The world has changed. Why is this happening? Smartsheet transforms your work.

Here are the 7 best client onboarding strategies to help you build trust.
It is no secret that people do business only with people they trust. It takes time to build trust, but it is essential for clients to be successfully onboarded.
You can build trust and rapport by listening attentively, speaking honestly, and being proactive. But how you do it is crucial.
What is Client Onboarding and what does it have to do with Client Trust?
Client onboarding is, in essence, a series of steps that begins when a prospect is introduced to your brand and ends when they become a loyal client.
It takes time and dedication to win the trust of a client. And it is not easy when your competitors are also trying to win that client’s loyalty and trust.
Although the purpose of customer onboarding is to gain trust from potential clients, it is important that you remember that the work does not stop once that trust has been earned.
It is a continuous process to maintain the trust and loyalty you clients. Successful client onboarding is therefore an essential function of any business. Without it, your business will soon run out clients.
While increasing the number of clients is a key strategy for driving business growth, maintaining good relationships with existing clients is essential to long-term success.
Ready? Let’s get started.
My Top Client Onboarding Strategies
1. Better understand your clients than your competitors
A client onboarding strategy that succeeds is one that gets to know your clients better then your competitors. Your relationship with clients will help you to stay in business when 51.2% of new businesses fail within the first five years.
Your first contact with a client is crucial. This will set the tone for the rest of your relationship. It is important to establish and build trust from the first interaction.
Ask your clients about their goals, what they are looking for, and what the end result will look like. Listen to your clients and tailor your communication to their needs. Although it may seem simple, this can be a powerful step. Clients are more likely to trust and work with you if you share their vision and are motivated to achieve it.
2. Set Clear Expectations
Consider the client onboarding process as a journey. We aren’t keen to embark on any journey without a clear understanding of where we are going and the route we will take. This applies to clients as well as your onboarding process.
It is important to establish clear expectations for your clients during onboarding. You should tell your clients what to expect from you and what the process is, but don’t overwhelm them with too much detail.
A step-by-step guide that maps the process and creates a project scope statement is the best way to give absolute clarity. Use simple language and clear language to make your guide easy to understand. A concise and clear guide will have a greater impact than trying hard to impress a potential client by using project management jargon.
3. Secure and Protect Customer Data
Clients may hesitate to share sensitive business data due to ever-increasing privacy concerns. Trust can be instilled by using the best practices to protect customer data. Also, make sure they are aware of your data privacy policies and protection policies, especially when it involves sharing business-critical information.