Normal to be ghosted after long proposal?

Is It Normal to Be Ghosted After a Detailed Proposal?

A potential client contacted me on Reddit regarding my Bookkeeping and CFO services.

We had an hour-long Zoom meeting to discuss the services I provide.

Before giving me access to his QuickBooks Online (QBO) account for the proposal, he requested two references.

After I provided the references, he granted me access.

I then prepared and submitted a detailed write-up and proposal.

I know he read the proposal because Google Docs notified me, but it’s been a week and he hasn’t responded, even after a follow-up.

I understand if he’s not interested, but after such an in-depth process, a brief 1-2 sentence response would have been appreciated.

I’ve handled numerous proposals—some successful, others not—but I’ve never been ghosted after such extensive engagement. Has anyone else experienced this?
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It’s quite common in business dealings, especially when proposals involve in-depth discussions and reference checks, to expect some sort of closure or response, even if it’s a polite decline. Here are some insights and possible explanations for such a scenario:

Why Might You Be Ghosted?

Overwhelmed Decision-Maker: The client may be busy or overwhelmed with other priorities. Sometimes, a potential client has the intention to respond but gets caught up in other commitments.
Internal Discussions: After receiving your proposal, they might be discussing internally or consulting with other advisors, which could delay their response.
Comparison with Competitors: It’s possible they are reviewing proposals from other service providers, which could elongate their decision-making process.
Change in Priorities: Business needs and priorities can shift, and they might have put the project on the back burner for now.
Technical or Access Issues: Sometimes, the email could get lost, or they might have faced issues that prevent them from responding immediately, such as technical problems or vacation.
Lack of Interest: There might be aspects of the proposal they’re not interested in or didn’t meet their expectations. However, they chose not to communicate this.

How to Handle Being Ghosted

Follow-Up Gracefully: Send a polite follow-up email focusing on whether they have any questions or require further clarification rather than pushing for a decision.

Example: “Hi [Client’s Name], I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up to see if you had any questions about the proposal or if there’s anything else I might provide to assist in your decision-making process.”

Provide Value in Follow-Up: Share a helpful resource, blog post, or industry update related to your conversation, so your touchpoint adds value beyond reminding them of the proposal.
Set a Clear Deadline: In your follow-up, gently mention that feedback by a certain date would be appreciated so you can plan accordingly.
Give Them an Easy Out: If they are not interested, some people might feel uncomfortable saying no. Give them a chance to opt out gracefully.

Example: “Please feel free to let me know if now isn’t the right time or if your priorities have changed.”

Reflect on Your Proposal Process: Consider if there are aspects of your proposal process

One response

APAdmin

26 February 2025 at 2:45 PM
It’s quite common in business dealings, especially when proposals involve in-depth discussions and reference checks, to expect some sort of closure or response, even if it’s a polite decline. Here are some insights and possible explanations for such a scenario:

Why Might You Be Ghosted?
1. Overwhelmed Decision-Maker: The client may be busy or overwhelmed with other priorities. Sometimes, a potential client has the intention to respond but gets caught up in other commitments.
2. Internal Discussions: After receiving your proposal, they might be discussing internally or consulting with other advisors, which could delay their response.
3. Comparison with Competitors: It’s possible they are reviewing proposals from other service providers, which could elongate their decision-making process.
4. Change in Priorities: Business needs and priorities can shift, and they might have put the project on the back burner for now.
5. Technical or Access Issues: Sometimes, the email could get lost, or they might have faced issues that prevent them from responding immediately, such as technical problems or vacation.
6. Lack of Interest: There might be aspects of the proposal they’re not interested in or didn’t meet their expectations. However, they chose not to communicate this.
How to Handle Being Ghosted
1. Follow-Up Gracefully: Send a polite follow-up email focusing on whether they have any questions or require further clarification rather than pushing for a decision.
Example: “Hi [Client’s Name], I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up to see if you had any questions about the proposal or if there’s anything else I might provide to assist in your decision-making process.”
1. Provide Value in Follow-Up: Share a helpful resource, blog post, or industry update related to your conversation, so your touchpoint adds value beyond reminding them of the proposal.
2. Set a Clear Deadline: In your follow-up, gently mention that feedback by a certain date would be appreciated so you can plan accordingly.
3. Give Them an Easy Out: If they are not interested, some people might feel uncomfortable saying no. Give them a chance to opt out gracefully.
Example: “Please feel free to let me know if now isn’t the right time or if your priorities have changed.”
1. Reflect on Your Proposal Process: Consider if there are aspects of your proposal process
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Is It Normal to Be Ghosted After a Detailed Proposal?

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