One of the big mistakes freelancers make is not treating their work like a business. Freelancers act more like an employee on a contract than a business.
The problem with this is that if you are on a contract, then you need to manage the process of the work you do for the client rather than the customer telling you how and when to do the job.
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
― Benjamin Franklin
It is time to realize you are a business, not a contract employee.
You are onboarding your customer to your process. You have to assume control of your process.
When it comes to onboarding your client to your process, you will also need to train them in your process and tools.
A crucial part of your onboarding process is project management. Your project management process is vital and should be communicated with your client.
Not providing a method for managing a project means your client will control the process, even if he or she doesn’t intend to do so.
Project management is crucial for your process, communication, and for delivering the project on time. Â If you price the project based on time and hours, it is imperative that you control the timeline of the project as much as possible so that you are profitable.
WordPress entrepreneurs routinely use various project management tools to help maintain the process. Some of those tools are software as a service, while others may be managed within a WordPress dashboard.
Having a process means that you will need to train your client so that they can work alongside you during the project and you can finish on time.
To train the client during the onboarding process, the client needs to learn about your tools and process, your project management software, your ticket and support system, and your reporting procedure.
So in what areas should you train your client for your in your project management process? Â You will want to educate them on your process, your project roadmap, your project management software, and your project reporting.
Your Process
The client doesn’t need to know everything about your processes, such as if your development workflow, but they need to know things like communicating approvals, revisions, scope changes and more.
Process is vital to success in the web development industry. Having a defined process enables you to finish work quickly and efficiently, and to ensure that time on a project isn’t being wasted. Process also helps ease the client’s fears and demonstrates that you’re professionals. WP Dev Shed
Some agencies have various phases such as the seven-step process outlined by WP Dev Shed. The author mentions discovery, solution definition, content development, design, development, deployment, and management.
The Project Roadmap
Have a project roadmap helps you keep everyone on point. A roadmap helps everyone see the deliverables according to Project Management Software company Wrike,
What is a roadmap in project management? The project roadmap is a graphical, high level overview of the project’s goals and deliverables presented on a timeline. Unlike the project plan where details are fleshed out, the roadmap should be simple and free of minutiae.
There are several different kinds of tools to manage your project management and the roadmap you have put together. Some of the things you will want to do to onboard your client includeÂ
- Add to your Project in your project management software. Once you have added the project, you need to invite your client to join the project and show them how it works and how to check on tasks.
- Timeline – You will need to create and approve the timeline of the project. Laying it out in your Project Management software will help everyone know when deliverables are expected to be completed.
- Checklist – You will need to share your checklist with the client. A good project management software will host your checklist.
The important thing is that you train your client how to follow the approved timeline.
Your Project Management Software
Working with a project management tool is vital to teamwork on a project. While there are several tools available for teams, you have chosen one, and your client needs to get up to speed.
In your kick-off meeting, you can introduce your client to your Project Management Software. Invite the stakeholders from your client’s team to join the project.
Explain how you use the software, how they can view tasks, interact, and view the status of the project. Point your client to documentation and video tutorials for using the software if they need help.
Your client may have requests for the ongoing project. Inform them of your process for adding requests which may include adding to the scope and additional fees.
Creating internal documentation may be helpful.
Did you know there are WordPress project management plugins?
Examples of WordPress Project Management
Plugins:
Are you looking for more WordPress plugins for project management? Check out these articles:
WP Dean
Project Reporting
Part of keeping everyone on task is creating and issuing reports. Good Project Mangement Software will allow you create and send status reports to every team member.
While the reports will be familiar to you, they may not be familiar to your client. It is important to go over the first report to explain the status and answer any questions.
With each subsequent report, touch base with your client’s point of contact to see if they have questions.
Example Project Management Hacks
Several companies have documented in blog posts how they use various project management tools. I have included links to articles using Asana and Trello below.
Asana
Organizing our workflow with Asana
How To Really Use Asana To Organize Your Clients And Projects
Trello
Trello For Web Design Projects
How we effectively use Trello for project management
Wrapping it up
Project management is crucial in your development process. Onboarding your client to your process of development is an important part of the process and communication. It helps the project finish on time and in line with your business objectives and, ultimately, your profit goals.
How do you train your client in your process? How have you set up your process and what project management tools do you use?
Let us know below or in the Facebook Group.
