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Table of contents:
Key takeaways:
- Product demo videos showcase your product's features and benefits through storytelling and engaging visuals.
- Demos don’t have to be high-budget productions. You can even use a basic camera or smartphone paired with recording software like Riverside for high-quality demos.
- Clear, concise messaging and relatable scenarios help connect with viewers and highlight your product's value.
Forget slick sales pitches and endless brochures. Top companies know the real secret to selling anything: product demo videos.
We've broken down 12 compelling product demo video examples to reveal the key ingredients for success. Let's dive in and discover how to create your own.
What is a product demo video?
A product demo video is a type of branded video that shows potential customers how a product works and how it can address their specific needs.
Commonly used in marketing and sales, these videos:
- highlight key features
- provide clear instructions, and
- show real-world applications,
all to help customers make informed decisions.
Let’s take a look at some examples of compelling product demo videos.
12 product demo video examples to inspire your next project
Wix Studio
Wix Studio’s demo sets a high standard for product demo videos. It oozes style and conveys a premium feel with its high production value.
The demo blends good music and catchy visuals, all while highlighting the benefits website creators will get using Wix’s sleek, intuitive interface. Just by watching the video, you can grasp the benefits: grid-based website development, no-code interactions and animations, access to hundreds of APIs, and more. All this is explained with text, audio, and visuals.
Plus, it’s fun to watch. Wix Studio’s video is an excellent example of product demos done right.
Meta’s Orion
This product demo ditches the typical deep dives into features and benefits, opting instead to build anticipation and intrigue. And compared to the Wix Studio video above, it wasn’t hard to make. Shot entirely on a phone with minimal editing, it proves you don’t need to burn cash on your product demo videos. Even Meta is comfy with such a low-fi approach!
Part of what makes the video compelling is the engaging narrator, who keeps things light and humorous.
The takeaway? With the right concept, you can get a lot done using a smartphone and a basic video creation platform like Riverside. With Riverside, you can even record everything directly t the cloud using our mobile app.
Grammarly
This Grammarly video uses a parody of a real-life scenario to show how the fictional characters use Grammarly to resolve a conflict at work. Watching the video gives viewers a clear idea of how using Grammarly’s tone feature can improve their day-to-day written communication.
The creativity, humor, and visuals of this video make it entertaining to watch. But the video is effective too. It repeatedly shows how the product works, while the highlighted benefits compel us to want to know more.
This video shows that crafting relatable scenarios, whether imaginary or real, can be a good way to show how people can use your product.
ClickUp AI
In this video, a made-up company's competitors have just launched a product. And the video’s protagonists need to create a go-to-market launch plan in just a week.
It’s the perfect problem for a task management and productivity platform like ClickUp. In this imaginary work scenario, the video shows various use cases of how engineers, designers, marketers, and content creators can use Clickup’s AI functionality to do their jobs faster.
The video ends with a link to the exact product feature, so users can check it out immediately.
It’s another fantastic example of bringing real-life use cases to life with imaginative storytelling. The demonstration is as clear as a bell; you’re left with no doubt about the feature and how to use it.
Headspace
Creativity and storytelling are great ways to showcase your product, and Headspace makes use of them in spades. In this video, the brand's cute, quirky animations hold your attention from the first second and keep it to the end.
The demo video makes Headspace feel like a pocket mentor that’ll help you with everything from sleep to fitness. And, it shows how you can integrate the app into any area of life. Plus, the calming voice of the narrator is right on brand - precisely what we’d expect from a meditation app.
Riverside
Not to toot our own horn, but this product demo video example shows how you can create a professional recording even in a small home studio.
I have a full home studio setup, but you can achieve something close with a good-quality smartphone camera, some lighting, and a microphone. Then, all you need is good-quality recording software like Riverside to capture your screen, video and audio at the same time.
This demo walks you through one of our new Music Overlays features. It goes through each step of using the new product and highlights how easy it is to create video content on our platform.
Notion
What a great way to explain your product! Notion doesn’t hold back; its product demo video literally demos the app in as exhaustive and compelling a way as possible.
If you’ve ever used Notion, you’ll notice this demo video explains almost all the app's key features. This gives people a clear look at how to integrate Notion into their work or personal lives.
Here, the storytelling isn’t too fancy, but the video is effective nonetheless. Study the video to see how Notion weaves its features and benefits with basic storytelling. This builds intrigue and makes the product worth checking out.
Apple MacBook Pro
Is it even possible for Apple to make bad product demos? The company is a master of marketing, and specifically in making kickass demos.
If you have the production budget and the right people, consider making Apple-style videos. Over the years, Apple has created a bunch of them, so there’s plenty of material to study and emulate.
So, what’s good about this particular video? Everything.
Think about it: the target customers are laptop users looking for a powerful computer. They want great specs, an excellent screen, and long battery life. And Apple showcases just that: their video uses visuals, storytelling, and creativity to show why this will be the greatest laptop you’ll ever own.
If there’s a perfect demo to emulate, this is it.
Tasty App
Does the complexity of producing the Apple video above leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed?
Don’t be; like we’ve mentioned before, your product demo video doesn’t need to be fancy. Take this Tasty App video, for example.
The video uses an overhead camera, a playful, lighthearted track, and a good narrator. Then it shows the user exactly how this app works from A to Z. It’s simple, effective, and casts the Tasty App in an appealing light. Best of all, everything is explained with a budget that won’t cost you your arm and a kidney.
Peloton
Sometimes you don’t need to sell features. You need to sell an experience.
For a masterclass in selling experiences, check out this Peloton product demo. The video doesn’t give a feature-by-feature breakdown of the product; instead, it provides a glimpse of how using the product will feel.
The feel of the live class sessions. The grind. The sweat. The euphoria of accomplishment. All this is conveyed through good storytelling, music, and scriptwriting.
Ring Door View Cam
Your script doesn’t need to be fancy. In fact, you can leave any explanation out altogether and let the visuals do the talking. That’s what Ring has done with its video. By focusing on only visuals, Ring easily conveys its product’s value proposition.
The video shows the product’s features in action through multiple scenarios, whether it’s letting someone at the door know you’re not at home or chasing away that pesky burglar trying to break into your house. The video is entertaining and the benefits and appeal of the product are very clear.
Soapbox
We've mentioned humor throughout this article, but it's worth re-emphasizing: a well-placed joke or a touch of lightheartedness can be the key to keeping viewers engaged from beginning to end.
Soapbox’s product demo video uses humor aplenty. It also does a great job of explaining the different scenarios where the product can be used.
But here’s the kicker: Soapbox has two other videos made on different budgets.
The second video was made on a $10,000 budget and the third video was made on a $100,000 budget
There’s no better example than this Soapbox series to prove that you can create a compelling product demo no matter the budget.
How to make your own product demo video: 7 Steps
Ready to create a product demo? Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Define your audience
Start by asking yourself who you’re trying to reach. Once you’ve honed in on your audience, you can understand their needs and pain points to shape your message better.
Step 2: Set clear objectives
What do you want viewers to do after watching? Do you want users to:
- Buy your product?
- Use a specific feature?
- Sign up for a trial?
- Become aware of your product?
Set your objectives for the video accordingly and ensure your call to action is clear.
Step 3: Create a script and storyboard
Come up with a script and storyboard. You don’t have to be too creative, especially if this is your first time making a product demo video. You can use any of the videos we’ve shared above as inspiration or search YouTube for many other examples.
Step 4: Choose a format and length
Keep it concise and engaging. If you’ve noticed, none of the videos we’ve posted cross the 3 minute mark. Most barely reach 2 minutes.
Also decide on a format. Do you want to use Animation? Live action? Whiteboard? A hybrid of various formats?
Step 5: Create a shooting setup
This will depend on the type of video format you’ve chosen. If you plan to shoot live-action, make sure you have good lighting, sound, and a clean background.
This can look anything like a full camera crew and kit in a studio, to recording a video at a desk with a few tools.
If you want to record with remote guests- for example, maybe you’re capturing a customer testimonial- then be sure to set up remote recording software like Riverside.
Step 6: Record your product demo
Start recording your demo. Again, this will look different depending on your setup.
For a live-action or even a remote recording, you can use Riverside to simplify your workflow. With us, you can:
- Record in up to 4K resolution.
- Capture separate audio and video tracks for easier editing.
- Record your screen with your webcam for easy demos.
- Keep organized with a collaborative workspace and intuitive interface.
- Use a teleprompter to make sure everyone stays on script.
- Allow everyone to record when it suits them using async recording.
- Assign an online behind-the-scenes producer to make sure all technicalities run smoothly.
Learn more, or sign up to start recording product demos easily!
Step 7: Edit your video
When editing your footage, you’ll want to:
- Trim your video, cut out unwanted parts and create a narrative.
- Add captions and other necessary text for context.
- Add music, sound effects and fix up your audio.
You could also add backgrounds, graphics or other customizations like your brand logo.
Luckily, with Riverside this becomes easy!
With our video editor, you can:
- Trim your recording as easy as editing text.
- Add dynamic captions and style them as you want.
- Fix your audio in a few quick clicks with our AI tools.
- Turn your video into short, shareable snippets for social media.
- Turn text into voiceover so you don’t need to re-record small mistakes.
- Customize your video with music, backgrounds, and your own logo.
5 Tips for creating product demo videos
But you don’t just want a demo video, you want a good one, right? Here are some tips to help you achieve that.
Good storytelling is key
Don’t just list features, weave a narrative. Create a story in which a character faces a problem that your product solves. Show their frustration before and their relief and joy after using your product. Also use relatable situations that your audience will recognize.
Humor
Humor grabs attention. It creates a positive association with your brand, increases memorability, and also makes it more shareable.
Make it unique
Today's marketplace is saturated with products. You need to make your demo unique to stand out from the crowd. A creative and engaging demo is likely to be remembered.
Keep it simple
The KISS (keep it simple, stupid) principle works well for product demos. People have limited attention spans, and you need to make it easy for viewers to stay focused and absorb your message. Use everyday language, clear visuals, and focus on the core product features. Avoid tangents that distract from your main point.
Show, don’t tell
Instead of telling people what your product can do, show them. This is known as the “show, don’t tell” principle.
Here’s an example:
- Tell: “Our noise-canceling headphones help you focus and be more productive, even in noisy environments.”
- Show: Depict a person trying to work in a chaotic environment with distractions all around. Then, they put on your headphones. Suddenly, the background noise fades away, and they focus intently on their work with a calm expression.
FAQs about product demo videos
Still need information? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.
What not to do in a product demo?
Here are some things to avoid in a product demo video:
- Don’t just list features
- Don’t overpromise
- Don’t overwhelm with features
- Don’t let the video run too long
- Don’t be generic
What software can I use to record a product demo video?
We suggest you use recording software that lets you record your screen, video and audio on separate tracks. You’ll want high-resolution recordings no matter where you’re recording from. This is why we suggest you try Riverside.
With our local recording, top 4K resolution and intuitive interface you can create high-quality product demos easily.
How do you measure the success of a product demo video?
The key metrics to measure the success of a product demo video include:
- View count: Shows the reach of your video
- Engagement: Includes likes, comments, and shares. High engagement indicates your video resonates with viewers.
- Duration of watch time: Shows how long viewers are engaged.
- Click-through rate (CTR): Measures how many viewers clicked your CTA (if you have one). Also a measure of engagement.