A social media client onboarding checklist for freelancers

A useful onboarding process ends with a working publishing routine, not merely a completed questionnaire. The client and manager should know which accounts are connected, what content is in scope, who reviews drafts and how a publication problem gets handled. Use this checklist for one client before repeating it across your roster.

1. Agree on the work and the decision makers

• Business name, public website and primary contact.
• Audience and the customer actions the content should support.
• Networks, destinations and formats included in your agreement.
• Expected cadence and any seasonal pauses.
• The person who approves content and a backup contact.
• The lead time needed for feedback, revisions and urgent changes.

Make “approve” concrete. Does it cover text, image, link and publishing time together? What happens if feedback does not arrive? Agree that process with the client instead of silently treating no reply as approval.

2. Build a small, usable brand brief

Ask for two examples of writing that sound right and one that does not. Collect approved service names, common customer questions, important URLs and words to avoid. Keep a short list of facts that must be checked before publication: current prices, availability, offer dates and location-specific details.

For assets, identify who owns the image, whether the people pictured have the necessary permission and where the final version lives. A folder of files named “final2” is not enough. Use names a teammate can recognize and keep descriptive text with important images.

3. Connect accounts through the supported flow

Create the client brand in Postfliq, then connect the appropriate accounts. Prefer the network's authorization flow when provided. For Bluesky, use a dedicated app password. Avoid collecting a client's main password in the onboarding worksheet.

Check the destination shown after connection, particularly when a client has multiple Pages, locations or profiles. Postfliq uses LeadConnector for several networks; the authorization screen may name that publishing partner. Threads and LinkedIn company-page publishing remain under verification. Review platform disclosures before promising a format or account type.

4. Run one representative post through the workflow

1. Save a draft with the real caption, intended destination, link and media.
2. Ask the client to review it using the agreed method.
3. Resolve any requested changes and get feedback on the revised version.
4. Choose a publishing time and check the calendar.
5. After publication, verify the actual destination result and the live post.

This is a better readiness check than connecting ten accounts and assuming every content type will work. If your normal work includes video or a particular destination, include that requirement in the pilot.

5. Leave a clear operating note

Keep the note beside the client brief. Revisit it when staff, destinations or services change. Use the calendar template to plan the first batch, and read how client review works in Postfliq before sharing a review link.