When to Follow Up on a Proposal (Perfect Timing Guide)
Too early and you're pushy. Too late and they've moved on. Here's exactly when to send each follow-up.
Why timing matters more than you think
Send a follow-up too early?
You look desperate. They haven't even read it yet.
Wait too long?
They've forgotten about it. Or gone with someone else.
The right timing makes you look professional, not pushy.
The perfect proposal follow-up timeline
Day 0: Send the proposal
Send it. Then wait. Don't refresh your inbox every 5 minutes.
Day 1-2: Do nothing
Give them time to actually read it.
If you follow up after 24 hours, you look desperate.
Day 3-5: First follow-up
This is the sweet spot. They've had time to review it, but it's still fresh.
What to say:
“Do you have any questions about the scope or timeline?”
Day 7-10: Second follow-up
Still no response? It's time to acknowledge the silence.
What to say:
“Haven't heard back — totally fine if this isn't a priority right now. Let me know either way?”
Day 14+: Final follow-up
Give them an easy out. Make it low-pressure.
What to say:
“I'm going to assume this isn't moving forward — which is fine. If things change, feel free to reach out.”
After 3 attempts: Stop
If they haven't responded after 3 attempts, they're not interested. Move on.
Following up forever makes you look desperate.
Special timing situations
What happens if you wait too long
If you wait 3+ weeks to follow up:
They've forgotten about it
They've moved on to other options
Their priorities have shifted
You look uninterested in their business
Timing isn't everything — but it's close.
Never miss the perfect timing again
SecondPing tracks when your proposal is opened and automatically sends follow-ups at the perfect time — from your own email.
Get the timing right, automatically