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

Learn more about publishing

Publish & share

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
The client is invited to be a member of this workspace
Client can enter the editor of projects within the workspace

Learn more about workspace members

Workspace members

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Note: inviting individuals to be workspace members requires a Pro or Enterprise plan, and additional costs will incur.

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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 hands off

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

Learn more about project transfers

Project transfers

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.

Client signs up for Standards
Client invites agency members to the workspace
Agency members create Standards site in the client’s workspace

Related guides

Publish & share

Workspace members

Project transfers