Welcome to Slidecast!

This guide covers the basics of Slidecast.

Building Presentations

Start with a Blank Template

Click ‘+’ under ‘Start a New Presentation’ to start building your own presentation

You can choose to start from one of three options Blank template, Select a Template or Import PowerPoint.

If you want to start from scratch click the ‘+ Blank Template’. This will build a new presentation starting with a default HTML slide.

Create a presentation from blank template with Slidecast
Slidecast blank template slides

Select a Template

If you click on ‘+ Select a Template’, it will take you to a library of premade templates to get you started.

Select a template on slidecast

You can click on any of the presentation templates available. We randomly shuffle the presentations every time you view the library to give you a sense of the variety available. You can also search or filter by Usage, Industry, or Seasonal themes. Or select whether your template is suited for Emails or Pages.

Created presentations on Slidecast

Import PowerPoint

You can easily import a PowerPoint presentation by clicking ‘+’ under ‘Start a New Presentation’ on the presentations page. Then clicking ‘+ Import PowerPoint’.

You then will have the option to either drag and drop your presentation in the box or click ‘Select Presentation‘ to choose your presentation to import. Click ‘Upload Presentation‘ to begin processing the PowerPoint.

To add PowerPoint slides to an existing presentation, click ‘+ Insert Slide’ then choose Powerpoint.

*Note, depending on the presentation, the system may take some time to process.

**Also, carefully review the processed presentation to ensure all your slides are imported. Some PowerPoint presentations contain embedded tags or other data that cannot be imported and are ignored in processing. If this happens, you will have to take an image of the slide to upload to Slidecast.

Working with Slides

Once you’ve created your presentation (whether blank or by a template), you’ll be able to add slides. There are four types of slides available for you: HTML Slides, Image Slides, Video Slides, and Web App Slides.

The HTML Slide

HTML slides enable you to build highly customizable HTML pages to use as slides in your presentation. Combined with placeholders that merge your contact’s information, they provide you with a powerful way to customize a slide for your client.

1.     Click the “+ Insert Slide” button, then either click “Blank” or “Template” to get an HTML slide added to your presentation.

2.     Name your slide and click the preview image below to edit.

Slidecast HTML presentation

3.     The editor opens with the default slide loaded.

Slidecast - HTML slides

4.     You can edit any element of the slide to craft your own design or choose “Select a Template” at the top right to find one from hundreds of other pre-designed ones.

The Image Slide

Image slides give you a fast and easy way to use images directly in your presentation.

1.     Click the “+ New” button, then click “Image Slide

2.     Click “Select one or more Images” to select your image(s) from your device and add them. Click “Upload Image(s)” to have Slidecast begin processing them. You may also drag and drop them if your device supports it.

Slidecast - New HTML slide

The Video Slide

Video slides allow you to display a video as a slide. Just enter your YouTube or Vimeo url to enable the slide. YouTube urls must use the following format: https://www.youtube.com/embed/xxxxxxxxxx to work and vimeo urls must use https://player.vimeo.com/video/xxxxxxxxx. The system will attempt to format your urls to either of these formats. If it doesn’t you must manually ensure they do.

Please Note, you cannot upload a video to the platform.

Slidecast - Presentation image slide

The Web App Slide

The Web App Slide allows you to point a Slide to a custom url where you have an integration page built, for example an agreement with a Signature block for your client or a display of custom data you’d like your client to see or engage with. Please contact us for help on setting up a Web App Slide.

Slidecast - Presentation Web app slide

Presentation Settings

When inside the presentation click ‘•••’ then select ‘Settings’.

Slidecast presentation settings

Publish Presentation: presentations that are set to either draft of published. Published presentations are available to you when you launch a Slidecast.

Allow Anonymous Participants: This option allows anyone to join Guided and Broadcast presentations without filling in a form.

Viewable by Others (Company)

Default Quick Launch: You can set one presentation to be your Quick Launch Presentation. This presentation will be automatically selected when you click the “Quick Launch” button. Use it when you need to immediately share a Slidecast with a Contact.

Show Script: This option enables you to see a script of your notes on the right side of your presentation view when you are leading a Guided or Broadcast Slidecast presentation. Your contact will not see it. You can edit your script on each slide. You have the option of turning on or off the Script when you start a presentation. Note that you will also have a preview of the next slide when you have this option enabled.

Slidecast - Save presentation settings

The Inactive Slide

When your Guided or Broadcast presentation is finished or if anyone clicks a presentation that is no longer active, they will be redirected to this page.

Each presentation is able to have its own unique inactive slide. Which can be found within your presentation when editing.

You can edit the content of this page just as you would an HTML slide.

Slidecast - Inactive slide

Email Template

Email Template:

This template allows you to modify and design the HTML email that is sent as an invitation to your contact, whether to a Guided or Self-Guided presentation. Edit it like you would an HTML Slide.

*Note, ensure you have a PH_Link tag somewhere in this template, because it is what the system will use to send the link to the presentation to the contact.

Use the following placeholders to customize your email:

PH_Link                                         The URL that directs your contact to the presentation

PH_SelfGuidedLink          The URL that directs your contact to your default self-guided presentation

Note: The PH_Link will be replaced with your Self-Guided presentation link when you send it directly to your contact.

PH_FirstName                 Your contact’s first name

PH_LastName                  Your contact’s last name

PH_…                               Address1, Address2, Address3, City, State, Country, HomePhone, WorkPhone, Mobile, and Email are available

Viewable by Others (Company): If your account is part of a company account, your presentation can be shared with others in your company by enabling this option.

Editable by Others (Company): Like the above setting, if your account is part of a company account, your presentation can be edited with others in your company by enabling this option.

For HubSpot Integrations (with Workflow enabled), you can also set the workflow enrollment for two events within Slidecast: the Starting and ending of a Self-Guided presentation. For example, your workflow may send an internal email to you whenever a contact begins viewing a presentation. If you have a Contact Workflow built in HubSpot, it should automatically appear here.

Slidecast - Advanced email template settings

Creating Contacts

Working with Contacts

You can manually add contacts using the ‘Create Contact’ button or ‘Import’ contacts using an Excel, CSV or TXT file.

Google and Integrations contacts: If you signed in using a Google Gmail login, your contacts are synced with Google every time you log in and when you make changes to a contact. If you are integrated with an Integration Provider (like HubSpot), your contacts will also be synced on login and when you update a contact.

Create Contact

To add a contact, click the “Create Contact” button inside the contacts page.

Create contact in Slidecast

You can add basic information, like first name, last name, mobile, and email to your contact. Clicking the ‘Show more’ link will expand the card to add multiple fields. Click ‘Save’ when you’re ready to add or update your contact.

Edit contacts in Slidecast

Import Contacts

When on the contacts page, click the ‘•••’ next to the ‘Create Contact’ button. Then select ‘Import’

Click the link for the template file you wish to use. Excel, CSV, or TXT file.
This will download a template that can be easily filled with your contacts.

Click ‘Select Your File’ and choose your updated contact list. Or simply drag and drop the file into the marked area. Click ‘Upload File.’

Slidecast will immediately begin processing your list of contacts, and you will be notified when your contacts are ready to use

Import contacts in Slidecast

Contacts with Google and Integrations

If you signed in using a Google Gmail login, your contacts are synced with Google every time you log in and when you make changes to a contact. If you are integrated with an Integration Provider (like HubSpot), your contacts will also be synched on login and when you update a contact.

The following fields are available to be synced with Google:
First Name, Last Name, Address 1, Address 2, City, State, Zip, Country, Email, Mobile, Home Phone, Work Phone, Company, Job Title, CustomId 1, CustomId 2

The following fields are available to be synched with HubSpot:
First Name, Last Name, Address 1, City, Zip, Work Phone, Mobile, Email, Company, Job Title

*Note for Integrations:

If you are integrating with an Integration provider, the provider is your primary record-holder of the data. That means you will not be able to delete a contact in Slidecast unless you have deleted it from your provider.

The logo of the provider will appear by the left of the contact to show you who is the owner of the contact.

Sharing Presentations

Launch

Use the ‘Launch‘ button to launch a pre-selected default Quick Launch presentation with a contact. Once you’ve set a presentation to be your Launch presentation, you’re able to launch a presentation to a contact faster. You’ll be taken to a simple contact screen to select an existing contact (or create a new one). Then immediately Launch your presentation.

1.     Click the Launch Rocket button on the top of your left navigation.

2.     Find the contact you want to work with

3.     Click ‘Launch’ to start a Slidecast or click ‘Self-Guided’ to send them your presentation.

Launch a slidecast presentation to a contact

Slidecast Types

There are four different kinds of Slidecasts you can use to communicate with your contacts: Guided Presentations, Self-Guided Presentations, Face-to-Face Presentations, and Broadcast Presentations.

Guided Presentations

These are remote presentations with individual contacts that you can launch from anywhere to anywhere. They are intended to be used when your contact is in a remote location and has access to an internet-enabled device.

Click “Launch” from the left navigation,‘Launch’ from your contact list, or “The Rocket Launch Icon” from inside a selected contact to immediately send a Guided Presentation to that contact.


*Note this will send your default presentation.

**Once you click ‘Launch’ you will not be able to choose or change the presentation you are sending, the guided presentation will immediately be sent to that contact you have selected. Make sure you have the correct default presentation set before launching.

Launch guided contacts in Slidecast
Edit or launch a guided contact in Slidecast

A Slidecast card will open in a new window with your default presentation selected. You can choose to email and/or text your contact to invite them to the presentation.

Invite contacts to the Slidecast presentation

If you click ‘Start Voice Call,’ Slidecast will initiate a call to you and then connect the call to your contact. Once you have connected, via voice, with your contact, you can then click ‘Start Presentation‘ with your contact to begin your Slidecast.

You’re in the lead, as you guide your client through your presentation slide-by-slide. Or give them control over the presentation by clicking the ‘Controls’ toggle on the lower right. For slides with clickable links (that link to other pages), enable the ‘Links’ toggle.

Click the ‘Stop’ button to end the presentation. This will take them to your inactive slide.

Inactive Slidecast presentation with a contact

Self-Guided Presentations

These are intended to let your contact view your presentation remotely and at their own pace. They will have controls available to them to navigate through your presentation.

There are 3 ways you can send a Self-Guided presentation.

1. The fasted way is to click ‘Launch’ and then ‘Self-Guided’ next to the contact you wish to send to.

Self guided Slidecast presentations

2. You can go to the Contact List and click ‘Self-Guided’ next to the contact you wish to send to.

Send self guided Slidecast presentations to contacts

3. Or click into the Contact’s Name and click the Self-Guided’ button (or SG for mobile devices) to send your contact a text and email inviting them to view your presentation.

Launch a guided Slidecast presentations

Face-to-Face Presentations

These are simple presentations for when you are physically present with your contact and would like to show it to them in person. In the Presentation page find the presentation you want to share and click the ‘•••’, then select ‘Face-to-Face‘ from the dropdown to start presentation.

A separate window will pop up asking you to ‘Start Presentation’ Your client will see your entire presentation with you beside them.

Slidecast Face-to-Face Presentations

Broadcast Presentations

Launching a broadcast presentation will set up a Slidecast where any number of people can join. These are ideal for when you’re in a conference environment, presenting at a kiosk, or hosting an online meeting and would like your audience to look at your presentation on their devices. The benefit is that their device becomes the canvas for your content as you lead the whole group through.

In the Presentation page select the presentation you want to broadcast and click the ‘•••’, then select ‘Broadcast’ from the dropdown to start the broadcast. You may also start a conference call with a Broadcast presentation, however, we currently have set a limit of 20 participants per call.

Slidecast Broadcast Presentations

Anyone will be able to join your Broadcast presentation by going to slidecast.com/join/[your keyword]. Be sure you have a memorable keyword set in your settings.

Launch Slidecast Broadcast Presentations

After filling in a form with basic contact information, they are taken directly to your presentation.

Add contact information to join Slidecast Broadcast Presentations

Or allow anonymous participants to bypass the form by selecting the toggle option in your presentation’s settings. Found in the ‘Settings’ from in the ‘•••’ menu dropdown.

Allow anonymous participants in Slidecast broadcast presentations settings

ANALYTICS

Presentation Analytics

The Analytics page is a dashboard that displays common information points that help you to gauge the success of your presentation.

Slidecast Presentation Analytics

You can click any presentation and see detailed averages for your most viewed and least viewed slides.

Slide details analytics of Slidecast Presentation
Contact analytics Slidecast

Presentation History

You can view the history of your presentations with contacts. When inside the presentation click ‘•••’ then select ‘History’.

View Slidecast Presentation History

You’ll be able to search by contact for any time period and analyze how long they visited each slide. Note, the last slide may last a long time because the contact may have kept their browser open after finishing the presentation without “Stopping” it.

Slidecast Presentation History

Contact History

You can view the history with a specific contact. When on the contacts page click into the contact and then select ‘History’.

View contact history in Slidecast

Integrations

Working with HubSpot

We’re excited for you to be able to work with Slidecast from within HubSpot.

Install slidecast app for working with hubspot

Clicking ‘Install app’ will take you to the Slidecast signup screen.

Verify mobile number to install Slidecast app

Enter your mobile number and verify it. Next enter your name and email. Finally enter your password. You may optionally just sign in with your Gmail account. Once you have signed up to Slidecast, you’ll be taken to the Integrations tab within the “Your Account” page with the HubSpot integration pre-selected.

Note, you may optionally choose to select “Workflow (Automation).” However, please ensure you have a paid account supporting Automation in order to successfully integrate with Slidecast. If you do not, the integration will fail.

Click “Save.”

Integrate hubspot with Slidecast

You will be taken back to HubSpot to sign in with your account, if you’re not already.

Connecting Slidecast to Hubspot

Once you do, and have agreed with the permissions being requested, you’ll be brought back to Slidecast, and you’re done. Your contacts will automatically be synched from HubSpot and you’re ready to begin working from within HubSpot.

Click on build button on Slidecast

Note, every time you log in to Slidecast, the system will sync with HubSpot. Note that from your contact in HubSpot, any changes to the following fields will update the corresponding record immediately in Slidecast: First name, Last name, Email, Mobile. That’s because these fields are required for Slidecast to work correctly within HubSpot. So if you make a change to any of these fields, be sure to refresh your contact page in HubSpot.

Once you’re back in HubSpot, go to your contact, and you should be able to see a Slidecast card on the right.

See Slidecast on Hubspot

You’re now able to do your most common Slidecast activities directly from within HubSpot.

1.     “Launch a Guided Slidecast with [Contact]” takes you to a Slidecast with that contact. Once they connect and the Slidecast is running, an activity is recorded (if the contact is a part of a Deal, activity is also recorded there). Note, to see it, you may have to select Integrations > Slidecast.

Launch a Guided Slidecast with Contact

2. “Send [Contact] a Self-Guided Slidecast” will send an email and text to your contact with a link to a Self-Guided presentation. Once they start it, an activity is recorded (if the contact is a part of a Deal, activity is also recorded there).

Send Contact a Self-Guided Slidecast

3. “Communicate with [Contact]” allow you to Send a Text or Start a Voice Call with your contact.

4. “View [Contact]’s History” allows you to see a history of interactions with your contact.

5. “Configure Slidecast” allows you to manage your presentations from within HubSpot.

Contacts:

1. Creating contacts in Slidecast (directly, or through a new contact starting a presentation or joining one) will create the contact in HubSpot.

2. All Slidecast activity for contacts will create an event timeline in HubSpot for that contact.

3. All Slidecast activity for deals (with associated contacts) will create timeline events for that deal (and the contact).

Workflow:

If you have enabled “Workflow (Automation)” for the integration, and you have a paid HubSpot account supporting Workflow, you can use this feature.

1. You can enroll a Contact Workflow for both the Start and End of a Presentation by going to ‘Presentations’,

2. Click the presentation,

3. Choose ‘Advanced‘ (if the card is collapsed, click the name of the presentation to expand),

4. Select the appropriate workflow for the ‘HubSpot Self-Guided On Start‘ and ‘HubSpot Self-Guided On End‘ events.

5. Click ‘Save Presentation

Save Slidecast Presentation within Hubspot

6. Within HubSpot, send the self-guided link to the same presentation to the contact. Whenever they click the link and start that presentation, the On Start workflow selected will be enrolled. When they click the ‘Stop‘ presentation button, the On End workflow will be enrolled.

And that’s it. If you have any questions, you can always call us (866.844.2001), email us (support@slidecast.com) or use the Contact Us form on this site to get in touch with us.

Working with Zapier

We’re excited for you to be able to connect to a world of applications through Zapier. More info on how to work with this integration is coming soon.

Working with Zoho

We’re excited for you to be able to connect to Slidecast’s integration with Zoho.

To begin, you’ll need to:

  1. Enable the integration within Slidecast
  2. Install the Slidecast App within Zoho

To enable the integration within Slidecast, click “Your Account” at the top right of your screen, and select the “Integrations” tab. There you’ll see the Zoho integration available for you. Click the “+” button and click “Save.”

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If you are not signed in to Zoho, you’ll be asked to sign in. When you have signed in, you will be asked whether to allow Slidecast to access notes, contacts, lead, and user data.

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Once you do, and have agreed with the permissions being requested, you’ll be brought back to Slidecast, and you’re done. Your contacts will automatically be synched from Zoho and you’re ready to begin working from within Zoho.

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Note, every time you log in to Slidecast, the system will sync with Zoho. Note that from your contact in Zoho, any changes to the following fields will update the corresponding record immediately in Slidecast: First name, Last name, Email, Mobile. That’s because these fields are required for Slidecast to work correctly within Zoho. So if you make a change to any of these fields, be sure to refresh your contact page in Zoho. After enabling the integration in Slidecast all changes to contacts within Slidecast will sync back to Zoho.

Now log into Zoho, go to the app Marketplace, and find Slidecast

Click the “Install” button. Once you have agreed with the Terms of Service and authorized Slidecast to access and process your data, click “Install Now”

Click the “Install” button. Once you have agreed with the Terms of Service and authorized Slidecast to access and process your data, click “Install Now”

After installing the app, all changes to your leads and contacts within Zoho will sync automatically with Slidecast.

After installing the app, all changes to your leads and contacts within Zoho will sync automatically with Slidecast.

Click either “Leads” or “Contacts” and select a Lead or Contact

You will see the Slidecast related list available for you to work with. Click the “Slidecast” related list.

You will see the Slidecast related list available for you to work with. Click the “Slidecast” related list.

The App will automatically log you in and display four tabs for you to work with your lead or contact.From here you can launch a guided presentation or send a self-guided presentation to your lead or contact. Click “Launch Guided Slidecast with [Your Contact]”

The App will automatically log you in and display four tabs for you to work with your lead or contact.

From here you can launch a guided presentation or send a self-guided presentation to your lead or contact. Click “Launch Guided Slidecast with [Your Contact]”

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From here, you can launch a presentation as you normally would, with your lead or contact.

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Make it stand out

or click “Send Self-Guided Slidecast to [Your Contact]” to decide which presentation you’d like to send them. And email and text will be sent to them (if they have either or both).

You can also send a text message directly to your client by clicking the “Text” tab. Simply enter the message you want to send them and click “Send Text.”

To start a voice call, click the “Voice” tab and click “Start Voice Call”

You can also view the history of your interactions with your client by clicking History:

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Click “Notes” on your left to also view a history of any activity related to your contact or lead:

And that’s it. If you have any questions, you can always call us (866.844.2001), email us (support@slidecast.com) or use the Contact Us form on this site to get in touch with us.

How to use the Slidecast-Canva integration:

Log into Canva, and go to Discover Apps and search for “Slidecast”

Discover Apps and search for Slidecast in Canva

Click “Use in new design”

Use Slidecast in Canva

You can copy elements from Slidecast to Canva as well

Copy elements from Slidecast to Canva to create design
Use designs in Canva from Slidecast

Design your slides in Canva however you’d like

Design Slidecast Slides in Canva

Once you’re done, click Share, select Slidecast, and then push your new designs to whichever presentation you plan to use it in

Share canva presentation with Slidecast

General

Setting Up Account

After you have signed up, you’ll be taken directly to the Presentations page. We’ve built a set of sample presentations for you to work with so you can get a feel for what Slidecast is capable of.

For important features, we’ve added a set of help tours to guide you. Feel free to skip them (you can always reset the tours by clicking the help (question mark) icon at the top right, and clicking “Reset all Help Tours” to restart them

Go ahead and click a presentation to get started.

Slidecast presentation page

Working with My Account

Keyword: Your keyword gives your contacts access to your presentation in an easy way. Just select an easy-to-remember keyword, and if it’s available, you’re free to use it in your link.

Form Options: For contacts that come to your presentation, you can decide whether they fill in a basic information form or enter without filling in anything. Remember, by not requiring them to fill in a form, you’re not going to have access to Analytics data for each person viewing your presentation.

Slidecast form

Account: Once you have paid for a Slidecast account, you’re able to set up your account as a Billing account for your company. That means you can invite your colleagues to “join” your company by adding them to your account. To do this, name your account appropriately and copy and disseminate the Company Code to anyone else you would like to add to your account.

When they sign up, they will be able to use your code to join their account to yours. Once you accept them as sub accounts, your account will be responsible for their billing.

Default Email Template: You can change the default email template used for all new presentations, but changing it here. All new presentations will default to your design, which you can then modify within the presentation itself.

Default email template Slidecast

Other: You’re also able to change your password, merge your Google account, update your credit card, view your billing history, add or remove features, and manage your personal details.