The market for interactive demo automation has exploded in the last few years. G2 even stated in their Q4 2023 State of Software report that demo automation was the category with the most buyer traffic on their site above API platforms, data observability, and generative AI.
That’s huge in an age where everyone is constantly talking about AI.
But this also means buyers looking for a demo automation solution are being bombarded with options.
Ever heard of choice overload? It’s a real thing.
When people have too many choices, they become overwhelmed and may slip into decision paralysis.
We’re here to help clear the air about at least two kinds of demo automation: click through demos and interactive product tours. Both are great options for scaling your teams, but which one works best for you will depend on your overall goals.
Come see how easy buying can be.
What is a Click Through Demo?
Think of a click through demo as a highlight reel. Highlight reels show off the best parts of a product but don’t give users a deep understanding of how the product works or how it can help them.
Users click through the demo at their own pace, typically presented in a series of static screenshots or videos that create a guided walkthrough of a product. The experience is mostly passive, which may hurt you if your customers prefer a more tactile experience. It can also feel rigid, with customers being forced to go through an entire demo just to answer one question about a feature. Still, click through demos can be a helpful way to introduce new users to a product or to give potential customers a preview of what it’s like to use.
What is an Interactive Product Tour?
Interactive product tours are more akin to documentaries. Documentaries provide a more in-depth look at a product and allow users to learn at their own pace.
An interactive product tour is a more immersive and engaging experience because it uses tooltips, hotspots, interactive product UI, and other elements to guide users through a product and allow them to interact with it in real time.
This makes it possible for users to learn about a product and play around with its features in a more hands-on way. The capabilities of interactive product tours can even help onboard new users and drive adoption.
Here is a table that outlines the key differences between click-through demos and interactive product tours:
| Feature | Click-Through Demo | Interactive Product Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Interactivity | Passive | Active |
| Focus | Specific features or benefits | Overall product experience |
| Use cases | Highlighting key features, giving product previews | Onboarding new users, helping users get the most out of a product |
| Benefits | Easy to create and share, good for highlighting key features | More engaging and immersive experience allows users to learn at their own pace |
| Examples | A series of screenshots with text captions, a video tour of a product | Interactive elements created by capturing live product UI, a hotspot that allows users to click on an element to learn more about it |
The best choice for you will depend on your specific needs, or you may consider using a combination of the two.
You could create a click-through demo that highlights the key features of your product for customers early in their buyer journey for your website and then create an interactive product tour that gives users a more in-depth look at how to use those features that you send before live demos or as part of implementation.
Making the Right Choice
When it comes to demo automation, there’s no right or wrong answer as long as it works for your company. Before you choose between click-through demos or interactive product tours, take time to consider the best way for customers to learn about your product and choose the tool that specializes in that. If you want more information about which of these tools will work best for you, check out our blog, research, or even your own custom demo.
