How to automate lead capture forms within your Decktopus presentations

If you’re tired of chasing down every “interested” viewer after a presentation, you’re not alone. Automating lead capture is the holy grail for anyone using interactive slides to drive business—salespeople, marketers, consultants, you name it. This guide is for those who use Decktopus to create presentations and want to turn viewers into actual leads without babysitting inboxes or copy-pasting data all day.

Let’s walk through how to set up lead capture forms right inside your Decktopus slides, automate the follow-up, and keep things running with as little manual work as possible. No magic, no hype—just what works, what doesn’t, and a few pitfalls to skip.

Why automate lead capture in your presentations?

You can make the best deck on earth, but if you don’t have a way to catch leads when people are actually interested, you’re leaving money on the table. Here’s why automation helps:

  • No missed opportunities. People can express interest right away—no emailing back and forth.
  • Less grunt work. No more copying emails from screenshots or digging through chat logs.
  • Cleaner data. Automated forms feed right into your spreadsheet or CRM, not into a black hole.
  • Faster follow-up. The sooner you reply, the more likely you’ll close the deal.

But let’s be honest: automation isn’t a silver bullet. If your form is clunky, asks for too much, or doesn’t connect to the tools you actually use, you’ll still lose leads. So keep it simple and direct.

Step 1: Plan your lead capture form (don’t overthink it)

Before you touch any software, decide what info you really need. Most people ask for way too much up front. Here’s what usually works:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Maybe a company name or phone, if you actually need it

Skip: Demographic questions, “How did you hear about us?”, or anything you wouldn’t answer yourself on a random website.

Pro tip: The shorter your form, the more likely people are to fill it out. If you want to qualify leads, do it after you’ve got their basic info.

Step 2: Add a lead capture form to your Decktopus presentation

Decktopus has a built-in form widget—no coding needed. Here’s what to do:

  1. Open your presentation in Decktopus.
  2. Add a new slide, and choose the “Form” or “Lead Capture” slide type. The name might vary depending on updates, but it’s usually obvious.
  3. Customize the form fields. Keep it short (see Step 1). Usually, “Name” and “Email” are enough.
  4. Edit the form title and description to make it clear what happens next (e.g., “Want more info? Leave your details and we’ll reach out.”)
  5. Decide where to place the form.
    • Early in the deck: Good if you need info before sharing more details.
    • Middle or end: Best for pitching or educational decks—catch people after they’re interested.
  6. Preview the form. Make sure it’s not awkward or overwhelming. Test it like you’re a stranger seeing it for the first time.

What to ignore: Fancy design tweaks. Focus on clarity and ease of use, not color gradients or animations.

Step 3: Set up automated notifications (so you don’t miss a lead)

By default, Decktopus sends you an email when someone fills out your form. That’s a start, but there are better ways to make sure leads don’t slip through the cracks.

  • Email notifications: Make sure they’re going to an inbox you check. Sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised.
  • Multiple recipients: If you have a team, see if Decktopus lets you CC others.
  • Check your spam folder: Sometimes notifications get filtered. Whitelist emails from Decktopus.

Pro tip: If you’re serious about follow-up, don’t rely on email alone. The next step is to pipe leads into a tool you actually use.

Step 4: Connect Decktopus to your CRM or spreadsheet (for real automation)

Decktopus doesn’t natively integrate with every CRM under the sun, but you do have options:

Option 1: Use Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat)

If you want new leads to show up in Google Sheets, HubSpot, Mailchimp, or wherever, use an automation tool.

  1. Check if Decktopus supports Zapier or Make. As of mid-2024, Decktopus offers Zapier integration for paid plans.
  2. Set up a Zap (or scenario):
  3. Trigger: New form submission in Decktopus
  4. Action: Add row to Google Sheets, create contact in CRM, etc.
  5. Map the form fields to your chosen tool—don’t skip this step, or you’ll end up with gibberish.
  6. Test the automation with a fake lead to make sure it works.
  7. Turn it on and check for errors after your next few submissions.

What works: Zapier is reliable for basic stuff (Sheets, CRMs, email lists).
What doesn’t: Advanced workflows or custom logic—Decktopus is still pretty basic here.

Option 2: Manual CSV export (if you must)

If you’re on a free plan or don’t want to mess with integrations:

  1. Go to your Decktopus dashboard.
  2. Download leads as a CSV.
  3. Import to your CRM or spreadsheet as needed.

It’s manual, but still beats copying and pasting. Just don’t forget to do it regularly, or you’ll wind up with stale leads.

Step 5: Automate your follow-up (don’t let leads get cold)

Capturing leads is half the battle. If you don’t follow up quickly, you’re wasting everyone’s time.

Basic option:
- Create an auto-reply email in your own inbox, thanking the lead and setting expectations (“We’ll get back to you in 1 business day”). - Or, use your CRM’s built-in autoresponder.

More advanced:
- Use Zapier to trigger a personalized email or Slack notification. - Add the lead to your newsletter or drip campaign automatically (but don’t spam—ask for permission).

What to ignore:
- Overcomplicated “nurture” sequences before you have the basics down. Automation is great, but nothing replaces a fast, personal reply when someone’s actually interested.

Step 6: Test your flow (catch problems before leads do)

Before you roll this out, submit a few test leads yourself. Here’s what to check:

  • Does the form look good on desktop and mobile?
  • Do you get notified every time?
  • Does the lead info end up where you want (CRM, spreadsheet, etc)?
  • Is the follow-up message clear and timely?
  • Are there any typos or broken links?

Pro tip: Ask a friend or coworker to try the form. They’ll spot things you missed.

A few things to skip (from experience)

  • Don’t overcomplicate the form. Two fields are better than six.
  • Don’t force people to jump through hoops. Every extra step drops your conversion rate.
  • Don’t assume automation means “set and forget.” Check your workflow every so often to make sure nothing broke.
  • Don’t ignore privacy. If you’re collecting emails, be up front about what you’ll do with them.

Wrapping up: Keep it simple, iterate fast

Automating lead capture in Decktopus isn’t rocket science, but it does take a bit of setup and honesty about what you actually need. Start with the basics: a short form, reliable notifications, and a clear follow-up. Skip the bells and whistles until you’re sure the core flow works.

Remember: the point isn’t to “automate everything”—it’s to make sure you never miss a good lead, and that you can spend your time talking to people, not wrangling spreadsheets. Start simple, tweak as you go, and don’t be afraid to ditch what doesn’t work.