Sales Pipeline Template: Track and Visualize Your Leads

Sales are the lifeblood of any business. Getting the most out of your sales team necessitates getting down to the essentials. Streamlining the effectiveness of the sales process is one of the nitty-gritty.

A sales pipeline template in Excel is a powerful tool that can help you track your sales process. It can help identify which sales stages are performing well and which need improvement.

Ineffective and obscured, XYZ Inc.’s sales procedure required improvement. They needed more insight into and a better handle on the sales process. They created a sales pipeline template in Excel to help them out.

From the template, they achieved the following;

• Tracked their sales process from start to finish.
• Tracked which process stages were taking too long and identified bottlenecks.
• Gained visibility into which sales stages performed well and which ones needed improvement.

As a result, they were able to refine their sales procedure and boost their sales.

In this blog, you’ll learn the following:

Table of Content:

1. What is a Sales Pipeline Template?
2. Video Tutorial:
3. Why Do You Need a Sales Pipeline Analysis Template?
4. What Does the Sales Pipeline Template Include?
5. When to Use a Spreadsheet as a Sales Pipeline Template?
6. Best Charts to Used For Sales Pipeline Templates
   1. Example # 1
   2. Example # 2
7. How to Create a Sales Pipeline Template in Excel?
8. What Makes a Good Sales Pipeline Template?
9. Download Our Sales Pipeline Template
10. Sales Pipeline Template FAQs
11. Wrap Up

Continue reading to learn how to create a sales pipeline template in Excel.

What is a Sales Pipeline Template?

Definition: A sales pipeline template is a structured framework that visually represents the stages of a sales process, from initial lead generation to closing a deal. It helps sales teams track, manage, and analyze prospects, ensuring consistent progress and identifying areas for improvement in the sales cycle.

Video Tutorial: Sales Pipeline Template

Why Do You Need a Sales Pipeline Analysis Template?

A Sales Pipeline Analysis Template is essential for organizing and evaluating the stages of your sales process. It provides a clear, visual representation of where each prospect stands, helping sales teams identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.

This analysis enables better forecasting, resource allocation, and decision-making, ensuring that sales efforts are aligned with business goals and that no opportunities are overlooked. Additionally, it enhances transparency, allowing managers to monitor performance and optimize the sales pipeline for greater efficiency and success.

What Does the Sales Pipeline Template Include?

A Sales Pipeline Template typically includes the following key elements:

1. Lead Information
   • Details about each prospect, including contact information, company name, and potential deal value.
2. Pipeline Stages
   • Clear stages of the sales process, such as lead generation, qualification, proposal, negotiation, and closing.
3. Opportunity Status
   • Indicators of the current status of each prospect, such as “new,” “in progress,” or “closed-won/lost.”
4. Expected Close Date
   • Estimated timeline for when the deal is likely to close.
5. Deal Value
   • The potential revenue from each opportunity.
6. Probability of Closing
   • A percentage representing the likelihood of a deal progressing to completion based on historical data and the current stage.
7. Next Steps
   • Actionable tasks or follow-up activities are required to move the deal forward.

When to Use a Spreadsheet as a Sales Pipeline Template?

A spreadsheet is ideal for use as a Sales Pipeline Template in the following situations:

Small to Medium-Sized Sales Teams

When you have a smaller team or fewer leads to manage, a spreadsheet can be an easy, low-cost solution to track prospects and sales stages.

Limited Budget for CRM Tools

If your company doesn’t have the resources to invest in a full-fledged Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, a spreadsheet can serve as an efficient alternative for tracking leads and opportunities.

Simple Sales Process

If your sales process is relatively straightforward with few stages or complexities, a spreadsheet provides an organized way to capture and update information quickly.

Customizable Tracking

Spreadsheets allow for flexibility in design, enabling you to tailor the pipeline template to your unique needs, such as adding columns for specific metrics or stages relevant to your business.

Quick and Easy Reporting

When you need to manually analyze or share pipeline data, a spreadsheet can facilitate easy export and reporting, especially for quick insights or small-scale analysis.

Best Charts to Used For Sales Pipeline Templates

Example # 1

The Sankey Chart is a flow-based data visualization. It shows the flow of information from one point to another. It is a great way to visualize the different stages of your sales pipeline. Consequently, see where the most significant opportunities lie.

The Sankey Chart allows you to see the flow of leads from one step to the next. This makes it easy to spot any issues causing low conversion rates.

It also reveals which stages of the sales pipeline are the most successful. So you can focus your efforts on those areas, maximize your sales, and reach your goals faster.

The Sankey Chart can also help to evaluate variations in the sales process. Doing so lets you focus on problem areas that need fixing. Consequently, work to fix them to boost your chances of success.

Example

Assume you have this sales pipeline data. You can create a sales pipeline template in Excel with a Sankey Chart to visualize the insights.

Leads	Pitched	Consideration	Close	Retarget	Size
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	140
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	232
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	213
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	215
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	142
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Lost	258
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Lost	547
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	No Sale		123
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	No Sale		214
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	No Sale		305
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	No Sale		369
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	No Sale		142
Lead	Opportunity	Not Qualified			334
Lead	Opportunity	Not Qualified			120
Lead	Opportunity	Not Qualified			344
Lead	Opportunity	Not Qualified			109
Lead	Opportunity	Not Qualified			324
Lead	Opportunity	Not Qualified			218
Lead	Rejection				292
Lead	Rejection				325
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	413
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	284
Lead	Rejection				355
Lead	Rejection				396
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	82
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	150
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	278
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	202
Lead	Opportunity	Qualified	Sold	Customers Retained	398
Lead	Rejection				429

Example # 2

The Funnel Chart displays all sales process stages, from lead generation to the actual sale. It shows the number of opportunities in each stage and the income generated.

When it comes to monitoring and assessing sales results, the Funnel Chart is invaluable. You can make adjustments to drive more sales by zeroing in on problem spots.

You can use it to spot problems affecting sales performance. Let’s assume that leads are much higher in the initial stage than sales are in the subsequent phases. This can be a sign that the sales process is not operating effectively. Using this information, you can make necessary adjustments to fix the issue.

It’s also useful for comparing various sales teams. Organizations with several sales departments may benefit greatly from this.

The Funnel Chart is also a great way to identify and track key performance indicators (KPIs). Let’s say you aim to increase sales by a certain amount. You can use the Funnel Chart to track progress against that goal. This can help you identify and focus on areas necessitating improvements to achieve your goals.

Example

Let’s say you have this data.

Steps	Total Intake
Initial contact	100000
Lead qualification	69000
Product demo	45000
Proposal	23000
Evaluation	11000
Closing	6000

Let’s see how the Funnel Chart visualizes the data to make analysis easier.

How to Create a Sales Pipeline Template in Excel?

Do you need a quick approach to creating a sales pipeline in Excel? ChartExpo can help you achieve your goal effortlessly.

ChartExpo is a powerful yet easy-to-use Excel add-in. It lets you create insightful sales pipelines with just a few clicks. You can organize your sales data into a visually appealing pipeline. Thus, tracking your sales progress and identifying potential trends and opportunities gets easier.

Benefits of Using ChartExpo

• There are many customization options available with ChartExpo. You can customize the aesthetics by adjusting the colors, size, and fonts. Consequently, design visualizations that accurately present the data and tell a story.
• You’ll find it easy to navigate ChartExpo. You can make interactive visualizations without prior coding experience. Thus, it is ideal for both seasoned and novice users.
• ChartExpo is cost-friendly. If you’re on the fence about signing up, you can try it out with a free trial. It also has inexpensive plans, so you can access numerous charting tools without breaking the bank.

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

1. Launch your Excel program.
2. Open the worksheet and navigate to the “Insert” tab.
3. You will find the “My Apps” section.
4. Select the “Store” option in the Office Add-ins window and search for ChartExpo in the My Apps Store.
5. Click the “Add” button to install ChartExpo in your Excel.

You can use ChartExpo in Microsoft Excel. Use the CTAs provided to install ChartExpo. Then create appealing visualizations with a few clicks on the program of your preference.

• Once ChartExpo is installed, click the Microsoft Excel “INSERT” menu and the “My Apps” submenu, as shown below.

• Once you click “My Apps”, the “Apps for Office” window will open.
• Choose ChartExpo from the list and click the “Insert” button.

• When ChartExpo loads, it will display a list of charts.

• Scroll through the charts until you come across the “Funnel Chart”.

• Input the data into the sheet. Then highlight the data from the sheet and click the “Create Chart From Selection” button.

• ChartExpo will generate the following visualization for you.

•  Click the “Edit Chart” button to customize the chart.
• Click the pencil icon adjacent to the ‘Chart Header’ to change the chart’s title.
• This will open a dialog box. In the ‘Text’ section, type the desired title in ‘Line 1’ and activate the ‘Show’ option.
• Then click the “Apply” button.

• To add a color to any funnel level, click the pencil icon of that specific level.
• In the Funnel properties, choose the appropriate color and click the “Apply All” button to save the alterations.
• To keep the changes made to the chart, click the “Save Changes” button.

• The final chart will look like the one below.

Insights

• Initially, 100K people were contacted.
• 69K were deemed qualified leads.
• 45K showed up for the demonstration.
• 23K expressed interest in the proposal.
• 11K made it to the evaluation level.
• 6K reached the closing stage.
• The overall takeaway is that approximately 6% of the 100K people initially targeted became customers. A huge opportunity exists to satisfy the remaining 94% by improving product features or sales tactics.

What Makes a Good Sales Pipeline Template?

A good sales pipeline template should have the following key characteristics:

Clear and Defined Stages

Each stage of the sales process should be clearly outlined, from lead generation to closing. This helps ensure that all team members know exactly where each prospect stands.

Customizable

The template should allow for easy customization to fit your specific sales process, including adding or removing stages, changing terminology, or adjusting tracking metrics as needed.

Easy to Use and Update

A good template should be user-friendly, with a straightforward layout that allows sales teams to quickly add, update, and manage lead information without confusion.

Real-Time Tracking

The template should allow up-to-date tracking of each prospect’s status, deal value, and expected close date. This enables real-time insights into the pipeline’s health.

Key Metrics and Analytics

The template should include columns for important metrics, such as deal value, probability of closing, and expected close date, to help evaluate the potential revenue and identify trends.

Integration Capabilities

While spreadsheets work well for small teams, a good sales pipeline template should ideally integrate with CRM tools or other systems for seamless data sharing and reporting.

Actionable Next Steps

It should include sections for follow-up actions, ensuring that each lead has clear next steps, and making it easier for sales teams to stay organized and proactive.

Visibility and Transparency

The template should make it easy for managers to oversee the entire pipeline, track team performance, and identify areas needing attention, improving collaboration and efficiency.

Download Our Sales Pipeline Template

1. Step 1: Download the Sales Pipeline Template: Download and open the template in Excel or Google Sheets.
2. Step 2: Customize the Template: Modify the pipeline stages and add necessary fields like deal value and expected close date.
3. Step 3: Input Sales Data: Enter lead details, current status, and relevant information into the template.
4. Step 4: Integrate with ChartExpo: Upload the template to ChartExpo for visualizing the pipeline in Excel or Power BI.
5. Step 5: Analyze Performance: Use ChartExpo to track key metrics, identify bottlenecks, and visualize sales performance.
6. Step 6: Review and Adjust: Refine your sales strategies based on data insights and update your pipeline regularly.

Sales Pipeline Template FAQs

What are the key components of a Sales Pipeline Template?

The template typically encompasses fields for lead details, stages of engagement, expected revenue, and probabilities of closure. These components enable the continuous monitoring of leads and the evaluation of conversion rates, empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions.

Are Sales Pipeline Templates in Excel suitable for all businesses?

Yes, they can be customized to suit varying business models and industries.

How frequently should a sales pipeline template be updated?

Regular updates, preferably weekly, ensure accurate tracking and analysis of sales data.

What is the best way to build a sales pipeline template in Excel?

ChartExpo is an excellent tool for creating charts that help you build your sales pipeline. With ChartExpo, you can design insightful charts that;

• Give an overview of your sales performance.
• Track customer engagement.
• Monitor progress towards predetermined goals.

Wrap Up:

A sales pipeline template in Excel is a powerful tool for monitoring your sales process. It helps identify which sales stages are performing well and which need improvement.

The best charts to use in a sales pipeline template are the Funnel Chart and the Sankey Chart. The Funnel Chart helps track the progress of leads from initial contact, qualification, and close. The Sankey Chart helps identify which sales stages are taking too long or need improvements.

Creating a sales pipeline in Excel is easy with ChartExpo. It helps you create insightful charts in Excel. Therefore, you can create the Funnel Charts and Sankey Charts with ease.

Now you know what a sales pipeline is and the purpose of sales pipeline analysis. You also possess the skills to create a sales pipeline in Excel with ChartExpo.

So, what are you waiting for?

Start creating your sales pipeline template in Excel with ChartExpo today.