If you’re tasked with running product demos and your close rate isn’t where you want it, this guide is for you. Sales teams love to talk about tools, but let’s be honest: most “best practices” articles are just wishful thinking. Here’s how to actually use Clearslide Live Meeting to run demos that move the needle on conversions—without wasting your time on what doesn’t matter.
1. Set the Stage Before You Ever Hit “Start Meeting”
A good demo starts before anyone clicks a link. You need to know who’s coming, what they care about, and what you want them to do next.
What actually works: - Send a short pre-demo email: Ask attendees what they want to see. (You’d be surprised how few people do this.) - Prep your content: Don’t use the same generic deck for everyone. Tailor your slides or demo flow to the person, not just the company. - Test your setup: Open the meeting link, check your screen share, and clear any desktop clutter. This sounds basic, but technical hiccups kill momentum.
Pro tip: Don’t trust your Wi-Fi. If you can, plug in. Nothing tanks a demo faster than “Can you hear me?” on repeat.
2. Nail the First Five Minutes
People decide in the first few minutes if they’ll pay attention or start checking their email. Don’t waste that time with small talk or a 10-minute company history.
Skip this: - Endless introductions. - “Let me just read this agenda slide to you.” - Telling them things they already know.
Do this instead: - Recap what you know about their challenges. - State what you’ll show them, and why it matters to them. - Ask if anything has changed since you booked the meeting.
Example opener:
“Thanks for making time. Last week, you mentioned your team struggles with [specific pain point]. I’ll show you exactly how Clearslide can help with that. Before we jump in, anything changed since we last spoke?”
3. Use Live Meeting Features, But Don’t Overdo It
Clearslide Live Meeting has some helpful tools—screen sharing, engagement tracking, live chat, and annotation. Use them, but don’t get distracted by bells and whistles.
Focus on these: - Screen sharing: Show, don’t just tell. Walk through workflows, not just slides. - Engagement alerts: If you see attention dropping, pause and ask a direct question. Don’t ignore this data. - Live chat/Q&A: Some people won’t speak up, but will type. Keep an eye on the chat, and answer questions in real time.
Skip these (most of the time): - Gimmicky annotations. Drawing circles is fine, but don’t turn your demo into a whiteboard art show. - Polls for the sake of polls. Only use them if you’ll actually do something with the answers.
Honest take: If you’re fumbling around with features, it just looks like you don’t know your own product. Practice with a co-worker if you’re not confident.
4. Keep the Demo Interactive (But Not Chaotic)
Demos aren’t Netflix. If you’re talking for more than five minutes without audience interaction, you’re losing them.
What works: - Ask specific questions: “Would this workflow fit your process?” or “How do you do this today?” - Let them drive: If possible, hand over mouse control or ask them to guide what you show next. - Read the room: If folks go radio silent, pause and check in: “Is this what you expected to see?”
What doesn’t: - Open-ended, vague questions (“Any questions so far?”) that get crickets. - Forcing interaction just for the sake of it. People can tell when you’re being inauthentic.
Pro tip: If your attendees are multitasking, don’t take it personally. Just bring the conversation back to their pain points.
5. Show Real Use Cases—Not Just Features
It’s tempting to show every button, but most buyers only care about how your product solves their problems.
Do this: - Use customer stories or examples that match the attendee’s situation. - Show outcomes (“Here’s how Acme Corp reduced support tickets by 30%”) not just features. - Skip deep-dives on advanced stuff unless they ask for it.
Don’t do this: - Demo every feature just because it exists. - Use jargon or internal acronyms. If you have to explain the term, don’t use it.
Honest take: Most prospects forget 90% of what you show—so make sure the 10% is what matters.
6. Watch Your Timing and Read the Signals
If you booked 30 minutes, plan for 20. People are busy, and most sales demos run long because the presenter is rambling or gets stuck answering off-topic questions.
What works: - Set expectations: “We’ll wrap up in 20 minutes so you have time for questions.” - Check pacing: If you’re halfway through and not at the main point, pick up the pace. - End early: If you finish before time’s up, no one will complain.
Pay attention to: - People going off mute (they want to talk). - Sudden drop-offs in engagement (they’re bored or confused). - Side conversations in chat (sometimes more valuable than what’s being said out loud).
Don’t:
- Overstay your welcome. If they want to keep talking, great. But always offer to give back time.
7. End with a Clear Next Step (Not a Vague “Follow Up”)
The last five minutes are where most demos die. Don’t close out with “Any questions?” and just hope they’ll get back to you.
Instead: - Summarize what you showed: “Today we covered how Clearslide helps with [pain point].” - Ask for the next step: “Are you ready to try this out with your team?” or “Should we set up a trial for next week?” - Send a recap: Immediately after, send a short email with key takeaways and action items. Don’t just send a recording—summarize what matters.
Don’t:
- Assume silence means interest. It usually means they’re not sold.
- Leave the call without a clear action item.
8. Review Your Demo and Actually Use the Data
Clearslide gives you engagement analytics—who paid attention, when people tuned out, what slides got the most time. Most reps ignore this. Don’t.
What’s worth looking at: - Drop-off points: Did people check out halfway through? That’s your cue to tighten your demo. - Questions asked: What did they care about? Adjust your next demo accordingly. - Follow-up: Use the data to personalize your follow-up. “I noticed you were interested in [feature]—want a deeper dive?”
Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis:
- The goal isn’t to make a dashboard for your manager. Just use the data to get a little better each time.
What to Ignore (Seriously)
- Complicated slide transitions: No one cares.
- Overly scripted demos: You want to sound like a human, not a robot.
- Generic sales collateral: If you’re sending PDFs that could apply to anyone, you’re doing it wrong.
Summary: Keep It Simple, Then Iterate
The best demos are simple: you show prospects what matters to them, keep it interactive, and make it easy to say yes to the next step. Don’t get lost in features or fancy tools. Use what works, ignore the fluff, and tweak your approach every time. You’ll get better—and your conversion rates will, too.