Agree the next step before sending
Three details help: who will assess the proposal, what they will check and when a further conversation makes sense. A customer may not know the decision date, but can often identify the next event that matters.
This could be gathering data, an internal discussion or confirming scope. Follow-up then concerns a real stage rather than simply receipt of an email.
Check what is outstanding on both sides
Review the latest agreement before contacting the customer. They might be waiting for clarification the team has not supplied, or the proposal may not answer the original requirement.
Contact history also helps avoid two people independently asking the same question. The current owner of the opportunity needs to be clear.
An absent decision date is information too
If the customer has no current plan to proceed, record it and agree a reasonable point to revisit. Keeping every sent proposal active obscures the team's work priorities.
For a sales manager, a list of opportunities with genuine next steps is more useful. CRM connects proposals, conversations and tasks. It does not replace an agreement with the customer, but helps the team retain it.