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Standards sites are managed and handed off between agency and client in a range of ways. This guide outlines common cases and considerations.

Agency owns site

Often agencies prefer to retain ownership of their client’s Standards sites. This keeps things simple for clients, and allows the agency to retain more oversight. In the past, the parallel would be an agency exports a PDF for the client, but keeps the InDesign file in case changes are necessary.

Advantages

  • Agencies can prevent clients from accidentally editing the site
  • Agencies can be available to make quick updates, which can be part of retained services
  • All sites authored by the agency are in one place
  • Sites can be transferred to client if needed in the future

Client just wants to view

Agencies that want to build and manage Standards sites for their clients and keep things simple will create the Standards site in their workspace and simply share the published view link. In this case, the client will not be invited to a workspace, and instead will only view the live URL.
  • The project is created in the agency’s workspace
  • The project is published and the link is shared with the client
  • Note: Often both complete and work in progress sites are published and shared in this way

Client wants to edit

Agencies that want their client to be a member of the workspace their project’s in often create a new workspace with the client’s name, then invite them to it. This allows the client to edit the project, and any others in the workspace.
  • Advised: A new workspace is created by the agency so they can only see their own project in the workspace
  • The client is invited to be a member of this workspace
  • Client can enter the editor of projects within the workspace with a commenter, content editor, or designer role.

Client owns site

Also very commonplace is the client prefers to own the Standards site which allows them to manage it, control billing, and have access to Enterprise plan features.

Advantages

  • Clients can have a plan that differs from the agency
  • Client manages billing and invoicing
  • Agency can hand off site and end the engagement or scope of work
  • Client can own the site, invite the agency into the workspace, then remove them

Agency creates site, then transfers

Standards sites can be created on any level plan, then handed off to the client using a project transfer. In addition to the advantages outlined above, this is the primary use-case for agencies on Plus plans.
  • The Standards site is created by the agency in their own workspace
  • The Standards site is then transferred to the client
  • The agency may be added to the client’s workspace as editors if needed

Client invites agency to their workspace

In certain cases it can make sense for the client to sign up for a Standards account, then invite the agency members into their workspace. This is common when the client requires an enterprise plan prior to the creation of the Standards site.
  • Client signs up for Standards
  • Client invites agency members to the workspace
  • Agency members create Standards site in the client’s workspace