A creative agency’s guide to winning more business
Your proposals might be holding you back more than you think. If you’re still sending client proposals as PDFs, you could be missing out on opportunities to close deals, gain valuable insights, and truly highlight your agency’s creative strengths. In today’s competitive landscape, where your pitch often serves as your first impression, can a static document really make the impact you need?
PDF proposals vs. web-based/dynamic Proposals: What’s the difference?
Let’s take a closer look at how these two formats compare. PDFs have long been the standard—they’re familiar, easy to share, and consistent across devices. But modern clients are often on the go, expect seamless digital experiences, and want to engage with your pitch, not just skim through it. Here’s how the two stack up:
Why this matters for ambitious creative agencies
- First Impressions matter: In a crowded market, your proposal is your agency’s digital introduction. A web-based proposal lets you showcase your creativity through embedded videos, animations, and interactive case studies, leaving a lasting, modern impression.
- Clients are on the move: Over a third of proposals are first opened on mobile devices. PDFs can be frustrating on smaller screens, often requiring zooming or reformatting, while web-based proposals are designed to adapt seamlessly.
- Actionable insights: With web-based proposals, you can track when a prospect opens your pitch, which sections they spend the most time on, and when they’re ready to sign. This eliminates the guesswork around follow-ups and helps you understand what resonates.
- Streamlined workflow: Need to adjust pricing or swap out a case study? With a web-based proposal, you can make updates in real time, with no more version confusion or endless email chains.
- Enhanced security: Protect your work by setting passwords, expiration dates, or restricting access. You maintain control over who sees your proposal and when.
- Stand out from the crowd: While your competitors send static PDFs, you can deliver an engaging experience that captures attention, builds trust, and wins more business.
Don’t PDFs still get the job done?
To some extent, yes! PDFs are familiar, easy to print, and universally accessible. For certain clients or legal requirements, they may still be the right choice. But settling for “good enough” isn’t how creative agencies position themselves as industry leaders. If your goal is to modernize your approach, impress clients, and convert more prospects, web-based proposals are quickly becoming the new standard. They demonstrate your agency’s commitment to innovation, attention to detail, and a client-focused mindset.
How to move from PDF to web-proposal?
If you’re ready to take your proposals to the next level, it’s time to explore a tool designed specifically for creative professionals. Formlio is a web-proposal builder crafted for agencies and studios looking to differentiate themselves, streamline their processes, and secure more business.
With Formlio, you can create proposals that are as imaginative as your campaigns, track engagement in real time, and close deals more efficiently.
Don’t let your next big idea get buried in a static PDF. Make your proposals as dynamic and innovative as your agency. The future of proposal is interactive, insightful, and designed to leave a lasting impression.
Join the beta --> https://formlio.com/get-started