If you're tasked with selling something—software, services, widgets, you name it—you probably already know that a boring slide deck won't cut it. You want actual interaction, not just a lecture. That's where Flowvella comes in. This guide's for salespeople, founders, and anyone tired of death-by-PowerPoint who wants to build an interactive sales presentation that actually gets a conversation going. No design degree or marketing buzzwords needed.
Why (and When) to Use Flowvella
First, a reality check: Flowvella isn't magic, but it gets you closer to interactive, non-linear presentations than PowerPoint or Google Slides ever will. It's good for:
- Sales meetings where you want to tailor the flow on the fly.
- Product demos that branch out based on what your audience cares about.
- Kiosks at events or booths (touchscreen friendly).
Skip it if:
- You need deep analytics, complex integrations, or super-slick animations.
- Your audience expects a traditional, linear pitch deck (sometimes that's all you need).
Let's get to it.
Step 1: Sign Up and Get Oriented
- Go to Flowvella’s site and sign up. There’s a free plan (with limits), but most sales teams will want a paid plan for full features.
- Download the desktop app (Mac) or use the web version. The iPad app is decent, but desktop gives you more control.
- Take 10 minutes to click around. You’ll see:
- Flows (presentations)
- Screens (slides)
- Media: images, video, PDFs, etc.
- Navigation links (this is where the “interactive” part comes in)
Pro tip: Don’t overthink the templates. Most are pretty basic. Pick the simplest one and move on.
Step 2: Map Out Your Interactive Flow
Before you touch the app, sketch your presentation flow on paper or a whiteboard. Seriously—don’t skip this.
- What’s your main goal? (Book a meeting, close a deal, demo a product)
- What does your audience care about?
- What questions or objections come up every time?
- What pieces need to branch? Example:
- “Tell me more about pricing.”
- “How does this integrate with our systems?”
- “Show me a customer story.”
Keep it simple:
- Start with a Home screen.
- Add 2–4 main topics (Product, Pricing, Case Studies, FAQs).
- Let people jump around. Don’t force a linear story unless you have to.
Step 3: Build Your Screens (Slides)
Now, translate your sketch into screens inside Flowvella.
- Create a New Flow:
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Click “New Flow” and name it clearly—something your team won’t confuse later.
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Add and Arrange Screens:
- Each screen is like a slide, but you can link them together any way you want.
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Start with a Home screen. Add a button or image for each main topic.
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Add Content:
- Drop in headlines, bullet points, images, short videos—whatever tells your story.
- Don’t overload any one screen. One idea per screen keeps things clear.
- Use PDFs for one-pagers or detailed docs (Flowvella handles these well).
What to avoid:
- Long walls of text—nobody reads them.
- Auto-playing videos with sound. Instant way to annoy your audience.
Step 4: Add Interactive Navigation
This is where Flowvella actually stands out.
- Linking: Highlight any text, image, or button. Click the link icon. Pick “Screen in this Flow.”
- Create a menu: On your Home screen, make buttons (or images) that link to your main topics.
- Back/Home buttons: Always give people a way to return to the Home screen or previous section. People get lost otherwise.
- Branching: You can link to any screen from any other screen, so you can build “choose your own adventure” paths.
Pro tip:
On every screen, put a small Home button in the same spot (top-right, for example). Consistency keeps things usable.
What not to do:
- Don’t overcomplicate with too many branches. Three levels deep is usually max before people get confused.
Step 5: Add Media and Demos
Flowvella lets you embed a lot:
- Images—PNG, JPEG, etc.
- Videos—upload or embed from YouTube/Vimeo.
- PDFs—great for datasheets and case studies.
- GIFs—for quick product walkthroughs (just don’t go overboard).
What works best:
- Short, silent demo videos that play only when clicked.
- Before/after visuals.
- Real screenshots, not mockups.
What to skip:
- Heavy animations—they slow things down and don’t add much.
- Big video files—stream or compress whenever possible.
Step 6: Polish and Test
Don’t just build and ship. Test like you’re the customer:
- Click every button. Does it go where it should?
- Does every screen make sense on its own?
- Try it on different devices (desktop, tablet, touchscreens if you can).
- Ask a non-expert to run through it. Where do they get stuck?
Common gotchas: - Broken links—super common, fix them before your real meeting. - Weird formatting when switching devices. Check ahead if you’ll present on an iPad or external monitor.
Step 7: Present and Iterate
You can present straight from Flowvella’s app or export your Flow for offline use (handy if Wi-Fi is spotty).
- Start on the Home screen. Ask your audience what they care about, and jump to that section.
- Use branching to let them steer the discussion—don’t be afraid to skip stuff.
- If you’re leaving the presentation behind, export it as a PDF or share the Flow link. Just remember, interactive features only work in Flowvella, not in static PDFs.
After your meeting:
- Jot down what worked and what didn’t.
- Tweak your Flow. Kill slides nobody cared about. Add answers to new questions.
- Don’t aim for perfection. You’ll never get there, and nobody expects it.
A Few Honest Takes
- Flowvella’s interface is easier than PowerPoint for branching, but a bit clunky for fine design work. If you want pixel-perfect layouts, you’ll need patience.
- There’s no real-time collaboration like in Google Slides. If you’re building as a team, expect some back-and-forth.
- Analytics are basic. You’ll know if someone viewed your Flow, not what they clicked.
Alternatives:
If you need deep analytics, high-end design, or web-based everything, check out tools like Prezi, Pitch, or Canva. But for simple, interactive, offline-friendly sales presentations, Flowvella does what it says on the tin.
Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Building a sharp, interactive sales presentation isn’t about cramming in features—it’s about making it easy for your audience to get what they want, fast. Don’t stress about perfect design. Focus on clear navigation, keep your content tight, and tweak your Flow after every real-world run-through. The best presentations are the ones that get used—and improved—over time.