If you’re using screen sharing or live demos to win over prospects, you know first impressions matter. But if your tools look generic or off-brand, you’re leaving money (and trust) on the table. This guide is for anyone who wants to make their sales or demo calls look polished and on-brand—without needing to be a designer or IT wizard.
Crankwheel (see crankwheel.html) is a solid pick for quick screen sharing, especially in sales. But out of the box, it looks like, well, Crankwheel. If you want your prospects to see your brand—not someone else’s—you’ll need to put in a bit of work. Here’s how to do it right.
1. Understand What “Custom Branding” Means in Crankwheel
Before you start uploading logos, let’s set expectations. When Crankwheel talks about “custom branding,” they mean:
- Your logo on waiting and sharing screens
- Your brand colors on the interface
- Custom text for messages and waiting rooms
- A branded URL (on paid plans)
- Optionally, co-branding with partners
What it doesn’t do:
- Deep customization of layouts or functionality
- Full white-label (on most plans, “powered by Crankwheel” sticks around)
- Animated or interactive widgets
If you’re looking for a totally white-labeled solution or something ultra-fancy, Crankwheel isn’t it. But for most teams, the basics are what actually moves the needle.
2. Prep Your Branding Assets
Don’t skip this step. Crankwheel’s branding options are only as good as what you upload.
You’ll need:
- A high-res logo (PNG with transparency is best, 400x100px or similar ratio)
- Your brand’s main color (hex code, e.g., #0057A2)
- Optional: Secondary color, short tagline, support email or phone number
Pro tip:
Don’t use a logo with a white background if your brand color is light. It’ll look cheap. Make a transparent version if you can.
3. Access the Branding Settings
Here’s how you actually get to the good stuff:
- Log in to your Crankwheel dashboard.
- Click your name or company in the top right, then choose Administration.
- Find and select Branding in the sidebar (sometimes under “Company Settings”).
If you don’t see it, you’re probably on a free plan or don’t have admin rights. You’ll need to upgrade or get someone with admin access to do this.
4. Add Your Logo and Colors
Now, let’s start making things look like you.
Logo
- Click “Upload Logo.”
- Pick your best version (see above).
- Check how it looks on both light and dark backgrounds. If it’s unreadable, try a different version.
Colors
- Set your primary brand color. This will show up on waiting screens and buttons.
- Pick a secondary color if you want, or just stick to one for simplicity.
- Crankwheel will show you a preview—don’t just trust the color picker, actually look at it.
What works?
- Simple, high-contrast logos are easiest to see.
- Stick to your main color—don’t get cute with gradients or wild palettes.
What to ignore:
- Don’t obsess over the “secondary color” unless your design team will notice. For most, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.
5. Customize Waiting Rooms and Messages
This is where most folks stop, but it’s worth spending a few extra minutes here.
Waiting Room Text
- Personalize the message that shows before you start sharing.
- Example: “Welcome to an Acme Corp demo! Your meeting will start in a moment.”
Support Info
- Add a support email or phone number. This seems minor, but if a prospect has trouble, you want them reaching out to you—not Crankwheel.
Co-branding (Optional)
- If you’re running demos with partners or resellers, you can add a second logo.
- Only do this if it makes sense—the more logos, the less clear who’s running the show.
6. Set Up a Custom Sharing URL
If you’re on a paid plan, you can ditch the generic Crankwheel URL for your own.
- Look for “Custom Domain” or “Branded Sharing Link” in the branding settings.
- Follow the instructions—they’ll walk you through pointing a subdomain (like
share.yourcompany.com) to Crankwheel. - You’ll need access to your domain’s DNS settings. If that’s gibberish to you, send the instructions to your IT person.
Real talk:
- This step is worth doing if you care about trust and don’t want prospects seeing “crankwheel.com” everywhere.
- It’s not instant—domain changes take a few hours to go live.
7. Test Your Branded Experience
Don’t assume it looks good just because it’s saved.
- Start a test session and open the sharing link in a private browser window.
- Check on desktop and mobile (Crankwheel is mobile-friendly, but your logo might not be).
- Make sure your logo is crisp—not stretched or blurry.
- Actually read your waiting room message out loud. Does it sound like you, or some robot?
What works?
- Collect feedback from a colleague who hasn’t seen it before.
- If anything looks off, fix it now. Prospects will notice.
8. Roll Out to Your Team
Once you’re happy, make sure everyone uses the new setup:
- Send a quick guide or screenshots to your sales team.
- Remind them to use the branded sharing link—not the default one.
- If you’ve set up a custom domain, update any email templates or calendar invites.
Pro tip:
- Bookmark the branded sharing link in your browser. Saves time, prevents mistakes.
9. Avoid Common Pitfalls
Here’s where most folks slip up:
-
Forgetting to update branding after a logo change.
If your logo changes, so should Crankwheel. -
Letting old links float around.
Update everywhere, or you’ll confuse prospects. -
Overcomplicating the design.
Simple works best. No one cares about your secondary accent color in this context. -
Ignoring mobile.
Test on a phone, not just your giant monitor.
10. Keep It Fresh, But Don’t Overthink It
Branding is not a one-and-done deal. If your look changes, take five minutes to update Crankwheel. But don’t get stuck tweaking tiny details—prospects care about clarity, not pixel-perfect design.
Wrapping Up
Getting your Crankwheel sessions on-brand isn’t rocket science. Upload a good logo, pick your main color, set a clear message, and test it out. Skip the fancy stuff unless it’s really needed. The point isn’t to win design awards—it’s to make prospects feel like they’re in the right place, with a company that’s got its act together.
Start simple, see what works, and tweak as you go. That’s usually all it takes.