Every B2B sales rep knows the pain: you leave a call, promise a follow-up, and then something else grabs your attention. Next thing you know, the deal’s cold—and you’re scrambling. If you want to avoid those “Hey, just bumping this to the top of your inbox…” emails, you need a dead-simple system for reminders and follow-ups. That’s where Scratchpad comes in.
This guide is for B2B reps who want to spend less time wrestling with Salesforce and more time actually selling. Let’s get into setting up reminders and follow-up tasks in Scratchpad—without the fluff, and with a few honest pointers on what’s actually worth your time.
1. Why Scratchpad? (And What to Ignore)
Before we get into the how-to, a quick reality check. Scratchpad is basically a layer over Salesforce that’s actually pleasant to use. If you’re forced to use Salesforce and hate clicking through endless tabs, Scratchpad can save your sanity.
What works:
- Quick note-taking during or after calls
- Fast task creation that syncs to Salesforce
- No more “Where did I put that reminder?” headaches
What doesn’t:
- If your sales process is super-custom or involves heavy automation, Scratchpad isn’t a magic bullet.
- It won’t fix broken processes or make bad data magically accurate.
- The mobile app is fine, but not as slick as the desktop experience.
Ignore:
- Fancy dashboards for reminders—use your own system if you already have one that works. Scratchpad is best for quick, in-the-moment task capture.
2. Connecting Scratchpad to Salesforce
You can’t use Scratchpad without Salesforce. Here’s how to get set up:
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Go to Scratchpad and sign up.
Use your Salesforce credentials. No need to remember another password. -
Authorize the connection.
Scratchpad will ask for permissions. Yes, it’s annoying, but you have to do it. It only pulls what’s needed for your workflow. -
Check your pipeline.
Once connected, your Salesforce opportunities, contacts, and tasks should show up in Scratchpad. If something’s missing, refresh or log out and back in—usually fixes weird sync issues.
Pro tip:
If your org has heavy Salesforce restrictions, you might hit a wall. Ping your admin early if you get stuck instead of spending an hour troubleshooting.
3. Setting Up Reminders and Follow-Up Tasks
Let’s get to the real reason you’re here: making sure no deal slips through the cracks.
Step 1: Open the Task Pane
- From your Scratchpad dashboard, find the “Tasks” tab or pane. It’s usually in the sidebar.
- If you don’t see it, hit the “+” or “Add Task” button.
Step 2: Create a New Task
- Click “Add Task.”
- Give your task a clear name. Example: “Follow up with ACME about contract revisions.”
- Attach it to the right contact, account, or opportunity. Don’t skip this—it’s the only way to keep things organized.
What not to do:
- Don’t just write “Follow up” as your task. Be specific. “Call Sarah at WidgetCorp re: Q2 pricing” is way better than “Follow up.”
Step 3: Set the Due Date and Reminder
- Pick a due date. This is when you want to actually do the thing.
- Set a reminder if you want Scratchpad to nudge you. You can get reminders via email or in-app notification.
- For recurring follow-ups (like a deal in legal review), set a recurring task. But be honest—most reps just need a one-off nudge.
Pro tip:
If everything’s marked urgent, nothing is. Use reminders for real risk: deals at risk, big meetings, or true deadlines.
Step 4: Add Notes or Context
- Use the notes field to add context: What’s the next step? Did the prospect mention vacation plans? Jot it here.
- These notes sync to Salesforce, so your manager can see you’re actually doing your job (or at least planning to).
Step 5: Save and Move On
- Hit “Save” (or whatever Scratchpad calls it).
- Your task is now live. It’ll show up on your tasks list, and in Salesforce.
What works:
- Tasks show up in both Scratchpad and Salesforce instantly.
- You can edit or mark complete in either tool.
What doesn’t:
- If you rely on Salesforce’s “Activities” for reporting, double-check that Scratchpad tasks are syncing the right way. Sometimes custom fields don’t map.
4. Making Reminders Actually Work for You
It’s easy to dump a hundred reminders into any system and then ignore them all. Here’s how to avoid task overload:
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Keep your task list short.
Only set reminders for things you’ll actually do. The rest is noise. -
Review daily.
Spend five minutes at the start or end of the day knocking out quick tasks or bumping dates on things that need more time. -
Batch tasks.
Have a bunch of similar follow-ups? Group them and do them all at once. -
Don’t over-engineer.
Scratchpad isn’t going to manage your whole life. Use it to remember sales stuff, not to plan your vacation.
Pro tip:
If you’re getting email reminders and you never look at them, turn them off. Use in-app notifications or your calendar if that works better.
5. Using Templates and Shortcuts
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time. Here’s how to speed things up:
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Task templates:
Create reusable templates for common follow-ups (“Send pricing sheet,” “Check in after demo”). Scratchpad lets you save and reuse them. -
Keyboard shortcuts:
If you’re in Scratchpad a lot, learn a few shortcuts. Adding a task, saving a note, and switching tabs are all faster this way. -
Pin important tasks:
If something’s truly mission-critical, pin it so it’s always at the top.
What works:
- Templates are a lifesaver if you’re sending similar follow-ups after every call.
What doesn’t:
- Don’t bother templating tasks you only do once or twice a quarter.
6. What About Integrations? (A Reality Check)
Scratchpad plays nice with Salesforce. It also integrates with calendar tools and sometimes Slack.
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Calendar sync:
You can send tasks to your Google Calendar, but the sync can be clunky. Don’t rely on it for life-or-death deadlines. -
Slack reminders:
If your team lives in Slack, you can get notifications there. But honestly, too many Slack pings just add to the noise. -
Zapier and automation:
If you’re an automation nerd, you can connect Scratchpad to other tools. Just don’t spend hours building a Rube Goldberg machine when a simple task works.
7. Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
Pitfall #1: Setting too many reminders.
If everything’s a priority, nothing gets done. Be ruthless.
Pitfall #2: Not attaching tasks to the right record.
A task floating in the void helps no one. Always tie it to a contact, account, or opportunity.
Pitfall #3: Ignoring your tasks list.
No system works if you don’t look at it. Build a habit—five minutes a day is enough.
Pitfall #4: Duplicate tasks in Salesforce and Scratchpad.
Check your sync settings so you’re not seeing double.
8. Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate Often
Reminders and follow-up tasks only work if you actually use them. Don’t shoot for perfection—just get your basics in place, and tweak as you go. Scratchpad can help you keep your deals moving, but it’s not a substitute for actually doing the work.
Start small, keep it tidy, and don’t let your task list become another form of procrastination. Your future self (and your quota) will thank you.