I'm trying to wrap my head around how professional freelance web developers access and edit websites for clients, especially when using popular platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or GoDaddy. I recently helped my dad create a site using Squarespace for his business, but now I'm venturing into freelancing myself. Since I prefer to keep costs low for clients, I told him we could use Vercel and other tools for free, but I want to ensure I'm doing it the right way, especially for other clients in the future.
I know I can't just ask clients for their personal account passwords because of security issues like two-factor authentication. So how do freelancers typically handle this? Do you ask clients to create a user account for you, or do you handle email setups for access? What if they already have half the site built or their own domain? I want to be professional about the initial setup process but am feeling lost on how to manage everything effectively. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
6 Answers
When working with clients, make sure to request access based on the role you need—editor or viewer, for instance—especially if they're on platforms like WordPress or Wix. Always prepare for two-factor authentication challenges by getting them to walk you through it the first time. And remember, backups are crucial before making any changes! I often create a temporary project email account that I hand over to the client at the end, which helps keep things tidy during the build phase.
Definitely! And being organized from the start really sets a good tone for working with clients.
If you're going the freelance route, don't shy away from platforms like Wix or Squarespace. Many clients actually prefer these because they can manage their sites easily afterward. It's a misconception that they're not suitable for professional work; it really depends on the client's needs!
Exactly! Those platforms can be great starting points. But if you can offer both custom and drag-and-drop options, that can really set you apart as a versatile freelancer.
Totally agree! While they’re simple for clients, adding a professional touch to setups can still be valuable.
I usually set up a dedicated email for the project and then either hand it over to the client or update it to their address once everything is ready. This way, they have full control afterward. If they already have accounts set up, you can just ask them to grant you access with the appropriate roles, and it’s good practice to walk them through how to do that, too.
What if the client has a domain and accounts partially set up? How do you manage transitions from their setup to yours in that case?
In those cases, it’s really about communication. You might need to help them clean up and reorganize their accounts or build a new setup from there.
For a beginner in this space, WordPress is a solid option. Tons of affordable web hosting services offer easy setups with WordPress already installed. Even though I usually do custom projects with React, WordPress works great for simpler business sites with the possibility for some customization.
You can also explore headless CMS options like Sanity, which give you more flexibility while still letting clients manage their content easily.
WordPress is extremely popular for small business websites, and it’s great for managing multiple users. It’s reliable and widely supported. If you ever want to go beyond a basic drag-and-drop setup, just ensure your tech stack can handle it. Going the custom route can be fun but it's tricky if you're not fully prepared for backend work with platforms like Vercel.
Thanks for the tips! It’s nice to have guidelines on maintaining security while being efficient.