Best Way to Send an Investor Pitch Deck: Format, Timing, and Tracking

Practical Filemarkr guide.

Best Way to Send an Investor Pitch Deck: Format, Timing, and Tracking

You've finalized your pitch deck. Now: how do you actually send it?

Email attachment? Google Drive link? DocSend? A tracked link?

This decision matters more than you think. It affects:

Whether the investor actually reads it
Whether you know they read it
Whether you can update it mid-process
Whether they accidentally forward it to competitors

This guide walks through each method and shows you the best approach.

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Method 1: Email Attachment (❌ Don't)

**How it works:**

Attach PDF to email
Send to investor
Hope they open it

**Pros:**

✅ Simple for you
✅ No account required

**Cons:**

❌ Zero engagement tracking
❌ Can't update deck after sending
❌ Can't revoke access
❌ File might get marked as spam
❌ Forwarding loses all context
❌ No idea if they read it

**Verdict:** Only use if investor specifically requests attachment. Otherwise, use a link.

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Method 2: Google Drive Link (⚠️ Limited)

**How it works:**

Upload PDF or Google Slides to Drive
Share link with "View only"
Send link to investor

**Pros:**

✅ Free
✅ Collaborative (they can comment)
✅ Shows "Last viewed by..." date

**Cons:**

❌ Limited engagement data (just "who viewed" names)
❌ Can't see time spent or page focus
❌ Comments create confusion
❌ Looks informal
❌ No version control

**Verdict:** OK for internal team review, not for investor pitching.

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Method 3: Dropbox Link (⚠️ Limited)

**How it works:**

Upload to Dropbox
Share read-only link
Send to investor

**Pros:**

✅ Free
✅ Professional appearance
✅ Shows number of downloads

**Cons:**

❌ No time-spent tracking
❌ No page-level data
❌ Download notifications look impersonal
❌ Can't update after sharing

**Verdict:** Slightly better than Google Drive, but still limited.

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Method 4: DocSend Link (✅ Professional Standard)

**How it works:**

Upload to DocSend
Get tracked link
Send to investor

**Pros:**

✅ Full engagement tracking (opens, time, pages)
✅ Brand authority (VCs recognize it)
✅ Custom branding option
✅ Mobile-optimized viewer
✅ Real-time notifications

**Cons:**

❌ $50+/month for single user
❌ Per-user pricing (team = expensive)
❌ Can't update deck after sending
❌ Not great for post-send control

**Verdict:** Industry standard for Series A+ fundraising. Worth it if raising large round.

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Method 5: Filemarkr Link (✅ Best Value + Control)

**How it works:**

Upload to Filemarkr
Get tracked link
Send to investor
Track engagement + can update/revoke after

**Pros:**

✅ Full engagement tracking
✅ $19/month (not per-user)
✅ Can update deck after sending
✅ Can revoke access
✅ Can set link expiry
✅ Free tier for early-stage
✅ Professional viewer

**Cons:**

⚠️ Less brand recognition than DocSend (but investors don't care)

**Verdict:** Best for most founders (seed to Series A).

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Comparison Table

|--------|------|----------|-------------------|---------------|----------|

| **DocSend** | $50+/mo | ✅ Full | ❌ | ✅ | Series A+ large rounds |

| **Filemarkr** | $19/mo | ✅ Full | ✅ | ✅ | Seed-Series A best value |

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Real Founder Story

**Sarah's pitch journey:**

**Round 1 (Angel round, early stage):**

Uses email attachment
No tracking
Sends 20 decks, gets 2 meetings
Success rate: 10%

**Round 2 (Seed round, more serious):**

Switches to Filemarkr free tier
Now tracking engagement
Sees which decks actually get read
Follows up only when data shows real engagement
Sends 20 decks, gets 6 meetings (investor interest higher quality)
Success rate: 30%

**Round 3 (Series A, raising $1M+):**

Stays with Filemarkr pro ($19/month)
Uses data to refine pitch based on what investors focus on
Updates deck once (better traction numbers) and resends link to same investors
Can see exactly when final decision-makers open it
Closes $1.2M round

**Total cost:** $228/year ($19×12) instead of $600-1,200/year on DocSend

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The Ideal Pitch Deck Sending Process

**Step 1: Choose the right tool**

Angel/seed → Filemarkr free or pro
Series A+ → DocSend or Filemarkr pro

**Step 2: Send with context**

Not: "Here's my pitch deck."

Better: "Here's my pitch deck per our conversation. I've included the market analysis we discussed. Let me know your timeline for review."

**Step 3: Monitor first engagement**

Did they open?
How long did they spend?
What pages did they focus on?

**Step 4: Follow up based on signals**

No open in 48 hours? Light reminder
Opened but only skimmed? Wait and follow up in 2 days
Opened and spent 10+ min? Follow up next day with substance

**Step 5: Update if needed**

New traction numbers? If using Filemarkr, update the deck and resend link
If using DocSend, have to send new link (painful)

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FAQ

**Q: Should I use Google Slides or PDF?**

A: PDF for final version. Google Slides for draft/collaboration. Investors expect PDF in the final send.

**Q: Is DocSend better than Filemarkr?**

A: DocSend has slightly more brand cache with Series A+ VCs. Filemarkr is more flexible and cheaper. For most founders, Filemarkr wins.

**Q: Can I use both Google Drive and a tracked link?**

A: Yes. Send Google Slides for collaboration during discussion, then send final PDF via tracked link before formal pitch.

**Q: What if an investor asks for the deck as an attachment?**

A: Send it, but ask: "Happy to send the attachment. Just so I can plan follow-up timing, when are you planning to review?" This gives you a timeline instead of blind waiting.

**Q: Should I mention that the link is tracked?**

A: Nope. Investors expect tracking. It's professional, not creepy. You use it to follow up at the right time.

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The Best Approach

**Use a tracked link.** It's not complicated. It gives you data. It shows professionalism.

If you can only afford free, use [Filemarkr free tier (10 docs)](https://filemarkr.com).

If you're serious about fundraising, upgrade to $19/month and get post-send control.

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Next Steps

[Upload your pitch deck to Filemarkr](https://filemarkr.com/signup) and send a tracked link. You'll see exactly when investors engage and can follow up with precision instead of guessing.

[Learn how to interpret pitch deck engagement →](/blog/pitch-deck-analytics)