{"id":83222,"date":"2024-03-23T06:20:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T13:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/honeybook-blog.site.strattic.io\/?p=83222"},"modified":"2024-08-15T13:21:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-15T20:21:25","slug":"successful-client-kickoff-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call","title":{"rendered":"How to conduct a successful client kickoff call"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><em>Before you move forward with project execution, it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re on the same page with new clients. By conducting a client kickoff call, you can align on project scope, action items, project timeline, and more. Here\u2019s what to keep in mind.&nbsp;<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n        <lite-youtube class=\"\" \n        videoid=\"VASe9nhA6XE\" params=\"controls=1&#038;start=0&#038;end=0&#038;rel=0\" \n\n                    thumbnailresolution=\"res=recommended\"\n                \n        \n        ><\/lite-youtube>\n    \n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve moved through your <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/sales-process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"sales process\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">sales process<\/a>, potentially gone back and forth, and finally booked the client. Right after paying the invoice and\/or signing the contract, it\u2019s time to set expectations, align on project goals, and set the tone for how you and your client will work together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best way to do this is with a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"kickoff call\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">kickoff call<\/a>. Rather than an email or document, you want to come together with a clear understanding of the project details and make the time for questions that might come up in real time. That way, you can easily move through the rest of your <a href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/client-onboarding\">client onboarding<\/a> process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s everything you need to conduct a successful project kickoff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jump to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#definition\">What is a kickoff call?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#before\">What to do before a kickoff meeting<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#agenda\">What to include in your kickoff agenda<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#takeaways\">What takeaways should come out of a successful kickoff meeting?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#mistakes\">What can go wrong without a kickoff call?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#honeybook\">Better client relationships from start to finish with HoneyBook<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"88510\" class=\"elementor elementor-88510\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2237b60 e-con-full cta_click e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2237b60\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a763669 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a763669\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acab07b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"acab07b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"431\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-scheduling-banner-black.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-88513\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-scheduling-banner-black.png 431w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-scheduling-banner-black-224x300.png 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 431px) 100vw, 431px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-711ec11 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"711ec11\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1504169 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1504169\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Schedule clients easily with HoneyBook <\/span>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06a47fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06a47fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skip the back-and-forth: Schedule meetings, sessions, consultations, and more in one click.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6939b6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6939b6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get started<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n<span id=\"definition\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a kickoff call?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Within your <a href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/creating-a-honeybook-workflow-to-seamlessly-onboard-new-clients\">onboarding workflow,<\/a> a kickoff call starts a project after you and your client have made an agreement on the services you\u2019ll deliver. For an independent business owner, it can be an opportunity for the project manager to introduce the client to the entire project team, ask and answer questions, and align on your project overview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the call, you and the client should review the project requirements, goals, and fill in any missing information. It\u2019s a great way to discuss the project plan at a high level, while also honing in on some specifics like the project timeline, roles and responsibilities, and deliverables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/KickoffCall-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"How to conduct a client kickoff call\" class=\"wp-image-95802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/KickoffCall-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/KickoffCall-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/KickoffCall-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"before\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to do before a kickoff meeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We don\u2019t recommend going into your kickoff call without any prep work. You want to make sure you cover all agenda items and get the most out of the meeting, so that means finalizing the booking process, putting together an actionable agenda, and connecting with your internal team.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Make sure you have all of the necessary documents from your clients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that a kickoff call is similar but different from a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/discovery-call\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"discovery call\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\">discovery call<\/a>. At this step, you should already understand your client\u2019s needs and which services you\u2019ll be providing. You know they\u2019re a good fit for your business, so there\u2019s no need to re-hash the details you already covered when they were a lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A number of things should be set in place prior to your kickoff call, namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deliverables are agreed upon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contracts should be signed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A deposit or retainer should be paid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An agreed-upon deadline for final deliverables should be set<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These items are a part of the first two phases of <a href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/what-is-a-clientflow\">your clientflow<\/a>. You\u2019ll already have qualified the client, determined what they\u2019re looking for, and signed a contract. That\u2019s nearly half the process of booking a client!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With all of these logistical elements out of the way, you\u2019re ready to set a date for a kickoff call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Determine the goals of your kickoff call<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The number one goal of a kickoff call regardless of the size of your business or company is to become aligned on key details. The idea behind the call is to determine the details that will lead you to fulfill the goal of your client\u2019s project. You\u2019ll<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Determine the purpose of the project<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Identify an overarching goal for the project<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a step-by-step action plan with key deliverables<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Determine how the deliverable goals will be met within the project timeline<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm any communication preferences (daily updates, weekly updates, etc.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A less technical goal of the kickoff call is also the most under-discussed goal of the meeting: building rapport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prepare for the meeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing beats great preparation for an informational meeting. Be sure you prepare for the meeting and present as organized as possible. Coming into a kickoff meeting with all of your ducks (read: paperwork and deadlines) in a row will give the client room to breathe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The more logistical details you take off of their plate, the more space they have to provide details that may not have come up otherwise. In order to prepare for a client kickoff call, prepare the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Any notes from prior conversations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Emails about the project<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Answers from a <a href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/client-onboarding-questionnaire\">client onboarding questionnaire<\/a> you might have already sent when your client booked<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Invite your clients to the project in your HoneyBook account, if applicable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Outline instructions for using any collaborative software (i.e., HoneyBook, or invite your client to a Slack channel and explain how it\u2019s used)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any remaining <a href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/client-background-questions\">background questions<\/a> you have for your client<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A tentative project roadmap with key timestamped checkpoints<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A formal presentation (if you\u2019re pitching a logo or graphics or a website design)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Review the names of everyone you\u2019ll be working with so that there are no embarrassing \u201cremind me of your name again?\u201d moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conduct an internal kickoff meeting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>During your internal meeting, ensure that each stakeholder and project team member is aware of the meeting goals and action items. You may want to designate someone to take meeting notes or break up the agenda between each stakeholder.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also review the prep work you\u2019ve done with the entire team to ensure nothing is missing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"agenda\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What to include in your kickoff agenda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Provide a project kickoff meeting agenda in the meeting invitation so the client has a chance to bring any and all sharable resources. The more information you have about your client and their project, the more likely your deliverable will align with your client\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a short example of a kickoff meeting agenda:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Welcome and introductions&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Project admin (when and where to communicate, any login information that needs to be shared, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Project scope review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timeline and milestones&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Goals and KPIs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next steps&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What list of questions should you ask your new client?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A number of logistical and technical elements should be covered in a kickoff call so your client has ultimate clarity on how to communicate with you. Some of these are the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can you go over the goals and objectives of what you\u2019re looking for in detail?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who are other key stakeholders I (or we) should be aware of working on this project?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are your key performance indicators for the success of your project?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there any standards or project requirements we should be aware of?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are there any risks we should be aware of?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is your preferred communication method?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is your ideal schedule for check-ins? Would you like an update daily, weekly, or monthly (change this to suit the type of project you\u2019re working on)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll be aiming to address all or most of these questions in a reasonable time frame. How long should a kickoff meeting really take, you ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long should a kickoff call be?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The length of a kickoff call is a choose-your-own-adventure situation. Typically, attention spans wane after about 30 minutes (or even before) so it\u2019s optimal to keep meetings as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/3033232\/9-science-backed-methods-for-more-productive-meetings\">short as possible<\/a>. If you have an hour\u2019s worth of material to cover, of course, or your client is asking a lot of questions, it\u2019s best to air on the side of too much rather than too little in the calendar invite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to build rapport in a kickoff call<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Building rapport in a kickoff call is much like building relationships outside of a business transaction. Be sure to express your enthusiasm for meeting the client and helping them with their need. Find a common ground or overlapping interest you can reference to keep the client invested in the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take the time to listen and ask open-ended questions that stimulate conversation. The more you can get the client to speak about their goals for the project off the cuff, the better idea you\u2019ll have of that client\u2019s end goals for your services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"takeaways\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What takeaways should come out of a successful kickoff meeting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow up your kickoff call with a recap email summarizing what you covered and a brief thank you note. Ask the client if they have any further questions that arose after you left the call. Show your new client how personable you are\u2014it will go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Internally, you should record your meeting minutes and notes in your project management software and update your project plan there if needed. Then, start assigning next steps and tasks to stakeholders.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"mistakes\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What can go wrong <em>without<\/em> a kickoff call?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The point of a kickoff call is to open the dialogue with your client and learn about any last-minute crucial details of their project. Without a kickoff call, independent business owners risk a few things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Misaligning the timeline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you meet with a client, you learn a lot about their personality and expectations for the deliverable. The more details you have about a project, the more able you\u2019ll be to adequately plan for the different stages of the deliverables. A kickoff call gives you space to collect the details you need to accurately pace your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Misunderstanding project expectations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A client kickoff call is a perfect time for both paries to ask any clarifying questions. Without this alignment, you can risk <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/avoid-scope-creep\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"scope creep\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"639\">scope creep<\/a> with your client. The last thing you need is your client asking for more work or getting frustrated because the project details weren\u2019t clear. Luckily, all of this will be addressed on the kickoff call.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<span id=\"honeybook\"><\/span>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kickoff FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><br>Why should you have a project kickoff?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A project kickoff ensures everyone is aligned on the project scope, goals, and timelines. It sets expectations and establishes clear communication channels, laying a strong foundation for project success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long should a kickoff meeting be?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The length of a kickoff meeting varies but should generally be kept short to maintain attention. Typically, aim for around 30 minutes to an hour, adjusting based on the complexity of the project and the number of questions from the client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is responsible for keeping the kickoff meeting on track?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The project manager or the person leading the project is responsible for keeping the kickoff meeting on track. They should guide the conversation, ensure all agenda items are covered, and manage the time effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens after the kickoff meeting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After the kickoff meeting, the project team should start executing the project plan. The project manager will assign tasks, set up communication channels, and monitor progress to ensure the project stays on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Better client relationships from start to finish with HoneyBook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kicking off a project is a lot of work, but there\u2019s much more to client relationships and project management. From booking to scheduling your kickoff meetings and gathering information, HoneyBook provides a platform to do it all.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Store valuable information about your clients and offer a professional client portal where they can also keep track of communications and project statuses. You\u2019ll never risk an unhappy relationship when everyone is constantly on the same page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"88494\" class=\"elementor elementor-88494\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-af8975c e-con-full cta_click e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"af8975c\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d21be99 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"d21be99\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbc2a58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"bbc2a58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"511\" height=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-pipeline-banner-black.png\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-88488\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-pipeline-banner-black.png 511w, https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/cta-pipeline-banner-black-244x300.png 244w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 511px) 100vw, 511px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a747e99 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"a747e99\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d55b379 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d55b379\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Everything in one place\n<\/span>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-657226d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"657226d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easily keep track of all your clients and projects using HoneyBook.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-771d280 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"771d280\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get started<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before you move forward with project execution, it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re on the same page with new clients. By conducting a client kickoff call, you can align on project scope, action items, project timeline, and more. Here\u2019s what to keep in mind.&nbsp; You\u2019ve moved through your sales process, potentially gone back and forth, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":827,"featured_media":83232,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,545],"tags":[470,503,336],"class_list":["post-83222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-best-practices","category-mobile-app","tag-project-management","tag-scheduling","tag-workflow"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg",2000,1548,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall-300x232.jpg",300,232,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall-768x594.jpg",768,594,true],"large":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall-1024x793.jpg",1024,793,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall-1536x1189.jpg",1536,1189,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg",2000,1548,false]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>Before you move forward with project execution, it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re on the same page with new clients. By conducting a client kickoff call, you can align on project scope, action items, project timeline, and more. Here\u2019s what to keep in mind.&nbsp; You\u2019ve moved through your sales process, potentially gone back and forth, and finally booked the client. Right after paying the invoice and\/or signing the contract, it\u2019s time to set expectations, align on project goals, and set the tone for how you and your client will work together.&nbsp; The best way to do this is with a&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"<a href=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/business-best-practices\" rel=\"category tag\">Business best practices<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/mobile-app\" rel=\"category tag\">Mobile App<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Erin McAllester","url":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/author\/erin-mcallester"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Conduct a Successful Client Kickoff Call | HoneyBook<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to conduct a successful kickoff call so you can align with key stakeholders and avoid scope creep.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Conduct a Successful Client Kickoff Call | HoneyBook\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to conduct a successful kickoff call so you can align with key stakeholders and avoid scope creep.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HoneyBook\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/honeybook.co\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-23T13:20:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-08-15T20:21:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1548\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Erin McAllester\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@erin@honeybook.com\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@honeybook\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Erin McAllester\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call\",\"name\":\"How to Conduct a Successful Client Kickoff Call | HoneyBook\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-23T13:20:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-08-15T20:21:25+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d11fef678a538d603d7e9ffd11c97be2\"},\"description\":\"Learn how to conduct a successful kickoff call so you can align with key stakeholders and avoid scope creep.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1548,\"caption\":\"Woman conducting a kickoff call\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/hbb.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Business best practices\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/business-best-practices\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to conduct a successful client kickoff call\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"HoneyBook\",\"description\":\"Resources to empower independent business owners\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d11fef678a538d603d7e9ffd11c97be2\",\"name\":\"Erin McAllester\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cf6142901afe2031c07f8d52cb033339a16a97cf7c068b6d4f4d628c76cbf99?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cf6142901afe2031c07f8d52cb033339a16a97cf7c068b6d4f4d628c76cbf99?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Erin McAllester\"},\"description\":\"Erin is a writer and content marketer at HoneyBook. When she's not brainstorming resources for independent business owners, she's reading a novel, cooking, or writing essays.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/x.com\/erin@honeybook.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/author\/erin-mcallester\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Conduct a Successful Client Kickoff Call | HoneyBook","description":"Learn how to conduct a successful kickoff call so you can align with key stakeholders and avoid scope creep.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Conduct a Successful Client Kickoff Call | HoneyBook","og_description":"Learn how to conduct a successful kickoff call so you can align with key stakeholders and avoid scope creep.","og_url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call","og_site_name":"HoneyBook","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/honeybook.co","article_published_time":"2024-03-23T13:20:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-08-15T20:21:25+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1548,"url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Erin McAllester","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@erin@honeybook.com","twitter_site":"@honeybook","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Erin McAllester","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call","url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call","name":"How to Conduct a Successful Client Kickoff Call | HoneyBook","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg","datePublished":"2024-03-23T13:20:00+00:00","dateModified":"2024-08-15T20:21:25+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d11fef678a538d603d7e9ffd11c97be2"},"description":"Learn how to conduct a successful kickoff call so you can align with key stakeholders and avoid scope creep.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/KickoffCall.jpg","width":2000,"height":1548,"caption":"Woman conducting a kickoff call"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/successful-client-kickoff-call#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/hbb.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Business best practices","item":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/category\/business-best-practices"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to conduct a successful client kickoff call"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/","name":"HoneyBook","description":"Resources to empower independent business owners","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d11fef678a538d603d7e9ffd11c97be2","name":"Erin McAllester","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/hbbadmin.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cf6142901afe2031c07f8d52cb033339a16a97cf7c068b6d4f4d628c76cbf99?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1cf6142901afe2031c07f8d52cb033339a16a97cf7c068b6d4f4d628c76cbf99?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Erin McAllester"},"description":"Erin is a writer and content marketer at HoneyBook. When she's not brainstorming resources for independent business owners, she's reading a novel, cooking, or writing essays.","sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/erin@honeybook.com"],"url":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/author\/erin-mcallester"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/827"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=83222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/83222\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=83222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=83222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hbb.dev.reliablepenguin.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=83222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}