If you’re running a sales team, you know the pain of messy meetings: missed notes, aimless agendas, and calls that drag on without moving the deal forward. Goodmeetings (goodmeetings.html) promises to fix a chunk of that by letting you create and use meeting templates—so your calls aren’t reinventing the wheel every time. But out of the box, templates might not fit how your team actually sells. This guide is for sales leaders, ops folks, and anyone tired of “template theater” who wants to make meeting templates actually work for your sales process.
Below, you’ll find a step-by-step walkthrough for customizing templates that fit real sales conversations, not just what sounds good in a slide deck. Plus, a little tough love about what to skip and what actually helps.
Why bother customizing meeting templates?
If you’re reading this, you probably already know the answer, but here’s the quick version:
- Consistency: Everyone follows the same flow, so deals don’t slip through the cracks.
- Time savings: Less prep for every rep, every time.
- Better data: Capture the right info, not just random notes.
- Fewer mistakes: Forgetting to ask a key question? Template’s got your back.
But here’s the catch: If your template is bloated, generic, or out of date, it’ll just get ignored. The goal is to make something people actually use—simple, clear, and tuned to your process.
Step 1: Map your real sales process (not the one in the handbook)
Before you even log into Goodmeetings, get honest about how your team actually runs calls. The “ideal” sales call flow you put in onboarding slides is probably not how things really go. Talk to your top reps, listen to a few call recordings, and jot down the real steps.
Look for:
- Stages: Discovery, demo, pricing, negotiation, etc.
- Key questions: What do you need to ask? What’s just filler?
- Objections: What comes up on nearly every call?
- Next steps: What should happen before the call ends?
You want a list that’s specific to your deals. For example, “Discuss budget approval process” is better than “Talk about pricing.” Don’t overcomplicate it—five to seven steps is usually plenty.
Step 2: Audit (and delete) the default templates
Goodmeetings comes with some starting templates. Most of them are, frankly, pretty generic. Before you start editing, take a look at what’s there:
- Click into “Templates” in the left menu.
- Open each default template (like “Sales Discovery” or “Demo Call”).
- Ask: Does this match how your team actually runs these calls?
- If not, don’t be afraid to delete. There’s no prize for keeping every template.
Pro tip: If you’re worried about losing something, duplicate the template before you start chopping it up.
Step 3: Build or edit your main template
Now, let’s make a template your team will actually want to use. Here’s how:
a. Start with the right meeting type
- Click “Create New Template” (or duplicate one that’s close).
- Name it something obvious: “Discovery Call – [Your Company]” beats “Template 1.”
b. Add agenda sections that match your flow
For each major part of the call, add an agenda item. Don’t overload—every section should serve a purpose.
Example:
- Quick rapport (1 min)
- Recap previous conversation (2 min)
- Main customer pain points (5 min)
- Demo/solution fit (10 min)
- Objections & questions (5 min)
- Next steps & close (2 min)
If your calls are longer or shorter, adjust accordingly. The point is to guide the conversation, not script it.
c. Insert talking points, not walls of text
For each agenda item, add 2–3 bullet points. These should be reminders, not essays.
What works:
- “Ask: What’s your #1 priority this quarter?”
- “Demo: Show reporting dashboard, highlight speed.”
- “Confirm: Who signs off on budget?”
What to skip:
- Paragraphs of product jargon. No one reads it.
- Questions you never actually ask.
- Anything that feels like busywork.
d. Add placeholders for notes and follow-ups
Every section should have a spot for notes. Better yet, add a “Next Steps” field at the end—so action items don’t get lost.
Step 4: Bake in the right fields (and ditch the rest)
Templates in Goodmeetings can include custom fields—checkboxes, dropdowns, text boxes. This is where you can capture key deal data as you go.
How to do it:
- For each agenda item, ask: Is there info we always need to capture here?
- Add a specific field for it—like “Decision Maker Name” or “Timeline.”
- Use dropdowns for common answers (saves typing, reduces errors).
But: If you add too many required fields, reps will skip templates entirely. Keep it to what you really need for pipeline, forecasting, and follow-up.
Real talk: If you’re tempted to add a “How engaged did the prospect seem? (1-10)” field, ask yourself—does anyone ever look at this data?
Step 5: Test, tweak, and get real feedback
Before you roll out the template to your whole team:
- Run 2–3 real sales calls using the template yourself.
- Ask a couple of reps to try it. Tell them you want honest feedback, not just “looks good.”
- Watch where people skip steps, get confused, or roll their eyes.
What you’re looking for:
- Sections getting ignored? They’re probably unnecessary.
- Info missing? Add it.
- Steps out of order? Move them.
- Too many fields? Cut ruthlessly.
Pro tip: If you’re a manager, shadow a call and see where the template helps—or where it slows things down.
Step 6: Roll out (without forcing adoption)
Once you’ve got a template that works, share it with your team:
- In Goodmeetings, publish the template and set permissions as needed.
- Demo it in a team meeting—show how it saves time, not just “because ops said so.”
- Make it the path of least resistance (e.g., default for all new meetings of that type).
But don’t expect 100% adoption on day one. Salespeople are allergic to busywork. If your template’s helpful, usage will climb. If not, you’ll know pretty quick.
Step 7: Keep it simple, keep it fresh
Templates aren’t set-and-forget. Check in every month or quarter:
- Are reps still using it? If not, why?
- Is the sales process changing? Update the template.
- New product features or pricing? Refresh talking points.
The best templates are living documents, not museum pieces. Don’t let them get dusty.
What to ignore (seriously)
A few things you’ll see in template guides that just waste time:
- Overly detailed scripts: Your reps aren’t robots. Give them room to be human.
- Mandatory fields for every possible scenario: If it’s not used 90% of the time, don’t make it required.
- “Fun” agenda items (icebreakers, inspiration quotes): Unless you’re selling to summer camp directors, skip.
Focus on what moves deals forward and makes life easier.
Wrapping up: Start small, iterate often
You don’t need the perfect template on day one. Start with your most common call type, keep it lean, and improve as you go. The best meeting templates aren’t the most detailed—they’re the ones your team actually uses. So cut the fluff, focus on what matters, and don’t be afraid to tweak as your sales process evolves. That’s how you get real value out of Goodmeetings—and fewer messy, unproductive calls.