I love writing proposals and the reason is simple: it’s the first step to actually booking a client and getting paid.
Now, there’s a balance between giving away too much detail and investing too much time before a customer has committed to working with you. This is why florists often procrastinate the proposal process!
And that’s why when it comes to writing a wedding proposal, my goal is to spend no more than 1-2 hours preparing a quote. I want to be an easy “yes”, but I don’t want to labor over this quote for a week!
Just FYI, here are a few things I don’t do when writing a proposal:
- List every single flower that will be in every single arrangement
- Include dozens of flower images from stock files
- Wait a week to start the proposal
- Promise specifics
- Make my clients commit to the exact number of centerpieces or final color palette–they just have to meet my minimum purchase
If you want to see how I simplify my process…
There are TWO ways you can get a closer look at the exact steps I follow in my Wedding Workflow to keep myself accountable after a customer inquires:
#1. You can download a pdf of my Wedding Workflow, which is available in my online shop here! It includes the 16 Steps To Client Management that I follow in my business, plus a deeper breakdown of 5 Steps to Book Clients More Quickly! This is newly updated, and if you already have my workflow or my Wedding Templates Bundle, you should find this updated version on your course dashboard!
#2. You can walk through the step by step process with me AND get the pdf of my Wedding Workflow by becoming a member of my Patreon Community at the $29 level! You’ll find some proposal shortcut tips in there right now PLUS a ton of lessons and short trainings on how to book great clients consistently.
Based on my experience as a business owner for 22 years so far, I’ve learned to focus on 3 Keys to Booking Great Clients Consistently and they include:
- Brand Reputation–What You’re Known For/What People Say About You
- Pre-Qualifying–Gathering Information & Setting Expectations
- Customer Experience–The Steps You Follow To Establish Trust
All 3 Keys play a role in your brand position and if you want to attract better customers, the easiest thing to do is create a better customer experience!
The steps my customers follow are inside my Wedding Workflow now if you want to grab it here!
Keep doing beautiful work! And keep booking great clients.
-Alison Ellis