The Demo Coach Playbook

Giving Memorable Product Demos is finally published!

For the past 7 years or so, I have been working on and off on a book about what I am most passionate about in my business life. That is, giving memorable product demos.

For the past 30 some years, I have been scripting and delivering product demos for companies large and small and having a blast. I loved being the go-to-guy when a big deal was on the table. There is nothing more exhilarating to me than giving a product demo and having the audience applaud (and buy!)

So, in the hopes that I can help other people learn how to give memorable product demos, I co-authored a book with my business partner Claudio Sennhauser. It is now available through Lulu.com in print or eBook.

http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/giving-memorable-product-demos/7206362

Here's a review of Giving Memorable Product Demos by Jim Forbes, where he says, "...recommended reading on how to nail a demo."

Please take a moment and consider adding Giving Memorable Product Demos to your favorite collection of books that you learn a great deal from and that tell other people about. It could even make a great gift for someone you know who gives presentations or demos. Word of mouth marketing is where its at. While our book is available at Lulu.com now, the Amazon.com listing will take 6-8 weeks.

Thank you,

Nathan

DEMOfall 09 is gearing up right now!

From an email that I received from DEMO today:

Book a meeting with DEMO's Chris Shipley and Matt Marshall to discuss your product, prototype or business plan. http://www.demoevents.net/t.do?id=2786903:14979459

DEMO co-executive producers, Chris Shipley and Matt Marshall have hit the road on a Search for Innovation Tour to find the brightest technology innovators to join the DEMOfall class of 2009 and they want to meet you. They will be hosting meetings with entrepreneurs for DEMOfall consideration and organizing impromptu meetups in each city to network with the local community. The first meetup is Monday, June 15 at Nola in Palo Alto.

Do you have a product that's ready to launch? Leverage the power of DEMO to maximize the impact of your first public announcement. Or, are you an earlier-stage company seeking partners, funding and/or feedback on your idea in development? For the first time ever, DEMO is opening its doors to the best alpha companies to showcase the innovation of tomorrow.

Book a meeting now and share your innovation with Chris and Matt in any of the following locations:
http://www.demoevents.net/t.do?id=2786904:14979459

June 15: Silicon Valley, CA @ the Silicon Valley Meetup
June 18: San Francisco, CA @ IDG Offices
June 22 & 23: Seattle, WA @ Porter Novelli
June 24 & 25: Santa Monica, CA @ TBD
June 29 & 30: Boston, MA @ IDG Offices
July 1 & 2: Austin, TX @ Porter Novelli

On this tour, Chris and Matt will be hand picking the demonstrators they want to see on the DEMOfall stage. DEMOfall is the only event that delivers access, interaction and validation in the following ways: Access to a global stage of 700 top press, VC and corporate buyers in the room and 230,000 potential customers in 80 countries around the world. Interaction through a 3-day networking-packed event designed to put all the focus on you and your product. Validation of your life's work from the massive media buzz of 1.2 billion impressions.

Chris and Matt hope to see you on DEMO's Search for Innovation Tour.

If you can't join them at one of these cities, please don't hesitate to
apply http://www.demoevents.net/t.do?id=2786905:14979459 and set up a separate time to connect with DEMO's executive producers.

We look forward to seeing you in San Diego in September!

The DEMO Team

The Demo Coach business is expanding

I am sorry for the radio silence.

Even with the worldwide economies as they are, The Demo Coach business is expanding. Claudio and I are finishing our book that has been 6 years in the making. We expect to have it published early this summer. 

We are working with clients around the globe with Claudio in Thailand and me in San Francisco. DEMO 09 was an amazing time for us to coach many companies for their 6-minutes on stage. Here's what some people said about their coaching session:

One of the most interesting areas we see a lot of activity and conversation is around presenting to venture capitalist and angel types. So, since the beginning of the year, we have been hosting 1/2 day workshops almost every week for people who are preparing to present and demo in a venture meeting. You know. Those can't miss, shouldn't miss opportunities.

We invented a new program that is generating amazing results. It's called a "Presentation Makeover" and "Demo Makeover." We have been having a blast in these sessions. Some people call is "speed coaching."

If you or someone you know wants or needs a makeover, please call. We don't need much advance notice. Many of our coaching efforts are often based on "emergency need" and we try to accommodate your specific situation. We work just as effectively remotely as we do when working face to face.

In addition to this, we are now offering a 1-hour, no charge, presentation and demo makeover session to anyone who wants to be more memorable. This will be a working session and all about you, not me. After 1 hour, you will either see the value of getting further coaching in giving presentations and demos, or you won't! But, you will definitely learn things that you can start doing immediately.

My hope is that you will clearly see the value and want to hire The Demo Coach for the full 4-session Presentation and Demo Makeover program.

To schedule the 1-hour, no charge, makeover session, go here: http://my.timedriver.com/M4LDL

Select a convenient day and time. Once I receive the meeting request, I will confirm it with instructions for using my GoToMeeting or Yuuguu account.

I would appreciate it if you would pass this post along to people who you know that give presentations and product demos. Especially the ones you feel might need a makeover.

Thank you in advance.

Presentation and Demo Secrets Workshop @ SDForum.org

I am excited to let  you know that on Thursday, April 30, I will be delivering a short 2 hour workshop at the SDForum in Redwood City, CA. Members and non-members can attend. Here are the details:

Presentation and Product Demo Secrets

3 secrets to making your PPT deck 500% more effective.
PowerPoint is the most common method of presenting information in business.
However, most people do not use the power of PowerPoint effectively. Learn
3 secrets to making your PowerPoint deck 500% more effective. Start using
these techniques immediately and you will see a huge change in how your
audience responds to your presentation.

1. How to begin every presentation so that people will want to listen.
2. How to design your PPT deck so people will not fall asleep.
3. How to prepare for the unexpected.

3 secrets to giving more compelling and memorable product demos.
Product demos are not simply a presentation with software or hardware features.
There are specific techniques that you can use to make sure that your product
demos are more compelling and memorable for your audiences. You will be able to
use these 3 secrets instantly to increase the success rates of your product demos.

1. How to start every demo so that people will want to listen.
2. How to avoid and eliminate the click-fest.
3. How to sequence your demo for maximum impact.

3 secrets to know when meeting with venture capitalists.
After interviewing venture capitalists around the world about what people do
right and wrong in venture capital meetings, these secrets will give you an edge
when presenting to a venture capitalist or angel investor. These secrets will
instantly change how you present yourself and company in your next venture capital meeting.

1. How to start your meeting with a venture capitalist to gain instant respect and admiration.
2. How many slides and what sequence you should use in your PPT deck.
3. How to start doing more of what is not being done enough in a venture capital meeting.

The 3 secrets to using the WWW to get things done fast and cheap!
The Internet is full of resources that can help you get things done fast and cheap.
These 3 secrets are guaranteed to save you time and money while getting results that will
continually amaze you. Whether you need a logo designed, a new Web site look and feel,
programming, debugging, or tagging, these secrets will lead to the right sources on the Internet.

1. How to access thousands of graphic designers to have company logos and Web sites designed.
2. How to access thousands of people to do things for you computers simply cannot do.
3. How to access thousands of programmers for pennies on the dollar.

Event Logistics

Location:
White & Lee LLP
541 Jefferson Ave., Suite 100
Redwood City, CA 94063
Directions

Cost:
$25 for members
$35 for non-members
Workshop is limited to 25 participants and there are a few seats still open.

For more information, go here:
http://sdforum.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Calendar.eventDetail&eventID=13438

DEMO 09 was an excellent show!

After many weeks of preparation, all of the companies who presented on stage at DEMO 09 are now either celebrating their success or licking their wounds. Fortunately, only one or two demos did not go well on stage. It is a heart breaker to see people go down in flames. But in all cases, it could have been prevented or dealt with easily by having a backup plan.

Speaking of having a backup plan...It is vital that you plan for the unexpected whether you have 6 minutes on stage or when you are in a typical demo that you give everyday. Without a backup plan, you run the risk of looking unprepared and failing in the eyes of your audience whether it is 1 person or 1,000.

So, when we coach people in their demos, we ALWAYS make sure they have a backup plan in case something does not go right. Not only that, you must practice the backup plan in case you actually need it. If you have a back up plan, you are half way there. Make sure you practice the back up plan a few times before you need it.

DEMOfall 09 promises to be an amazing show. It's Chris Shipley's last for DEMO and IMHO I predict that not only will there be a full compliment of stage demos, the audience will be packed. If you are a company with a new product or service and you want the world to see it in one fell swoop, go to DEMOfall 09 in beautiful San Diego, California and be sure to get coaching before you go on stage! This opportunity is not like any other in the world.

Emergency Demo Coaching for DEMO 09

I have heard from several companies invited to present at DEMO 09 who have the same challenges that most other businesses are having these days. They are cutting corners and trying to reserve cash to make it through the coming times. I appreciate that and want to offer a helping hand.

With less than 3 weeks remaining before you go on stage, you are probably feeling the pressure that comes with a high profile, high stakes event like DEMO. Don't worry. It's natural and you should feel pressure and nerves at this moment in time. If not, you probably won't do very well on stage.

Getting help from The Demo Coach right now will give you an extra edge on stage and help you prepare for the most important demo of your company's life!

Since there is not enough time to sign up for the Silver, Gold, or Gold+ programs offered at The Demo Coach, we are now offering Emergency Demo Coaching for DEMO 09. This coaching is designed to help you at whatever stage you are at right now. We will fast track you to the finish line in Palm Desert by offering a 4 session program. Each session runs about 90 minutes on the phone or in person.

Please call today to talk to us about how we can help you do better than your best at DEMO 09. Our phone number is (800) 221-0782 or international (510) 400-7917.

DEMO 09 is only a few days away

I know it sounds crazy, but your time on stage at DEMO 09 is literally 17 business days from today, Wednesday, February 4, 2009! Holy scrambled eggs Batman and Batgirl! Robin, what should we do? How can we make our 6-minutes on stage into a lifetime achievement and one that will be remembered for years to come?

The best option, IMHO, is hire The Demo Coach to work with you and your team. We have been on stage twice and coached dozens of companies in their 6-minutes of fame over the past 9 years. We’ll help you script and get prepared to deliver the demo of your life!

However, I realize that time and money are not easy to come by these days. No kidding!

But, you still need to get prepared for DEMO 09. It is one of the most important milestones in your company.

Here's a tip from a DEMOgod Award winner who had coaching for their demo: “Get help from someone who has been there before. It definitely gives you an edge!”

With The Demo Coach, you have four options to get our help:

1 – Call right now 1-800-221-0782 or +1-510-400-7917. Let us ask you some questions and we’ll give you a proposal for the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Gold+ coaching program. The number of individual sessions depends on your specific needs.

2 – Attend the 1-day DEMO 09 Preparation Workshop:
Workshop dates:
February 5, 9 AM - 4:30 PM PDT
February 11 or 12, 9 AM - 4:30 PM PDT

3 – Join in on a 2-hour telephone call: DEMO 09 Preparation Tele-Workshop:

The intent of this tele-workshop is to help people who cannot attend the 1 day workshop in Redwood City or Sunnyvale, CA. These tele-workshops will be conducted on the phone and using screen sharing technology such as GoToMeeting or Yuuguu. Access to the Internet is not required to attend. You will get the benefits of the workshop either way.

This tele-workshop is specifically designed for companies presenting on stage at the DEMO 09 Conference. It will give each attendee tremendous insight into what it takes to be successful on stage. Nathan Gold, a two-time winner of the DEMOgod Award, will be your instructor and coach.

Attending this workshop will give your presenters a definite edge on stage. The Demo Coach will not only teach you the secret to success on stage, you will learn our proven 7 Step Demo Formula for sequencing your demo in a way that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats.

This will be a condensed version of the 1 day workshop and does not allow for time to become specific with everyone on the call. Questions will be taken and are encouraged throughout the call. The fee for this workshop is $295 per person. To register, please call 1-800-221-0782 or +1-510-400-7917.

Tele-Workshop dates:
February 6, 9 AM - 11 AM PDT
February 9, 9 AM - 11 AM PDT and 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM PDT
February 10, 9 AM - 11 AM PDT and 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM PDT
February 13, 9 AM - 11 AM PDT and 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM PDT

If none of these dates work into your schedule, please contact us and indicate which days and times work best for you. With Demo Coaching offices in San Francisco and Thailand, we would be delighted to accommodate people from around the world.

4 - Meet up with Nathan Gold in the desert for some last minute coaching. I will be staying at the Marriott and arriving near lunchtime on Saturday. Although it will probably be too late to make any significant changes to your script, having a last minute look see may bring about some suggestions on how to make it more memorable and more compelling to your audience and worldwide viewers. Just give a call to +1-510-400-7917.

Get ready. Get help. Get coaching. Get prepared. It's your time on the world stage.