Top 10 Reasons Proposals Get Rejected
It’s not usually the price. Uncover the hidden mistakes in your proposals that are causing clients to ghost you.
Introduction
You sent the proposal. You waited. You followed up. Crickets.
Why?
It's easy to blame the client ("they were cheap"). But usually, the proposal failed to do its job. Here are the top 10 reasons proposals end up in the trash.
1. Too Slow
You took 4 days to send it. They already hired the guy who sent it in 4 hours.
2. Too Generic
"Dear Sir/Madam." It looks like a template. Clients want to feel special.
3. Talking About Yourself
Page 1 is "Our History." Page 2 is "Our Awards." Client doesn't care. They care about their problem. Start with "The Objective."
4. Unclear Deliverables
"Web Design." What does that mean? 5 pages? 50 pages? Mobile responsive? Be specific.
5. No Options
Take it or leave it. They usually leave it. (See: Pricing Anchoring).
6. Hidden Fees
"Travel expenses extra." "Hosting not included." Surprises kill trust.
7. Bad Mobile Experience
They opened your PDF on an iPhone and couldn't read the font. They closed it and forgot it.
8. No "Next Steps"
Great proposal. How do I sign? If they have to print/scan, you lost them.
9. Typos and Formatting
If you can't spell "Copyright," how can they trust you with their brand?
10. Sticker Shock (No Anchoring)
You showed a big number without showing the value first. Or you didn't offer a smaller "Phase 1" to get foot in the door.
Conclusion
A proposal is a sales letter, not a receipt. It needs to persuade, clarify, and make it easy to say Yes.
Manager List solves #1, #5, #7, and #8 out of the box. The rest is up to you.