Soul Creative

Blue has barely left my side for the past month. I think he knows I’ve needed him. ❤️

A month ago today, I went to the ER for what I thought would be a simple procedure. Since then, it’s been two more procedures, surgery, staples, and four antibiotics in four weeks. I’m tired.

I was supposed to see my mom this week, but sometimes life has other plans. And somewhere in the middle of all this, I’ve still been trying to run my business.

I’m on the mend, but I think it’s okay to say I’m not okay right now. I don’t have to have it all together every day to keep showing up.

For now, I’m resting when I need to, taking things one day at a time, and feeling grateful for this dog who won’t leave my side. Please take care of yourselves out there. ❤️

My coworker is looking fresh today!!!💕💕💕

Today was the kind of day that makes me so grateful. It was a great day. Thanks for all who added to it between clients and friends… such a rewarding day!

Today was a great day! Great client meetings…. Wonderful session with FSCJ as I work on course development. Got some great insurance news… working on a custom crochet order tonight. I’m going to take this day for the win it was!! What made you happy today?

Ghosting Proposals: Is This a Thing Now?

You spend time learning a prospect’s business, researching their website, SEO and AI visibility, and building a proposal around what you find.

Then you send it—and hear nothing.

Fellow business owners, consultants, creatives and freelancers:

Are you seeing more people ghost you after asking for a proposal?

Lately, I am.

My proposals aren’t templates. They’re based on a consultation, research and a review of the prospective client’s business, website, SEO and AI visibility. Then I create recommendations specifically for them.

That takes time—and thinking.

And it creates a tension I’m still trying to resolve: How do you demonstrate enough expertise to show a prospective client that you understand the problem without handing over the strategy they should be hiring you to develop and implement?

But lately, the pattern has been:

Consultation. Research. Customized proposal. Follow-up.

Then… 👻

No “We’ve decided to go in another direction.” No “It’s more than we wanted to spend.” No “We’re putting the project on hold.” Not even a “Thanks, but no thanks.”

Recently, someone used recommendations from my proposal to make changes to his website himself. That made me wonder:

Am I giving away too much?

There’s a fine line between demonstrating expertise and providing the strategy someone should be hiring you to develop and implement. I’m beginning to think proposals should focus on what I see, what I recommend accomplishing, the deliverables and the investment. The detailed roadmap may need to come after we agree to work together.

But proposal ghosting still bothers me. You don’t have to hire me, and you don’t owe me a lengthy explanation. After a consultation, website review and customized proposal, though, is a two-sentence “Thank you, but I’ve decided not to move forward” really too much to expect?

Maybe I’m old-fashioned. Maybe it’s simply part of doing business today.

So I’m curious:

Are you experiencing proposal ghosting, too?

Have you started putting less strategy into proposals?
Do you charge for discovery or audits?
Have you shortened your proposals?
Do you review them in a second conversation?
Or have you accepted ghosting as part of doing business?

Where do you draw the line between demonstrating your expertise and giving it away for free?

Because I think I may need to redraw mine.

Looking for these month over month stats? They come after working with soul creative on web design with AI &SEO training. Shoot me a message or comment and I’ll reach out! Soulcreativebyaimee.com

Happy National Dog day from Blue McGrath!❤️❤️❤️