Let’s talk about guides.

Welcome guides. Process guides. Investment guides. Offboarding guides. You name it.

There’s this idea floating around in the service world that every part of the client journey needs to come with a beautifully designed guide, something branded, polished, and packed with helpful info. And don’t get me wrong, I’ve created them. I’ve sent them. I’ve even built them for other businesses. But I’ll be honest with you: I don’t really believe in long guides anymore.

Here’s the truth: most people just don’t read them. Not because they don’t care. But because they just don’t have time. We’re all living in a fast-moving, overstimulated, overloaded world. Our clients are making decisions quickly, managing their own jobs or businesses, and often juggling a million tabs in their head (and on their browser). A 10-page guide, even if it’s stunning and full of great info, just isn’t practical anymore.

What’s the Problem With Long Guides?

It’s not the idea of providing helpful resources. It’s how they’re being delivered, and how out of touch they are with how people operate now.

Here’s why I think long guides aren’t working anymore:

1. People don’t have the time (or mental energy)

Even a beautifully designed 15-page PDF can feel like homework. Your clients might skim the first few pages, then get distracted, click away, and forget about it entirely.

2. They’re usually overloaded with info

A lot of guides try to cover everything, timelines, policies, tips, next steps, expectations, boundaries, how to communicate, how not to communicate… it’s too much at once. That makes it harder for the important parts to actually stick.

3. They don’t support real-time needs

Sending all the info up front assumes your client will remember or reference it later. Most won’t. What they really need is the right info at the right time, not everything at once.

4. They get lost

Let’s be honest—how many people are actually saving and reopening your PDF later on? Not many. If it’s not quick to access or mobile-friendly, it’s getting buried in their inbox.

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What Clients Actually Want

Today’s clients are more distracted, more on-the-go, and more overloaded than ever.

What they really want is:

Quick answers
Clear expectations
Information that’s easy to find when they need it
Something that feels helpful—not like a manual to get through

And if we’re being honest? That’s what we want too. Nobody has the energy to overexplain the same thing three times just because the client didn’t make it to page 7 of your guide.

So… What’s the Better Way?

The goal is still the same: to provide a high-quality, professional client experience. But the delivery? It needs to shift. Here’s how I recommend approaching it now:

1. Short, Purposeful One-Pagers

Instead of multi-page guides, create 1–2 page documents with just what they need at each point in the process.

For example:

A simple “Welcome to the Process” page
A branded timeline overview
A “before install day” checklist
A quick reference sheet for revisions

Think of them as cheat sheets. Clean layout, clear language, minimal fluff.

Your client should be able to scan it in under 2 minutes and know exactly what to expect.

2. Break Things Up Into Small Emails

Instead of sending everything up front, drip it out in bite-sized emails.

Email 1: Welcome and project overview
Email 2: What to expect next week
Email 3: A quick reminder on revisions or communication boundaries
Email 4: What happens at wrap-up

Each one can be short, 3–5 sentences, and still help your client feel supported.

Bonus: when you automate this, it runs quietly in the background and keeps your client experience consistent.

3. Deliver Info Based on Timing, Not Just Tasks

Your client doesn’t need to know your full offboarding process at the start of the project. They’ll forget it anyway.

So instead, think stage by stage:

When the contract is signed → Send a one-pager on what’s next
Before sourcing starts → Share a quick selections overview
Before install → Send a prep checklist and logistics email
After final walkthrough → Share a short offboarding email or feedback request

This keeps your communication relevant and your client from feeling overwhelmed.

4. Create a Simple, Clickable Resource Hub

If you’re worried about your client losing documents or forgetting where things are, give them one place to return to.

That could be:

A private Google Doc or Notion page
A branded client portal using Dubsado or HoneyBook
A shared Dropbox or Drive folder with all their files and links

Label everything clearly and keep it minimal. Don’t send them on a scavenger hunt for what they need. And most importantly, don’t overload it. If they don’t need it, don’t include it.

5. Talk Like a Human, Not a Corporate Handbook

You don’t need to use formal language or write in long paragraphs to sound professional.

In fact, being straightforward and conversational is often more effective.

Instead of: “Please refer to your onboarding packet for a detailed breakdown of the design phases…”

Say: “Here’s what to expect in the first two weeks—super simple, nothing to stress about.”

Less copy. More clarity.

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Real Talk: You’re Not Lazy for Making Things Easier

Sometimes we think that doing less or simplifying things means we’re cutting corners. It doesn’t.

You’re not being lazy—you’re being strategic.
You’re thinking about what actually works.
You’re respecting your client’s time and your own.

That’s what great client experience is all about.

Want to Keep It Polished? You Still Can.

If you’re worried that cutting back on guides will make your business feel less professional—don’t be. You can still have:

A branded client portal
Beautiful one-pagers
Helpful touchpoints throughout the process

But you don’t need to deliver it all in one giant file or multi-tab PDF. Professional doesn’t have to mean complicated. And helpful doesn’t have to mean heavy.

Final Thoughts: Your Clients Will Thank You

Your job isn’t to impress with how much information you can deliver. It’s to guide your client clearly, respectfully, and with intention. If your long guides are collecting digital dust, take that as a sign. Start simplifying. Trim the fluff. Deliver only what’s necessary, when it’s needed. Because in today’s world, clarity is the real luxury.

Need help turning your long guides into short, branded templates or email flows? Want a second set of eyes on your client journey to simplify and elevate it? Let’s work together to make your process lighter, faster, and easier to manage.

→ Click Here to Get Started!