How to add, rename, reorganize or delete stages in a pipeline?

Reading time: 2 min

Quick summary: Each pipeline contains stages (columns). You can fully customize them: add, rename, reorganize by drag-and-drop, or delete according to your needs.

Default stages

When pipeline is created, Novalya automatically generates 3 stages with generic names:

• Stage 1
• Stage 2
• Stage 3

Rename a stage

To rename existing stage:

1. On concerned stage, click ⋯ menu (three dots)
2. Click "Rename"
3. Enter new name
4. Validate

Effective stage name examples

For sales pipeline:

• Contacted
• Quote sent
• Negotiation
• Won
• Lost

For MLM pipeline:

• Cold prospect
• Interested
• Presented
• Distributor
• Leader

For tracking pipeline:

• To contact
• Conversation ongoing
• 7-day follow-up
• 30-day follow-up
• Archive

Add a stage

To create new stage:

1. Click "Add stage" (button visible in pipeline)
2. Give stage a name
3. Validate

Best practices

Recommended number of stages: 3 to 6 stages per pipeline

Why not have too many:

• Too many stages = unnecessary complexity
• Hard to maintain clear organization
• Risk of contacts "lost" in micro-stages

Reorganize stages

You can reorganize stages via drag-and-drop to adapt order to your process.

How to do it:

1. Click and hold on stage name
2. Drag left or right
3. Release at desired position

Reorganization example

Before:

Contacted → Follow-up → Conversation → Converted

After logical reorganization:

Contacted → Conversation → Follow-up → Converted

Delete a stage

To delete a stage:

1. Click ⋯ menu (three dots) on stage
2. Click "Delete"
3. Confirm deletion

What happens to contacts in this stage?

When you delete stage containing contacts:

Contacts are automatically moved to another stage in same pipeline (usually first stage).

Warning

Best practices (recommended)

Efficient organization

Simple and effective example (4 stages):

Pipeline "Prospects"
├─ Contacted
├─ Conversation
├─ Follow-up needed
└─ Converted

Why it works:

• Clear and linear
• Easy to maintain
• Covers entire journey

Advanced example (6 stages):

Pipeline "Sales pipeline"
├─ Incoming lead
├─ First contact
├─ Quote sent
├─ Negotiation
├─ Won
└─ Lost

Why it works:

• Detailed without being complex
• Allows precise tracking
• Won/Lost separation for analytics

To avoid

Too many stages (10+):

❌ Contacted → Responded → Interested → Very interested → 
   Quote requested → Quote sent → Quote reviewed → 
   Quote modified → Negotiation → ...

Why it's problematic:

• Useless micro-stages
• Hard to maintain
• Contacts "lost"

Solution: Group into broader stages or use notes in contact profile.

Concrete examples by sector

Coach / Consultant

Pipeline "Coaching prospects"
├─ Discovery call scheduled
├─ Call completed
├─ Proposal sent
├─ Customer
└─ Not converted

MLM / Direct sales

Pipeline "Distributors"
├─ Initial contact
├─ Presented
├─ Registered
├─ Training in progress
├─ Active
└─ Inactive

E-commerce

Pipeline "Customers"
├─ First purchase
├─ Recurring customer
├─ VIP (3+ purchases)
├─ 30-day inactive
└─ Churn

FAQ

How many stages can I create per pipeline?

There's no technical limit. However, we recommend 3 to 6 stages to keep clear and efficient organization.

Can I have stages with same name in different pipelines?

Yes. Each pipeline is independent. You can have "Contacted" stage in multiple different pipelines.

Are stages shared between Facebook and Instagram?

No. Facebook CRM and Instagram CRM are separate. Facebook pipelines and stages don't exist on Instagram and vice versa.

Can I copy complete pipeline with its stages?

No, not directly. You must manually recreate pipeline and its stages. However, once created, you can easily reuse same structure.

Do contacts change stages automatically?

No. Contacts never change stages automatically. You must move them manually or via CRM campaign.

Need help?

If you have questions about stage management, our support team is available:

• Email: support@novalya.com
• Ticket Center: Available from your Novalya space

We typically respond within 2 hours during business days.

Updated on: 27/03/2026