
Nothing ruins a demo faster than lorem ipsum or generic “User 1” labels. People want to see actual use cases, not a wireframe.
What works: - Use data that looks like your customers’ world. If you’re selling to sales teams, show leads and deals. For HR, show candidate pipelines. - If you can’t use real data, fake it well. Generate realistic names, company logos, or numbers. Tools like Mockaroo or even a good random name generator can help.
What doesn’t: Don’t just copy the template data. Everyone knows what “John Doe” looks like.
4. Customize Branding—But Don’t Overdo It
Branding matters, but obsessing over every pixel is a rabbit hole. You want your demo to feel like your product, but nobody’s grading your Pantone accuracy.
Key things to update: - Logo and color scheme—get these right so people know it’s your product. - Fonts and tone of voice—match your app if you can, but don’t sweat it if the template is close enough. - URL and favicon—if Storylane lets you, change these for extra polish.
What to skip: Unless your product is a design tool, don’t waste time adjusting every border radius and shadow.
5. Write Clear, Human Step Descriptions
The default template copy is usually bland and generic. You’ll stand out by writing like a real person.
What works: - Keep instructions short and direct. “Click here to create a new project”—not “Utilize this button to initiate a project workflow.” - Set expectations. If a step takes a moment, say so: “This may take a few seconds to load.” - Add context when it matters. Explain why a feature is cool, not just what button to press.
What doesn’t: Skipping step descriptions or using the template’s filler text. That looks lazy and confuses users.
6. Add Interactive Elements—But Stay Focused
Storylane lets you layer in tooltips, hotspots, videos, quizzes, and more. These can make a demo come alive, but too many and you’ve built a carnival, not a walkthrough.
What actually helps: - Use tooltips for tricky steps. Highlight things users often miss or misunderstand. - Embed short videos or GIFs only if it adds value. A 10-second clip showing drag-and-drop is great. A 2-minute monologue? Not so much. - Make it interactive, not overwhelming. Limit yourself to one or two “extras” per flow unless you have a rock-solid reason.
What to ignore: Gimmicks. If you’re adding confetti pop-ups or endless quizzes, you’re distracting from your product.
7. Test With Real People—Not Just Your Team
It’s easy to think your demo is clear because you built it. Test it with someone who’s never seen it before—preferably someone who matches your target user.
How to do it: - Send the link to a friendly customer or new team member. - Ask them to narrate what they’re thinking as they go. Where do they get stuck? What makes them say “oh, cool”? - Watch for dead ends, confusing steps, or missing context.
Pro tip: Don’t just ask, “Was it clear?” Instead, try, “What would you do next?” or “What didn’t make sense?”
8. Set Clear Goals and CTAs
Every demo should have a purpose. Are you trying to book a sales call? Teach users a new feature? Nudge them to sign up?
What works: - End with a clear call to action. “Want to see more? Book a live demo.” Or “Ready to try it yourself? Sign up free.” - Tie the CTA to the demo content. If you just showed off a new integration, link them to the integration setup page.
What doesn’t: Letting the demo trail off into nothing. People need a next step.
9. Don’t Set and Forget—Iterate
The first version of your demo won’t be perfect. That’s fine. Watch how people use it, ask for feedback, and tweak as you go.
What to watch for: - Drop-off points. Where do people give up or get bored? - Questions that come up after watching. If everyone emails you asking the same thing, your demo missed it. - Analytics Storylane provides. Use them, but don’t obsess. They’re a tool, not a crystal ball.
What to ignore: The urge to rebuild your demo from scratch every month. Small, focused tweaks win over endless redesigns.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Real, Keep It Simple
Customizing a Storylane demo template shouldn’t feel like launching a rocket—get the basics right, focus on your real users, and don’t let “demo perfection” slow you down. Start simple, test with a few people, and tweak what matters most. You’ll end up with a demo that actually helps people understand your product—and that’s the whole point.