Hello All!

I have a client who has multiple websites and therefore multiple tasks and projects. I have a SmartSheet set up for one aspect of their business, but one partner has taken the initiative to email me with essentially one request per email (which is becoming maddening to keep track of). I'd like to steer him to work with the SmartSheet so that all his requests and projects can be in one place rather than getting buried in my emails.

My question is this... for those of you that manage multiple tasks/projects for one client, what do you find works best for project management? How do you "train" your client to use them?

I'm also giving MavenLink a test drive to see if that might be a good option. AceProject has proven way too complicated.

Obviously the solution has to be simple yet effective since this client is extremely busy and won't want to fuss with complicated project management software.

Thanks for the help!

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Jill Tirone
DanceFit Marketing LLC

I use My Intervals and it works fabulously. One way to train your client is to (first) stick to your rules yourself. If communication is supposed to be done through your system, don't send emails.

If a client sends an email instead of looking in the PM system, copy and paste it into the system, then reply there with a note that you've added their initial email to the system.

If they ask a question that could have been answered by looking in the PM system, provide the answer and link to where they find it.

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indulging entrepreneurs with the gift of time & money via nonpareil support.

I use Mavelink and like MondayMorn said, I communicate through the project area. With Mavenlink you can connect to Google Apps so all appointments, tasks and emails are linked to my apps account.

Usually what I do is set up a project, send an invite and let the client know that this is the task list that I work from during the day. Get them in the habit of learning that you do not check emails as often as the project space. Some will pay attention, others may not.

I have one client who feels the need to CC me on everything. Some relevant, most not, so I let them know after several warnings that they will be charge time for deciphering the messages to see what needs to be addressed. After seeing the time it took to go through the emails, they were shocked. Side note: I set up a rule that these messages would go into the client folder and skip the inbox so I addressed them during their allotted time.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Good info. I'm going to check out Mavenlink. Thank you.