Podcasts are a popular and effective way to reach your target audience and showcase your product. But how do you optimize a product demo for podcasts, when you can't rely on visuals or interactive features? Here are some best practices to make your product demo stand out and convince your listeners to take action.
Before you plan your product demo, you need to understand who your listeners are, what their pain points are, and how your product can solve them. Research your podcast's niche, audience demographics, and feedback. Tailor your demo to address their specific needs and goals, and use language and examples that resonate with them. Avoid jargon and technical details that might confuse or bore them.
Do a dry run with your champion before you present it to the Executives. Get the champion's feedback so you can tailor the demo to show exactly what the Executives would prefer to see. Make sure to set the expectations with the customer as well.
There is not much to say. Actually, we really need to think simply. Let's understand who is our target audience (as if it was a buyer persona). The question we need to ask ourselves is: who am I talking to? What are their expectations? What do they want to hear? Once we have it, we act, and if it is necessary we are always on time to adjust our speech according to the feedback we receive.
Know what your customer needs and focus on what will make them successful. I have sat through so many presentations where everything is reviewed - a total feature dump. Customize it and ask questions to clarify capabilities to their needs and you will some off as a SME.
A good product demo has a clear and logical structure that guides your listeners through the main features and benefits of your product. Start with a catchy introduction that hooks their attention and explains the problem your product solves. Then, present your product as the solution, highlighting the key features and benefits that match your audience's needs. Use stories, anecdotes, or testimonials to illustrate how your product works and how it has helped others. Finally, end with a strong call to action that tells your listeners what to do next, such as visiting your website, signing up for a free trial, or contacting you for more information.
I have never used scripts in demos, when you present "something" there is no single right way to do it. In my opinion, the most important thing is to give structure. Structured information increases "processing fluency" (the effectiveness through which we process information). This means people retain information more reliably and accurately. Structure helps to remember. Two simple but valuable structures are: - The problem (or opportunity), solution, and benefit framework; - What? So what? Now what? What it is, why it is important, and what the next steps are. Just pick the framework that makes sense for your topic, rehearse, and be yourself :)
A product demo for podcasts requires a well-written and rehearsed script that sounds natural and engaging. You want to avoid sounding like a sales pitch or a lecture, and instead create a conversation with your listeners. Use a friendly and confident tone, and vary your pace, pitch, and volume to keep them interested. Avoid filler words, pauses, and ums, and use transitions and signposts to connect your points. Practice your script with a colleague or a friend, and get feedback on your delivery, clarity, and persuasiveness.
A script is key when you showcase a product. Many things can distract you during a presentation. Random questions from the audience, yourself thinking of another cool feature to show. It is therefore key to have a script to ensure that the audience will take home exactly what you wanted them to take home. What I suggest is to plan, in your script, some time to interact with the audience and stir your demonstration towards requests that you get. It is risky, as you might not know the product so well, but effective if you pull it off. To sum up: prepare a script and within it, give some space to the audience with very specific and targeted questions that you're able to address for sure.
I do not necessarily agree to a script. Yes and no. A script might help to remember the main points of what you want to say and the message you want to convey but the most important aspect is to be prepared on the content. Memorize the Intro, the core and the conclusion (inserting also some wow effect). This way you will remember what you want to say. Be direct and concise, but above all be yourself! And practice, practice, practice.
Since podcasts are an audio-only medium, you need to use audio cues to enhance your product demo and make it easier for your listeners to follow along. Audio cues are sounds or effects that indicate something important or relevant, such as a feature, a benefit, a problem, or a solution. For example, you can use a ding, a beep, or a chime to highlight a key point, or a swoosh, a click, or a snap to demonstrate a function. You can also use music, background noise, or ambient sounds to create a mood, a context, or a contrast. Audio cues can help you capture your listeners' attention, emphasize your message, and create a memorable impression.
Before you record or publish your product demo, you need to test it for quality and effectiveness. Listen to your demo on different devices and platforms, and check for any issues with the sound, the volume, the timing, or the clarity. Ask for feedback from your colleagues, your customers, or your podcast host, and see if they understood your product, its features, and its benefits. Evaluate your demo based on your goals, such as generating leads, increasing awareness, or driving conversions, and measure its performance using metrics such as downloads, ratings, reviews, or clicks.