So you want to show off your software without boring your prospects or making them set up a sandbox. Maybe you’re tired of sending endless screenshots, or you’re getting the same “can you show me how it works?” emails over and over. If you’re nodding along, this guide is for you.
We’re going to walk through, step by step, how to build an interactive product demo in Demoboost — a tool that lets you create clickable, guided demos people can use right in their browser. No code, no downloads, no fuss.
I’ll be clear about what’s worth your time, what’s not, and how to avoid common rookie mistakes. Let’s get to it.
Step 1: Plan Your Demo Before You Touch the Tool
Don’t just dive in and start clicking around. A little planning saves a ton of rework.
What to do: - Write down your audience: Are you targeting decision-makers, power users, or someone else? - Decide on the story: What’s the main thing you want to show? “Our app saves you time” is too vague. “Here’s how you create an invoice in three clicks” is specific. - List the 3-5 key features or flows you want to highlight. Don’t try to show everything — nobody cares about your obscure settings menu.
Pro tip:
If you can’t summarize your demo in one sentence, it’s probably too long. Aim for 2-5 minutes tops.
Step 2: Gather Your Screenshots or Recordings
Demoboost uses screenshots (static or with clickable zones) to build step-by-step demos. Some folks try to use full video recordings, but honestly, that just turns into another webinar. Stick with crisp, focused screenshots for each step.
Best practices: - Use a clean, demo-ready account. Hide sensitive data and clutter. - Keep your browser and app window the same size for every screenshot. Consistency matters. - For flows that need typing or dropdowns, grab a before and after shot.
What to skip:
Don’t waste time editing out every little stray pixel. People care about clarity, not perfection.
Step 3: Create a New Demo in Demoboost
Alright, now log in to Demoboost and let’s get building.
- Click “Create New Demo” from your dashboard.
- Give it a clear name — something like “Invoice Creation Walkthrough” beats “Test Demo 3.”
- Add a short description. This helps your team find it later, and gives viewers context.
Heads up:
Don’t get lost in the template gallery. Start from scratch unless you know a template matches your flow. Over-customizing a template is usually more work than it’s worth.
Step 4: Upload and Organize Your Screenshots
Demoboost’s editor is drag-and-drop, so you can add your screenshots in order. Here’s how to keep things tidy:
- Drag your images into the editor, one per “step.”
- Rearrange them as needed by dragging steps up or down in the sidebar.
- Label each step with a simple title (“Select Customer,” “Enter Amount,” etc.). This makes navigation easier if your demo has a sidebar or table of contents.
Skip:
Adding every possible branch or error state. Stick to the happy path unless you’re demoing troubleshooting.
Step 5: Add Interactive Hotspots and Guidance
This is where Demoboost beats a plain old slideshow. You can add “hotspots” — clickable areas that guide the user forward, reveal tooltips, or branch to another step.
How to do it: - Click on a step, then “Add Hotspot.” - Drag to highlight the button, field, or section you want people to interact with. - Set what happens when it’s clicked: advance to the next step, show a tooltip, open a link, etc. - Add brief instructions or tooltips (“Click here to save the invoice”). Keep it short — nobody wants to read a novel.
What works: - Use hotspots only for actual actions you want users to take. If there’s nothing to click, don’t force it. - Tooltips are great for explaining “why” something matters, not just “what” it does.
What to avoid: - Making every pixel clickable. That just confuses people. - Repeating instructions that are obvious from the UI.
Step 6: Preview and Test Your Demo (Like a Real User)
Before you share your masterpiece, put yourself in your user’s shoes.
- Click “Preview” and go through the demo step by step.
- Try to break it: click in the “wrong” places and see what happens.
- Make sure your tooltips aren’t blocking key info.
- Double-check for typos, broken links, or steps that don’t make sense.
Honest tip:
Get a teammate who’s not familiar with your product to try it. If they get stuck or bored, your prospects will too.
Step 7: Set Up Sharing and Access Controls
Demoboost lets you share demos by link, embed them in your website, or restrict them to certain users.
Quick rundown: - For most sales or onboarding demos, a public link is fine. - If you’re showing sensitive info, set password protection or restrict by email domain. - Embedding is great for self-serve buyers, but check with your web team before pasting random code into your main site.
What to watch out for: - Over-restricting access kills adoption. Make it easy for people to try your demo — don’t hide it behind a dozen logins. - Don’t promise “live data” if your demo is just screenshots. Be upfront about what’s real and what’s not.
Step 8: Track Engagement, But Don’t Obsess
Demoboost gives you analytics: who viewed, how far they got, where they dropped off. This is handy, but don’t get lost in the weeds.
What matters: - If people are dropping off at a certain step, simplify it or add guidance. - Are prospects sharing the demo internally? That’s a good sign — maybe add a share button or tip.
What to ignore: - Chasing vanity metrics. Ten people who finish the demo and reach out are better than a hundred who click once and bounce.
Step 9: Iterate (But Don’t Tweak Forever)
No demo is perfect out of the gate. Use what you learn to make quick tweaks, but don’t fall into endless editing.
- Update screenshots if your UI changes — out-of-date demos make you look sloppy.
- If a section gets a lot of questions, add a tooltip or clarify the copy.
- Archive old demos you don’t use. Clutter builds up fast.
Pro Tips & Honest Warnings
- Keep it short: The best demos show one job well. Don’t try to cover every feature.
- Don’t fake interactivity: If your demo just flips through slides, people will notice. Use hotspots for real actions.
- Don’t overthink branding: Custom themes are nice, but don’t waste hours on colors and logos. Focus on the content.
- Be upfront: If something in the demo isn’t available in your product yet, say so. People remember honesty.
Wrapping Up: Start Simple, Refine as You Go
You don’t need to be a designer or a video editor to make a solid interactive demo in Demoboost. Focus on the top use case, keep it clear, and get real feedback from users. If you over-polish or try to cram in every feature, you’ll lose people. Ship it, see what lands, and improve from there. Simple wins.