Author: Laura Elizabeth

Laura created Client Portal in 2016 after working as a freelance designer for a decade. Client Portal was born out of the need for a simple tool that allows clients to access their project deliverables. Since then, it has grown into an 8,000+ customer-strong product that helps any service provider, from freelancers to law firms. In her spare time, Laura likes to sew clothes and quilts, play the piano, and hang out with her husband and children.

Product Updates

Update 4: Four Exciting Mini-Features Coming Soon!

Laura Elizabeth 11th Jan 2024

Today, I want to share with you four mini-features that are coming with this release. These may seem small, but they’ve been requested repeatedly and, honestly, are things that should mostly have been doable before now. Mini-feature #1: A fully editable, customizable menu This is something we get asked about all the time. While we...

Product Updates

Update 3: How we’re using feedback from the beta testers to improve the product

Laura Elizabeth 3rd Jan 2024

Today, I'm going to share an update on the beta program (which is live right now!) and how we're running it. We've opened the beta to a small group of 48 customers. Of those, 21 have created portals with the new block editor via InstaWP. (InstaWP allows us to spin up fresh installs of WordPress...

Product Updates

Update 2: Creating Reusable Pattern Blocks

Laura Elizabeth 14th Dec 2023

This is the second behind-the-scenes email for Client Portal 5.0. Today, we are talking about something that (IMO) will end up being the favorite feature of Client Portal 5.0. Introducing: Reusable Patterns 🎉 Until now, every portal has needed to be custom for each client. Which, as you know, can take a long time to...

Product Updates

Update 1: A First Look at the New Block Editor

Laura Elizabeth 4th Dec 2023

Here it is: a first look at the new block editor coming in Client Portal 5.0. This is currently in beta and due to be released by mid-January 2024. In this video, we cover: What the new editor looks like from the backend How to style each block Editing the menu Embedding videos Changes to...

Project Management

The underwhelming experience of paying a deposit (and how to flip it on its head)

Laura Elizabeth 19th Sep 2023

I remember getting my first MacBook. I was 17 and had just started a course in graphic design. Like many people, we didn’t have a lot of money growing up so I never had the latest, well, anything. But my mum was adamant that I needed a laptop for college. And not just any old...

Project Management

10 essential documents you need for high-value client projects

Laura Elizabeth 8th Aug 2023

When it comes to high-value client projects, getting the documents and deliverables right is crucial. You don’t want to go overboard with too much information (and you don’t want to include fluff documents), but you do need to give your client everything they need to trust that you’ve got this. High-value projects are often fairly...

Case Studies

Using Client Portal to deliver educational content to your clients (with examples)

Laura Elizabeth 1st Aug 2023

In this article, we are going to delve into one of the most effective strategies to attract potential clients: creating educational content (also known as lead magnets) to showcase your expertise and build credibility with your clients – or potential clients. We’re also going to go through how you can use Client Portal to deliver...

Project Management

Why you need to design your process (free template and workshop included)

Laura Elizabeth 21st Jul 2023

One of the best things about Client Portal is that it forces you to really think about your process and the deliverables you're giving clients. Most business owners have a process, but it lives mostly in their heads. They go through roughly the same steps with each new client and give roughly the same deliverables,...

Product Updates

What I learned at Europe’s biggest WordPress conference

Laura Elizabeth 14th Jul 2023

Last month, I (Laura 👋) spoke at WordCamp EU – the biggest WordPress conference in Europe (and, some argue, the world.) Going into it, I was terrified on the morning of my talk. Whenever I’m asked to speak at conferences, I seem to always go through the same five emotions: Elation. ”OMG I’m speaking at...

Project Management

Do solo founders need a project management tool?

Laura Elizabeth 6th Jul 2023

In the previous article (check out “Do I still need Client Portal if I have a project management tool” if you missed it) we talked about why project management tools are better to use internally with your team and not with your clients (that’s what Client Portal is for!) But another question cropped up a...