The Ultimate Web Design Client Onboarding Checklist

A successful web design project is built on a strong foundation. Unfortunately, that foundation is often built on the shaky ground of scattered emails, missing files, and unclear requirements. This detailed guide provides a comprehensive checklist to ensure you have everything you need, setting the stage for a smooth, efficient project. This is more than a list; it's your freelancer onboarding checklist for success.

Phase 1: Brand & Visual Assets

These are the non-negotiable visual elements that define the brand's identity. Getting them right, and in the right format, is step one.

• Company Logo: Request a high-resolution, vector format (SVG, AI, or EPS). Explain that this is crucial for scalability on different screen sizes.
• Brand Guidelines: If they have one, this document is gold. It contains fonts, color palettes, logo usage rules, and more.
• Existing Photography & Imagery: Any professional photos of the team, products, or services that you can use.
• Favicon: A 512x512 pixel version of their logo for browser tabs and bookmarks. Many clients forget this!

Phase 2: Content & Copy

Content is the backbone of the site. Getting final, approved copy upfront prevents significant delays and redesigns down the road.

• Homepage Content: The main headlines, subheadings, and body copy. Ask for it in a simple text or Word doc.
• About Us Page Content: Company history, mission, and team bios.
• Service/Product Descriptions: Detailed explanations for each offering, including features and benefits.
• Contact Information: Address, phone number, email, and social media links.
• Testimonials & Case Studies: Gather social proof early to build trust on the new site.

Phase 3: Technical Details & Credentials

Handle these with extreme care. Using a secure portal is essential for collecting sensitive information like this.

• Hosting Provider Credentials: Username and password for their web host (e.g., GoDaddy, Bluehost).
• Domain Registrar Credentials: Login details for where their domain name is registered.
• Google Analytics Access: Request they add your email as a user to their existing Google Analytics account.
• Third-Party Service APIs: Any keys for services like email marketing (Mailchimp) or CRMs (HubSpot).

Turn This Checklist into a Reusable Template

Manually sending this list for every project is inefficient. The real power comes from turning this into a reusable template within a client portal. With Cliently, you can create a "Web Design Project" template. When you start a new project, you simply select the template, and a professional, branded portal is instantly generated with this exact checklist, ready for your client. This standardizes your process and dramatically cuts down on administrative time.