Sales proposals are usually boring. You know it, I know it, and—most importantly—your prospects know it. They get a PDF or a bland web page, half-skim the intro, and move on with their day. If you want to actually get replies, you need to do better. This guide is for anyone who’s tired of sending out dead-end proposals and wants to create ones that people engage with (and actually sign).
I’ll walk you through building interactive sales proposals in Sendtrumpet that can boost your conversion rates—without turning you into a designer or a salesperson who spends hours on every deal. You’ll get honest advice on what matters, what doesn’t, and how to avoid the usual traps.
Why Bother with Interactive Proposals?
Let’s keep it real: most people don’t read every word of your proposal. They skim, check the price, maybe look for testimonials, and that’s about it. Interactive proposals give you a chance to break up the monotony, answer questions before they’re asked, and move the deal along faster.
Here’s what actually helps:
- Letting prospects pick and choose what matters to them
- Making it easy to ask questions or book a call
- Showing, not just telling, with video or quick demos
- Tracking what people care about (so you can follow up smarter)
What doesn’t move the needle?
- Stock animations and flashy effects
- Ten-page company histories
- Gimmicky “gamification” stuff (unless your buyers are, like, literal gamers)
Step 1: Set Up Your Sendtrumpet Account
Let’s not overcomplicate this. If you’re not set up on Sendtrumpet yet, do that first. They offer a free trial, so you don’t have to commit right away.
What you need:
- Your company logo and brand colors (if you care about looking professional)
- A few customer testimonials or case studies
- Any existing proposal content—copy, pricing tables, product videos, whatever you’ve got
Pro tip: Don’t get stuck making everything “perfect” before you start. Try building a rough draft so you can see how the platform works. You’ll fix things as you go.
Step 2: Pick the Right Template (or Start Blank)
Sendtrumpet comes with templates. Some are decent; some are, frankly, a bit much. Choose one that’s simple and easy to scan. If you can’t find anything that fits, just start from scratch.
What matters:
- Clean layout: Don’t cram everything above the fold. Spread it out.
- Easy navigation: Use section links or a sidebar. Make it painless for people to skip around.
- Mobile-friendly: Most decision-makers check things on their phone at least once.
What to ignore:
- Templates overloaded with animations or “fun facts”
- Anything that feels like it’s trying too hard (your prospect will spot it a mile away)
Step 3: Add Only What Your Buyer Actually Cares About
This is where most folks mess up—they add too much. The most effective proposals are the ones that cut straight to what the buyer needs to know.
Must-haves:
- Problem summary: One or two sentences. Show you get their world.
- Your solution: What you’re offering, in plain English.
- Pricing: Transparent, no games. If you need to give options, make them clear.
- Proof: A relevant testimonial, short case study, or quick video.
- Call to action: Make it dead simple—book a call, e-sign, or ask a question.
Nice-to-haves:
- An explainer video (if it’s short and actually helpful)
- FAQs tailored to their business
- A way to interact (chat, comment, or schedule time)
Leave out:
- Company origin stories (unless you’re selling your story)
- Walls of text or PDFs embedded inside the proposal
- Endless product features that don’t map to their problem
Step 4: Make It Interactive—But Don’t Overdo It
Interactivity is only useful if it helps your buyer engage, not just click around aimlessly.
Features in Sendtrumpet that are worth your time:
- Embedded video: A 1-2 minute personalized video can make a big difference. Don’t just say “Hi,” actually walk through the key parts of the proposal.
- Clickable pricing tables: Let buyers select modules or packages (if it fits your pricing model).
- Surveys or polls: Quick “What matters most to you?” buttons can help you tailor follow-up.
- Live chat or Q&A: If you have someone to actually answer questions, turn this on. If not, skip it.
What to skip:
- Interactive timelines, unless your sales process is truly complex
- Gimmicky “flip cards” or animations that slow down the page
- Anything that takes more time to set up than it’s worth
Pro tip: Check how your proposal looks and works on mobile before you send it. If it feels clunky, fix it.
Step 5: Set Up Notifications and Tracking
One of the biggest perks of Sendtrumpet is seeing what your buyers actually do with your proposal. But don’t let tracking turn you into a stalker—use the info to help, not to hound.
How to set up smart tracking:
- Turn on notifications for key events (viewed, clicked, commented)
- Ignore “someone opened it for the fifth time at 2am”—focus on meaningful actions (like clicking the pricing section)
- Use the heatmap or analytics to see which sections get attention
- If you notice they’re stuck on a section, follow up with a clarifying note or video
What not to do:
- Don’t email them every time they open the proposal (“Hey, saw you opened it again!” is never a good look)
- Don’t obsess over every metric—look for patterns, not one-offs
Step 6: Make It Easy to Take the Next Step
You want your buyer to know exactly what to do next. Don’t hide the ball.
Best practices:
- Use a clear, single call to action—no “choose your own adventure” unless it really fits
- Embed e-sign or “accept now” buttons if possible
- Offer a way to book a call (Calendly or similar integrations are usually supported)
- If there are options, make them easy to compare and select
Watch out for:
- Multiple CTAs that compete for attention
- Forms that ask for too much info (“Just your name and email” is plenty for most deals)
- Broken links or buttons—test everything before you send it
Step 7: Iterate Based on Real Feedback
No proposal is perfect the first time. But the good thing about interactive proposals is you can update them fast.
How to improve over time:
- Ask prospects for honest feedback. “Was anything unclear?” works better than “What did you think?”
- Check analytics—if everyone’s dropping off at the pricing section, maybe you need to clarify it
- Tweak, resend, and repeat. Don’t reinvent the wheel for every deal, but keep polishing your core template
Don’t get stuck in analysis paralysis: If you’re spending more time tweaking than selling, you’re doing it wrong.
A Few Final Thoughts
Interactive proposals can absolutely help you close more deals—if you keep them focused, honest, and easy to use. Don’t get distracted by shiny features or try to cram in everything you’ve ever done. Start simple, pay attention to what actually moves your deals forward, and keep making small improvements as you go.
Remember: the best proposal is the one your buyer actually reads—and acts on. Keep it human, keep it clear, and you’ll see better results.