If you run B2B sales, you know the drill: deals slip through the cracks, reps forget to log calls, and reviewing pipelines feels like herding cats. A lot of teams use deal review templates to keep things on track—but most templates are either too generic or so bloated nobody actually fills them out. If you’re using Convin and want practical advice on making deal review templates that your team will actually use (and that actually help you close deals), this guide is for you.
Below, I’ll walk you through setting up, customizing, and getting real value out of deal review templates in Convin—without getting lost in the weeds or following advice written by someone who’s never sold anything.
Why Deal Review Templates Matter (But Only If You Do Them Right)
Before diving in, let’s be clear: Templates aren’t magic. They help you get consistency and accountability, but they won’t fix a broken sales process. If you set them up thoughtfully, they do three things:
- Make sure reps prep for reviews instead of winging it.
- Give managers a quick way to see what matters (and skip the noise).
- Help teams spot patterns—both wins and warning signs.
If you just copy-paste a template from the internet, you’ll end up with a checklist nobody follows. Customization is the name of the game.
Step 1: Get into Convin’s Deal Review Templates
First things first—log into Convin. You’ll need admin or manager access to create or edit templates.
- On the dashboard, go to Settings or Templates (the exact naming might change, but look for anything “Review” or “Deal” related).
- Find the section called Deal Review Templates.
If you can’t find it, check your permissions—Convin sometimes hides advanced options unless you’re a manager or admin.
Step 2: Decide What Actually Needs Reviewing
Don’t start with a blank page. But don’t just steal your CRM’s fields, either.
Ask yourself:
- What are the top 3-5 things that truly predict deal success at your company?
- What do reps actually forget to mention or log?
- What details do managers wish they saw earlier—before deals stall or die?
Skip the fluff: Most templates have too many “nice to have” fields (“Client satisfaction”, “Next steps”, “Objections handled”, etc.). Pick what’s critical now.
Examples of sections that work:
- Deal Summary: 1-2 sentences on what’s going on. No novels.
- Deal Stage & Close Probability: Not just “what stage,” but “how sure are you, and why?”
- Key Stakeholders: Who’s the real decision maker? Who’s a blocker?
- Risks & Red Flags: Be honest—what could tank this deal?
- Next Steps & Owner: What’s the next thing happening, and who’s on the hook?
What to ignore: Don’t add “Attachments,” “Call logs,” or anything Convin already tracks automatically. Focus on what a human needs to think through.
Step 3: Build Your Template in Convin
Now, actually make the thing.
- Click “Create New Template” (or “Edit” if you’re tweaking an existing one).
- Add sections/fields based on what you decided above.
- Use text boxes for summaries or open answers.
- Use dropdowns for things like deal stage (keeps it tidy).
- Use checkboxes sparingly—too many, and people just click everything without thinking.
- Set required vs. optional fields. Only make a field required if you really need it for every deal review. Otherwise, you’ll get junk entries.
Pro tip: Name things in plain English. “Risks” beats “Potential Obstruction Analysis.”
- Order matters. Put the most important stuff at the top. If it’s buried, it’ll get skipped.
- Save and preview the template. Check how it looks from a rep’s point of view. If you wouldn’t fill it out, neither will they.
Step 4: Customize for Different Teams or Deal Types
Not every deal is the same. Enterprise sales is a different beast from SMB.
- Create different templates for different teams or product lines. Don’t force everyone into the same mold.
- For complex/enterprise deals: Add fields about procurement, legal blockers, or multi-threading.
- For transactional deals: Keep it short. Focus on volume, quick risks, and fast next steps.
What not to do: Don’t go overboard with micro-templates for every scenario. Too many templates = confusion.
Step 5: Roll It Out Without Annoying Everyone
You’ve built the template. Now, get people to actually use it. Here’s what works (and what doesn’t):
- Train, don’t just announce. Walk the team through the template in a real meeting. Show them how it saves time (not just adds work).
- Explain the “why.” If people know the template helps win deals (not just satisfy management), they’ll take it seriously.
- Get feedback fast. After the first week or two, ask: “What’s annoying? What doesn’t make sense?” Adjust quickly.
- Don’t use it as a stick. If you use templates to micromanage or punish, reps will fill them out with garbage just to check the box.
Pro tip: For the first few reviews, fill out the template yourself for one or two deals. Show what “good” looks like.
Step 6: Automate What You Can (But Don’t Trust AI Blindly)
Convin does some smart stuff, like pulling in call summaries or tracking engagement automatically. Use that—but don’t assume automation replaces human judgment.
- Auto-fill CRM data where possible. No need to type in company name or deal value every time.
- Let Convin pull in call notes or recordings for reference.
- Don’t let AI write your critical fields. Summaries, risks, and next steps need a human eye. Otherwise, you’ll end up with “Lorem ipsum” disguised as insight.
Step 7: Review, Tweak, and Keep It Simple
Templates are living documents. What worked last quarter might not work now.
- Once a quarter, look at old templates. Are people skipping fields? Are you getting copy-paste answers? Time to prune.
- Drop what’s not useful. If a field isn’t helping close deals or spot risks, cut it.
- Ask the team what’s missing. Sometimes, the best template tweaks come from the folks actually using it.
Avoid: Adding new “must-fill” fields every time something goes wrong. Keep it focused on what matters.
Honest Takes: What Works and What Doesn’t
- Works: Short, focused templates. Fields that trigger real conversation. Human-written summaries.
- Doesn’t work: Long templates nobody wants to fill out. Required fields “because management said so.” Relying 100% on AI summaries.
- Ignore: Fancy formatting, endless dropdowns, or “insight dashboards” that look pretty but nobody checks.
Wrap-Up: Keep It Useful, Keep It Real
Deal review templates in Convin are only as good as the thought you put into them. Start simple, use plain language, and focus on what actually moves deals forward. Don’t try to make the perfect template on day one—iterate based on what your team actually needs. And if a section isn’t adding value, kill it.
Most important: If you want your team to use deal review templates, make them worth the effort. Keep what works, drop what doesn’t, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Good luck—and remember, the best template is the one your team actually fills out.