One Thing You Need to Do Before Every Software Demo
I do a lot of demos. Sometimes they are great. Sometimes not so great.
One of the biggest problems when giving software demos is internet bandwidth.
You may be demoing in a prospect’s office, from a hotel room, in the airport lounge via mifi, from your home office, or in some random nook of company headquarters.
Each of these locations has different factors that will affect network speeds.
If your download speeds aren’t high enough, your SaaS platform may load slowly, leading to awkward unplanned pauses in your demo.
If your upload speeds aren’t fast, your prospect may see choppy video, pixelated images, and sometimes even nothing at all.
So how do you avoid it? Run a speed test before Every. Single. Demo.
How to Check Your Internet Speeds:
Step 0 (Optional): Turn your wifi off and back on again.
Step 1: Google ‘Speed Test’ or visit www.speedtest.net.
Step 2: Click “Run Speed Test” or “Go” depending on which site you’re using.
Step 3: Review the results. If your download speed is less than 10Mbps, your SaaS platform may load slowly. If your upload speeds are less than 5Mbps your web conferencing platform may get choppy.
Step 4: Evaluate if you need to get onto a different network or move elsewhere to run the demo.
Easy Ways to Improve Connectivity Quickly:
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If you’re using mifi, try moving closer to a window or at least getting away from concrete and walls which often block signals.
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When you’re on wifi, move closer to the router if at all possible.
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If you’re working from home (and have 10+ minutes before the demo) restart your modem and router by unplugging them for at least 30 seconds.
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If you’re demoing at a prospect’s office or from a hotel, ask for the password to protected networks. Guest networks typically have slower speeds than their password-protected counterparts.
Hat tip to whoever taught me this simple tip!
How does your team prepare for software demos? Share your tips in the comments.
