Using flipbooks for more successful digital proposals

Business proposals have come a long way, shifting from bulky printed documents to sleek digital presentations. Today, you have so many tools at your disposal to make your proposals more engaging, client-focused, and even fun to read. 

Yet, 90% of digital proposals fall flat even when the content is strong. 

The reasons for this vary, but often include poor design, lack of interactivity, and failure to capture the recipient’s attention quickly. 

That said, traditional PDFs or static documents can feel dull and uninspiring. On the other hand, flipbooks transform static, text-heavy proposals into dynamic and interactive proposals. They make your pitch feel professional, while also being easy to share and track. 

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of using flipbooks for your digital proposals, how they outperform traditional formats, and tips for creating compelling, client-winning flipbooks.

What are digital proposals?

Digital proposals are documents you send online to present your ideas, plans, or offers. Unlike traditional proposals that are usually printed, digital ones are interactive and designed for online use. 

They come in many formats, including: PDFs, presentation decks (like PowerPoint or Google Slides), video proposals, and flipbooks. 

Hereby, each format brings something unique to the table. PDFs are simple and easy to share but lack interaction. Presentation decks let you guide a conversation visually, but they can feel static without you there to talk through them. Video proposals are great to present a product or an idea, but they take time to create. Also, they might not suit every audience.

Flipbooks combine the best of these formats. 

They’re easy to share, visually appealing, and interactive. You can add videos, clickable links, or even animations. Plus, with analytics integrated, you can see when a client opens the proposal so you know where you stand.

Creating digital proposals comes with a few pain points

Creating digital proposals is not an easy task. It might sound exciting in the beginning, but it comes with its challenges (and a few headaches). 

One of the biggest issues is finding the right tools. There are so many options out there, and not all of them are user-friendly or affordable.

Another pain point is the design. If you want your proposal to look professional, but not a designer yourself, it’s tough to create something visually appealing. And let’s face it. Not everyone has the time (or patience) to figure out layouts, fonts, and colors.

There’s also the challenge of adding interactive features, like links, videos or animations. These can elevate your proposal, but they’re tricky to implement without the right know-how. 

All being said, making a great digital proposal takes time, effort, and that can feel like a lot to handle. 

Luckily, flipbooks make this process a breeze.

Flipbooks are the modern digital proposals

Flipbooks are an exciting way to create digital proposals that feel professional and fresh. Unlike static documents, flipbooks are interactive and engaging. You can add clickable links, embed videos or images, and they all come with a realistic page-turn effect.

That wow factor never gets old! 

The benefits of flipbooks just can’t be highlighted enough. First, you save time. Flipbooks make the creation process faster and easier, even if you’re not a design expert. They look stunning with minimal effort, giving your proposals a polished, high-quality feel. 

Next, the built-in analytics is one of the best features flipbooks offer. With PDFs, you can’t see if the prospect opened your file unless they reply. But with a flipbook, you can see when a client opens your proposal, what pages they view, and how long they spend reading it. 

Plus, some flipbooks come with an “easy and secure” sharing option by providing individual trackable links. This allows you to monitor who accesses the files and when. 

It’s a highly useful feature for maintaining control and visibility over your shared content, ensuring that your files reach the right audience without the hassle of large email attachments.

Finally, there are plenty of flipbook templates tailored to different industries, so you can start fast and customize every detail to match your brand.

How can various teams use flipbooks?

Flipbooks are a flexible tool that can help all kinds of teams. You can use a flipbook for closing deals, pitching ideas, or showcasing products. Here are some teams that flipbooks naturally fit their needs: 

• Marketing professionals 
• Sales teams 
• Business developers 
• Real estate agents

Let’s see how flipbooks can simplify creating interactive proposals for each of these teams.

Marketing Professionals

In 46% of organizations, it often happens that one small team or person handles all content, including blog posts, brochures, and ads. That said, many of them fail to produce great marketing proposals, simply because they’re not experts in the field. 

The good news is that you don’t have to be one. 

These days, crafting flipbooks is a breeze, and they always come out looking stylish and professional! With hundreds of ready-made templates available, you can present all kinds of data effortlessly.

For example, you can insert an interactive chart, case study, and a video in a single flipbook, making your data easy to follow, while not worrying about the design.  

Also, flipbooks are super convenient if you want to send your data to multiple prospects. Just send a trackable link and check if your audience opens it and what they focus on most.

Here’s a template: 

Sales Teams

As a salesperson, you know every detail counts. Flipbooks let you create personalized sales proposals tailored to each client’s needs. You can add clickable links to pricing options, embed product demo videos, or include eye-catching visuals that help your pitch stand out. 

The page-turning feature keeps clients engaged, guiding them through your offer step by step.

Plus, you can use flipbook analytics to track client engagement. See which pages they revisit or how long they spend on specific sections. This is of incredible value for a sales person, helping you follow up smarter. It’s so much easier when you know what caught their attention and where to focus your next conversation.

Here’s a template: 

Business development teams

Business development teams can use flipbooks to present ideas, partnerships, or growth plans to prospects. Given that decision makers receive quite a few proposals per day, BDR teams face a difficult task to stand out.  

With a flipbook, they can easily send dynamic and personalized presentations, packed with real value. For example, if you’re pitching a new partnership, you can include interactive charts showing potential ROI, videos explaining your proposal, and links to case studies for deeper insights. 

This way, your prospects won’t have to hop across documents, pages and videos, having all the needed data into one flipbook. 

Here’s a template: 

Real Estate Professionals

Flipbooks can help real estate professionals by showcasing properties in a way that feels modern and professional. For example, you can create an interactive booklet for each listing, complete with stunning photos, floor plans, and even 360-degree virtual tours. 

Your clients can flip through these pages to explore every detail.

You can also embed videos, like a walkthrough of a home or a neighborhood highlight reel, to help buyers really picture themselves in the space. Also, if you add clickable links to schedule a showing or view additional listings, you’ll make it super simple for clients to take the next step.

Here’s a template:

How to create successful digital proposals with Flipsnack?

Using Flipsnack’s interactive proposal software is easier than you think. Flipsnack offers a powerful proposal maker with many user-friendly options. It allows you to design modern sales proposals that grab attention and make a lasting impression. Follow these steps to get started:

Step 1: Upload your PDF or start fresh

Upload it to Flipsnack and convert it into a flipbook. No PDF? No worries! Start from scratch or use one of Flipsnack’s templates, tailored for industries like sales, marketing, and real estate.

Step 2: Add engaging content

This is where the magic happens. Drop in visuals, links, and branded elements like logos and custom fonts. You can also add a short explainer video directly onto a page. Visuals like graphs or photos help make your proposal clearer and more exciting to read.

Step 3: Customize layouts for a polished look

Drag and drop elements into place. Use grids, alignments, and pre-designed templates to keep everything looking sharp. Adjust colors and fonts to reflect your brand. It’s like giving your proposal its own personality.

Step 4: Optimize for mobile devices

Most people check proposals on their phones or tablets. With Flipsnack, your design automatically adjusts to smaller screens. You can preview how it looks on different devices, making sure it’s as easy to read on a phone as on a laptop.

Step 5: Incorporate interactive features

Add clickable links to guide readers to specific pages, websites, or contact forms. Use buttons for clear call-to-actions (e.g., “Book a Meeting” or “Learn More”). These features keep readers engaged and make it easier for them to respond. And the best thing is that you can track the engagement.

Tips for successful digital proposals

Personalize every proposal

Show clients you get them by tailoring proposals to their unique needs and challenges. Swap in relevant case studies or adjust details to fit their industry.

Use analytics to follow up

Flipsnack’s analytics let you see when someone opens your proposal, which pages they read, and how long they spend on it. Use this data to craft a follow-up message that speaks to what really caught their interest.

Keep designs clean and content value-driven

Focus on what matters to your client. A clean, well-organized design with concise text ensures they won’t feel overwhelmed.

Collaborate with your team

Use Flipsnack’s collaboration tools to get feedback from colleagues. They can comment on sections or suggest edits directly in the platform. This keeps your proposal aligned with your team’s goals before sending it out.

Transform your proposals with interactive flipbooks

Flipbooks offer a powerful solution to the common pitfalls of traditional formats like PDFs and static presentations. With flipbooks, you’re sending information while providing an interactive experience. They allow you to embed videos, include clickable links, and track how your audience interacts with the content.

This combines both having a neat design and being effective. So, if you’re looking to step up your proposal game, flipbooks are the way to go. They’re easy, they’re engaging, and they give you valuable insights into how your proposals are performing.

Frequently asked questions

1. What are digital proposals, and how do they differ from traditional ones?

Digital proposals are sent online and designed to be interactive and engaging, unlike traditional proposals which are usually printed and static. They can include various formats like PDFs, presentation decks, videos, and flipbooks, offering features that traditional formats don’t, such as embedded videos and clickable links.

2. What are the main challenges businesses face when creating digital proposals?

Businesses often struggle with finding the right tools that are both user-friendly and affordable. Designing a professional-looking proposal can also be tough without design skills. Additionally, implementing interactive features like links, videos, or animations poses a challenge without the necessary technical expertise.

3. How can different teams use digital proposals to their advantage? 

Digital proposals can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different teams. Marketing professionals can use them to present data through interactive charts and videos, sales teams can create personalized proposals with clickable pricing options, and business developers can use them to present detailed partnership plans. Real estate agents can showcase properties with interactive booklets that include virtual tours and detailed photos.

4. What makes flipbooks an ideal solution for modern digital proposals? 

Flipbooks transform static, text-heavy documents into dynamic, interactive experiences. They are visually appealing, easy to share, and come with integrated analytics. Flipbooks support embedded media and clickable links, enhancing engagement. They also streamline the proposal process, making it faster and easier, even for those without design expertise.

5. How can analytics improve the effectiveness of digital proposals? 

Analytics provide valuable insights into how recipients interact with digital proposals. With flipbooks, you can track when a proposal is opened, which pages are viewed the most, and how long a client spends on each section. This data helps tailor follow-up communications and refine future proposals, ensuring they are more aligned with the client’s interests and behaviors.