If you’re in sales or client-facing roles, you know the drill: you’ve got a mountain of decks, PDFs, and case studies, and you need to share the right ones, fast. You want your materials to look sharp, be easy for clients to access, and not get lost in someone’s inbox forever. This guide is for anyone who needs to send sales content to clients—without a lot of friction or follow-up headaches—using Showell.
Let’s cut to the chase: Showell is a sales content management tool that promises slick sharing, tracking, and control. But just because a platform has shiny features doesn’t mean it’ll solve your problems out of the box. Here’s how to actually make Showell work for you, with some hard truths on what’s worth your time and what’s not.
1. Get Your Materials in Order First
Before you even think about sending anything:
- Clean up your content. Don’t dump every brochure and old slide deck into Showell. If you wouldn’t send it today, archive it.
- Organize by client need, not by your org chart. Think: “Solutions for CFOs” or “Short videos for first meetings.” The easier it is to find, the more likely you’ll use it.
- Tag, tag, tag. Showell’s search is only as good as your tagging. Use simple, obvious tags—think “pricing,” “case study,” “demo.”
- Set permissions wisely. If something is confidential or “for internal use only,” double-check who can see it. It’s easier to loosen restrictions later than to undo a mistake.
Pro tip: Avoid uploading a new version of a file every time someone tweaks a slide. Version control is your friend—use Showell’s built-in tools and name files clearly (“Proposal_ACME_v2_June2024.pdf”).
2. Build Shareable, Focused Collections
Clients don’t want a grab bag of random files. They want just what’s relevant, bundled up neatly.
- Create custom collections for each meeting or client. Less is more: 2-5 files per share is usually plenty.
- Use Showell’s “Share Space” or similar feature to package files together. It’s easier than sending separate links.
- Preview what you’re sending. Always check the client view—broken links and odd formatting kill your credibility.
- Don’t overdo the branding. Your logo’s fine, but nobody wants a splash page and 30-second intro video every time they open a file.
What not to do: Don’t “just share the whole folder.” It’s lazy, and clients will get lost or overwhelmed.
3. Make Sharing as Painless as Possible
The best sales material in the world doesn’t matter if your client can’t open it.
- Send a simple, direct link. Showell lets you create one-click links—use them. Avoid attachments unless specifically requested.
- Set link expirations if you need to. Sensitive content? Time-limit the link. But don’t make your client jump through hoops with constant password resets unless it’s truly necessary.
- Test on mobile and desktop. Not everyone’s at a desk. Open your own shared link on your phone to catch any weirdness.
- Add a brief, personal message. “Hi Sam—here are the case studies we talked about. Let me know if you have trouble accessing anything.” That’s it.
Pro tip: Don’t force clients to create a Showell account just to view a file. If your settings require this, change them. Nobody wants another login.
4. Track Engagement Without Being Creepy
Showell can show you if someone opened your content. That’s handy—if you use it right.
- Check views, but don’t obsess. If a client hasn’t opened something, maybe it’s not a priority. Nudge once; don’t pester.
- Use insights to improve follow-ups. “I saw you checked out the pricing PDF—any questions?” is better than “Did you look at the stuff I sent?”
- Don’t read too much into the data. Sometimes a doc is opened for 30 seconds and that’s fine. Not every click is a buying signal.
If you spot a pattern—like everyone bounces from a certain video—maybe it’s too long or not relevant.
5. Update and Replace Content Smoothly
One big plus of Showell: you can update files after sharing, and links stay the same. But don’t abuse it.
- Only swap in new versions if it’s essential. If you change the proposal after sending it, tell the client. Silent updates look sneaky.
- Archive outdated stuff. Don’t let old pricing sheets or specs float around. Clean house regularly.
- Batch updates. If you’ve got a new logo or messaging, update everything at once—it keeps your brand consistent and avoids confusion.
What doesn’t work: Changing files after a deal’s in negotiation, without a heads-up. It confuses everyone.
6. Respect the Client’s Experience
Remember, your goal isn’t just to push your materials—it’s to make life easier for your client.
- Don’t drown them in content. One or two well-chosen files beat a dozen irrelevant ones.
- Ask for feedback. If a client says, “The link was confusing” or “I couldn’t open the video,” fix it.
- Use analytics to spot friction points. If clients never open your big glossy “About Us” PDF, maybe it’s not that useful.
- Skip the bells and whistles. Fancy transitions, forced sign-ups, or autoplay videos rarely help.
Pro tip: If you wouldn’t want to deal with your own sales materials in a busy week, your client probably doesn’t either.
7. Common Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)
Let’s be honest—every tool has its quirks, and Showell’s no exception.
- Overcomplicating your folder structure. Keep it simple. If you need a map to find your materials, so will everyone else.
- Relying on Showell for everything. Sometimes, a good old-fashioned email attachment is just easier. Don’t force the tool when it doesn’t fit.
- Ignoring mobile experience. Many sales platforms look great on desktop and terrible on a phone. Test your shares.
- Not training your team. If you’re at a bigger company, spend an hour showing everyone how to share files properly. Saves headaches later.
8. A Quick Checklist Before You Hit “Send”
- [ ] Is the content up-to-date and relevant?
- [ ] Is the client getting only what they need, nothing more?
- [ ] Does the link work on both mobile and desktop?
- [ ] Are permissions and expirations set appropriately?
- [ ] Did you preview the client’s view?
- [ ] Is your message clear and personal?
If you can check all these, you’re good to go.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Sharing sales materials shouldn’t be a science project. With Showell, focus on clean, relevant content and make sharing dead simple for your clients. Don’t get distracted by features you don’t need, and don’t be afraid to ask your clients what actually works for them. Tweak your process as you go. The best system is the one you’ll actually use—so keep it straightforward and keep improving.