What are the best tools or methods to track and communicate your progress on a client presentation timeline?

I think you skipped two steps. One before and one after. Before you define your goals, you need to define your customers Scope. - What do THEY expect to achieve? What are we trying to solve for? - What are their current pain points? - Do they have a hard deadline? Why ? - Do they have the resources to meet that deadline? - What are the budget limitations? After this "Discovery Phase" you can then identify YOUR goals, Timeline & Risks. AFTER that and before Tasks, identify solutions needed, level of effort and costs & again Risks.

Project Management Software: Tools: Asana, Trello, Jira, Monday.com Method: Create a project board with tasks and milestones. Regularly update the status, assign responsibilities, and use features like Gantt charts for visual timelines. Communication Platforms: Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord Method: Use dedicated channels or threads for project-related discussions. Regularly update team members on progress and address any concerns or challenges. Timeline Visualization: Tools: Microsoft Project, Lucidchart, SmartDraw Method: Create visual timelines or Gantt charts to represent project milestones and deadlines. Share these visuals with the client and team for a clear overview.

Identify which tasks can be done simultaneously and which must be completed in sequential order. Determine Communications method and frequency when tasks have "hand-offs" between teams.

Collaborative Document Editing: Tools: Google Docs, Microsoft 365, Notion Method: Share presentation drafts in real-time with collaborators. Use commenting features for feedback and track changes to monitor revisions. Task Tracking and Time Management: Tools: Clockify, Toggl, Harvest Method: Track time spent on individual tasks to ensure alignment with the project timeline. Monitor progress against estimated hours and adjust as needed. Email and Calendar Integration: Tools: Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace Method: Integrate project timelines with email and calendar platforms. Set reminders for key milestones and deadlines to keep everyone on track.

When estimating time, identify if there will be any "black out periods" or "hold times" or gaps between tasks. Include Holidays, PTO's, or Vacations for task owners.

Client Collaboration Platforms: Tools: Basecamp, Assembla, Wrike Method: Use platforms that allow clients to collaborate directly. Share progress updates, documents, and milestones with clients to ensure transparency. Progress Reports: Tools: Excel, Google Sheets Method: Regularly generate progress reports detailing completed tasks, upcoming milestones, and any potential roadblocks. Share these reports with both the internal team and the client. Video Conferencing: Tools: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet Method: Schedule regular video conferences to discuss project progress. Share screens to provide visual updates and address any questions or concerns.

Survey and Feedback Tools: Tools: SurveyMonkey, Typeform Method: Collect feedback from team members and clients using surveys. Use this input to make informed adjustments and improvements. Status Meetings: Method: Schedule regular status meetings with the team and, if applicable, with the client. Discuss progress, challenges, and action items to keep everyone informed and aligned. Version Control for Documents: Tools: GitHub, Bitbucket Method: If the presentation involves code or technical documentation, use version control systems to track changes and manage collaborative editing.

Not all internal tasks need to be shared with your client. Many times a Executive Dashboard can be created to show progress rather than your entire Timeline. Dashboards can be setup to populate from your Timeline but puts focus on higher level of communications when appropriate.