Client Onboarding: What Happens After You Say "Let's Go"
No mystery. No black box. Here's exactly what happens from the moment you become a DigitalHotwire client — step by step, with clear timelines and deliverables.
Your Onboarding Timeline
Welcome & Access Setup
- You receive a welcome email with your project timeline and contact details
- We send a brief onboarding questionnaire (10 minutes to complete)
- You provide access to Google Business Profile, website hosting, and any existing tools
- We schedule your kickoff strategy call
Kickoff Strategy Call
- 30-minute call to discuss your business goals, target customers, and competitive landscape
- We review your current online presence together
- We align on priorities, timeline, and communication preferences
- You ask any questions — no question is too basic
Deep-Dive Audit & Research
- Comprehensive technical SEO audit of your website
- Google Business Profile analysis and competitor research
- Keyword research and content gap analysis
- Review profile assessment across all major platforms
- You receive a summary of findings and our recommended action plan
Build & Implementation
- Technical SEO fixes begin (site speed, schema, crawlability)
- Google Business Profile optimization goes live
- AI lead follow-up system configured and tested
- Review generation campaign drafted and approved by you
- Content strategy and calendar created
- Weekly progress update sent to you (email or brief call — your choice)
Launch & Go Live
- All systems tested and launched
- Review campaign goes live with your first batch of customers
- AI follow-up system activated
- Team training session (if applicable) — we show your team what's running
- First monthly strategy call scheduled
Monthly Optimization & Reporting
- Monthly performance report: rankings, traffic, calls, reviews, leads
- Monthly strategy call with the founder (not a junior account manager)
- Ongoing optimization based on real data and results
- Response within 1 business day to any questions or concerns
- Quarterly strategy review to adjust goals and priorities
How We Communicate
Primary communication channel. Response within 1 business day.
Monthly Strategy Call
Scheduled 30-minute call with the founder to review performance and plan next steps.
Weekly Updates
During the build phase (first 30 days), you get weekly progress updates.
Emergency Contact
For urgent issues, email us with 'URGENT' in the subject line for priority response.
What You Own — Everything.
All content, optimizations, automation systems, and technical work we create belongs to you — 100%. If we ever part ways, you keep everything. No lock-in. No proprietary platforms. No hostage situations.
Read our full ownership policy →Common Onboarding Questions
How much of my time does onboarding take?
About 30-45 minutes total in the first week (questionnaire + kickoff call). After that, you're hands-off unless you want to be involved.
What access do you need from me?
Google Business Profile, website hosting/CMS, and any existing CRM or email tools. We'll guide you through everything — no tech skills needed.
What if I have questions between calls?
Email us anytime. We respond within 1 business day. No ticket systems. No chatbots. Just real people.
Can I be as involved or hands-off as I want?
Absolutely. Some clients want weekly updates and input on every decision. Others say 'just handle it' and show up for the monthly call. Both work.
What if I'm not happy with the results?
We adjust strategy based on data. No long-term contracts — you stay because it's working, not because you're locked in.
Ready to Get Started?
Book a free strategy call. We'll discuss your goals, answer your questions, and show you exactly how the process works.
Book a Free Strategy Call