How to get website content from clients (without the chase)
Last updated · by Cody Johnston
How do you get website content from clients?
Ask for content at kickoff, not after design. Put deadlines in the contract, break the request into small, specific checklist items with examples, collect everything in one place the client can return to, schedule reminders around day 3, 7 and 14, and agree in advance what happens if content is late.
Content is the most common thing that stalls a small website project. The design is ready, the client is busy, and the logo, About copy and photos never arrive. Here is a process that works whether you use BriefLasso, a form, or plain email.
1. Put content in the contract
Say what the client supplies, in what format, and by when. Add a clause covering late content: for example, the schedule moves by the number of days content is late, and a project paused for more than a set number of days is rebooked into the next free slot. You will rarely enforce it, but it turns "whenever" into a shared deadline.
2. Ask for less, more specifically
"Send me your content" is not a task anyone can finish. "Upload your logo as an SVG or a PNG at least 1000px wide" is. Break the request into a checklist of small items, each with an example of what good looks like. Mark what is optional.
3. One place, not twelve email threads
Files scattered across email, text messages, WeTransfer links and a shared drive are how things get lost. Give the client one link where every item lives, and where they can see what is done and what is left.
4. Make it easy to start
Lead with the items your client can do in two minutes (business name, contact details, colours). Early progress makes the rest feel finishable. Do not require them to create an account if you can avoid it.
5. Dates for each batch, and reminders you don't have to write
Set a due date and schedule reminders before you need them: a gentle nudge around day 3, a clearer one around day 7, and a "this is now affecting your launch date" note around day 14. Automating them removes the awkwardness of you personally chasing. See how to stop chasing clients for content.
6. Handle logins safely
Never ask for passwords in plain email. Ask the client to invite you as a user (most registrars, hosts and Google tools support this) or to share through a password manager or an encrypted secure-note field.
7. Decide early what happens if it never comes
Offer options: you write placeholder copy for a fee, use licensed stock photos, or launch with fewer pages. Read what to do when a project is delayed by client content.
Frequently asked questions
When should I ask clients for website content?
At kickoff, right after the contract is signed, with dates for each batch. Asking at the end of design is the most common cause of delays.
What format should clients send logos in?
Ideally SVG or EPS (vector). Otherwise a PNG with a transparent background at least 1000px wide.
Should I write the copy for my client?
Only if it is in the scope. Many designers offer copywriting as a paid add-on for clients who will not write it themselves.
Written by Cody Johnston, maker of BriefLasso. Last updated October 12, 2026.