If you’ve ever watched someone’s eyes glaze over during a slide deck, you know how fast a sales pitch can die. That’s doubly true in enterprise sales, where prospects have sat through hundreds of the same old presentations. Interactive product demos can wake people up and actually show—not just tell—what your product does. This guide is for anyone who wants to use Pitch to deliver interactive demos that don’t bore people to tears.
This isn’t about tacking on flashy widgets or overpromising — it’s about making your product demo clear, useful, and, yes, a little more memorable than the generic “feature parade.” Let’s get into how to do it right.
Why bother with interactive demos in Pitch?
Before you start, ask yourself: is an interactive demo really going to help, or is it just more work? In enterprise sales, the answer is usually yes—but only if you do it with a clear goal. Here’s why:
- People remember what they do, not just what they see. Clicking, exploring, or even just feeling in control keeps folks engaged.
- You get past the “just another slide deck” vibe. Nobody wants to sit through another static feature dump.
- It’s faster to show than to explain. Especially if your product is complex or your audience is short on patience.
But: don’t overthink it. Not every slide needs bells and whistles. One or two well-placed interactive demos can do more than a dozen half-baked ones.
Step 1: Decide what you actually need to demo
Start simple. What’s the one or two things your product does that will matter most to this buyer? Focus your demo around those.
Do this first:
- List the top 2-3 features your audience actually cares about.
- Sketch out how you’d show those features in 2-3 minutes, max.
- Ignore “nice to have” features that just add clutter.
Honest tip: The more focused your demo, the more likely people are to remember it. If you try to show everything, you’ll lose them.
Step 2: Choose your interactive elements wisely
Pitch isn’t a full-blown product tour tool, but it does let you add enough interactivity to make a difference. Here’s what works (and what doesn’t):
What works in Pitch:
- Embedded videos: Great for showing actions that would take too long live, or for showing off mobile/tablet flows.
- Clickable links and buttons: Use these to let viewers jump to different slides or resources. It’s not true “product simulation,” but it can give some agency.
- Live embeds: You can embed live apps or tools (think: Figma prototypes, Typeform forms, Google Sheets). This is about as interactive as Pitch gets.
- Simple animations: A little movement can help, but don’t go overboard.
What doesn’t:
- Fake “click to reveal” hacks: Viewers see through this quickly. Avoid if it doesn’t add real value.
- Overcomplicated hacks with GIFs or auto-play videos: These rarely look good and usually break during live calls.
Pro tip: If you need true “sandbox” interactivity (like letting people actually use your product), link out to a dedicated demo environment instead. Don’t try to force Pitch to do what it can’t.
Step 3: Build your interactive demo in Pitch
Here’s a straightforward process to keep things clean and useful.
1. Plan your flow
- Map out the story: Opening, key feature demo(s), closing.
- Decide where interactivity makes sense. Don’t add it just to show you can.
2. Gather your assets
- Video recordings: Use a screen recorder to capture your product in action. Keep clips short—15-30 seconds is ideal.
- Embeddable links: If you’re using something like a Figma prototype, make sure it’s set to “public” view.
- Screenshots: Have static images ready as fallbacks in case something fails during the call.
3. Add the interactive pieces
- To add a video: Use the “Upload video” option on a slide, or embed from YouTube/Vimeo if you like.
- To add a live embed: Use “Add embed” and paste the share link for your tool (Figma, Typeform, etc.).
- To add internal navigation: Insert a shape or button, then set it to “Go to slide X.” This lets you create simple branching paths (“Want to see reporting? Click here.”).
Keep it simple: Don’t build a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure novel. One or two clickable options is usually enough.
4. Test like crazy
- Run through the deck as if you’re the prospect.
- Check that all links, videos, and embeds work on the devices your prospect will use (especially if you’re sharing a link for them to click through on their own).
- Have a colleague play “prospect” and try to break things. You’ll spot glitches fast.
Step 4: Presenting live vs. sharing a self-serve link
Live pitching? - Use interactivity to “show, then ask.” Guide them through, but pause for questions and let them drive if they want. - Have a static backup handy in case your internet dies or embeds won’t load.
Sending as a link? - Assume people won’t click every button or watch every video. Make sure the story still makes sense if they just scroll through. - Add clear instructions (“Click here to see the reporting dashboard”) but don’t bury key info behind optional clicks.
Hard truth: Most buyers skim. Design with that in mind.
Step 5: Avoid common pitfalls
Here’s where most interactive demos go wrong in Pitch (and how to avoid it):
- Too many moving parts: More interactivity means more things can break. Keep it minimal.
- Assuming everyone’s tech works: Embedded stuff can fail with strict firewalls, slow Wi-Fi, or outdated browsers. Always have a non-interactive fallback.
- Overpromising: If your demo is slick but your actual product is clunky, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment later.
- Ignoring accessibility: Make sure videos have captions and that key info isn’t only available through fancy interactive elements.
Real-world examples (that aren’t just hype)
Let’s be honest: The best interactive demos in Pitch aren’t the flashiest—they’re the clearest. Here are a couple of real approaches that work:
- Clickable prototypes for new features: If you’re selling a roadmap or beta, embed a Figma or InVision prototype directly. Prospects can click around in a safe environment.
- Mini product tours via video: A 30-second narrated video showing a real workflow beats a static screenshot every time.
- Jump-to-section navigation: Add a simple menu at the start (“Interested in security? Jump to slide 8”) so buyers can skip to what they care about.
What doesn’t work? Trying to recreate your app’s full UI in Pitch. It’s tempting, but it’s rarely worth the effort.
Pro tips for making your Pitch demo actually sell
- Keep the focus on the buyer: Tie every interactive moment back to their pain or goal.
- Narrate, don’t just show: If you’re presenting live, talk through what you’re showing and why it matters. Don’t just click around in silence.
- Iterate: After every pitch, ask what landed and what fell flat. Tweak your demo slides often.
- Don’t be afraid to say “let me show you in the real app.” Sometimes, the best move is to switch from Pitch to a live product screen share.
Wrapping up: Keep it simple, keep it honest
Interactive product demos in Pitch can help prospects actually “get” your product, but only if you keep things clear and don’t let the tech get in the way of the story. Start with what matters, add just enough interactivity to show it, and keep iterating. The goal isn’t to impress people with your deck—it’s to make it easy for them to say “yes” to your product.
Go build a demo that works, not just one that looks cool. And remember: a good product, shown simply, always beats a fancy presentation that confuses people.