Winning more proposals isn’t about writing the perfect pitch or having fancy graphics. It’s about figuring out what actually works—and then doing more of that. If you’re using Bidsketch to send client proposals, you already know it’s solid for templates and tracking. But most folks barely scratch the surface when it comes to the analytics side. If you want to stop guessing and start closing more deals, this guide is for you.
Below, I’ll break down how to use Bidsketch analytics—step by step—to spot what moves the needle, what’s just noise, and what you can safely ignore. No fluff, no hype. Let’s get into it.
Step 1: Get Clear on What You’re Actually Trying to Improve
Bidsketch gives you a ton of stats, but not all of them matter. Before you dive into the dashboard, ask yourself:
- Are you trying to get more proposals accepted?
- Do you want to speed up how fast clients say yes?
- Or are you just tired of chasing people who go dark?
If you’re not sure, start with your win rate: out of every 10 proposals you send, how many get accepted? Improving this number is usually the most direct way to make your pipeline healthier.
Pro Tip: Ignore “views” and “opened” counts for now. They’re like measuring how many people looked at your store window—not how many bought something.
Step 2: Find Your Baseline Metrics
Before you change anything, you need to know where you stand. Head to Bidsketch’s analytics dashboard and look for:
- Proposal Win Rate: Percentage of proposals accepted vs. sent.
- Average Time to Accept: How long it takes clients to sign off.
- Client Engagement: How many times a proposal is viewed, and by whom.
Write down your numbers for the last 3 to 6 months. Don’t cherry-pick the good months—get the real average.
What actually matters: - Win rate: The king metric. - Time to accept: Useful if clients are dragging their feet. - Engagement: Only dig in here if your win rate is low but views are high (it means people are looking but not buying).
What to ignore: - Total proposals sent (unless you’re sending almost none). - “Most popular content section” (helpful, but not at first).
Step 3: Spot Patterns in Your Wins and Losses
Here’s where analytics get interesting. Open up the detailed reports for individual proposals. Look for:
- Which templates or content sections are in your winning proposals?
- Are there certain clients or industries where you close more deals?
- Do accepted proposals get signed faster, or do they take as long as the ones that stall out?
In Bidsketch, you can filter by status (accepted, viewed, etc.) and client. Make a simple list or spreadsheet if you want, but don’t overcomplicate it.
Watch for: - Templates you use in most wins. - Sections that get high engagement (if Bidsketch shows section-level stats). - Clients who always go dark—sometimes it’s not you, it’s them.
Skip: - Random one-off wins or losses. Focus on trends, not outliers.
Step 4: Test Small Tweaks, Not Giant Overhauls
It’s tempting to rewrite your entire proposal after a losing streak. Resist. Use what the analytics are telling you to make one change at a time:
- If proposals with a short intro win more, trim your next batch.
- If pricing sections get lots of views but low acceptance, try rephrasing your offer or adding a FAQ.
- If your fastest wins come from one template, double down on that format for similar clients.
Send out 5–10 proposals with your tweak, and track win rate and time to accept. Don’t expect instant magic; you’re looking for a bump, not a miracle.
Pro Tip: Don’t chase every stat. If you’re getting more “views” but not more “accepts,” remember: nobody wins a deal because you used an animated GIF or a new font.
Step 5: Use Follow-Up and Reminders Based on Real Data
Bidsketch lets you see when a client has opened your proposal—and how many times. This can be handy, if you don’t get creepy about it.
- If someone opens your proposal three times in two days but hasn’t replied, that’s a solid time to follow up.
- If a proposal is only opened once and goes silent, it might be a lost cause—but try a gentle nudge.
- Don’t spam people just because you saw “viewed.” Use it as a guide for timing, not a reason to hound.
Set up Bidsketch’s auto-reminders if you hate manual follow-ups, but keep your messages short and direct. “Hey, just checking in—any questions about the proposal?” works fine.
Step 6: Scrap What Doesn’t Work, Double Down on What Does
Every few months, go back to your analytics. What are your best-performing templates or content sections? Are there patterns in clients who don’t sign?
- Retire templates that never win, no matter how much you like them.
- Standardize the stuff that works into your default proposal.
- If “About Us” is always skipped, shorten it or cut it.
Don’t hoard old templates or sections out of nostalgia. If analytics show it’s not working, let it go.
Step 7: Don’t Get Distracted by Vanity Metrics
It’s easy to fall into the trap of tweaking your proposals to boost “engagement” numbers. The only numbers that matter are:
- Proposals accepted
- Time to accept
- Real, paying clients
Everything else is a distraction. If your win rate doesn’t improve after a change, that “engagement boost” is pointless. Always ask: does this help me close more deals, or just look busier?
Step 8: Rinse, Repeat, and Keep It Simple
Analytics are only useful if you use them. Set a recurring calendar reminder—once a month, or once a quarter—to check your Bidsketch stats, look for patterns, and make one small change.
- Don’t over-optimize.
- Don’t chase every spike or dip.
- Stick to what works, keep testing, and ignore everything else.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need a data science degree to use Bidsketch analytics—you just need to pay attention and make small, practical changes. Focus on your win rate, test one thing at a time, and ignore the fluff. The goal isn’t to make your dashboard look pretty; it’s to win more business with less stress.
Keep it simple, keep iterating, and trust the data over your gut (most of the time). If something’s working, do more of it. If it’s not, toss it. That’s how you actually move the needle.