The most important part of any project

Congratulations!

You've just signed a new client.

You are now entering the most critical phase of your new relationship.  

Because what you do now, the steps you take, can make or break how well the project goes.  

And most of us neglect it.  

Do you have an onboarding process?

I'll admit, mine's a bit ad-hoc, but it is important.  

You need to set expectations.  

What does the client need to know?
How will you communicate?
When can they expect progress updates?
What are their common complaints, and how do you answer them in advance?

If you can answer all of those before the client asks you, then you've shown yourself to be an expert of the highest order.  And your project is likely to run much more smoothly.