Recover quotes that went quiet

The leak

A quote is the moment someone is closest to buying. When it goes quiet, the usual reason is a question they didn't ask, a timing problem or a price that needs a smaller first step — not a firm no. A calm check-in re-opens many of these.

Before you start

Count your quiet quotes. List every quote or proposal from the last 60 days that never got an answer. Write down how many there are and their total value. That's your baseline.

Steps

1. Pull every quiet quote into one list

   Template · Quote tracker columns

   Client | What was quoted | Value | Date sent | Last contact | Check-in date | Status (Open / Re-opened / Won / Lost) | Reason, if you learn it

2. Sort by value and age

   Start with the highest-value quotes sent in the last 30 days, then work back. Older than 60 days? Still worth one message — just keep expectations low.

3. Send a "still relevant?" message

   No pressure, no discount by default. Make it easy to say "not now" — that answer is useful too.

   Template · Re-open message

   Hi [Name], I'm tidying up open quotes and wanted to check on the one for [project]. Is it still on your list? If the timing, scope or budget changed, tell me — I can adjust it. And if it's a no for now, that's completely fine.

4. Offer a smaller first step when it fits

   If price or size was the blocker, a smaller first phase, a trial or a split into two parts often moves things forward.

   Template · Smaller first step

   One option if the full project is too much right now: we could start with [smaller first phase] for [price], and decide on the rest after you've seen the result.

5. Give every new quote a check-in date

   From today, when a quote goes out, add it to the tracker with a check-in date three working days later. Add a calendar reminder for that date.

Check in

After 7 days: how many re-open messages got a reply, and how many quotes are active again?

After 30 days: how many re-opened quotes were won? Compare the count and value with your baseline.