If you work in business development, you’ve heard this line more times than you can count.
“This is interesting.”
At first, it sounds promising. They didn’t reject you. They didn’t say no.
But weeks go by. Follow-ups stay unanswered. The deal never moves.
What actually happened?
The truth is, “interesting” is rarely a yes — and it’s rarely a no.
It’s a signal. And if you don’t know how to read it, you’ll keep chasing deals that were never real in the first place.
“Interesting” Often Means the Problem Isn’t Painful Enough
Most clients don’t move forward unless something genuinely hurts.
They may agree your solution makes sense.
They may even like the idea.
But if the problem:
- Isn’t urgent
- Doesn’t cost them money today
- Doesn’t affect their performance evaluation
Then it stays in the “nice to have” bucket.
People don’t change systems, budgets, or workflows for mild discomfort.
They move when the pain becomes real.
They Don’t Know How to Sell It Internally
Even when clients like your idea, they might be stuck.
Internal selling is hard.
To move forward, they usually need to:
- Convince a manager
- Justify budget
- Get buy-in from another team
- Reduce perceived risk
If they can’t clearly explain why your solution matters, they pause.
“Interesting” becomes a safe way to end the conversation without committing.
Risk Feels Higher Than Reward
From the outside, your solution might look like upside.
From the inside, it often looks like risk.
Questions running in their head:
- What if this doesn’t work?
- What if this creates more work?
- What if my boss asks why we did this?
People are far more afraid of making the wrong decision than missing a good one.
That fear keeps deals frozen.
Timing Is Just Bad
Sometimes, the solution is right — just not now.
They might be:
- Closing the quarter
- Busy with another campaign
- Out of budget
- Waiting for internal changes
In these moments, “interesting” means,
“I like this, but I don’t have space for it right now.”
Pushing harder at this stage often makes things worse.
They’re Being Polite
Not every “interesting” is honest curiosity.
In many cultures and industries, people avoid direct rejection.
Saying “no” feels uncomfortable.
So instead, they say:
- “Let’s revisit later”
- “We’ll discuss internally”
- “Interesting, let me think”
It’s not personal. It’s just social behavior.
You Haven’t Made the Next Step Clear
Sometimes deals stall because there’s no clear path forward.
If the client doesn’t know:
- What happens next
- How much effort is required
- What commitment is expected
They hesitate.
Ambiguity creates delay.
Clear next steps reduce friction.
How to Handle “Interesting” Better
Instead of celebrating or panicking, treat “interesting” as a cue.
Ask follow-up questions like:
- What part of this feels most relevant to you?
- What would need to happen internally to move forward?
- What’s the biggest concern you see right now?
These questions turn vague interest into real insight.
Know When to Stop Chasing
One of the hardest BD skills is knowing when to let go.
If after:
- Multiple follow-ups
- Clear explanations
- Adjusted proposals
The client still stays vague — it’s usually not a priority.
Time is your most limited resource.
Spend it on people who feel real pain, not polite curiosity.
Final Thought
“Interesting” is not rejection.
But it’s not progress either.
The sooner you learn to read it correctly, the faster your BD work becomes more focused and less draining.
Real deals don’t stay “interesting” for long.
They either move forward — or they fade away.
