If you're in B2B sales and tired of sending out flat, lifeless PowerPoints that get ignored, you're not alone. Interactive sales decks promise more engagement and better results—but most folks don’t know where to start, or they get sucked into overcomplicated tools that create more work than they save. This guide walks you through how to actually build an interactive deck in Storydoc, what to focus on, what to skip, and a few hard-won tips for getting your deck seen (and read) by real decision-makers.
Why Interactive Sales Decks Beat the Old PowerPoint Routine
Let’s be real: most sales decks get opened once, glanced at, and left to rot in someone’s inbox. Interactive decks, when done right, are different:
- They let buyers click around, explore, and get info at their own pace.
- You can see who’s looking at what (Storydoc gives you analytics—no guesswork).
- They feel more modern, which—fair or not—makes you look more credible.
But here’s the catch: just because a deck is interactive doesn’t mean it’s good. Fancy animations and widgets don’t sell on their own. You need to focus on clarity, relevance, and making it dead simple for buyers to find what they care about.
Step 1: Get Set Up in Storydoc (It’s Actually Fast)
First things first, you’ll need an account. Storydoc is web-based, so there’s no software to install.
What to do: 1. Sign up at their site—free trials are usually available. 2. Poke around the dashboard. You’ll see a bunch of templates. Ignore the urge to pick the flashiest one—choose something clean and businesslike. (You can always tweak colors and branding later.) 3. Save your company’s logos, product screenshots, and brand colors somewhere handy. You’ll want them ready.
Pro tip: Don’t get lost customizing every little thing right now. The real power comes from content and structure, not pixel-perfect design.
Step 2: Pick (or Build) a Template That Fits B2B Buyers
Storydoc’s strength is its templates—they’re built to be interactive out of the box. But not all templates fit B2B sales. Look for one that:
- Has clear sections for problem, solution, features, and pricing.
- Supports clickable navigation (so buyers can skip to what matters).
- Includes space for short videos, testimonials, or case studies.
What to skip: Decks overloaded with animation or “fun” transitions. In B2B, these usually annoy more than impress.
What works: Timeline modules (for showing process), comparison tables, and embedded forms for quick feedback.
Step 3: Map Out Your Deck—Section by Section
Before you start dragging in widgets, sketch out your story. Here’s a solid B2B sales deck flow:
- Intro / Hook
One sharp slide on the problem you solve. Keep it short—no mission statements or “about us” fluff. - Your Solution
Explain what you do in plain English. Ditch the jargon. Screenshots or a 30-second demo video work well here. - How It Works
Use a timeline, process diagram, or short bullet points. Avoid walls of text. - Proof
Client logos, short testimonials, or quick case studies. The more specific, the better. - Pricing / Next Steps
Be as transparent as you can (even if you have to say “custom pricing”). End with a clear CTA—book a meeting, request a quote, whatever makes sense.
Pro tip: Each section should be scannable. Assume your reader has six other tabs open and 90 seconds to spare.
Step 4: Add Interactive Elements—But Don’t Overdo It
This is where Storydoc shines, but it’s easy to go overboard.
What to Use
- Clickable Navigation: Let buyers skip around. No one wants to scroll through 18 slides to find your pricing.
- Expandable Sections: For technical details or FAQs. Hide the nitty-gritty unless someone actually cares.
- Embedded Video: A 30-to-60 second video demo or intro. Keep it short and relevant.
- Live Data or ROI Calculators: If you have real numbers, let buyers play with them—but only if it’s easy to use.
- Contact or Meeting Booking Widgets: Make it dead simple to reach you (Calendly embeds work here).
What to Skip
- Auto-playing Audio: Almost always a bad idea. Surprises no one wants.
- Endless Animation Loops: Distracting, not persuasive.
- Gimmicky Games or Quizzes: Unless you’re selling to marketers, these tend to fall flat in B2B.
Honest take: If you’re not sure whether an interactive feature helps, leave it out. Clean and clear beats “innovative” but confusing every time.
Step 5: Brand Your Deck (Quickly, Don’t Obsess)
Upload your logo, swap in brand colors, and use your fonts if you have them. But don’t let perfect branding slow you down—buyers care more about clarity than whether your blue is Pantone-matched.
Tips: - Use high-res logos. Blurry images make you look amateur. - Keep font choices simple—one or two max. - Make sure text contrasts well with background (light on dark, or vice versa).
Step 6: Polish Your Content for Real People
This is where most sales decks fall apart. Fancy design can’t save weak, generic content. Here’s how to make yours actually readable:
- Short paragraphs.
No one likes walls of text. - Headlines that say something.
“Why [Your Product] Works” beats “Our Features.” - Real language.
Skip buzzwords. Explain things like you would over coffee. - Proof, not promises.
Show results, not vague claims.
Reality check: If you can’t explain your value in two sentences, you’re not ready to make a deck. Work on your pitch first.
Step 7: Share and Track Like a Pro
One of the best things about Storydoc is you get analytics—so you know if your deck’s being opened, what sections people linger on, and who’s actually interested.
How to send: - Use Storydoc’s unique link—not an email attachment. - Personalize the intro or cover slide if you can. - Follow up based on analytics. If someone spends three minutes on pricing, that’s your cue.
Don’t: Spam the same deck to a list of cold prospects. Interactive doesn’t mean impersonal.
Step 8: Iterate Based on Real Feedback
You’re not going to nail it on the first try, and that’s fine. The best decks are the ones you tweak over time.
- Check analytics weekly. Where do buyers drop off? Which slides get ignored?
- Ask a trusted client or colleague for honest feedback—what confused them, what worked, what felt like overkill.
- Remove anything that isn’t pulling its weight.
Pro tip: Less is more. The tighter your deck, the more likely it’ll actually get read.
What Storydoc Does Well—And Where to Be Careful
What works: - Fast setup—no need to be a designer. - Clean, interactive templates that don’t look like PowerPoint. - Good analytics for sales follow-up.
Watch out for: - Overstuffed decks. Just because you can add 12 widgets doesn’t mean you should. - Templates that look too “startup-y” if you’re selling to conservative industries. - Relying on interactivity to cover for a weak story. The tech is nice, but it’s not magic.
Keep It Simple—And Keep Improving
Building interactive sales decks in Storydoc doesn’t have to be a huge project. Start with a basic template, keep your content sharp, and only add interactivity where it makes things clearer for your buyer. Use analytics to see what’s working, cut what isn’t, and don’t be afraid to send out a “good enough” deck today rather than a “perfect” one next quarter.
The best sales decks are the ones buyers actually read. Keep it simple, keep it honest, and keep evolving.