Definition

Client Expectations

What clients anticipate receiving from an agency engagement, including results, timelines, and service experience.

What clients anticipate receiving from an agency engagement, including results, timelines, and service experience.

Definition

Client expectations are formed during sales, refined during onboarding, and tested during delivery. They encompass expected outcomes, timelines, communication frequency, and service quality. Managing expectations is often more important than the work itself.

Why This Matters for Agencies

Misaligned expectations are a top cause of client churn. Agencies sometimes over-promise to close deals, creating inevitable disappointment. Setting realistic expectations upfront, documenting them clearly, and revisiting regularly prevents surprises.

Example

Expectation management: 'SEO typically takes 6-12 months to show significant results. In month 3, we'll review technical progress and early signals. Major ranking improvements usually appear in months 6-9.'

Set and Manage Expectations

Angelwood helps document expectations in statements of work and tracks progress against them, keeping everyone aligned.