Ditch the Pricing PDF / Unique Ways to Make Your Client Proposal Stand Out
Having a unique proposal to send to potential clients is an important part of the sales process. Because, not only does it give them the information they need to decide whether or not to book you, it is the first customized piece of “work” you create for them and it sets the tone for what your client experience is like. And, while we’re likely not the first people to tell you this, we do want to share some of the tactics we have personally used in our businesses, to help you send proposals that convert. Read on for tips and examples on how you can create unique proposal templates that will have inquiring clients ask, “Where do I sign?”
Tips from Christy
Keep the content as simple and streamlined as possible so the information is very easy for a potential client to absorb. You want them to understand what their investment in you gets them as well as what makes one service offering different from the next
While we love anything that is well designed, don’t clutter your proposal and only use the visuals you need to. Again, you want the information about your service offerings to be the focus and too many design elements can be distracting
Consider ditching the PDF and creating an unlinked page on your website to send instead. On a platform like Squarespace, you can password protect pages, which enables you to send potential clients a private link. In my opinion, this comes across as very professional as opposed to sending them a document that feels like it is just out there for all eyes to see
Tips from Cassie
Keep your branding in mind! No matter what platform or format you decide to use, try to keep typefaces, colors, and any other brand elements cohesive so it feels polished and professional
Tips from Tayler
Always list the option you think is best for your potential client first (even if it is not the most expensive package). This helps you draw attention to it without needing to explicitly say, “This is the package I want you to book!”
When introducing the package you think is the best fit for the client, don’t be afraid to say why. Or, if that approach is too upfront for you, consider adding a client testimonial about why your services are amazing next to this option
Like the idea of creating an unlinked page on your website instead of a PDF? Here are a few reasons we think it’s a great idea!
A lot of potential clients have questions after reading your proposal and, oftentimes, that means you have to send a revised version. If you build your proposal as a webpage, you can easily make changes
Pages on websites are easy to duplicate, so you can still create templates for yourself
Check out these examples we created to get your wheels turning! This example was created as a “cover page” in Squarespace (which is why you don’t see any menu or links to other pages). This example is a longer version that was just built as an unlinked index page (so we could add the stock video clip).
