There comes a time in every creative agency’s life when you pour your heart into a proposal, hit “send,” and wait for the confetti to fall. But instead of high-fives and champagne, you get… radio silence. Or worse—a polite “we’re going in a different direction.” Oof. This is the story of one such proposal. A beautiful, brilliant, SEO-packed masterpiece project, that never got its chance to shine. Grab a snack, pour one out, and join us on this emotionally unstable ride through hope, heartburn, and the occasional haiku of rejection.
Ah, proposals. Equal parts strategic planning, wild optimism, and emotional rollercoaster. One moment you're riding high, dreaming of collaborative greatness. The next? You’re face down in a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, whispering... “Was it something I said?”
Recently, here at Blumoo Creative, we went all in on a project we were genuinely excited about. The kind of proposal that makes your creative brain hum and your Google Docs auto-save like it’s training for a marathon.
It started with a spark...
The discovery call was smooth. The vibes were strong. We took notes, asked all the right questions, and walked away thinking, “Yes. This could be it.”
We spent hours fine-tuning the details—UX magic, SEO wizardry, a plan that would make Google's algorithm blush. The budget reflected real strategy, custom development, and long-term success. In short, we weren’t just building a website—we were building the future (cue dramatic music).
Then came… the silence.
You know the one. That vast, echoing inbox void where good intentions go to die. We followed up gently. Then again, a bit more directly. And finally, with the charm of someone who’s been ghosted before but refuses to download another dating app.
The reply came in. It wasn’t us—it was the budget.
Turns out, there was a mysterious “preliminary estimate” floating around—one we never actually said out loud or in writing. Somewhere, someone might’ve whispered, “Eh, probably five grand?” And just like that, our thoroughly scoped $25K proposal caused what the client called, wait for it... “severe heartburn.”
"Severe heartburn? You mean the kind where you throw up in your mouth and question your life choices?"
So… what did we learn?
That some people should be using TUMS!?
But seriously, here is what we learned...
- Set the tone early. If there’s even a hint of budget talk, anchor it. Gently. Or watch that assumption balloon like a middle-school science fair volcano.
- Don’t take the “no” personally. It’s business. People pivot. Partners freak out. Dogs eat homework. It happens.
- Value your effort. Writing a great proposal takes time. Strategy. Skill. And snacks. Just because it doesn’t convert doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth writing.
- Follow up like a human, not a salesperson. We kept it friendly, we kept it professional, and we left the door wide open. Who knows? That client might come back around when they’re ready.
The real win?
We got better. Sharper. Quicker on our feet. And we added a new notch to our proposal belt. (It’s metaphorical, but if someone wants to design one, call us.)
So here’s to the ones that got away. To the almost-projects, the near-misses, the “we’re going in a different direction” emails. You’ve made us wiser. Hungrier. A little more caffeinated. And a lot more creative.
And to that client—if you ever need a rebrand, a fresh strategy, or just someone to tell you, “You deserve better hosting,” you know where to find us.
Need a proposal that won’t give you heartburn?
Reach out to Blumoo Creative—we promise good vibes, great work, and possibly a meme or two.
We typically respond the same day.
