If you’re in B2B marketing, sales enablement, or revops, you know the drill: buyers want interactive, slick content. PDFs are dead weight, but picking the right tool to build modern decks, demos, or playbooks? That’s a headache. This guide breaks down how Relayto stacks up against other go-to-market (GTM) tools for creating interactive content. No fluff, no vague “reimagining engagement” talk—just what actually works, what’s overhyped, and what you should skip.
Why Interactive Content Even Matters
Let’s cut to it: static decks and datasheets don’t cut it anymore. Buyers are bombarded with info, and most of them barely skim what you send. Interactive content—think clickable demos, self-guided product tours, or personalized sales hubs—can actually grab attention and get prospects to engage. But here’s the catch: not every “interactive” tool is worth your time or budget.
You’re probably here if: - You need to replace static PDFs or slide decks with something more engaging. - You want sales teams to self-serve or personalize content for accounts. - You’re sick of fighting with clunky tools or juggling 10 different platforms. - "Analytics" to you means real insights, not vanity metrics.
Let's break down the main options—Relayto, plus a few others that come up a lot—and see how they actually compare.
The Main Contenders
1. Relayto
Relayto pitches itself as a platform for turning static content into interactive experiences. You upload a PDF or PowerPoint, and Relayto lets you add navigation, multimedia, forms, and analytics. It’s used for things like interactive sales playbooks, pitch books, and resource hubs.
Where Relayto shines: - Fast ramp-up: You can upload old decks or PDFs and “upgrade” them without rebuilding from scratch. - Navigation: Lets you break long docs into clickable sections, so users aren’t scrolling forever. - Embedded content: Supports video, forms, GIFs, and more—pretty much drag-and-drop. - Analytics: Tells you who viewed what, where they dropped off, and what links they clicked. - Personalization: You can clone and tailor assets for different accounts.
Where it falls short: - Limited design freedom: You’re working within their templates. Great for consistency, not so much if you want pixel-perfect control. - Branding: You’ll need to pay for higher tiers to get rid of Relayto logos and get advanced white-labeling. - Performance: Large or media-heavy docs can lag, especially on older machines.
Is it a silver bullet? No, but if your team’s tired of building from scratch every time, it’s worth a look.
2. Foleon
Foleon is another contender, focusing on “interactive content hubs.” It’s aimed more at marketers—think web-based magazines, reports, and brochures.
Strengths: - More design options: Drag-and-drop editor is more flexible than Relayto’s. You can build from templates or start blank. - Content types: Great for multi-page content, like eBooks, with lots of visuals. - Branding: Easy to make things look on-brand, without much hassle.
Weaknesses: - Learning curve: More options = more complexity. Non-designers might get frustrated. - Conversion tools: Lacks some of the sales enablement features (like granular analytics or account-level personalization). - Pricing: Not cheap. You’ll pay for flexibility.
Who it’s for: Marketing teams with design chops who want to build high-impact reports or digital magazines—not so much for sales playbooks.
3. Tiled
Tiled lets you make “microapps”—modular, interactive presentations that feel like lightweight web apps. It’s a favorite for sales enablement.
Strengths: - Interactivity: You can go wild with clickable hotspots, branching paths, and embedded content. - Sales focus: Built with sales teams in mind—think customized leave-behinds, product tours, and pitchbooks. - Integrations: Plays well with CRMs and DAMs (digital asset managers).
Weaknesses: - Build from scratch: You’ll need to design content from the ground up. No easy “upload and enhance” option. - Designer required: Not very DIY-friendly if you have zero design resources. - Can get unwieldy: If you try to cram too much in, it gets confusing for users.
Who it’s for: Teams that want total control and have someone who can design and maintain these assets.
4. Showpad
Showpad is a sales enablement platform with interactive content as just one part of a much bigger suite—think asset management, onboarding, and coaching.
Strengths: - Central library: Stores all your sales content, not just interactive pieces. - Personalization: Sales reps can create “spaces” for each account. - Integrations: Solid with CRM and email tools.
Weaknesses: - Jack of all trades: Interactive content builder is basic compared to Relayto or Tiled. - Overkill: If you just want interactive decks, the whole suite is probably too much. - Cost: You pay for the bundle, not just what you need.
Who it’s for: Larger orgs looking for a single portal for all sales content, not just interactivity.
5. Canva & Genially
Let’s talk about the wildcard options. Canva and Genially both let you create interactive docs, with Canva being the go-to for quick visuals and Genially for more “wow factor” animation.
Strengths: - DIY-friendly: Low learning curve. Tons of templates. - Cheap: Often free or low cost for most features. - Embed options: Both support video, forms, and clickable elements.
Weaknesses: - Analytics: You get basic “view count” stats, not much else. - No sales focus: No account-level personalization, no CRM integrations. - Scaling: Fine for one-off assets, but not so much for managing a library of content.
Who it’s for: Small teams or individuals making quick, lightweight interactive content.
What Actually Matters When Picking a Tool
Before you get dazzled by feature lists, here’s what most teams actually care about (and what you shouldn’t fall for):
1. Can You Actually Use It?
- Fast to publish: If it takes a week to train someone or needs a designer for every tweak, it’s a nonstarter.
- Reusing old stuff: Can you upgrade that big PDF playbook, or do you have to start over?
- Collaboration: Can multiple people work on content? Is there version control, or will you end up with “FINAL_v3_REALLYFINAL.pptx” again?
2. Does It Really Make Content More Interactive?
- Navigation: Clickable sections, menus, and branching paths matter. “Interactive” should mean more than just embedding a video.
- Personalization: Can reps or marketers quickly clone and tweak assets for different accounts?
3. Can You Measure Anything Useful?
- Analytics: Not just “views,” but how far people make it, what they click, and where they drop off. Relayto and Tiled are ahead here. Canva and Genially? Not so much.
- Integration: Can you connect it to Salesforce, HubSpot, or your email tools? Or are you copy-pasting links and hoping for the best?
4. Is It Scalable?
- Content library: How easy is it to manage, update, and expire old content?
- Consistent branding: Does everything look consistent, or does it turn into a design free-for-all?
5. What’s the Real Cost?
- Transparent pricing: Don’t fall for “contact us for a quote” unless you’re ready for sticker shock.
- Paying for extras: White-labeling, analytics, or user seats can add up fast.
The Honest Take: What Works, What Doesn’t
Relayto is a solid pick if you want to upgrade existing content, get real analytics, and let sales teams personalize assets without rebuilding everything. It’s not the flashiest, but it gets the job done for most B2B teams.
Foleon is best if you need beautiful, marketing-led content and have folks who can design. Not so hot for sales enablement or fast personalization.
Tiled is powerful for interactive sales assets, but only if you’ve got design resources and time to build from scratch.
Showpad works if you want a full-on sales content suite, but don’t expect much from its interactive builder.
Canva/Genially are fine for simple stuff or if budgets are tight, but you’ll outgrow them fast if you care about analytics or scaling.
Pro Tips for Picking (and Actually Using) a Tool
- Pilot first: Don’t roll out company-wide. Test with one team, one asset, and see who complains.
- Don’t overthink interactivity: More bells and whistles don’t equal better results. Simple navigation and clear calls-to-action matter most.
- Train your team: Even the easiest tool won’t work if no one knows how to use it (or can’t be bothered).
- Measure what matters: Don’t just look at “views.” Track which accounts are actually engaging and what they care about.
- Keep your content library clean: Outdated decks and broken links kill trust fast.
Want to Get Started? Keep It Simple.
Don’t get paralyzed by options. Pick one tool, upgrade a critical asset (like your sales playbook or onboarding deck), and see how it goes. If it works, iterate. If not, move on. The best interactive content is the one your buyers actually use—not the one with the most features or the highest price tag.