Project Setup Guide Part 1: Foundations

Start here to learn how projects work, what you need in place before you begin, and how to shape the structure and branding that define every client experience.

Understanding Projects

Projects are the heartbeat of the platform. Each one brings together the people, process, and presentation for a client engagement:

  • Linked to a Client: A project automatically mirrors the client’s lifecycle stage, keeping work aligned with where the relationship stands.
  • Organized by Phases: Structured stages break big initiatives into manageable chapters, each with its own set of tasks.
  • Built for Collaboration: Internal teammates, AI assistants, and client viewers all work from the same source of truth.
  • Tailored to Your Brand: Colors, layouts, and messaging reflect your organization’s identity.
  • Ready to Publish: When the time is right, you can share a polished portal on your public site.

Think of the hierarchy like this: organization → client → project → phases → tasks, with team members, documents, and agents supporting every layer.

Creating Your First Project

What You Need First

Make sure you have an active organization, at least one client in your roster, and a site configured for publishing. With those pieces in place, you’re ready to build.

Guided Creation with the Project Wizard

The wizard walks you through four quick steps:

  1. Project Details – Name the project, add a short description, and pick the client it belongs to. The lifecycle stage from that client sets the tone for the entire setup.
  2. Structure – Choose a ready-made template, mix and match phases, or let the platform suggest a structure that fits the client stage.
  3. Appearance – Select brand colors, button styling, and other visual details. A live preview shows exactly what clients will see.
  4. Client Access – Add client contacts, decide who should receive an invite right away, and confirm the experience feels personal and secure.

Create by Voice

Prefer a conversational flow? Ask the AI voice agent to spin up a project for you. A request like “Create a Website Redesign project for Acme Corp” is enough to get started, and the agent will confirm details and offer to add collaborators or refine phases on the spot.

Project Templates and Structures

Every organization runs projects differently, so the platform gives you flexible options:

  • Prospect Templates help you evaluate new opportunities with guided demos, ROI reviews, and stakeholder coordination.
  • Onboarding Templates streamline delivery with phased rollouts that cover discovery, configuration, testing, and launch.
  • Active Customer Templates keep long-term relationships healthy with scheduled check-ins, growth planning, and success reviews.
  • Custom Templates capture your own best practices, so you can reuse processes that work.
  • Smart Defaults fill in the gaps whenever you skip a template: prospects get evaluation phases, onboarding clients see planning and execution stages, and active customers receive ongoing success programs.

Configuring Project Appearance

A polished workspace builds trust the moment someone lands on the project portal. Use the appearance settings to:

  • Align the background, primary, secondary, and accent colors with your brand palette.
  • Fine-tune call-to-action buttons so they stand out and stay accessible.
  • Save and switch between multiple palettes when you operate across brands or product lines.
  • Preview everything in real time to ensure the layout, typography, and imagery feel cohesive before you go live.

When you’re comfortable with the foundation, continue to Project Setup Guide Part 2: Collaboration and Delivery to staff the project, launch the portal, and keep momentum high.