Google Apps. For each client, I create a Google Site to track all notes, documents, links, and calendar events related to the client project. Events have prompts that alert me to deadlines. All calendar items are color coded by client and displayed on my “master” calendar. Clients have access to the site during and after engagement.

Most clients leave comments and interact with me there too. Subscription to the site alerts all who subscribe when an update is made.

I customize the site with the client’s logo…simple, easy to use, and personalized. And it’s free

Google Apps. For each client, I create a Google Site to track all notes, documents, links, and calendar events related to the client project. Events have prompts that alert me to deadlines. All calendar items are color coded by client and displayed on my “master” calendar. Clients have access to the site during and after engagement.

Most clients leave comments and interact with me there too. Subscription to the site alerts all who subscribe when an update is made.

I customize the site with the client’s logo…simple, easy to use, and personalized. And it’s free

Nope, you didn’t miss the mark with your answer. I think my question may have been poorly stated though. I wasn’t referring to an automated system that notifies/communicates with your customers, although I think that can be part of a great system in high volume situations.

Just wondering what type of system you’re using to track all those deliverables…sticky notes, spreadsheets, some web app? A newsletter and/or email is part of that system too.

Maybe you can expand on actionable ways to routinely communicate with your customers in a future blog post?

For ongoing projects I merely track my deliverable and remain mindful of expectations I’ve set for status reports and updates. I’ve built routine communication as a discipline in my work habits. Mostly, I track deliverables and routinely communicate on their status.

For customers, I email and call them on a schedule of sort.

The best advice I can give is create habits and routines of communicating periodically with your customer-base — newsletters and email are easiest. For prospects and customers whose work is underway, remind yourself of work and dates you’ve committed to and notify people immediately when you discover a date promised is too aggressive.

Let me know if I “missed the mark” in my answer.

Keeping our customers in the loop (and giving them multiple ways to do so) has always improved customer satisfaction for us.

I’d love to hear some advice on systems you use to enforce and automate this concept.