Link-based pitch deck sharing generates 32% higher response rates versus email attachments, with founders closing rounds 25% faster through engagement intelligence, according to fundraising benchmarks. Yet many founders still email PDFs—losing visibility, control, and investor insights.

Peony modernizes pitch deck distribution: generate secure shareable links, track investor engagement, update decks without breaking links, protect IP with watermarks, and maintain professional presentation. Purpose-built for fundraising success.

Here's your complete guide to sharing pitch deck links effectively in 2025.

Why Link Sharing Beats Attachments

Email attachments problems:

No visibility (was it viewed?)
No analytics (which slides?)
Can't update without resending
Forwards uncontrollably
Looks unprofessional
Large file size issues

Link sharing advantages:

✅ Complete visibility (who, when, how long)
✅ Page-by-page analytics
✅ Update anytime (same link)
✅ Revoke access instantly
✅ Professional presentation
✅ No file size limits
✅ Mobile-optimized
✅ Track forwards and sharing

Impact: Know which investors are serious vs. tire-kickers

Creating Perfect Pitch Deck Links

Step 1: Upload to Platform

Using Peony:

Create account (free)
Click "Upload Document"
Select pitch deck PDF
Processing completes (10 seconds)

Supports:

PDF (recommended)
PowerPoint (converts to web)
Google Slides (imports)
Keynote (export to PDF first)

Step 2: Configure Security

Essential settings:

Access control:

✅ Email verification required
✅ Investor allow list (optional but recommended)
✅ Expiration date (30-90 days)
❓ Password (usually unnecessary, adds friction)

Content protection:

✅ Dynamic watermarks (investor email + timestamp)
✅ Screenshot protection (for sensitive decks)
❓ Download blocking (allow for convenience)
❓ Print controls (usually allow)

Notifications:

✅ Email when viewed
✅ Engagement alerts
✅ Return visit notifications
✅ Team sharing detection

Step 3: Customize Link

Link options:

Standard: peony.ink/deck-abc123

Free option
Professional enough
Works great

Branded: yourcompany.peony.ink/seed-round

Custom subdomain
More professional
Brand consistency
$25/month

Custom domain: pitch.yourcompany.com

Full branding
Maximum professionalism
Your domain entirely
Requires DNS setup

Link naming:

Descriptive: "Seed Round December 2025"
Versioned: "Series A Deck v3"
Dated: "Q1 2025 Investor Deck"

Step 4: Generate and Test

Before sharing:

Quality checks:

All slides display correctly
Images load properly
Text readable on mobile
Navigation smooth
Security settings active

Sharing Strategy

Email Template (Warm Intro)

Subject: [Your Company] - Intro from [Introducer]

Hi [First Name],

[Mutual Connection] suggested we connect. We're raising a $2M seed 
round for [company]—[one-sentence value prop].

Key highlights:
- [Traction metric]: 200% MoM growth
- [Customer win]: Just signed [notable customer]
- [Team]: Founded by [relevant experience]

Pitch deck: [secure link]

Would love 30 minutes to discuss—when works?

Thanks,
[Your Name]

Email Template (Cold Outreach)

Subject: [Specific hook relevant to investor]

Hi [First Name],

I noticed [Fund] recently invested in [Portfolio Company]. 
We're tackling a similar problem in [adjacent market].

We're [Your Company]—[one-sentence value prop]:
- $500k ARR, growing 25% MoM
- Backed by [notable angels/accelerator]
- Raising $2M seed round

Deck: [secure link]

Worth 15 minutes?

Best,
[Your Name]

Distribution Timing

Best days: Tuesday-Thursday Best times: 8-10am or 2-4pm (recipient timezone) Avoid: Mondays (busy), Fridays (checked out), weekends

Batch sending:

5-10 investors per day
Stagger throughout day
Track responses
Maintain pipeline

Monitoring Engagement

Real-Time Alerts

Configure notifications for:

Deck accessed (immediate alert)
High engagement (80%+ completion)
Return visit (strong signal)
Team sharing (multiple viewers)
Specific slides (financials, etc.)

Response timing:

High engagement → Follow up within 4 hours
Return visit → Reach out same day
Team sharing → Schedule partner meeting ASAP

Analytics Dashboard

Key metrics:

Access:

Total unique viewers
Access rate (% who opened)
Geographic distribution
Device breakdown

Engagement:

Average time spent
Completion rate
Most viewed slides
Drop-off points

Investors:

Who viewed (name, fund, email)
When accessed
Engagement score (hot/warm/cold)
Return visit count

Conversion:

Meeting request rate
Response rate
Investment interest
Follow-up effectiveness

Engagement Scoring

Peony automatically scores:

Hot (90-100 points):

80%+ completion
4+ minutes
2+ returns
Team sharing
Action: Call immediately

Warm (60-89 points):

60-80% completion
2-4 minutes
1 return
Action: Email within 24 hours

Cold (30-59 points):

40-60% completion
1-2 minutes
No returns
Action: Follow up in 3-5 days

Dead (0-29 points):

Less than 40% or didn't open
Action: Deprioritize, move on after one follow-up

Link Customization Best Practices

Professional URL Structure

Good:

yourcompany.peony.ink/seed-round
pitch.yourcompany.com/investors
deck.yourcompany.com/series-a

Bad:

peony.ink/abc123def456 (generic)
yourcompany.com/pitch%20deck%202025%20v3%20FINAL (messy)

Landing Page Customization

Include:

Company logo
Professional cover image
Brief description
Contact information
Navigation instructions

Peony provides:

Automatic optimization
Mobile responsiveness
Fast loading
Clean interface
Professional appearance

Version Management

Update without breaking links:

Upload new deck version
Same link works
All viewers see latest
Old version archived
Update history tracked

Benefits:

No broken links in emails
Always current information
No resending required
Professional consistency

Follow-Up Strategies

Data-Driven Follow-Up

High engagement investor:

Hi [Name],

Saw you reviewed our deck and spent time on the 
financials section. Happy to dive deeper into our 
unit economics and path to profitability.

When works for a 30-minute call this week?

Best,
[Your Name]

Multiple team members viewed:

Hi [Name],

Noticed your team reviewed our deck. Would a 
45-minute partner meeting make sense to discuss 
the opportunity?

I can walk through traction in more detail and 
address any questions.

Best,
[Your Name]

Low engagement:

Hi [Name],

Following up on the deck I shared last week. 
Is this something you're interested in discussing, 
or is timing not right currently?

Happy to reconnect later if better timing.

Best,
[Your Name]

Follow-Up Cadence

Timeline:

Day 0: Send deck
Day 2: If high engagement, follow up
Day 5: If no engagement, check-in
Day 10: Final follow-up
Day 15: Move on if no response

Frequency:

Maximum 3 follow-ups
Space 5-7 days apart
Add value each time (new update, customer win)
Know when to move on

Common Link Sharing Mistakes

Mistake 1: Generic links

Unprofessional appearance
Forgettable URLs
Solution: Use branded domains

Mistake 2: No expiration

Permanent access
Can't revoke
Solution: 30-90 day expiration

Mistake 3: Ignoring analytics

Don't check who viewed
Miss engagement signals
Random follow-ups
Solution: Monitor daily during fundraising

Mistake 4: No security

Anyone can access
Forwards without attribution
Solution: Email verification + watermarks

Mistake 5: Breaking links with updates

Upload new deck as new document
Old links dead
Solution: Update existing document

How Peony Optimizes Link Sharing

Peony provides complete link management:

Professional links:

Custom branded domains
Clean URL structure
Memorable paths
Professional appearance

Complete analytics:

Know exactly who viewed
See slide engagement
Track return visits
Identify hot investors

Smart notifications:

Instant view alerts
Engagement scoring
Team sharing detection
Perfect follow-up timing

Easy updates:

Upload new version
Link stays same
No broken references
Update history maintained

Maximum security:

Email verification
Dynamic watermarks
Screenshot protection
Access controls
Complete audit trails

Result: Professional, intelligent, secure pitch deck sharing.

Conclusion

Effective pitch deck link sharing combines professional presentation (branded domains), complete visibility (analytics), strong security (watermarks, verification), and intelligent follow-up (data-driven timing). Link-based sharing outperforms email attachments by enabling engagement tracking, access control, and professional presentation.

Peony delivers complete pitch deck link capabilities—helping founders identify serious investors, perfect follow-up timing, and close rounds faster.

Modernize your pitch deck sharing: Try Peony

Impress Investors

How to Share Pitch Deck Links Effectively: Complete Guide for 2025