Definition
An interactive demo is a guided product experience that lets a viewer click or make choices instead of only watching a fixed recording. For example, a prospect might select a sample workflow and explore its screens in a sandbox. It can explain a product without giving access to a live customer account.
Scenario in a product workflow
A buyer exploring an analytics product might choose a sample sales or operations workflow and click through a simulated dashboard. Each path needs a sensible state, sample values and a way to recover from a wrong choice. A short video can introduce the same dashboard but cannot give the viewer control over the next screen.
How to apply it
Use this format when the viewer needs to choose a path or inspect a product at their own pace. A video can introduce the same workflow, but the viewer cannot click through it.
A practical review
Map the choices a viewer can make and the state each choice reveals. Test that paths do not dead-end, use fictional records, and provide an exit or reset. If viewers only need to understand one fixed workflow, a recorded video may be simpler to maintain.
A decision to make before production
Decide which choices the viewer can make and how each branch returns to a useful state. Keep simulated data clearly representative, and distinguish the interactive experience from the live product if behavior or access differs.
How it differs from recorded product video
An interactive demo lets the viewer make choices or click through a simulated experience. A recorded video has a fixed sequence. Use the interactive format for exploration and a video when the message and pacing should stay consistent.
When a team uses the term “interactive demo” in a brief or review, agree on the intended meaning before production. That prevents the script, visual plan and success measure from drifting apart.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How is interactive demo different from recorded product video?
An interactive demo lets the viewer make choices or click through a simulated experience. A recorded video has a fixed sequence. Use the interactive format for exploration and a video when the message and pacing should stay consistent.
What should a team check when using interactive demo in a product video?
Use this format when the viewer needs to choose a path or inspect a product at their own pace. A video can introduce the same workflow, but the viewer cannot click through it.
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