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5 Proposal "Plays" That Get Buyers to Respond

Strategies that create engaging proposals that drive deals forward


Sales reps today face an uphill battle.

The competitive landscape is crowded, and potential clients are bombarded with outreach and options, making it difficult for any single proposal to stand out. In the competitive world of sales, breaking through the constant buzz to capture your audience's attention is more challenging than ever, especially in an uncertain economy.

Challenges facing sales reps:


In good times, you can focus on winning the champion and know that is enough to carry you through to close. But now, it's essential to influence all stakeholders (even though you don’t meet them), so you need to empower the champion to sell to the invisible buyers (ie. the broader buying committee you rarely meet).

Understanding these challenges is the first step. The next is navigating them successfully using tried-and-true strategies. Let's dive in!

It is your responsibility as a salesperson to make it as easy as possible for your champions to sell on your behalf.

Nick Cegelski, 30 Minutes to Presidents Club (30MPC)


Recommendations: 5 proposal plays that work


Five actions to take today!

Research the prospect's terminology based on discovery calls and internal meetings. Build out problem statements incorporating this language.

Film personalized video walkthroughs of proposals to make digesting the core elements easy and engaging.

Compile aspirational peer logos and remove any out-of-context massive brand references.

Develop 2-3 package options with clear differences and calls-to-action around next steps.

Schedule time with champions to strategize on internal positioning and addressing concerns proactively


Sales is hard. The proposal stage can be quite challenging, there can be all of these invisible buyers. Let's make it easy for your champion to sell internally (and multi-thread) to remove a bunch of friction from that process.

- Mark Tanner, CEO & Co-Founder, Qwilr


Final thoughts

Remember, the essence of a successful proposal isn't just about what's being offered, but how it's presented. Lead with a problem-centric approach, prioritize simplicity and relevance, and leverage modern tools to enhance your pitch's efficiency and effectiveness. By doing so, sales reps can position themselves at the forefront of their industry, building trust and engaging buyers through to close. 

Proposal upgrade offer

Want to see what your proposal would look like as a polished, web-based Qwilr page?
Our professional design team will transform your existing static proposal (PDF, slides, word.doc etc) into an interactive web-page for free.


A modern way to sell


Cut through the noise with interactive proposals, quotes and contracts. Get notified when a buyer takes action. 

Modernize your approach to sales with Qwilr, and benefit from:

  • Improved buyer engagement with standout, personalized sales collateral that's always on brand
  • Increased sales productivity with less time spent on admin and more time to sell
  • Faster decision-making by enabling buyers with the information they need, and that's easy to share with the buying committee
  • Unique buyer insights from Qwilr’s sales intelligence, enabling sellers to reach a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ faster
  • Improved sales velocity move deals through the sales cycle quickly and efficiently

It's easy to create high-performing proposals and other documents at speed with Qwilr. Check out our library of 110+ free professional templates and get started today.