How To Onboard A Webflow Client: 7 Step Process
1 Article, 1 Podcast, 3 Inspirational Sites, 3 Jobs. Let's go!
Hello hello dear Webflailers - it’s Jack!
Last weekend, I climbed Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles. I went through different stages on the climb - excited and nervous at the bottom, bored after 1 hour, “what’s the point?” at 3 hours, and dejected in a thick fog at 4 hours.
However, after 5 hours, we finally reached the top and it had all been worth it. Pictures, laughter and celebration with a hip flask of whisky. Climbing down was easy after this experience.
This is like freelancing.
You go through different stages on the climb and it’s hard. But really, it’s a matter of sticking at it long enough until it gets easy.
Remember, just when you’re finding it hard and want to give up is probably when everyone is finding it hard and gives up. This is all the more reason to keep pushing! Success is likely just round the corner.
On the way up in the “what’s the point?” phase 👆
How To Onboard A Webflow Client: 7 Step Process
Onboarding is a bit like onboarding people on to a ship. The ship is the project that is about to sail for hundreds of miles. You're the captain that needs to guide the ship safely to harbour - the destination your client wants you to guide them to. You need to collaborate closely in order for the ship to get to it's destination.
With good planning and organisation, you will avoid rough weather and help each other to ensure the ship reaches the harbour safely. Welcoming them on board and explaining what will happen over the course of the journey limits surprises and manages expectations.
The steps that we will cover are:
Get On A Call
Send A Proposal
Send A Contract
Receive Payment
Set Up A Slack Channel
Set Up Google Drive
Set Up A Kick Off Call
How To Communicate With Clients | With Corey Moen
In this episode, we see that even at Corey’s level, he is not perfect. I find it humbling that despite having worked with clients for over a decade, he is still trying to work out how to communicate as effectively as possible with clients, manage his time well and get buy in from his team.
Biggest lessons from this episode:
1) Guide Your Clients
Your clients may “get spooked,” (in the words of Dexter Washington, CEO of Crafted Studios) if you do a great unveiling of work that you think is just perfect for them. Take them by the hand and guide them through the web design process step by step, making them feel like they are in control and making decisions.
2) Knowing When To Let Go
Recognise that your client is paying you for the work and the website is ultimately theirs. Sometimes, your client won’t listen to your advice and opinions even when they look at objective data and that is ok. You just need to know when to let go!
3) Focus On Marketing As Much As Creation
Understand that how people perceive a product determines whether they want to use it or not. The product itself needs to be good but think about how other people might find it, and when they have found it, how do you want them to receive it.
3 Inspirational Websites
1) Camille Mormal
Smoother than D’Angelo singing to you - of course, the large, sultry pictures fit beautifully with the seamless animations, but notice the small details too. Just divine.
2) Henry Northington
Scrolling through this makes me feel like I’m flying through outer space on a 90’s video game. It’s a surreal experience that shows off Henry’s attention to detail, coding skills and wildly imaginative style.
3) Voiders Club
Really interesting to see the confluence of pixellated designs with complex animations. Love the colours and vibrancy of this site too!
3 Webflow Jobs
Head of Webflow Projects & Community at Bolk Studio
Webflow Web Developer at Pinata
Digital Designer & Developer at ONETOO
How can I improve this newsletter?
Listen here amigo. I want this to be the best newsletter for webflowers there is. Let me know how I can make this better/more helpful!
I want to write about topics that help support your freelance journey and share useful websites and jobs that give you opportunity. Lemme’ know!