The period between signing a new client and delivering their first campaign is one of the most important in any agency relationship. Get it right and you set the tone for a long, successful partnership. Get it wrong and you're already playing catch-up.

Here's how to onboard a new email marketing client in 24 hours — without cutting corners.

Hour 1–2: The Welcome and Kickoff

As soon as the contract is signed, send a welcome message. This doesn't need to be long — a short, warm note confirming next steps and what to expect is enough. It sets a professional tone immediately.

If possible, schedule a 30-minute kickoff call within the first 24 hours. The goal is simple: align on goals, timelines, and communication preferences before anyone starts any work.

Hour 2–4: Collect Everything You Need

The biggest onboarding bottleneck is waiting for assets. Get ahead of it by sending a clear, simple asset request straight after the kickoff. You need:

• Brand guide (fonts, colours, logos, tone of voice)

• Access to their email platform (Klaviyo, Mailchimp etc.)

• Historical campaign data if available

• Upcoming campaign calendar or any immediate deadlines

• Product catalogue or website access

• Any existing email designs they want to reference or move away from

The cleaner your asset request, the faster they respond. A simple form or checklist works better than a long email.

Hour 4–8: Brief Your Design Partner

With assets in hand, brief your design partner immediately. The faster you get the brief out, the faster you get designs back.

A good brief at this stage should cover: the brand guide, the first campaign or flow to design, the deadline, and any specific notes from the kickoff call.

If you're working with Marz Media, first drafts come back within 48 hours of a complete brief. That means even if you brief in the afternoon, designs are ready the following morning.

Hour 8–24: Set Up the Infrastructure

While designs are in progress, set up the operational side:

• Create the client workspace in your project management tool

• Set up a dedicated communication channel (Slack, email thread etc.)

• Document their brand guide and key contacts for easy reference

• Schedule the first campaign review call

• Add their key dates to your agency calendar

The 24-Hour Mindset

Speed matters at the start of a client relationship. It signals competence, professionalism, and that you take their business seriously.

But speed only works when your systems support it. A fast onboarding process requires a reliable design partner who can move as fast as you do — and deliver quality on day one.

Jordan, founder of EFB, shortened his client onboarding timeline significantly after partnering with Marz Media for design. New clients get their first designs faster, which means they see value sooner — and that's good for retention.

2+

Years Collaborating

24H

Welcome Flow Delivery

Jordan

Founder at EFB

Want to onboard new clients faster? Having a design partner who delivers in 48 hours makes all the difference.