Marketing Spark
ALL POSTS
AUG 20, 2024 · SALES · 2 MIN READ

Two Easy Ways to Eliminate Demo No-Shows

Demo no-shows usually trace back to two things you control: how you frame the demo, and what you send before it. Here's how to fix both this week.

Mark Evans, Principal at Marketing Spark
Mark EvansPrincipal, Marketing Spark

No-shows at demos: what does it mean? A meeting was booked but someone bails on it. It's disappointing and frustrating, given the effort to drive demos in the first place.

Here are two easy ways to reduce no-shows.

#1: Market demos as opportunities for prospects to learn how your product could solve their problems.

Present a demo as a chance for prospects to explain their struggles, the products they currently use, and why they're exploring other options. Set clear expectations that a demo is about them, not about you.

#2: Deliver value between the time a demo is booked and when it happens. Far too often, the only pre-demo communication is a confirmation email.

Instead, send content that's relevant to a prospect's needs and interests: videos, eBooks, blog posts, infographics, or case studies. You can improve your communications by using a demo form that asks for more details. A dropdown with four or five options works, or a text box where comments can be left.

Use these two techniques and you'll better align your product with what a prospect needs. For more on closing the gap between marketing and sales conversations, see B2B sales and marketing alignment.

By the way, I'm not fussed about CTAs. There's a feeling that "Book a Demo" is too forward, but if a prospect is interested in your product, all they care about is whether they can schedule a meeting quickly.

If you want a structured look at where your demo funnel is leaking, the free marketing audit is a fast first step.

Mark Evans, Principal at Marketing Spark

Mark Evans

Principal at Marketing Spark

Fourteen years working with B2B companies on positioning, messaging, and go-to-market. Host of the Marketing Spark Podcast. Based in Toronto.

Want this kind of thinking applied to your pipeline?

Book a 30-minute call. We'll look at your positioning, your homepage, and your pipeline math, and tell you what's actually in the way.

Book a call