Follow Up Email After Sending Proposal: 5 Copywriting Tips to Boost Replies

Diving into the world of sales, once that proposal’s out there, your job ain’t over yet. Nope. A well-crafted follow-up email after sending a proposal? That’s where the magic often happens. In this piece, I’m gonna spill about five rock-solid copywriting tips to bump up your reply rates and seal the deals. Together, we’ll navigate some cool follow-up email strategies, dig into best practices, and I’ll toss in a few example templates to get those creative juices flowing.

Introduction to Follow Up Email After Sending Proposal

So, you’ve poured your heart (and probably a fair bit of sweat) into a detailed proposal. Feels like you should just hit send and wait, right? But here’s the kicker—about 80% of sales deals reportedly need around five nudges to cross the finish line. A lot of deals hit a dead end simply because that perfect follow-up never lands in someone’s inbox.

A follow-up email after sending a proposal does some serious heavy lifting:

• It’s like that gentle tap on the shoulder, reminding folks about your killer offer without being pushy.
• It helps squash any questions or doubts before they morph into full-blown objections.
• It shows you’re the real deal—seriously invested and professional.
• Plus, you’re laying out what both sides need to do next so nobody’s left in limbo.

Crafting effective follow-ups is like spinning a story. You want them to be strategic, thoughtful, and purposeful. It’s not just about sending a quick “hey, remember me?” email. Nah, these are pivotal chats nudging the sales dance along.

Real-World Insight: The Power of Persistence

Let me spill a story from my time at a pretty decent-sized SaaS company where I steered the sales crew. We watched follow-up effectiveness like hawks. Initially, reps would shoot off just one follow-up three days post-proposal, nabbing a measly 12% reply rate. But then, we geared them up to send a second and a third a few days apart. Boom—the reply rate raced past 38%! That extra hustle and some savvy copy improved our pace and helped stitch up deals a whole lot faster.

Why Follow-Up Emails Matter in Business

Follow-ups have serious clout in the business world, especially with those long-winded B2B sales. Here’s why they’re worth their weight in gold:

• Busy Prospects: Your proposal could get lost in the shuffle, or just plain forgotten under a stack of other priorities.
• Trust Builder: Timely check-ins show you’re dedicated and genuinely about that customer-centric service life.
• Clarity Guru: Seize the moment to clear up any fuzzy details that might be sticking points.
• Standout Factor: Tons of companies drop the ball on consistent follow-ups. So, when you stay on it, you naturally shine.
• Conversion Boomer: Persistent, but polite follow-ups see more dotted lines signed and contracts closed.

Get this—Sales Insights Lab puts it out there that 44% of sales pros throw in the towel after just one follow-up. Basically, not following up consistently is like closing the door on nearly half your potential deals before they even knock.

From a buyer’s lens, those gentle nudges do wonders for taming decision anxiety. They scream you’re proactive, steady, and value the partnership. Those are the magic ingredients that tick the trust boxes and nudge them towards a “yes, we’re in!” decision.

Tips for Composing a Knockout Follow-Up Email After Sending Proposal

Check out these five tips for cooking up effective follow-up emails that earn replies and keep your sales chats alive and kicking:

1. Nail a Clear, Concise Subject Line

It all starts with the subject line—it’s that instant eye-catcher that can make or break whether your email even gets opened. Keep it real, no fluff needed.

Examples:

• “Following up on [Proposal Name/Project]”
• “Next steps for [Project/Proposal Name]”
• “Got any questions on the proposal I sent?”

Dodge the hype or vague stuff like “Important!” or “Urgent: Proposal Inside.” You wanna keep it cool and client-centric.

2. Go Beyond the Name Game

Pulling in the recipient’s name is cool, but don’t stop there. Reference something specific from your last chat or that proposal.

Example:

“Just wanted to circle back on that marketing automation proposal we chatted about last week and get your take.”

This shows you’re dialed in on the details and keeps things relevant and relatable.

3. Add Some Real Value with Every Touch

Every email should deliver a little nugget of goodness. Maybe you’re answering a looming question, sharing a case study that’s got something to do with them, or spotlighting a new update.

Example:

“Since sending the proposal, we helped a client in your industry slash their onboarding time by 30%. I reckon your team could see similar results.”

Adding value positions you as a buddy, not just someone trying to sell them something.

4. Call to Action with Style

Be upfront about what you want the person reading your email to do next—whether that’s shooting a reply, hopping on a call, or meeting up.

Example CTAs:

• “Let me know a good time for a quick call this week.”
• “Do you have any questions I can clear up?”
• “Are we ready to take the next step with the proposal?”

Steer clear of murky closes like “Looking forward to hearing from you.” Instead, spell out the next move.

5. Keep It Short, Sweet, and Readable

Attention spans? Super short. Keep it punchy with brief paragraphs, bullet points if that works better, and straightforward language.

A follow-up is not where you wanna unleash an essay or labyrinthine language. Aim for clarity and a breezy read.

Best Practices for Sending Successful Follow-Up Emails

Apart from mixing and matching words right, these email follow-up best practices keep your outreach both polished and productive:

Timing Makes It

• Fire off your first follow-up 2–3 business days after sliding that proposal their way.
• No response? Jump in with a second follow-up 4–5 days later.
• A third and final nudge might be due about a week after that second one.
• Space them out to avoid coming off like a pest, but close enough to keep the wheels turning.

Mix Up the Channels

Complement your emails with LinkedIn notes or the odd phone call if it makes sense. Multi-channel strategies can skyrocket response rates.

Keep Tabs on Your Efforts

Deploy CRM systems or sales automation tools to time and track your follow-ups. Platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Outreach.io help automate sending reminders while keeping things personal.

Run A/B Tests on Your Copy

Experiment with different subject lines, body text, and CTAs to find out what sings with your crowd.

Respect GDPR and Data Privacy

Stay on the safe side of data protection laws. Only ping folks who’ve opted in or when there’s a legitimate interest. Slip in opt-out options to keep trust strong.

Examples of Solid Follow-Up Emails After Proposal Sent

Here’s how you can piece it all together with three nifty templates inspired by the tips above:

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Example 1: Casual Reminder & Open-Ended CTA

Subject: Following up on [Project/Proposal Name]

Hi [First Name],

Just checking in on the proposal from last week about [brief project summary]. I’m here if you’ve got any questions or need more details.

Would you be open to a quick call this week to explore our next steps?

Best,
[Your Name]

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Example 2: Value-Add + Case Study Reference

Subject: Quick follow-up + case study for [Industry]

Hey [First Name],

Wanted to follow up on the proposal for [Project]. We just helped another client in [Industry] bump their conversion rates by 25% with our solution.

If you’re keen, I’d be thrilled to chat about how you could pull off similar wins.

Let me know if you’d like to dive deeper or if questions pop up.

Regards,
[Your Name]

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Example 3: Final Follow-Up with Polite Close

Subject: Checking in on [Proposal Name]

Hi [First Name],

I figured I’d reach out one last time about the proposal we talked about for [Project]. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you want to revisit it or discuss other possible avenues where we could help.

Thanks so much for thinking of us.

Best wishes,
[Your Name]

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Conclusion

Perfecting the art of the follow-up email after sending a proposal can be a game-changer for clinching sales. When drafted with clarity, personalized touches, and a sprinkle of added value, these nuggets of communication skyrocket reply rates and underline your professionalism.

Keep these things in your toolkit:

• Shoot off timely follow-ups with precision spacing
• Use clean, inviting language with crystal-clear CTAs
• Infuse every touch with relevant value
• Track and test to amp up your emails’ impact

Whether you’re a sales captain, founder, or SDR, getting the follow-up groove down turbocharges deal closures and forges tighter bonds with clients.

Ready to give your follow-ups a nudge? Try out these five writing tips on your next proposal email. Check your response trends and keep fine-tuning. Your sales pipeline will shower you with gratitude.

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If you found these insights handy, consider snagging our free Follow-Up Email Templates Pack. It’s packed with years of sales wisdom and geared to convert.

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Urvashi Patel is a sales and revenue operations strategist with over a decade of savvy in the B2B realm, helping firms fine-tune sales chats and conversions. She regularly shares thoughts on effective sales email crafting and speeding up pipelines.