I used to send out proposals and then wait and wonder for days, (or weeks!), whether a client was ever going to book with me! Then, one day, a business savvy friend told me to put an expiration date on my proposals and voila, I was a changed woman.
Setting an expiration date on my proposals and was the single best move I ever made in my business. Period.
The expiration date is designed to set the parameters of your offer to honor this quote or “hold their date”…it’s a prompt for you to check in and see if they’ve made a decision or if they have any questions you can answer.
Checking in with a customer on, or before, the expiration date is to be expected when you’re trying to close this sale.
It’s not an ultimatum (most of the time), but it IS a clear signal that there’s a time limit on this offer because you don’t just “hold dates” indefinitely. Most offers are not open-ended. Neither is yours!
Click below to watch “Should you set an expiration date?”
Here’s what a real florist said about implementing an expiration date…
Oftentimes florists ask, “How does this expiration date work? Does the price go up after it expires?”
Well, that’s up to you. Do you need to increase the price for some reason?
I don’t increase the price after the expiration date. I just want to make my offer clear; here’s what I can do, here’s what it costs, here’s when I’d appreciate an answer…
If the client needs “more time” (for whatever reason), then that’s up to you, too. Can you extend the expiration date? Or will the clock truly run out because you have another inquiry for that date? Or is their hesitation a sign that they aren’t really serious about committing to you? What is the reason for the hold-up?
An expiration date serves as a prompt to both you, the business owner, and the client.
- Clients know that they should look it over sooner rather than later because you gave them the expiration date!
- As a business owner you now have a bonafide reason to follow-up, check-in, invite questions and close the sale.
I want to be an easy choice for my clients. I want to be an easy “yes”.
Thanks for taking the time to read and watch!
With love from me to you,
If you want to shortcut your proposal process and present an expiration date with confidence, click here to read more about my template, How To Write Proposals That Sell. It’s $99 and you can get it HERE today!