# What is demo mode?

Demo mode allows potential readers to discover a portion of your story before committing to a full read. It's an excellent marketing tool to attract new readers by giving them a taste of your universe and narrative style.

# Enabling demo mode on your story

The first step is to enable demo mode in your story's general settings. Without this activation, any breakpoints configured on steps will have no effect.

# Setting demo breakpoints

Once demo mode is enabled, you need to mark certain steps as demo breakpoints by enabling the Demo breakpoint toggle in the step editor. When a reader in demo mode reaches one of these steps, reading stops and a message invites them to create an account or sign in to continue.

# How demo mode works

When a non-logged-in reader accesses a story with demo mode, they can start reading immediately without needing to create an account. Reading proceeds normally until the reader reaches a demo breakpoint. At that point, a screen invites them to create a free account to access the full story.

• No account needed — Readers can start reading without any sign-up.
• Normal reading — During the demo, the reading experience is identical to the full version (choices, variables, events).
• Gradual stop — The demo naturally stops at the breakpoint, with an invitation message to continue.
• Seamless resume — Once registered, the reader picks up where they left off without losing their progress.

# Gift codes (Story Gifts)

Gift codes (story gifts) allow you to generate unique codes that grant access to your full story for specific users. It's an ideal tool for offering your story to beta testers, partners, or as part of promotions.

• Unique codes — Each code is uniquely generated and can only be used once.
• Targeted assignment — You can assign a code to a specific user or leave it open to anyone who has it.
• Usage tracking — View which codes have been used and by whom.
• Expiration management — Set an expiration date for codes if needed.

# Best practices for breakpoint placement

• Create a cliffhanger — Stop the demo at a moment of narrative tension to make the reader want to know what happens next.
• Show diversity — The demo portion should include at least one branching point to illustrate the interactive nature of your story.
• Introduce key characters — Make sure the main characters appear in the demo.
• Avoid demos that are too short — A 2-3 step demo isn't enough to captivate. Aim for at least 5 to 8 steps to provide a real experience.
• Cover all paths — Verify that every possible path in the demo leads to a breakpoint. No path should lead to a dead end or go beyond the demo zone.