Is It Common to Be Ghosted After a Lengthy Proposal Process?
- A potential client reached out to me via Reddit, inquiring about my bookkeeping/CFO services.
- We had an hour-long Zoom call to discuss the services I offer in detail.
- He requested two references before granting me access to his QuickBooks Online (QBO) for drafting a proposal.
- After providing the references, he granted me access to QBO.
- I prepared and sent him a detailed proposal and write-up.
- Google Docs indicated that he read the proposal, yet I received no response. It has been a week, and he hasn’t replied to my follow-up.
- I understand there can be various reasons for not being interested. However, after such an extensive process, a simple 1-2 sentence response would have been appreciated.
I’ve handled many proposals—some successful, others not—but I’ve never been entirely ghosted after such an involved process. Has anyone else experienced this?
One response
It’s definitely frustrating to be ghosted after investing time and effort into a proposal, especially when it comes to professional services like Bookkeeping or CFO services. Here’s why it might happen and some steps you can consider:
Understanding the Situation
Busy Schedule: Sometimes, the person you’re dealing with may simply be overwhelmed with other priorities and hasn’t gotten around to responding yet.
Decision-Making Process: Decisions that involve financial services can take time. The client might be consulting with other stakeholders or considering multiple proposals.
Buyer Hesitation: Even if a proposal looks promising, potential clients can exhibit hesitation, leading to delays in communication.
Loss of Interest: The client may have decided not to proceed due to reasons unrelated to your service, like budget constraints or business direction changes.
Competing Proposals: There might be a competing service provider who they are also considering, which could influence their response times.
Steps to Consider
Example:
“`plaintext
Hi [Client’s Name],
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up on the proposal I sent last week regarding our bookkeeping/CFO services. I’m keen to know if there are any questions or further details you need.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
[Your Name]
“`
Provide Value in Your Follow-Up:
Use the opportunity to share additional insights or resources that might interest them. This can reignite their interest.
Set a Timeline for Yourself:
If you haven’t heard back in a certain amount of time, it might be worthwhile to move on mentally. This can help manage your expectations and emotional investment.
Reflect and Improve:
Review the proposal and communication process to identify any areas for improvement. It’s a learning opportunity regardless of the outcome.
Broaden Your Pipeline:
Community Experience
Many professionals encounter this scenario, and unfortunately, it’s somewhat common in business dealings. It’s important to focus on maintaining professionalism and not taking the lack of response personally. Building a robust network and consistently delivering value can