Free template
The 60-second demo video script
A fill-in-the-blanks template for product demo videos that people actually watch to the end. Built for founders launching on Product Hunt, X and LinkedIn.
Why most demo videos get skipped
Too long
Three minutes of walkthrough when the point lands in thirty seconds.
Slow start
A logo, an intro, a “hi, I’m…”. People scroll before the product appears.
Every feature
Ten features shown, none remembered.
No next step
The video ends and the viewer has nowhere to go.
Three parts. Sixty seconds.
| Part | Time | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | 0 to 3s | Stop the scroll |
| Demo | 3 to 50s | Show one workflow working |
| Call to action | Last 5 to 10s | Tell them the one thing to do next |
Hook (0 to 3s)
Show the result or name the pain before anything else.
Three hook formulas:
- Result first: “This [thing] took me 30 seconds to make.”
- Name the pain: “Still [painful task] by hand?”
- Before and after: the messy way, then your way, side by side
Don't: open with a logo, a greeting, or “in this video I’ll show you”.
Demo (3 to 50s)
One user. One workflow. Start to finish.
- Pick the single workflow that makes someone say “oh, nice”
- Cut loading screens, typing and anything that waits
- Zoom in on what matters, so it's readable on a phone
- Add captions. Most feeds autoplay muted
Don't: tour every menu, or explain settings nobody asked about.
Call to action (last 5 to 10s)
One action. Say it and show it.
- “Try it free at [url]”
- “We launch on Product Hunt tomorrow”
- “Link in the comments”
Don't: list three different things to do.
Your template
Copy it, fill in the blanks, record.
DEMO VIDEO SCRIPT: [Product name] Target length: 30 to 60 seconds HOOK (0 to 3s) Show on screen: ___ Caption / voiceover: ___ DEMO (3 to 50s) The one workflow: ___ Step 1: ___ Step 2: ___ Step 3: ___ The "oh, nice" moment: ___ CALL TO ACTION (last 5 to 10s) The one action: ___ URL or handle on screen: ___ BEFORE YOU PUBLISH [ ] Hook shows the result or the pain within 3 seconds [ ] Only one workflow [ ] Loading, typing and waiting cut out [ ] Readable on a phone screen [ ] Captions on [ ] One call to action [ ] Exported in the right shape for each platform
Or let AI write your script
Paste your product URL. We'll build a prompt that reads your site and writes the script for you.
Works best with an AI tool that can browse the web. If it can't open your site, paste your homepage text instead.
One recording, every platform
| Where | Shape | Length (starting point) |
|---|---|---|
| Landing page hero | 16:9, silent loop | 10 to 30s |
| Product Hunt gallery | 16:9 | 30 to 60s |
| YouTube | 16:9 | Full walkthrough |
| Shorts, Reels, TikTok | 9:16 vertical | 15 to 45s |
| X and LinkedIn feed | 1:1 or 16:9 | 15 to 45s |
Check each platform's current upload rules before publishing. They change.
Before you hit record
- Close everything you're not showing and turn on Do Not Disturb
- Zoom the browser to 125% so text is readable on phones
- Move the mouse slowly and on purpose
- Use demo data that looks real. No “test test asdf”
- Do one practice run, then record
Want this without the editing?
SmoothCut records your screen and adds the automatic zooms, the smooth cursor and the camera layouts for you. One recording, exported for every platform. Mac and Windows.
Free version adds a small watermark. Pay once to remove it.
Made by CJ, who builds SmoothCut. Got questions about your demo? Just reply to my email.