A pipeline is a visual representation of your sales process. When
well structured, it allows you to know exactly where your prospects are in the process and what actions to take to move them toward a purchase.

In this article, we will look at how to create a clear and effective pipeline, step by step.

1. Understand the purpose of a pipeline

The pipeline is not just a list of steps. It is the dashboard of your sales activity.

Each step represents a level of progress for a prospect in your sales process, from initial contact to signing.

2. Think about the key steps

Before creating your pipeline in CrocoClick, define your steps on paper or in a document.

Criteria for choosing your stages:

• Clarity: each step must be easily understandable by the entire team.

• Progression: the order must reflect the natural path of a prospect towards purchase.

• Measurability: you must be able to clearly see whether a prospect has actually completed the stage.

💡 Minimalist example for a simple funnel:

1. Requested the lead magnet

2. Made an appointment

3. Made a purchase

💡 More detailed example for an agency:

1. New lead (= filled out the information request form)

2. Responded to the initial contact email

3. Made an appointment

4. Attended the appointment

5. Proposal sent

6. Contract signed

7. Payment made

3. Create the pipeline in CrocoClick

1. Go to Opportunities → Pipelines.

2. Click New Pipeline.

3. Give it a clear name (e.g., Sales Coaching or Webinar Funnel).

4. Add your steps in logical order.

5. Save.

4. Define the "pass criteria" for each stage

Each step must have a specific event that indicates that the prospect is ready to move on to the next one.

Example for our minimalist pipeline:

• Requested the lead magnet → filled out the "lead magnet request" form.

• Made an appointment → made an appointment in the "Booking 1" calendar.

• Purchased → had the "product X purchased" tag added

💡 This consideration will be crucial for the next step: automating the transition from one stage to the next.

5. Best practices

• Not too many steps: 5 to 7 maximum is sufficient in most cases. Too many steps make tracking cumbersome. In this case, it is better to have several pipelines that follow
  on from each other (
  for example, one pipeline from lead to purchase, and another from purchase to the end of onboarding).

• Clear and simple names: avoid vague terms such as "In progress" or "To be followed up."

• Regular review: Adjust your steps every 3 to 6 months to stay aligned with your processes.