Building an online portal.

An online portal is a great way to put the ordering and proofing process into the hands of your client.

There are a lot of reasons why taking the time to create a portal for your client just makes sense

• the flexibility to place orders instantly without the constraint of business hours
• clients can typeset and proof the files right on screen in minutes as opposed to hours or days of back and forth emails
• reduces the time and workload internally of entering orders and communicating with the client
• approve quotes and proofs in one place

The list can go on, but what happens when you have a client that has no interest in ordering online?

Build one anyway!

Using a client’s online portal internally can have just as many benefits as having the client do the work.

You can submit all the orders they place via phone or email through the online portal, because not only are all the items in one place with the approved quantities and pricing but you can build them an order history that will be available if they one day change their mind.

Having variable templates setup, like business cards, means your CSRs can typeset the cards and send proofs to the clients without tying up your graphics with low profit tasks leaving them time to work on higher paying design jobs.

Although you will probably have some clients that will say they will never change, you never know when a mind will change or a position will turnover so having a complete well tested portal ready to go could make all the difference.