Using Convo

Getting real-time suggestions

6 min read
Last updated: November 24th, 2025

Convo provides real-time AI suggestions during your calls to help you navigate conversations more effectively. Learn how to access, understand, and use these suggestions.

How Real-Time Suggestions Work

Real-time suggestions in Convo appear through the Smart Panel, which displays AI-generated recommendations as your conversation unfolds. The system analyzes your discussion continuously and provides contextual guidance without interrupting the flow.

Two Types of Suggestions

Action Buttons

Automatic suggestions that appear every few seconds based on conversation context

On-Demand Answers

Search for specific information instantly using the Ask AI feature

Accessing the Smart Panel

To start receiving real-time suggestions:

  1. Join your video call or phone conversation
  2. Press ⌘L or click the Convo menu bar icon → Listen
  3. The Smart Panel appears as a floating window
  4. Action buttons will begin appearing after 1-2 minutes of conversation

Pro tip: Position the Smart Panel on a secondary monitor or screen edge where you can glance at it without being distracted from your video call.

Understanding Action Buttons

Action buttons are context-aware suggestions that update automatically throughout your call. Convo generates new suggestions every 8 seconds, showing up to 3 at a time.

What Action Buttons Look Like

Each action button displays as a clickable suggestion with text like:

"Ask [person] about their experience with [topic]"

"Learn how [topic] solves the problem"

"Discuss next steps and timeline"

When Suggestions Appear

Action buttons are generated based on:

  • Topics mentioned - Key subjects being discussed (e.g., "AI," "budget," "timeline")
  • People identified - Names of participants and their roles
  • Conversation patterns - Introductions, questions, challenges, or decision points
  • Meeting stage - Whether you're in introduction, discovery, or closing phase

How to Use Action Buttons

Action buttons are suggestions, not scripts. Here's how to use them effectively:

Glance, Don't Stare

Check action buttons periodically for ideas. They're meant to jog your memory or provide conversation starters, not to be read word-for-word.

Adapt to Your Style

Use suggestions as inspiration and rephrase them in your own words. If a button says "Ask about their role," you might say "Tell me more about what you do."

Pick What's Relevant

Not every suggestion will be useful. Choose actions that feel natural and move the conversation forward. It's okay to ignore suggestions that don't fit.

Wait for New Suggestions

Buttons update every 8 seconds. If current suggestions don't resonate, wait a moment for fresh ones based on the latest conversation context.

Using On-Demand Answers

When you need specific information during a call, use the Ask AI feature in the Smart Panel.

How to Ask Questions

  1. Click in the search field at the top of the Smart Panel
  2. Type your question naturally (e.g., "What's our refund policy?")
  3. Press Enter
  4. An AI-generated answer appears in seconds

What You Can Ask

About Current Conversation

  • "What did they say about pricing?"
  • "Summarize the main concerns mentioned"
  • "What questions have they asked so far?"

From Knowledge Sources

  • "What integrations do we support?"
  • "What's the difference between Pro and Enterprise?"
  • "How does our product handle security?"

General Guidance

  • "How should I respond to objections about cost?"
  • "What questions should I ask in a discovery call?"
  • "What are good next steps after this call?"

Where Answers Come From

Convo searches two sources to answer your questions:

  1. Conversation history - What's been said in the current call (uses dynamic context scaling based on call length)
  2. Knowledge sources - Documents, websites, and notes you've uploaded in the Ask AI section of your dashboard

Important: For best results, upload relevant knowledge sources before your calls. Go to General → Ask AI in your dashboard to add product documentation, sales playbooks, or FAQs.

Making Suggestions More Relevant

The quality of real-time suggestions improves as Convo learns about your conversations and has access to better information.

1. Upload Knowledge Sources

Add materials that contain information you frequently reference:

  • Product documentation and feature specs
  • Sales playbooks and objection handling guides
  • Pricing sheets and package comparisons
  • Company policies and procedures
  • Case studies and customer testimonials

2. Create Live Answer Cards

Pre-prepare answers to frequently asked questions:

  1. Go to General → Live Answer in your dashboard
  2. Create a new card with the question and your prepared answer
  3. Specify when the card should appear (topic, keywords, context)
  4. Convo will surface these cards automatically during relevant conversations

3. Use Convo Consistently

The more calls you record with Convo, the better it understands:

  • Your typical conversation topics and patterns
  • Industry-specific terminology you use
  • The types of questions you encounter
  • Your communication style and preferences

Best Practices

Do:

  • Use suggestions as conversation starters and memory aids
  • Ask AI for specific facts when you need verification
  • Rephrase suggestions in your own words
  • Check action buttons periodically, not constantly
  • Trust your judgment over AI suggestions

Don't:

  • Read action buttons word-for-word as scripts
  • Stare at the Smart Panel instead of engaging with participants
  • Feel obligated to use every suggestion
  • Share your screen with the Smart Panel visible
  • Rely solely on AI—your expertise matters most

Troubleshooting

No action buttons appearing

Action buttons require conversation context. They typically appear 1-2 minutes after you start recording. Ensure:

  • You pressed ⌘L or clicked "Listen" to start recording
  • Your microphone is working and picking up audio
  • The transcript is updating in the Smart Panel
  • You've been talking for at least 1-2 minutes

Suggestions aren't relevant

Suggestions improve with more conversation context. If they're off-topic initially, wait a few minutes as Convo gathers more information. Also ensure you've uploaded relevant knowledge sources for your industry or role.

Ask AI not finding answers

  • Check that you've uploaded knowledge sources in General → Ask AI
  • Verify the information exists in your uploaded documents
  • Try rephrasing your question more specifically
  • Ensure you have an active internet connection

Smart Panel feels slow

Check your internet connection. Real-time suggestions require network access to process questions and generate answers. For very long calls (2+ hours), slight performance degradation is normal as more conversation history accumulates.

Examples: Suggestions in Action

Sales Call Scenario

Context: Prospect mentions budget concerns

Action Button: "Explain how we provide ROI within 6 months"

Ask AI Query: "What case studies show ROI?"

Result: You have talking points ready and specific examples to share

Product Demo Scenario

Context: Customer asks about integration capabilities

Ask AI Query: "What integrations do we support?"

Action Button: "Show how integrations work in practice"

Result: You get the integration list and a suggestion to demo it live

Discovery Call Scenario

Context: Client describes their current workflow

Action Button: "Ask about challenges with their current solution"

Ask AI Query: "What pain points did they mention?"

Result: You have a follow-up question and a summary of their concerns

Next Steps

Now that you understand real-time suggestions, explore these features:

Need more help?

Visit our Help Center for more articles or contact support at itsconvo.com/contact.

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