How to kick off a website project with a client

How do you kick off a website project?

You kick off a website project by booking one meeting after onboarding, sending the agenda ahead of time, and closing with a written recap. Here's the order to follow:

1. Check that the questionnaire answers and the logins are in.
2. Pick a date, and invite the client's decision maker and the person who will send content.
3. Send the agenda a few days ahead, so nobody walks in cold.
4. Run the meeting against the agenda, and take notes as you go.
5. Send a recap the same day, with each task, its owner and its due date.

The agreement, the first payment and the questionnaire all come before this meeting. For the onboarding steps before the meeting, see the client onboarding steps.

What should a website kickoff meeting include?

A website kickoff meeting should include the people who decide, a shared goal for the site, the scope in writing, the key dates and a plan for feedback. Leave out anything that can wait for a later review.

Who comes to the meeting:

• the person on the client's side who gives the final yes
• whoever will gather the words and photos
• your project lead, who runs the meeting
• anyone else who will approve stages along the way

If a white label partner builds the site, you can keep this meeting between you and your client. That's how DeskTeam360 sets it up: the agency talks with its client and passes on the feedback, and the team stays behind the agency.

Bring the goal for the site into the room as well. If the goal is still fuzzy, a working session can come first. For the discovery questions, see website discovery questions.

What goes on a website kickoff agenda?

A website kickoff agenda lists each topic in order, along with what you want settled by the end of it.

Keep the agenda short enough to finish on time. A topic that runs long can move to its own follow-up call.

How do you start a website kickoff meeting?

Start a website kickoff meeting by thanking people for coming, stating why you're meeting, and naming the decisions you'll make before it ends. A clear first few minutes keeps the rest on track.

Open the meeting with these moves:

1. Go around the room so each person gives their name and role.
2. Read the purpose of the meeting out loud.
3. Show the agenda, along with the time you'll finish.
4. Ask whether anything is missing before you begin.

Close it the same way you opened it. Read back each decision and each next step, and send them in writing that day.