If you’re in sales and your heart sinks every time you hear “update your pipeline,” you’re not alone. Most reps dread it. Salesforce can feel clunky, and managers want things spotless. This guide is for anyone who gets paid to sell (or wrangle sellers) and wants to spend less time wrestling CRM and more time actually selling.
Let’s cut through the noise and show step by step how to use Scratchpad to make pipeline updates fast, accurate, and—dare I say—almost painless.
Why Pipeline Updates Suck (and Why They Matter Anyway)
Let’s be honest: nobody dreams of spending their afternoon clicking through Salesforce fields. Updating the pipeline is repetitive, easy to mess up, and usually gets pushed to Friday at 4:30. But if your CRM’s a mess, deals slip, forecasts get dicey, and managers start hovering.
There’s no silver bullet, but Scratchpad actually does make pipeline updates less awful. It pulls Salesforce data into a much cleaner interface, lets you edit in bulk, and saves you from endless page loads. It won’t magically make your deals close, but it’ll make tracking them less painful.
Step 1: Get Set Up (Don’t Overthink It)
What you need: - A Salesforce account (with permission to edit opportunities) - A Scratchpad account (free and paid options)
To get started: 1. Go to Scratchpad and sign up (use your Salesforce login for fastest setup). 2. Authorize the connection to your Salesforce account. This only takes a minute. 3. Install the Chrome extension if you want quick access, but you can also use the web app.
Pro tip: Don’t spend half a day customizing layouts right away. Get familiar with the basics first. You can tweak stuff later.
Step 2: Pull Up Your Pipeline in Scratchpad
The magic of Scratchpad is seeing and editing your pipeline in a spreadsheet-style view—no more clicking into every opportunity.
Here’s how:
- Once logged in, click on “Pipeline” or “Workspace” in Scratchpad.
- You’ll see your Salesforce opportunities pulled in automatically.
- Columns are customizable: drag to reorder, hide what you don’t care about, and add common fields (like Amount, Stage, Close Date, Next Steps).
What’s worth customizing? - Deal Stage and Close Date: Non-negotiable. These drive most pipeline meetings. - Next Steps/Notes: Add this if your manager hounds you for deal details. - Forecast Category: If your org actually uses it, otherwise skip. - Custom Fields: Only add these if they help you. If you don’t know what it is, you probably don’t need it.
What to ignore:
Don’t bother adding every field “just in case.” That’s how you end up overwhelmed and back to avoiding updates.
Step 3: Make Pipeline Updates (Without Losing Your Mind)
Here’s where Scratchpad shines. Instead of opening each opportunity, you update right in the table—just like a spreadsheet.
To update your deals: 1. Click into any field you need to change (stage, amount, next step, whatever). 2. Type or select your update. 3. Changes auto-save back to Salesforce—no extra “Save” button to hunt for.
Bulk Edit:
Need to move a bunch of deals to a new stage? Select multiple rows and update them all at once. This is a lifesaver at end-of-quarter.
Add Notes Quickly:
Hit the “Notes” column (or use the separate Scratchpad Notes panel) to jot down deal context as you go. This beats hunting for sticky notes or old Slack messages later.
Pro tip:
If you find yourself updating the same fields every week, save a custom view. Next time, it’s one click to get right back to your workflow.
Step 4: Prep for Pipeline Reviews the Smart Way
Pipeline meetings shouldn’t be a gotcha game. Use Scratchpad to get your story straight before you’re in the hot seat.
How to prep: - Sort and Filter: Want to see only this month’s closes? Or just deals over a certain size? Use filters to focus. - Flag Risky Deals: Add a “Risk” column or use tags to call out anything shaky. Saves you from scrambling when your manager asks, “Anything at risk?” - Check for Gaps: Missing next steps or close dates stick out in a grid. Clean these up before you’re asked about them.
What not to bother with:
Don’t try to make your pipeline look perfect. Managers know when you’re sandbagging. Focus on real updates, not wishful thinking.
Step 5: Automate the Boring Stuff
Scratchpad can automate some of your grunt work, but don’t go overboard with automation for its own sake.
Worth automating: - Reminders: Set up reminders for stale deals or missing next steps. - Templates: Use note templates for common call summaries or MEDDIC fields if you’re into frameworks.
What to skip:
Don’t waste time automating one-off reports or overcomplicating your workspace. If you’re spending more time tinkering with automations than updating deals, you’re missing the point.
Step 6: Keep It Simple, Iterate as You Go
The secret to a clean pipeline isn’t fancy tools—it’s building a habit. Scratchpad makes it easier, but you still have to do the work.
What helps: - Block 10–15 minutes a week for pipeline cleanup. Seriously, set a calendar event. - Use keyboard shortcuts (Scratchpad supports a bunch) to move even faster. - Don’t be afraid to prune deals that are dead. Stale deals waste everyone’s time.
What doesn’t help: - Overengineering your workflow. If you need a user manual to update your pipeline, start over. - Waiting for “the perfect setup.” Your pipeline will never be perfect, and that’s fine.
A Few Honest Pros and Cons
What works: - Updates are much faster—think minutes, not hours. - You actually see all your deals in one place, in a way that makes sense. - Minimal Salesforce lag. No more spinning wheels.
What doesn’t: - You still have to update your pipeline. Scratchpad can’t read your mind. - Some custom Salesforce setups can be clunky to sync (rare, but it happens). - If your company’s pipeline process is broken, no tool will fix that.
Wrap Up: Don’t Overcomplicate It
Pipeline updates won’t ever be “fun,” but with a tool like Scratchpad, they don’t have to be a headache. Focus on what you need to know to run your deals—not what looks good in a dashboard. Start simple, tweak as you go, and remember: a clean pipeline means less stress for you and fewer surprises for your team.
Spend less time updating, more time closing. That’s the real win.