What Keeps a Buyer Reading Your Proposal
Buyers read more of your proposal than most sales teams think. Here's what the data says keeps them going, and what we'd do about it.
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Notes on proposal design from Closewell Studio.
Notes on
Notes on
proposal design.
Short notes on how big deals get decided and how we design proposals around it. What buyers read first, what they forward, and what we'd do again.
Notes from the studio.
Short notes on how big deals get decided and how we design proposals around it.
14 notes
Why it mattersYou're Not the Only One Bidding on This Deal
Most of a big buying decision happens when you're not in the room. Here's what that means for the proposal you send.
5 min read
Why it mattersThe Anatomy of a Proposal That Wins a Seven-Figure Deal
A seven-figure deal gets read by a committee, most of whom never met you. Here's how each section of the proposal should work for them.
5 min read
Old way vs new wayThe Old Way of Building Proposals Is Costing You Deals
The Word doc, the PDF export and the late-night email attachment still run a lot of big deals. Here's where that process breaks, and what to keep.
5 min read
ComparisonsCanva Proposal Templates vs a Custom-Designed Proposal
A Canva proposal template is fast, free and fine for a lot of deals. Here's where it runs out when the deal is big and the buyer is comparing you to everyone else.
5 min read
ComparisonsPandaDoc vs Proposify vs Qwilr vs a Custom Proposal
PandaDoc, Proposify and Qwilr are all good proposal software. Here's what each one is best at, what it costs, and when a big deal needs something they don't sell.
5 min read
ComparisonsGamma and AI Proposal Generators vs a Designed Proposal
An AI proposal generator can give you a decent first draft in minutes. Here's what that draft can't know about your deal, and where a designed proposal picks up.
5 min read
How-toHow to Write an RFP Response That Makes the Shortlist
Getting shortlisted on an RFP is close to a coin flip, even for experienced teams. Here's how to build a response the evaluators can score fast and the decision makers remember.
5 min read
How-toHow to Present Pricing in a Proposal Without Losing the Buyer
Buyers go to the price first, then decide whether the rest of your proposal is worth reading. Here's how to build a proposal pricing page that keeps them going.
5 min read
IndustriesHow SaaS Companies Should Structure an Enterprise Sales Proposal
An enterprise software deal gets read by operations, finance, IT, legal and procurement. Here's how to structure a SaaS sales proposal so each of them finds what they need.
5 min read
IndustriesWhat Agency Retainer Proposals Get Wrong About the Buyer
Most agency retainer proposals open with the agency. The buyer is trying to picture the next twelve months, so that's where the proposal should start.
5 min read
IndustriesThe Construction Bid Proposal Is Overdue for a Redesign
A construction bid proposal gets read by people who have to live with the job. Lead with phasing, schedule and risk, and the rest gets easier to approve.
6 min read
IndustriesHow Consulting Firms Can Make a Proposal Look Worth the Fee
Consulting fees are hard to justify because the client is paying for thinking they haven't seen. The proposal is where you let them see it.
6 min read
IndustriesHow to Write a Sponsorship Proposal Brands Say Yes To
Most sponsorship decks sell the event. Brands buy what the event does for them, so build the proposal around their goals, their audience and what they walk away with.
5 min read
Newsletter
One note a month.
A short email once a month. One thing we learned on a proposal and what we'd do again.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Notes from the studio.
Short notes on how big deals get decided and how we design proposals around it.
14 notes
LatestWhy it mattersWhat Keeps a Buyer Reading Your Proposal
Buyers read more of your proposal than most sales teams think. Here's what the data says keeps them going, and what we'd do about it.
5 min read
Why it mattersYou're Not the Only One Bidding on This Deal
Most of a big buying decision happens when you're not in the room. Here's what that means for the proposal you send.
5 min read
Why it mattersThe Anatomy of a Proposal That Wins a Seven-Figure Deal
A seven-figure deal gets read by a committee, most of whom never met you. Here's how each section of the proposal should work for them.
5 min read
Old way vs new wayThe Old Way of Building Proposals Is Costing You Deals
The Word doc, the PDF export and the late-night email attachment still run a lot of big deals. Here's where that process breaks, and what to keep.
5 min read
ComparisonsCanva Proposal Templates vs a Custom-Designed Proposal
A Canva proposal template is fast, free and fine for a lot of deals. Here's where it runs out when the deal is big and the buyer is comparing you to everyone else.
5 min read
ComparisonsPandaDoc vs Proposify vs Qwilr vs a Custom Proposal
PandaDoc, Proposify and Qwilr are all good proposal software. Here's what each one is best at, what it costs, and when a big deal needs something they don't sell.
5 min read
ComparisonsGamma and AI Proposal Generators vs a Designed Proposal
An AI proposal generator can give you a decent first draft in minutes. Here's what that draft can't know about your deal, and where a designed proposal picks up.
5 min read
How-toHow to Write an RFP Response That Makes the Shortlist
Getting shortlisted on an RFP is close to a coin flip, even for experienced teams. Here's how to build a response the evaluators can score fast and the decision makers remember.
5 min read
How-toHow to Present Pricing in a Proposal Without Losing the Buyer
Buyers go to the price first, then decide whether the rest of your proposal is worth reading. Here's how to build a proposal pricing page that keeps them going.
5 min read
IndustriesHow SaaS Companies Should Structure an Enterprise Sales Proposal
An enterprise software deal gets read by operations, finance, IT, legal and procurement. Here's how to structure a SaaS sales proposal so each of them finds what they need.
5 min read
IndustriesWhat Agency Retainer Proposals Get Wrong About the Buyer
Most agency retainer proposals open with the agency. The buyer is trying to picture the next twelve months, so that's where the proposal should start.
5 min read
IndustriesThe Construction Bid Proposal Is Overdue for a Redesign
A construction bid proposal gets read by people who have to live with the job. Lead with phasing, schedule and risk, and the rest gets easier to approve.
6 min read
IndustriesHow Consulting Firms Can Make a Proposal Look Worth the Fee
Consulting fees are hard to justify because the client is paying for thinking they haven't seen. The proposal is where you let them see it.
6 min read
IndustriesHow to Write a Sponsorship Proposal Brands Say Yes To
Most sponsorship decks sell the event. Brands buy what the event does for them, so build the proposal around their goals, their audience and what they walk away with.
5 min read
Newsletter
One note a month.
A short email once a month. One thing we learned on a proposal and what we'd do again.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Notes from the studio.
Short notes on how big deals get decided and how we design proposals around it.
14 notes
LatestWhy it mattersWhat Keeps a Buyer Reading Your Proposal
Buyers read more of your proposal than most sales teams think. Here's what the data says keeps them going, and what we'd do about it.
5 min read
Why it mattersYou're Not the Only One Bidding on This Deal
Most of a big buying decision happens when you're not in the room. Here's what that means for the proposal you send.
5 min read
Why it mattersThe Anatomy of a Proposal That Wins a Seven-Figure Deal
A seven-figure deal gets read by a committee, most of whom never met you. Here's how each section of the proposal should work for them.
5 min read
Old way vs new wayThe Old Way of Building Proposals Is Costing You Deals
The Word doc, the PDF export and the late-night email attachment still run a lot of big deals. Here's where that process breaks, and what to keep.
5 min read
ComparisonsCanva Proposal Templates vs a Custom-Designed Proposal
A Canva proposal template is fast, free and fine for a lot of deals. Here's where it runs out when the deal is big and the buyer is comparing you to everyone else.
5 min read
ComparisonsPandaDoc vs Proposify vs Qwilr vs a Custom Proposal
PandaDoc, Proposify and Qwilr are all good proposal software. Here's what each one is best at, what it costs, and when a big deal needs something they don't sell.
5 min read
ComparisonsGamma and AI Proposal Generators vs a Designed Proposal
An AI proposal generator can give you a decent first draft in minutes. Here's what that draft can't know about your deal, and where a designed proposal picks up.
5 min read
How-toHow to Write an RFP Response That Makes the Shortlist
Getting shortlisted on an RFP is close to a coin flip, even for experienced teams. Here's how to build a response the evaluators can score fast and the decision makers remember.
5 min read
How-toHow to Present Pricing in a Proposal Without Losing the Buyer
Buyers go to the price first, then decide whether the rest of your proposal is worth reading. Here's how to build a proposal pricing page that keeps them going.
5 min read
IndustriesHow SaaS Companies Should Structure an Enterprise Sales Proposal
An enterprise software deal gets read by operations, finance, IT, legal and procurement. Here's how to structure a SaaS sales proposal so each of them finds what they need.
5 min read
IndustriesWhat Agency Retainer Proposals Get Wrong About the Buyer
Most agency retainer proposals open with the agency. The buyer is trying to picture the next twelve months, so that's where the proposal should start.
5 min read
IndustriesThe Construction Bid Proposal Is Overdue for a Redesign
A construction bid proposal gets read by people who have to live with the job. Lead with phasing, schedule and risk, and the rest gets easier to approve.
6 min read
IndustriesHow Consulting Firms Can Make a Proposal Look Worth the Fee
Consulting fees are hard to justify because the client is paying for thinking they haven't seen. The proposal is where you let them see it.
6 min read
IndustriesHow to Write a Sponsorship Proposal Brands Say Yes To
Most sponsorship decks sell the event. Brands buy what the event does for them, so build the proposal around their goals, their audience and what they walk away with.
5 min read
Newsletter
One note a month.
A short email once a month. One thing we learned on a proposal and what we'd do again.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
One note a month on proposal design.
One note
One note
a month.
A short email once a month. One thing we learned on a proposal and what we'd do again.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
What are you bidding on?
Tell us the deal in a line. We'll read it and come back with a plan and a price.
Try
- Live web proposal and PDF
- From $5K
- 50 percent to start
What are you bidding on?
Tell us the deal in a line. We'll read it and come back with a plan and a price.
Try
- Live web proposal and PDF
- From $5K
- 50 percent to start
What are you bidding on?
Tell us the deal in a line. We'll read it and come back with a plan and a price.
Try
- Live web proposal and PDF
- From $5K
- 50 percent to start
What are you bidding on?
What are you
bidding on?
Tell us the deal in a line. We'll read it and come back with a plan and a price.