Stop attaching proposals and hoping. Send a tracked link, see which sections buyers read, and close with a signature on the same file.
By the Docshark team··8 min read
Attention heatmap
Where readers actually spend their time, page by page.
Avg page dwell
42s
Engaged sessions
9
Cover
48s
Scope
31s
Pricing
1m 12s
Terms
18s
Less timeMore timeHover a page
Four pages, one document
The reads colour them in
Pricing runs hot
Hover it for the numbers
You sent the proposal. They said they would review it. A week later you still do not know if they opened page one or spent twenty minutes on pricing. Attaching a PDF turns every follow-up into guesswork. This guide shows how to send a proposal as a tracked link, which sections buyers actually read, and how to close on the same link without losing the read history.
01Why attaching proposals fails sales teams
An attachment gives you a sent timestamp. It does not tell you if procurement forwarded it, if legal stalled on section four, or if pricing never got opened. You send a chase email. They say they are still reviewing. You have no data to calibrate the next move.
02What proposal tracking should show you
Signal
What it means for your deal
Time on executive summary
Did the decision maker actually start, or did an assistant skim?
Return visits to pricing
Negotiation is forming. Call before they go quiet.
Multiple viewers on one link
Your champion forwarded it. Good news or a reason to tighten access.
Fast skim, no return
The document may be wrong, not the timing of your follow-up.
Time on executive summary
What it means for your deal
Did the decision maker actually start, or did an assistant skim?
Return visits to pricing
What it means for your deal
Negotiation is forming. Call before they go quiet.
Multiple viewers on one link
What it means for your deal
Your champion forwarded it. Good news or a reason to tighten access.
Fast skim, no return
What it means for your deal
The document may be wrong, not the timing of your follow-up.
Asim Ahmed
2 sessions
Mon 09:12
2m 49s
Pages read · All 4 pages
Cover48s
Scope31s
Pricing1m 12s
Terms18s
Two days later
He came back for the price.
The first read, all four pages
Two days of quiet
He opens it again
Straight to pricing
Live demoPage-level time shows which proposal sections held attention.
03Send the proposal as a link, not an attachment
Upload the proposal once. Share a branded link with password or email gate if needed.
Watch per-page time instead of asking if they read it.
Revoke or update the link if terms change. The URL can stay the same while the file updates.
When pricing pages show readiness, request signature on the same link so read proof and sign proof stay together.
04When to follow up (and when to rewrite)
Follow up when you see strong time on scope and pricing plus a return visit. That is interest, not politeness. Rewrite when total time is under a minute on a ten-page proposal. Your champion may be embarrassed to say no. Change the document or the offer, not the calendar reminder.
05Questions people ask
Can I see which pages of my proposal were read?
Yes, with a tracked link that records per-page dwell time and return visits, not with a plain email attachment.
Should I still attach a PDF for convenience?
Only if you accept blind spots. A link keeps analytics and access control. Many teams send the link in the email body and skip the attachment entirely.
Can I get a proposal signed after I see they read it?
Yes on Docshark. Read events and signature events live on the same envelope, so you do not lose history when you ask for a signature.
Is proposal tracking only for large sales teams?
No. Freelancers, agencies, and founders sending one proposal at a time benefit most because every deal matters and you have no sales ops team to chase updates.
