During a long project it is easy to get involved in the development and forget to keep the client updated. It is really annoying as a client if you do not know what is going on, and have to keep asking for updates.

I have found it much more proactive to send project updates once per week to clients and key stakeholders. The format of these updates depends on the type and influence of the stakeholder.

What to put in the report

The reports we send are fairly informal and short, our reports typically contain the following:

• Title of project
• Summary of the brief in one sentence (in case you have multiple projects with the same client)
• Principle contact and names of key stakeholders
• Progress we have made in the week
• Highlight any risks or issues
• Projected time line for completion
• Any aspects that have affected the budget

Clients have really responded to the weekly updates, and they have drastically increased client satisfaction rates. It also makes clients feel part of the project and that makes them much more engaged when they are kept in the loop.