Whether a demo is helpful really depends on the audience, the nature of the presentation, and what points you are trying to get across. It&#x27;s just one of a number of rhetorical devices.<p>For example in sales presentations to C-level managers it&#x27;s generally better to avoid a demo and just assert the product works and sell the benefit to the business. When selling to technical folks demos are often a critical part of the pitch to show you are for real. Videos make it look as if you either don&#x27;t know the technology or are afraid to show the product in action.<p>This is all part of basic rhetoric.  If in doubt, just ask: what would Cicero do?