If you’re trying to stay on top of leads and move deals forward, but your “system” is still sticky notes and a spreadsheet, this one’s for you. Maybe you just started using Pick, or maybe you’re figuring out if it’s worth switching from your current CRM. Either way, let’s cut through the fluff and get you a pipeline that actually helps you close deals—not just one more place to click around.
Below, I’ll walk you through building a sales pipeline in Pick, from that first email or call to the final “signed and done.” We’ll cover what matters, what doesn’t, and some honest caveats about what Pick can and can’t do.
Step 1: Decide What Your Pipeline Actually Needs
Before you start dragging stages around in Pick, pause and think about how your sales process really works. Don’t just copy the “ideal” pipeline you saw in a webinar—build one that matches the way you already sell.
Ask yourself:
- What are the actual steps that take someone from “never heard of us” to “customer”?
- Where do deals usually get stuck?
- What information do you really need to track at each stage?
Pro tip: Write your stages on paper first. If your process has more than 6–7 stages, you’re probably making it too complicated. Most small teams do fine with something like:
- New Lead
- Qualified
- Demo/Meeting
- Proposal Sent
- Negotiation
- Closed Won
- Closed Lost
Don’t worry about getting it perfect. You’ll tweak as you go.
Step 2: Set Up Your Pipeline in Pick
Now, log in to Pick and get your pipeline structure set up. In Pick, a pipeline is just a series of stages (columns) that your deals move through.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to the Pipelines section (usually in the sidebar).
- Click “Create Pipeline” or “Add New” (the button is pretty obvious).
- Name your pipeline. If you only sell one thing, just call it “Sales Pipeline.”
- Add your stages. Use the list you made earlier. Keep the names simple—“Intro Call” is better than “Initial Engagement Touchpoint.”
- Save.
Things to ignore:
- Don’t stress about colors, icons, or “custom fields” yet. Get the basics working first.
Step 3: Start Adding Deals (The Right Way)
Your pipeline is useless until you put real deals in it. But there’s a right and wrong way:
Wrong way: Dump every contact you’ve ever met into the pipeline. You’ll end up with fake volume and lose sight of real opportunities.
Right way: Only add deals that have some chance of closing. If you haven’t talked to them or they haven’t expressed actual interest, they don’t belong in the pipeline yet.
How to add a deal in Pick:
- Click “Add Deal” (typically at the top or in each stage).
- Enter the basics: company, contact, potential value, expected close date.
- Link to the contact record, if you already have them in Pick’s contacts.
Pro tip: Set a reminder or follow-up date for every deal you add. Otherwise, forgotten deals pile up and your pipeline turns into a graveyard.
Step 4: Track and Move Deals Through the Stages
This is where Pick’s drag-and-drop board comes in handy. As you make progress, move deals to the next stage. But don’t just shuffle things to feel productive—only move a deal when something real happens (e.g., you actually sent the proposal, not “thought about sending it”).
What to update at each stage:
- Add notes (Pick lets you attach notes or comments to each deal).
- Log calls, emails, or meetings.
- Update the deal value if things change.
What doesn’t work:
Don’t try to automate everything right away. Pick has some automation, but if you spend all day setting up workflows instead of talking to prospects, you’re missing the point.
Step 5: Use Activities and Reminders (But Don’t Overdo It)
Deals die when you forget to follow up. In Pick, you can set activities (calls, emails, tasks) and reminders for each deal.
Here’s what actually helps:
- For every deal, create the next step as soon as you finish the last one. No “I’ll do it later.”
- Use reminders for real deadlines (proposal due, renewal date), not every single “check in.”
What to skip:
Don’t overload yourself with busywork tasks. If you set a reminder for every possible action, you’ll start ignoring them all.
Step 6: Review and Clean Up Your Pipeline Regularly
Pipelines fill up with stale deals if you’re not careful. Make it a habit—once a week, or at least before your sales meeting—to review the pipeline.
What to do:
- Close out old deals that aren’t moving. No, you’re not “giving up”—you’re freeing up attention for real opportunities.
- Update stages and values if things have changed.
- Follow up on stuck deals, or move them to “Closed Lost” if they’re truly dead.
Honest take:
Don’t kid yourself about dead deals. If a prospect hasn’t replied in months and you’ve tried everything, move on. Your pipeline should reflect reality, not wishful thinking.
Step 7: Use Pick’s Reporting—But Don’t Chase Vanity Metrics
Pick has some built-in reporting. Use it to spot trends (where deals stall, average close time, win rates). But don’t get obsessed with making the charts go up—focus on actual sales, not just “pipeline value.”
What’s useful:
- See which stages deals usually get stuck in.
- Spot deals that have been in one stage too long.
- Track your real win rate.
What to ignore:
Don’t waste time on reports that don’t change what you do. If a chart looks nice but doesn’t give you a next step, skip it.
Step 8: Tweak and Improve Your Pipeline (But Don’t Overcomplicate It)
Your first pipeline won’t be perfect. That’s fine. The key is to adjust as you go:
- If you notice a stage that never gets used, delete it.
- If you’re always confused about where a deal belongs, rename the stages.
- If you need to track something new (like contract sent), add a field or note—but only if it’s useful.
Pro tip:
Ask your team what’s working and what’s a pain. If people stop using Pick, it’s probably because the process got too complicated.
A Few Honest Tips and Gotchas
- Pick is good for simple pipelines. If you need endless custom fields, deep automation, or integrations with everything under the sun, Pick might frustrate you.
- Don’t treat Pick as a to-do list for your whole life. It’s best for tracking deals—not for managing dozens of side projects or marketing campaigns.
- Garbage in, garbage out. If you don’t keep the data clean, reports and pipeline views are useless.
- You’ll never get “perfect” data. Aim for “good enough to act on,” not spreadsheet perfection.
Keep It Simple and Keep Moving
You don’t need a fancy system or a perfect pipeline to close deals. Start simple, use Pick for what it’s good at, and focus on moving real opportunities forward. Review your pipeline regularly, don’t let dead deals pile up, and tweak your process as you learn.
If your pipeline helps you remember what matters, it’s working. If it just gives you more admin work, change it—or ditch it. Simple as that.