So you want to keep a real eye on your sales numbers—without wading through a mess of useless charts. Good call. This guide is for sales managers, team leads, and anyone tired of generic dashboards that don’t give you a straight answer. We’ll walk through how to set up custom dashboards in Swagiq, what’s worth tracking, and what you can skip. No fluff, no buzzwords—just a clear path to seeing your numbers, your way.
Why Custom Dashboards (and Why Swagiq)?
Let’s be honest: “out-of-the-box” dashboards rarely show what you actually care about. They’re too broad, too generic, or just too confusing. Swagiq at least gives you a shot at fixing that, with tools to build dashboards around the sales metrics that matter to you—not your boss, not the software vendor.
But don’t expect magic. Swagiq gives you flexibility, but you still need to know what you want to track and why. This isn’t a “set it and forget it” deal.
Step 1: Get Clear on What Metrics Matter
Before clicking anything, take five minutes and write down what you really want to track. Here are some ideas, but don’t try to monitor everything:
- Revenue (obviously)
- Number of deals closed (per rep, per month, etc.)
- Average deal size
- Sales pipeline stages (how many deals are stuck and where)
- Conversion rates (lead → opportunity, opportunity → win)
- Sales cycle length
- Win/loss reasons
Pro tip: If a metric doesn’t help you take action, skip it. “Impressions” and “engagement” sound nice but mean nothing if your goal is revenue.
Step 2: Log In and Find the Dashboard Builder
Swagiq changes its UI now and then, but the basic steps are:
- Log in to your Swagiq account.
- Head to the main nav—look for something labeled “Dashboards,” “Analytics,” or “Reports.” Sometimes it’s tucked under a “Sales” tab.
- Find the ‘Create Dashboard’ button. Usually top-right. If you don’t see it, check your permissions—some roles can view but not create dashboards.
Don’t overthink your first dashboard. You can always tweak or delete it later.
Step 3: Build Your Dashboard Skeleton
- Name your dashboard. Pick something obvious—“Q2 Sales Metrics” or “Rep Performance,” not “Dashboard 4.”
- Set permissions. Decide who can see it. Keep it private if you’re just experimenting.
- Decide on layout. Most folks go with a grid—start with 2–4 widgets per row. You can move them around later.
What works: Start small. One page, 3–5 widgets max. You’ll spot clutter fast.
What doesn’t: Don’t try to replicate every chart from your last CRM. Focus on what gets you answers quickly.
Step 4: Add Data Widgets for Each Metric
This is where you actually see your numbers. Here’s how to make it useful:
1. Choose the Right Widget Type
- Bar/Column charts: Good for comparing reps, products, or months.
- Line charts: Great for trends over time (revenue, pipeline).
- Tables: For details—like a ranked list of deals.
- KPIs/Number blocks: For at-a-glance stats (total revenue, closed deals).
Ignore: Pie charts. They look nice but usually don’t tell you much.
2. Pick Your Data Source
- Swagiq will ask you where to pull data from (deals, leads, activities, etc.).
- Choose filters: date range, rep/team, product line, etc.
3. Configure the Widget
- Set your metric (e.g., “Sum of Revenue” for closed deals).
- Add breakdowns if needed (like “by rep” or “by region”).
- Label everything clearly. “Revenue by Month” beats “Widget 2.”
Example: Adding a Monthly Revenue Chart
- Add a new widget, pick “Line chart.”
- Data source: Deals
- Metric: Sum of Revenue
- Filter: “Closed = True,” Date = “Last 6 months”
- Group by: Month
Hit “Save,” and you should see your sales curve.
Step 5: Clean Up and Organize
Don’t just cram charts wherever they fit. A little organization goes a long way.
- Group similar widgets: Put all pipeline metrics together, all rep stats together.
- Use section headers if Swagiq allows it.
- Remove anything you don’t check weekly.
Pro tip: If you’re scrolling, you’ve got too much. Make it so you can see the most important numbers at a glance.
Step 6: Share and Automate (But Don’t Overdo It)
- Share with your team if it’s genuinely useful. Don’t blast dashboards to people who won’t use them.
- Schedule email reports if Swagiq offers it—but only for key metrics. Nobody reads a 12-chart dashboard in their inbox.
- Set alerts for critical changes (like pipeline drop-offs), but keep them rare. Alert fatigue is real.
Step 7: Review and Adjust Regularly
Dashboards aren’t “set it and forget it.” Plan to check in monthly:
- Remove charts nobody uses.
- Add new metrics if your focus shifts.
- Watch for data quality issues (missing or junk data skews your whole dashboard).
What to ignore: Vanity metrics. If a chart looks cool but you never act on it, cut it.
What Swagiq Does Well (and Where It’s Lacking)
The good:
- Decent flexibility—custom metrics, filters, and layouts.
- Visualizations are clear, not too fiddly.
- Easy to share with others.
The not-so-great:
- Complex calculated fields or custom formulas can be tricky.
- UI hiccups—sometimes widgets load slowly or filters don’t stick.
- Integrations with other tools (like marketing or support platforms) are limited. If you need a holistic view, you might need to export data elsewhere.
Pro Tips for Better Sales Dashboards
- Start simple. You can always add more later. Overbuilt dashboards get ignored.
- Ask your team what they need. Don’t guess—have a quick chat before building.
- Document your metrics. If you’re tracking “Win Rate,” write down exactly how it’s calculated. You’ll thank yourself later.
- Avoid “chart soup.” More isn’t better. One killer insight beats five mediocre charts.
Keep It Simple—Iterate Often
Custom dashboards in Swagiq can actually help you cut through the noise—but only if you keep them focused and actionable. Don’t try to build the “perfect” dashboard on your first go. Start with what matters, see how it works in real life, and tweak from there. You’ll end up with a tool you’ll actually use (and maybe, just maybe, enjoy looking at).
Now go watch your numbers—minus the noise.