How to create and distribute account review decks efficiently in Tome

Whether you’re a sales leader herding cats or an account manager scrambling before QBRs, account review decks are probably a necessary evil. They’re how you keep execs in the loop, spot red flags, and show clients you’re on top of things. But let’s be honest: making these decks is usually a time sink, and sharing them can be a mess. If you’re tired of copy-pasting slides for every account, or chasing down the latest version in your inbox, this guide’s for you.

Here, you’ll get the no-nonsense steps to create and distribute account review decks efficiently in Tome, a tool built for making slick, shareable presentations without the usual headaches. I’ll cover what’s actually useful, what to skip, and a few shortcuts you’ll wish you’d known sooner.

Step 1: Get Your Raw Materials Together

Before you even log in to Tome, gather what matters:

  • Account data: CRM exports, client notes, last QBR deck, recent emails.
  • Key metrics: Revenue, usage stats, health score—whatever you actually talk about.
  • Screenshots or visuals: Product usage graphs, support tickets, renewal timelines.
  • Your talking points: Wins, risks, next steps. If you don’t have these, jot them down now.

Pro tip: Don’t get hung up on “the perfect data.” Good enough really is good enough—these decks are snapshots, not museum pieces.

Step 2: Set Up Your Account Review Deck Template in Tome

Templates are your friend. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel each time.

  1. Start a new deck in Tome.
  2. Click ‘New’ and pick ‘Presentation’ (or whatever base format fits best).
  3. Lay out the key sections:
  4. Cover slide: Account name, date, meeting purpose.
  5. Executive summary: 2-3 bullets on account health.
  6. Metrics snapshot: Revenue, product usage, etc.
  7. Recent wins: What went right since last review.
  8. Risks/issues: Be honest, this is where real conversations happen.
  9. Next steps: Owner, deadline, action.

  10. Appendix: Optional, for any deep-dive data.

  11. Use Tome’s AI or drag-and-drop blocks sparingly.

  12. The AI is great for making something look professional fast, but double-check its output—sometimes it’ll fudge details or make wild guesses.

  13. Avoid over-designing. You’re not pitching at Cannes.

  14. Save this as your master template.

  15. Tome lets you duplicate decks. Set yourself up for next time.

What to skip: Don’t waste time embedding fancy charts that you’ll have to update by hand every time. Screenshots or one simple table per metric are usually enough.

Step 3: Populate the Deck—Fast

Now for the grunt work. Here’s how to fill in your template without wasting a day:

  • Duplicate your master template for each account.
  • Paste in your raw data. Don’t get fancy—just get it in there.
  • Summarize, don’t novelize. If your execs want a wall of text, they’ll ask.
  • Use tables and checklists for clarity, especially for next steps.
  • Screenshots > complex charts. A picture of the dashboard is faster than building a new graph.

Pro tip: If you’re wrangling a lot of decks, block off an hour, put on some music, and batch them out. Don’t switch tasks every five minutes.

Step 4: Polish—But Don’t Overdo It

Tome is built to make things look good out of the box, but don't let yourself get sucked into endless tweaking.

  • Stick to one or two fonts and colors. Consistency > creativity here.
  • Check your data for accuracy. A wrong number is worse than a boring slide.
  • Preview as a viewer. See what your clients or execs will see.
  • AI polish? Sure, let Tome’s AI rephrase a sentence or clean up a bullet point if you’re stuck, but keep your own voice where it counts.

What to ignore: Don’t spend time animating slides or adding stock photos of businesspeople shaking hands. No one cares.

Step 5: Distribute Without the Chaos

Here’s where Tome actually shines compared to traditional slide decks.

  1. Share links, not files.
  2. Tome presentations are web-based. You get a link; share it. No more “which version is this?” emails.

  3. You can control view or edit permissions if you’re sharing with teammates.

  4. Track engagement (within reason).

  5. Tome lets you see when someone’s viewed your deck. Handy, but don’t obsess over the numbers.

  6. Send in advance, not at the last minute.

  7. Give your audience a day or two to skim, so the meeting isn’t just a read-aloud session.

  8. Batch sharing if you have lots of decks.

  9. If you’re prepping for a big QBR week, make a list of all your account decks and share them in one go, with a short note.

What to skip: Don’t download every deck as a PDF unless someone specifically asks. It defeats the point of using Tome’s live links.

Step 6: Collect Feedback and Update Decks Easily

One of the benefits of using a tool like Tome is that updates are live. If something changes—numbers, next steps, or client feedback—you can make edits on the fly.

  • Encourage comments. If you want feedback, enable comments or ask for it directly.
  • Make real-time updates. Edit the deck before or after the meeting; everyone with the link sees the latest version.
  • Archive old decks. Tome lets you organize decks in folders. Keep things tidy so you’re not digging through clutter later.

Pro tip: After a big review cycle, take 10 minutes to tweak your template based on what actually worked. Next time will be smoother.

What Works Well (And What Doesn’t)

What Works

  • Speed: Tome is faster than PowerPoint or Google Slides for lightweight, repeatable decks.
  • Sharing: Live links are a lifesaver for version control.
  • Look and feel: Even the “basic” output looks polished enough for execs.

What Doesn’t

  • Advanced analytics: Tome is still catching up to some traditional tools here. Don’t expect deep engagement stats.
  • Heavy data visualizations: If you need custom, complex charts, you’re better off pasting in screenshots or using another tool.
  • Offline access: Tome is web-based. If your client can’t open a link, have a PDF backup, but don’t default to it.

What to Ignore

  • The temptation to build a new deck for every little update. Templates and live editing are your friends.
  • “Wow factor” animations or design flourishes. Save your energy for the content.

Keep It Simple, Iterate, Move On

Account review decks aren’t meant to be works of art. They’re a tool for real conversations and decisions. Use Tome to speed up the grunt work, make updates painless, and keep your brainpower for the stuff that actually matters—like helping your clients succeed.

Start with the basics, improve your template over time, and don’t let perfect be the enemy of done. You’ll spend less time formatting and more time making an impact.