Choosing between a one pager and a slide deck can feel like picking the right tool for the job. Both are useful in sales conversations, but they serve different purposes depending on the context.
A solid understanding of when and how to use each one can help your sales team communicate better, save time, and improve how prospects engage with your message.
What is a One Pager?
A one pager is a single-page document that gives a condensed, high-level overview of your product, service, or offer.
It’s designed to be read quickly and shared easily. Usually, it’s in PDF format and includes things like key benefits, a problem-solution summary, product visuals, and a call to action.
These days, there are plenty of tools that make it easy for sales teams to create one-pagers. Distribute is one of them!
What are the Common Use Cases for One Pager?
- Quick follow-ups after calls or demos
- Introductory emails to new prospects
- Leave-behinds for internal champions to pass along
- Easy reference for busy decision-makers
Pros:
- Quick to read and digest
- Works well in asynchronous communication
- Easy to share across teams internally
- Helps keep messaging consistent
Cons:
- Space is limited, so details may be missing
- Hard to make it visually engaging without design help
- Doesn’t offer much room for storytelling or nuance
What is a Slide Deck?
A slide deck is a multi-slide presentation built using tools like PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Pitch.
It allows for a more guided and visual way to communicate your offer. You can walk someone through a full sales pitch or story, often during a live call or meeting.
What are the Common Use Cases of Slide Deck?
- Sales presentations and live demos
- Discovery calls and initial meetings
- Multi-stakeholder pitches
- Webinars and video-based sales outreach
Pros:
- More visual, which helps with engagement
- Easy to structure a story with a beginning, middle, and end
- Can be customized depending on the audience
- Ideal for guiding a live conversation
Cons:
- Takes longer to create well
- Can be overwhelming if too long
- Not always effective when shared without explanation
When to Use a One Pager vs a Slide Deck?
Each format shines in different parts of the sales process. Below is a breakdown to help decide which one to use based on your situation:
What are the Factors to Consider?
- Who is receiving the content (executive, champion, end user)?
- Will they be reviewing it alone or with a rep walking them through it?
- How far along is the conversation? (top, middle, or bottom of the funnel)
- How much time and attention can you realistically expect from them?
How Sales Teams Use One Page and Sales Deck Together?
Sales teams often find success by using one pagers and slide decks at different stages. Here’s a typical flow:
- Start with a one pager to introduce your product in a cold email or after an intro call
- Use a slide deck during a discovery call or product demo to explain the value in more detail
- Send a one pager after the meeting as a summary the prospect can share with their team
- If the deal progresses, send a more detailed deck tailored to the buying committee
Sales enablement platforms and design tools now make it easy to repurpose information. For example, you can pull key slides from your deck into a one pager or turn a one pager’s bullet points into full slides with visuals.
Tips for Creating Strong One Pagers and Slide Decks
One Pager Best Practices:
- Focus on the most relevant pain point and how you solve it
- Use headers, icons, and visuals to break up text
- Keep everything on a single page—less is more
- Include a clear CTA (book a call, request pricing, reply to email)
Slide Deck Best Practices:
- Keep slides light on text—use headlines and visuals
- Start with a slide about your prospect’s challenge
- Follow with value props, proof points, and a demo walkthrough if relevant
- Close with next steps, pricing options, or a clear CTA
Avoid cluttering either format with too much text or jargon. Think about what the viewer needs to know and what action you want them to take.
Conclusion
There’s no universal answer to whether one pagers or slide decks are better. It depends on what you’re trying to communicate, who’s on the receiving end, and how they’ll engage with the material.
One pagers are great for quick communication, easy sharing, and internal use. Slide decks help you tell a full story, especially in live settings. The best sales teams learn how to switch between the two and use each format to their advantage.
FAQs
1. Can a one pager replace a slide deck?
Not really. A one pager is best for quick reference or sharing. A slide deck is more suited for detailed conversations or live walkthroughs.
2. Should I send a slide deck before or after a meeting?
Usually after. If you send it before, there’s a risk your message gets misinterpreted without context. But if someone asks for it ahead of time, tailor it to be self-explanatory.
3. What should be included in a sales one pager?
The basics: who it’s for, what the problem is, how you help, key features or benefits, social proof (like logos or quotes), and one clear call to action.
4. How many slides should a sales deck be?
Aim for 8–12 slides. Enough to walk someone through your pitch but short enough to keep attention. If you need more, try to move extras to an appendix or backup section.
5. Can you use both one pager and slide deck in a single email?
Yes. For example, you can include the one pager as the main asset and add a link to a more detailed deck. Just make sure it's clear which one to read first.
7. Do one pagers work for complex products?
They can, but you’ll need to simplify your messaging. Focus on the core problems you solve and save technical details for a longer asset or follow-up conversation.
8. How often should I update these assets?
Anytime your offer changes or you notice prospects asking the same questions repeatedly. Keep both formats updated to reflect your latest messaging, pricing, and features.
