Demos are not effective ways to sell.

Every SaaS startup guy thinks people will fall over and buy if only they can see the beautiful software.

I'll let you in on a big secret:

People rarely use things, even things they buy. But especially free things.

They don't value free things. I sell high ticket training programs by membership sites and you would be astonished to see the percentage of people who never log in. Never ask for a refund, aren't unhappy...just never put in the effort to look.

They want the feeling of having "done something" by owning the product.

Look at the history of info product sales and you'll find the same thing, regardless of format: big boxes of audio CDs and a couple books. Stays in the shrink wrap in the back of the buyer's closet.

And yes, I HAVE sold IT products and services.

Demos never did it for me. Strong up front qualifying did.

Here's my blog entry on the topic: http://www.salestactics.org/why-demos-fail-to-sell/

Demos are neither effective nor required to sell.

But I know, I know, you haven't heard of any other way.

Leaving your product out there for random people to swing by and maybe pick up, maybe actually open sometime, and maybe actually try to use...and THEN hope they'll get on a demo call with your salesperson...that's not it.

If you want a more effective process, let's talk.