What method do you use when you are building a website for a client and you need them to send you pictures, text, content, etc. Dropbox? Google Drive? Or do you just ask them to email everything to you? I'm trying to determine the most professional and effective way to exchange files. But most importantly it has to be easy for non-computer savvy clients.
If it has to be easy then try and meet them and get the content directly. If this isn't possible, then letting them email you the files might be the best way. Asking someone to install something on their computer usually means that if they have questions or problems down the road you'll either be: - the one they blame - the one that gets asked to help - or usually both Personally setting up a dropbox for each project isn't a bad way to go about it. Though using a CMS where they can upload the files to a directory, like uploading photos to facebook, might be a better way to go about it. Depending on the number of files, the size of the files and how tech savvy the client is as to what approach I take. Might not be consistent, but the end result is the same; you getting the files needed for project. Regardless of whatever you do, I'd make sure you back them up with Dropbox, sometimes clients have issues with their machines and they believe once you have it, it's your responsibility, this includes all templates/temporary files and anything else that goes with the project. If there are physical files, set yourself up with a system on dropbox. Main folder for project, then a sub folder called "physical files". With everything else under another folder called "finished project" or "project progress" etc. Then as soon as you open the project on dropbox you see that there is a physical copy of files in a filing cabinet drawer usually. What I'd also do here is photo or scan the documents and save the digital copy of those files under "physical files" folder. This has been a life saver when you need to check a photo or resource and means less clutter for the project, plus another backup incase of fire or something else to physical files. Sorry that's a lot to read, but they're some really great tips I've picked up along the way, hope they help
When i building a website for a client i tell these working to client 1.send your all info by email 2.short screen of sites that type he need 3.if you have any color combination send me
When I used to run a Webdev agency a few years ago I developed a client portal area. It had things like Project status, upload areas for content, communication, links to the project, a copy of the contract and any requirements. It also had a link to the staging area for the project. You could use Wordpress or similar for this I suppose. Some clients liked it and most used it, others preferred to do things the old way, mailing things out, phone calls etc.. it depends on the particular client and one of the big reasons that the business was a success is because we worked around how the client wanted to work. After all they are paying your wage. If they took two weeks to get the logo out to you on a cd then hey that's up to them. If you have a old fashioned client who likes to do business their way then trying to make them work your way is going to put you on the wrong footing to start off with, which can and does cause problems. There are still a lot of people out there that don't feel comfortable using the tech that we have available. Just my experience for what it's worth.
I usually have them send me the details via e-mail. This way I can easily handle the content and not have to deal with a third party who's handling the files.
I say e-mail as well because it's most likely one of the few things you can be certain most clients will know how to use. Expecting them to learn to use dropbox or even figure out something as simple as FTP is far overestimating the average "client's" abilities. Back before I retired I actually preferred setting up a little FTP space for potential clients on my server. I thought that would be the most professional way of handling it, turned out to be WAY too difficult for Joe Sixpack and Susie Sunshine. VERY quickly had to dumb down my expectations of others. ... admittedly, given the halfwit bull that's become standard industry practice of late, I may have swung that pendulum a little too far the other direction!