If you’re in B2B sales, chances are you live and die by your pitch decks. But if you’re still sending static PowerPoints or Slides and wondering why prospects don’t respond, you’re not alone. There are newer tools out there—like Storydoc—promising to fix these problems. But do they? And are they actually worth switching to, or is this just another shiny object?
This guide is for sales and marketing folks who want to close more deals and waste less time tinkering with slides. We’ll dig into where Storydoc really helps, where it doesn’t, and whether you should stick to the classics or try something new.
Why Presentations Still Matter for B2B Sales
Let’s get one thing out of the way: sales decks aren’t going anywhere. No matter how much people talk about “personalization at scale” or “account-based everything,” at some point you’ve got to show your value in a way your prospect can share internally.
Here’s what your deck has to do: - Get attention: Stand out in a crowded inbox. - Tell a clear story: Make your value obvious, fast. - Equip champions: Help your contact sell you internally. - Track engagement: Know if anyone actually opened it.
Traditional tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides are the default. They’re everywhere. But newer players like Storydoc promise to shake things up. Let’s see how they actually compare.
Traditional Presentation Tools: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
What Still Works
- Ubiquity: Everyone’s got PowerPoint or Google Slides. No one will ask, “How do I open this?”
- Flexibility: You can build almost anything—charts, diagrams, custom layouts.
- No learning curve: If you know how to click and drag, you’re set.
- Offline access: No internet? Your deck still works.
Where They Fall Short
- Static experience: You send a deck—it’s just slides. No interactivity.
- Zero analytics: Did the prospect open it? Did they scroll past slide 3? No clue.
- Design is hard: Unless you have a design team, most decks look... meh.
- Version control headaches: “Which version did I send?” is a familiar nightmare.
- File size drama: Large attachments get stuck in email filters.
What to Ignore
- Fancy transitions: No one’s buying because your text spins in.
- Endless templates: More choices don’t fix unclear messaging.
Pro tip: If your buyer is in a highly regulated industry or stuck on old tech, traditional decks are safest. Don’t overthink it.
What Storydoc Brings to the Table (and What It Doesn’t)
Storydoc is part of a new wave of interactive, web-based presentation tools. Instead of sending a file, you share a link. Here’s how it claims to help:
The Real Advantages
- Built-in interactivity: You can add clickable pricing tables, calculators, forms, and embedded video.
- Analytics: Get notified when someone opens your deck, how long they spend, and where they drop off.
- Mobile-friendly: Decks adapt to any device—no more pinching and zooming.
- Easy updates: Change your deck after you send the link; prospects always see the latest version.
- Design for non-designers: Templates look sharp, even if you have zero taste.
The Flipside
- Learning curve: Not as steep as design software, but it’s new. You’ll need to poke around.
- Buy-in required: Some buyers are wary of clicking links, especially if their IT is strict.
- Recurring cost: You’ll pay for Storydoc, while Slides and PowerPoint are often already covered by your company.
- Less flexibility with oddball layouts: If your deck is highly custom, templates might feel limiting.
What to Ignore
- AI-generated content: Helpful for brainstorming, but don’t expect AI to write your value prop.
- Overpromise of “magic” engagement: If your story’s weak, interactivity won’t save it.
Pro tip: If you’re running outbound sales or want to really know who’s interacting with your deck, Storydoc’s analytics are actually useful—not just fluff.
Head-to-Head: Storydoc vs. PowerPoint/Google Slides
Let’s compare the basics that matter in B2B sales enablement:
| Feature | PowerPoint / Slides | Storydoc | |------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------------| | Ease of use | Dead simple | Simple, but new | | Design quality | Variable, often “meh” | Consistently sharp | | Analytics | None | Yes, real-time | | Interactivity | Limited | Built-in | | Collaboration | Good (Slides especially) | Good | | Offline access | Yes | No (web only) | | Buyer trust | High | Depends | | Cost | Usually included | Extra subscription |
What actually matters:
- If you want to know who’s reading your stuff and see what lands, Storydoc is a legit upgrade.
- If you’re sending decks to cautious buyers or old-school industries, PowerPoint and Slides are safer bets.
- If you’re not willing to change your sales process (or train the team), stick with what you know.
Real-World Scenarios: When to Use Each Tool
Use Storydoc When:
- You’re selling to tech-savvy companies or startups.
- You want to track deck engagement (opens, time spent, etc.).
- You need interactivity—like calculators, forms, or product demos.
- You’re tired of design struggles and want a deck that looks good out of the box.
Stick With Traditional Tools When:
- Your buyers are in banking, government, or any highly regulated industry.
- You need to send decks as attachments or PDFs for security reasons.
- Your company is locked into Microsoft or Google ecosystems.
- You don’t have the appetite (or time) for learning a new tool.
Pro tip: You can always use both. Share a Storydoc link for analytics, but have a backup PowerPoint or PDF for compliance or stubborn IT departments.
What About Integrations and Workflow?
- Storydoc hooks into common CRMs (like HubSpot and Salesforce) and can push engagement data to your sales tools. Handy if you want to automate follow-ups based on real activity.
- PowerPoint/Slides play nicely with everything because they’re files. You can upload, attach, or drop them anywhere, but you lose out on tracking.
If your team lives in CRM, Storydoc’s integrations are a legit time-saver. But don’t expect miracles—if your CRM is messy, this won’t solve deeper problems.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Don’t confuse “pretty” with “effective.” A slick Storydoc won’t fix a confusing story or weak value prop.
- Don’t force buyers to use a tool they hate. If a prospect asks for a PDF, give them a PDF.
- Don’t treat analytics as gospel. Someone spending 20 minutes on your deck might just be distracted, not engaged.
Pro tip: Focus on what gets you real conversations, not vanity metrics.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
There’s no silver bullet for sales decks. The right tool depends on your buyers, your team, and your patience for change. If you want real engagement data and a more interactive experience, Storydoc is worth trying. If you just need to send something that always works, stick with PowerPoint or Slides.
Either way, don’t get bogged down by endless tweaking. Build a clear story, share it, and pay attention to what actually moves deals forward. Iterate as you go—because no tool can replace sharp, honest messaging.