Why Client Communication Fails (And How to Fix It)
| ❌ The Old Way | ✅ With ClearTimeline |
|---|---|
| Clients ask "what's the status?" every week | Clients check the portal themselves — anytime |
| Updates buried in long email threads | One clean, live page with every update |
| No proof the client saw your deliverables | View tracking logs every client visit |
| Scramble for evidence when disputes happen | Proof is built in from Day 1 — automatically |
Most freelancers don't start documenting until a problem happens. By then, it's too late. The Client Progress Portal flips the script — you share a professional project page from Day 1 so your client is always in the loop. Every update is timestamped. Every view is tracked. If things go sideways, the proof already exists.
How the Client Progress Portal Works
Create Your Project
Set up a new project in ClearTimeline. Add your first proof entry — a deliverable, milestone, or status update. It takes less than 60 seconds.
Generate Your Portal Link
Click "Share Portal" to generate a secure, read-only link. Your client will see a professional project page — no account or login required on their end.
Share With Your Client
Send the link via email, Slack, or any channel. Share it from Day 1 — not just when things go wrong. Your client sees live updates as you log them.
Track Client Views
Every time your client visits the portal, the system logs it. You'll see "Last viewed: 2 hours ago" — proof they saw your updates.
How Freelancers Use the Client Progress Portal
Solution: Share the portal link from Day 1. Every update you log appears on the portal automatically. Your client checks it whenever they want — no back-and-forth needed.
Solution: View tracking shows exactly when the client visited the portal. Combined with your timestamped proof entries, you have undeniable evidence they were informed.
Solution: Share a branded, clean progress portal with every new client. It signals that you're organized, transparent, and serious about your work — building trust from the start.
Client Progress Portal Features
- • Clients see updates in real-time
- • Read-only — no edits possible
- • Always shows the latest entries
- • See when clients visit the portal
- • Track total visit count
- • Server-side logging (can't be faked)
- • Clients just click the link
- • No account or login required
- • Zero friction for your clients
- • Clean, branded project page
- • Timeline format with milestones
- • Looks polished to clients
- • Share at project kickoff
- • Build trust from the start
- • Proof accumulates automatically
- • Every entry has a system timestamp
- • Immutable — no edits or deletes
- • Credible evidence for disputes
Client Progress Portal FAQ
What can clients see on the progress portal?
Clients see a clean, read-only timeline of your project updates — including titles, descriptions, and timestamps. They cannot edit, delete, or add anything. It's a professional, view-only page designed to keep them informed.
Do clients need to create an account to view the portal?
No. Clients simply click the secure link you share — no signup, no login, no password. It's completely frictionless. You can share the link via email, Slack, or any messaging tool.
How does view tracking work?
Every time a client visits the portal, the system logs the visit with a timestamp on the server side. You'll see 'Last viewed: 2 hours ago' and the total number of visits. This tracking cannot be faked or manipulated — it's proof your client saw your updates.
Should I share the portal from Day 1 or only when there's a problem?
Always share from Day 1. The portal is designed to build trust and keep clients informed throughout the project — not just during disputes. When you share proactively, clients feel confident in your work, and if a problem ever arises, the proof is already there.