How to Track Pitch Deck Activity: See Which Investors Are Actually Interested
You send pitch decks to investors. Some respond, most don't. You don't know who actually looked at it or when to follow up.
Pitch deck tracking shows you what happens after you send your deck. You see who opens it, how long they spend on each slide, and whether they share it with their team.
This data helps you prioritize your time. Focus on investors who spent 10 minutes reading. Stop chasing those who never opened it. Adjust your deck based on which slides get skipped.
Here's how to set up tracking and use the data effectively.
What pitch deck tracking shows you
Pitch deck tracking works like website analytics for your fundraising documents. You get data on:
- Who opened your deck (name, company, location)
- When they viewed it
- Time spent on each slide
- Which slides they returned to
- If they forwarded or downloaded it
This information tells you where to focus your energy. An investor who opens your deck three times and shares it internally is more interested than one who never opened it.
Why tracking matters for fundraising
Without tracking, you're guessing. With it, you make informed decisions.
Example: You sent decks to 20 investors last week. Tracking shows that 12 opened it, 5 spent over 5 minutes reading, and 2 shared it internally. You know exactly who to prioritize for follow-ups.
You also learn which parts of your pitch work. If investors consistently skip your competition slide or spend extra time on your GTM, you know what to improve.
Start tracking your pitch deck with Ellty
Ellty replaces your static PDFs with trackable links. Upload your deck once, share unlimited times.
What you get:
- Real-time notifications when investors open your deck
- Detailed analytics on viewing patterns
- Page-by-page engagement metrics
- Password and screenshot protection
- Collect investor emails who viewed your pitch deck
No more blind follow-ups. Know exactly who's interested and when to reach out.
How to set up pitch deck tracking
Setting up tracking takes about 5 minutes. Here's the process:
Upload your deckĀ to a tracking platform (like Ellty, DocSend, or similar)
Generate a secure linkĀ instead of attaching PDFs
Send the linkĀ to investors and watch the dataĀ come in through your dashboard
That's it. Every time someone opens your link, you get a notification and detailed analytics.
What to track in your pitch deck
Not all metrics matter equally. Focus on these:
Time spent: Less than 2 minutes usually means low interest. 5+ minutes suggests genuine evaluation.
Slide-by-slide engagement: Which slides do investors spend time on? Which do they skip? This tells you what resonates.
Return visits: Multiple views often mean they're discussing internally or doing deeper analysis.
Forwards: When investors share your deck internally, it's usually a positive signal.
Download attempts: Some investors want offline copies. This typically indicates serious interest.
Using tracking data to improve your fundraising
The data is only useful if you act on it. Here's how:
Follow-up timing
Instead of arbitrary "one week later" follow-ups, use behavior:
- Opened but spent <2 minutes: Wait or send additional context
- Spent 5+ minutes: Follow up within 48 hours while you're fresh in their mind
- Multiple views: Reach out immediately - they're actively evaluating
Deck optimization
If multiple investors skip the same slides, those slides need work. If everyone lingers on your why now but skips your problem slide, you know where to focus improvements.
Common patterns:
- Skipped market size slide = make it more visual or concise
- Low time on problem slide = problem isn't clear or compelling
- High time on competition = they're doing diligence
Qualifying investors
Save time by focusing on engaged investors. Someone who never opened your deck after two weeks? Move on. Someone who opened it five times? Priority follow-up.
Common tracking mistakes to avoid
Don't be creepy: You have the data, but don't mention it directly. Don't say "I saw you spent 12 minutes on slide 7."
Don't over-optimize: Just because investors skip a slide doesn't mean delete it. Some information is necessary even if not exciting.
Don't rely only on data: Low engagement might mean they're busy, not uninterested. High engagement doesn't guarantee investment.
Don't forget mobile: Many investors check decks on phones first. Make sure your tracking works across devices.
Best practices for pitch deck tracking
Keep your deck updated: When you update your pitch, create a new tracked version. Don't just replace the old file - you'll lose historical data.
Use unique links for each investor: This gives you cleaner data. One link for Sequoia, another for Andreessen. You'll know exactly who's looking at what.
Set up notifications wisely: Real-time alerts are useful but can be distracting. Consider daily summaries instead of instant notifications.
Track your batting average: If 80% of investors don't open your deck, the problem might be your initial email, not your deck.
Review data weekly: Look for patterns. Are certain types of investors more engaged? Do investors from specific regions spend more time?
Privacy and tracking considerations
Some investors know about tracking and have opinions. Here's how to handle it:
Be transparent if asked: If an investor asks whether you track, be honest. Most understand it's standard practice now.
Respect do-not-track requests: Some investors prefer PDFs. Have a non-tracked version ready if requested.
Don't share investor behavior: What one investor does with your deck is confidential. Don't mention it to others.
Delete old data: Once your round closes, clean up. You don't need to keep tracking data forever.
Choosing a tracking platform
Several tools offer pitch deck tracking:
Ellty: Built for startups and investors. Includes data room features. Free plan available.
DocSend: Popular but expensive. Good analytics, owned by Dropbox.
Papermark: Open-source option. Self-host for free or use their cloud.
Pitch: Presentation software with built-in basic tracking.
Pick based on your needs. Most founders start with free plans and upgrade if needed.
Start tracking your pitch deck today
Pitch deck tracking turns fundraising from guesswork into a data-driven process. You know who's interested, what resonates, and when to follow up.
The setup takes 5 minutes. The insights last your entire fundraise.
FAQ
Q: Can investors tell I'm tracking?Ā A: The link shows it's hosted on a platform, but they don't get notifications about tracking.
Q: What if someone forwards my deck?Ā A: You'll see the forward in your analytics. Some platforms show who received the forwarded link.
Q: Should I mention I use tracking?Ā A: No need to bring it up. It's standard practice, like using email read receipts.
Q: How long should I wait before following up?Ā A: Base it on behavior, not time. Active engagement = follow up within 48 hours. No opens after a week = try a different approach.
Q: Can I track PDF attachments?Ā A: No. Tracking only works with hosted links. That's why platforms exist.
