If you’re running sales or presales and your prospects want to see your product in action, you know the drill: record a demo, send a link, hope for the best. But sharing live demos isn’t just about showing off features—it’s about control, security, and looking like you know what you’re doing. This guide is for anyone who wants to share product demos with prospects without losing sleep over leaks, expired links, or accidental oversharing.
We'll walk through the best way to share demos securely using Demoboost—and just as importantly, what not to bother with.
Why bother with secure demo sharing?
Honestly, most demos aren’t exactly state secrets. But if you’re demoing unreleased features, pricing, or anything that’s not meant for the whole world, you need to control access. Here’s what can go wrong if you don’t:
- Prospects forward links to competitors.
- Sensitive info leaks onto Reddit or Twitter.
- You lose track of who’s seen what.
Demoboost claims to solve these headaches, but just because a tool says “secure” doesn’t mean it’s foolproof. The workflow below balances convenience with real security—without making your prospects jump through hoops.
Step 1: Plan your demo before you record anything
Don’t just hit record and wing it. Prospects can tell when you’re unprepared, and mistakes get baked into the recording forever. Before you open Demoboost:
- Decide what you actually need to show. Strip out anything off-topic or sensitive unless it needs to be there.
- Draft a loose script. It doesn’t have to be word-for-word, but know your key points.
- Double-check your demo environment. No personal info, test data only, and nothing embarrassing on your desktop.
Pro tip: If you’re showing unreleased stuff, keep it in a separate demo flow. That way, you won’t accidentally expose it to the wrong audience.
Step 2: Build your demo in Demoboost
Now, log into Demoboost and start putting your demo together. Here’s what actually matters:
- Use Demoboost’s step-by-step flows. Don’t just dump a screen recording—use their interactive flows to guide the prospect.
- Add callouts and explanations. Don’t assume your audience will “just get it.” A little guidance goes a long way.
- Limit the scope. The more you show, the more you risk leaking. Be ruthless about what makes the cut.
What to skip: - Don’t bother with heavy branding or fancy intros. Prospects care about the product, not your logo flying in. - Skip auto-play audio unless it’s crucial. It’s annoying and sometimes gets blocked anyway.
Step 3: Set up access controls (don’t skip this)
This is where most people get lazy. Demoboost has a bunch of security options—use them. Here’s what you should actually do:
- Require email authentication. This way, you know exactly who’s watching. Most prospects are used to this by now.
- Set an expiration date on the demo link. A week or two is usually enough. If they want access later, you can re-issue.
- Limit the number of views. If you’re really worried about leaks, set it to one or two. Be realistic—too strict, and you’ll annoy your prospects.
- Disable downloading or sharing. Demoboost can block downloads and make forwarding harder. It’s not bulletproof (someone can always screen-record), but it’s a good deterrent.
Ignore: - IP whitelisting unless you really need it. It’s overkill for most deals and a pain for prospects.
Honest take: No tool can stop someone determined to leak your demo, but these steps will stop casual sharing and show you take security seriously.
Step 4: Personalize (but don’t overdo it)
If you want your prospect to pay attention, add just enough customization to make it relevant:
- Insert the prospect’s name or company in the intro. Quick, simple, and makes it feel less generic.
- Highlight features that solve their problems. Not just your pet features.
- Skip cringey over-personalization. No need for custom theme songs or “Hey, Dave from Acme Corp!” animations.
The point: Make it feel like it’s for them, but don’t waste hours on things no one cares about.
Step 5: Send the link wisely
Don’t just fire off a generic email with “here’s the demo.” A little context goes a long way:
- Explain how to access the demo. Mention they’ll need to authenticate with their email.
- Set expectations. Let them know the link will expire and isn’t meant to be forwarded.
- Invite questions. “Let me know if you hit any snags or want a live walkthrough.”
Sample message:
Hi [Prospect Name],
Here’s a short interactive demo showing how [feature X] works for [their use case]. You’ll get a secure link that’ll ask for your email—this keeps things private between us. If you want a deeper dive or run into any issues, just ask.
[Demoboost demo link]
Step 6: Monitor engagement (but don’t micromanage)
Demoboost gives you analytics on who viewed your demo, for how long, and what they clicked. This can be helpful—if you use it right:
- Look for drop-off points. If everyone bails halfway, your demo’s too long or confusing.
- See if the prospect watched at all. No views? Time for a polite nudge.
- Don’t obsess. Watching analytics all day won’t close deals—use it to improve, not to stalk.
Step 7: Follow up with value, not pressure
After your prospect checks out the demo, your next move matters more than any dashboard stat:
- Ask for feedback. “Anything unclear? Want to see it live?”
- Offer a live Q&A. Sometimes a quick call beats endless email threads.
- Don’t guilt-trip about expired links. Just resend or extend if they ask—life gets busy.
What works—and what to ignore
What actually helps
- Setting expiration dates and email gating stops most accidental leaks.
- Personalizing the demo (lightly) makes prospects pay more attention.
- Keeping demos short and targeted respects everyone’s time.
What doesn’t matter
- Over-engineered security (IP locks, watermarks) usually just annoys prospects.
- Flashy graphics or intros—no one cares.
- Tracking every click like it’s mission control. Use analytics for trends, not surveillance.
What to skip entirely
- Letting demos “go viral” inside a prospect’s org. You want control, not chaos.
- Sending raw screen recordings instead of an interactive flow. It looks amateur.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, iterate often
You don’t need a 40-step approval process or a security policy thicker than your laptop. Start with gated, expiring links, keep your demos focused, and tweak based on what works. If someone really wants to leak your demo, they’ll find a way—but you’ll have done your part. The rest is just sales.