If you’re running a sales team (or just hustling solo), you know that getting someone to actually see your product in action is half the battle. You’ve probably heard about real-time demos and “instant” screen sharing, but you’re skeptical—does any of this stuff actually move the needle? And do you really want to load up yet another tool that just slows everyone down?
This guide is for folks who want to cut through the noise and actually get more prospects to say yes. I’ll show you how to use Crankwheel instant demos to improve your sales conversion rates—what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the usual time-wasters.
Why Instant Demos Matter (and Where Most Teams Fall Down)
Let’s get real: The longer it takes to get a prospect from “I’m curious” to “let me see it,” the colder they get. Traditional demo scheduling is a pain—back-and-forth emails, calendar links, no-shows. Prospects drop off because they get bored or distracted.
Instant demos flip this around. Instead of making someone wait, you show them the product now, while they’re interested. No downloads, no “Can you see my screen?” nonsense.
But here’s the kicker: Just having instant demo tech doesn’t magically boost your conversion. It’s about how you use it.
Step 1: Set Up Crankwheel So It’s Actually Easy
Crankwheel’s whole pitch is “instant, hassle-free screen sharing.” For most sales teams, the setup really is straightforward, but it’s worth doing right.
What Works: - Browser-based: No downloads for you or the prospect. You share a link, they click, it just works. - Integrates with your CRM: If you’re using Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar, you can track demo activity. - Instant notifications: Get alerts when someone requests a demo from your site.
What To Ignore: - Fancy integrations you’ll never use. Don’t overcomplicate it with every bell and whistle. - Over-customizing demo rooms with branding, unless you’re selling to folks who really care. Most don’t.
Pro Tip:
Test the experience from your prospect’s side. Open a private browser, click your own demo link, and see if it’s actually as fast as you think.
Step 2: Offer Instant Demos Everywhere Prospects Engage
You can’t improve conversion rates if nobody sees your demo offer.
Here’s where to put your instant demo CTA: - On your website: Use Crankwheel’s “Request Demo” widget on pricing, feature, and contact pages—anywhere people are close to a buying decision. - In outbound emails: Add a “See it now” link in your outreach. Don’t bury it in a wall of text. - On chatbots/live chat: If someone’s already chatting, offer to show, not just tell. - In LinkedIn or social DMs: When someone bites, send your instant demo link. But don’t spam.
What Works: - Making the CTA clear (“See a live demo now—no signup needed”) - Following up instantly when someone clicks or requests a demo
What Doesn’t: - Passive “Learn more” buttons - Burying your demo offer under three layers of navigation - Waiting hours to respond to a hot lead
Step 3: Nail the Demo Flow—Keep It Short and Focused
Instant demos are all about catching someone while they’re interested. Don’t waste that window.
How to run a killer instant demo: - Confirm what they care about, fast: Start by asking, “What made you click for a demo?” Don’t guess. - Show, don’t tell: Walk through the specific feature or use case they mentioned. Skip the company history. - Keep it under 10 minutes: If they want more, they’ll ask. Respect their time. - Have your screens ready: Crankwheel lets you show a full screen, an app window, or a browser tab. Don’t have personal email or Slack open—nobody wants to see that.
What Works: - Tailoring the demo on the fly to what they ask about - Screen sharing just the relevant part, not your whole desktop
What Doesn’t: - Long-winded intros - Showing every feature “just in case” - Reading from a script
Pro Tip:
End with a clear next step. “Want me to send you a trial invite?” or “Should we schedule a deeper dive with your team?”
Step 4: Use Instant Demos to Rescue Lost Leads
Not every prospect will book a meeting. Some ghost you after the first call, others go cold after a price quote. Instant demos give you an excuse to re-engage.
How to use instant demos for follow-up: - “Hey, want to see how this actually works?” in your follow-up email - Send a demo link with a real example: “I can show you exactly how this would look for your team—takes 5 minutes.” - Offer ad-hoc demos when they’re online: If you see someone open your email or visit your site (use your CRM tracking), ping them with a quick demo offer.
What Works: - Being genuinely helpful, not pushy - Timing your message so it feels personal
What Doesn’t: - Hammering people with “Just checking in…” emails - Sending generic demo videos instead of live screen shares
Step 5: Track, Tweak, Repeat
You’re not going to get this perfect right away. The good news is, Crankwheel gives you data on demo requests, completions, and even how long people stayed.
What to track: - Number of instant demo requests - How quickly you respond - Conversion rate from demo to next step (trial, meeting, signup)
How to iterate: - If people drop off before the demo starts, your process is too slow or confusing—fix it. - If demos aren’t converting, review your script. Are you showing what prospects actually want? - If you’re not getting enough demo requests, move your CTA or make it clearer.
Ignore: - Vanity metrics like total screen shares or time spent demo’ing. Focus on conversion.
Pro Tip:
Record a few demos (with permission) and watch them back. See where people get bored or confused. Fix those moments.
What About Mobile Prospects?
Crankwheel works on mobile devices, which matters more than you’d think. Lots of buyers check emails or browse your site from their phone.
How to make the most of this: - Test your demo links on iOS and Android - Keep demos even shorter for mobile users - Never assume they’re at a desk—ask if they want a follow-up later
The Limits—And When Instant Demos Aren’t Enough
Let’s be honest: Instant demos aren’t a silver bullet.
- If your product is super complex or requires technical setup, you’ll still need scheduled deep dives.
- Some buyers just want a PDF or a video first—they’re not ready for live interaction.
- If your sales motion is entirely self-serve, instant demos might not move the needle much.
But for most SaaS or B2B tools, reducing friction and showing the product live is the fastest way to real conversations.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
Don’t overthink this. Set up Crankwheel, put demo links everywhere you can, and jump on every request fast. Tweak your pitch based on what real buyers are asking and pay attention to the numbers that matter.
Sales is a contact sport. Every minute you save a prospect is a minute closer to a deal. Instant demos won’t fix bad products or broken sales pitches, but they will help you strike while the iron’s hot. Keep it simple, keep improving, and you’ll see your conversion rates climb.