So you want people to actually get your product before you try to sell them on it—or worse, ask them to book a call. Good. You're not alone. Interactive product demos are the closest thing to a “try before you buy” for SaaS, and they work because people hate being sold to but love to explore.
If you’re looking at Relayto as your platform, you’re probably tired of static PDFs and decks that just collect dust in someone’s inbox. This guide is for founders, marketers, and sales folks who want demos that convert, not just look pretty. Let's get practical.
Why bother with interactive demos?
Quick reality check—most prospects don’t read your whitepapers, and they’re not sitting through another 30-minute webinar. Interactive demos let buyers poke around and see value for themselves. Here’s why they matter:
- More engagement: People remember what they click, not what they skim.
- Higher conversion rates: If a customer understands your product, they’re less likely to ghost you.
- Shorter sales cycles: Demos help weed out tire-kickers and get serious buyers to the next step faster.
Does it always work? Not magic. If your product isn’t a good fit, a shiny demo won’t save you. But for curious buyers, it makes a real difference.
Step 1: Define a conversion goal (don’t skip this)
Before you open Relayto and start dragging blocks around, get clear on what “success” actually looks like. Are you:
- Trying to drive demo requests?
- Hoping for free trial signups?
- Just want people to understand one key feature?
Pick one. Seriously. Demos that try to do everything end up doing nothing. If you’re not sure, talk to your sales team—they’ll tell you where prospects get stuck.
Pro tip: Write your goal on a sticky note and put it on your monitor. It’ll keep you honest when you start adding “just one more” feature.
Step 2: Map out your user journey (on paper)
Don’t jump straight into Relayto yet. Instead, sketch out the path you want users to take. This helps you avoid building a maze with no exit.
Think about:
- Start: What’s the first thing someone sees?
- Middle: Where do they explore? What questions might they have?
- End: What do you want them to do next? (Sign up, book a call, etc.)
Keep it simple. Three to five steps is usually plenty. If you’re stuck, ask yourself: “What’s the minimum someone needs to see to get it?”
Step 3: Gather your building blocks
You’ll need more than just a few screenshots. Collect:
- Short video clips (ideally under 30 seconds each)
- GIFs or screen recordings for micro-interactions
- Clear, readable screenshots
- One-liner explanations (ditch the paragraphs)
- Links to docs or help articles (for the nerds who want more)
Skip the urge to use dense product spec sheets or old sales decks. If you can’t explain it simply, prospects won’t get it either.
Step 4: Build your Relayto interactive demo
Now, finally, open Relayto and start building. Here’s the no-BS approach:
- Create a new project: Pick a clean template. Don’t overthink it—clarity beats cleverness.
- Add “hotspot” interactions: Use clickable areas on images or screens so users can explore features on their own terms.
- Embed multimedia: Drop in short videos, GIFs, or audio clips. But don’t autoplay or overwhelm—let users choose.
- Break up info: Use cards, tabs, or collapsible sections. Big walls of text are a sure way to lose attention.
- Guide, don’t force: Offer a suggested path (like “Start here!”), but let users jump around. Nobody likes being railroaded.
- Include a clear CTA: Make your “next step” painfully obvious, whether that’s a signup button or a calendar link.
What works best:
- Keep copy short and punchy.
- Use real product screens, not mockups.
- Let users click and explore without getting lost.
What to skip:
- Long intro videos. Most people bail within 10 seconds.
- Gimmicky transitions—think substance, not sizzle.
- Passive “About us” sections—focus on what users care about.
Step 5: Add tracking and analytics
Relayto has built-in analytics. Use them. If you don’t know what people are clicking, you’re flying blind.
- Track drop-off points: Where do people bail? That’s where you need to improve.
- See what gets the most clicks: Double down on what’s working.
- Test multiple versions: Don’t be afraid to A/B test headlines or flows.
Honest take: Analytics won’t fix a confusing demo, but they’ll show you what to fix. Don’t ignore the data.
Step 6: Share and embed your demo smartly
You’ve built your demo—now get it in front of people who actually care.
- Embed on your website: Landing pages, feature pages, blog posts—wherever prospects are already looking.
- Link in outbound campaigns: Give sales a demo link instead of another PDF attachment.
- Use in live calls: Let prospects click around while you narrate, rather than forcing them to watch a static screenshare.
Don’t: Blast it out to everyone on your list. Target people who are in your buying process.
Step 7: Iterate based on real feedback
Your first version won’t be perfect. That’s fine.
- Ask users what confused them. If one person is lost, others are too.
- Watch real users. Nothing’s more humbling than seeing someone miss your “obvious” CTA.
- Update often. SaaS changes fast—so should your demo.
Ignore: Internal feedback from people who already know the product inside out. Your real audience is new folks.
What Relayto does well—and what it doesn’t
Relayto is genuinely good for putting together polished, interactive demos without needing an engineer. The drag-and-drop is straightforward, and you can get something up in a day. It’s especially handy for:
- Adding hotspots and clickable flows quickly
- Embedding video and multimedia
- Getting analytics without extra tools
But don’t expect miracles. If your product is complicated to explain, even a slick demo won’t save you from having to talk to real humans. And if you want super-custom logic or deep product simulations, you’ll hit some limits—Relayto can’t fake a fully interactive SaaS backend.
Bottom line: For most B2B SaaS companies, it’s more than enough. Just keep your demo focused and honest.
Keep it simple—and iterate
Don’t let “perfect” kill “done.” Start with a basic demo, get it in front of real prospects, and tweak as you go. The best interactive demos aren’t the fanciest—they’re the ones that make it dead simple for someone to say, “Yeah, I get what this does.”
So pick a goal, keep it short, and don’t get sucked into endless polish mode. Your future self (and your sales team) will thank you.