Introduction

As a freelancer or solopreneur, your time is incredibly valuable. Managing , client agreements, and other important documents can easily become overwhelming without a reliable system. FastForm Document Automation offers robust features, including signer status tracking and automated reminders, that help you streamline your workflow.

This post provides clear, actionable advice on how to monitor signer activities and set up reminders effectively. By understanding these functionalities, you can reduce time wasted on follow-ups and ensure that every document is processed promptly, keeping your projects on track.

Tracking Signer Status

One of the most powerful aspects of FastForm is the ability to track the status of your document signers. In many cases, knowing whether a document is signed, pending, or overdue is crucial for your business operations.

Understanding Signer Status Options

FastForm uses various status indicators to help you understand where each document stands:

• Pending: The document has been sent to the signer but has not yet been opened or signed.
• Signed: The document has been reviewed and signed by the recipient.
• Expired/Declined: The document was either not signed in time or was actively declined by the signer.

Being able to see these statuses at a glance helps you prioritize which documents require follow-up and which are progressing as planned.

Tactical Steps to Monitor Status

Implement these actionable steps to monitor signer status effectively:

1. Utilize the Dashboard: Regularly log into your FastForm account and review the document dashboard. Check for pending documents and take note of any that have surpassed expected turnaround times.
2. Set up Status Filters: Use filtering options to view documents by their current state. This feature saves time and allows you to focus your attention on documents that need a nudge.
3. Review Historical Data:

   FastForm’s reporting tools enable you to analyze past workflows. Identify especially slow signers and consider altering the timeline for future documents accordingly.

"Visibility into your document status is the first step towards eliminating delays in your business communication."

Automated Reminders

In addition to status tracking, automating reminders is crucial to ensuring signers complete their tasks on time. This automation supports a steady workflow and helps avoid manual follow-up emails, which can be time-consuming.

How to Set Up Reminders

FastForm allows you to configure automated reminders that are sent out at scheduled intervals. Here’s how you can set up reminders:

1. Define the Reminder Schedule: Decide on a reminder timeline that suits your business needs. For instance, you might send a first reminder after 24 hours, followed by two additional reminders at 48-hour intervals.
2. Customize the Reminder Message: Tailor the reminder message to make it personal and include relevant calls-to-action (CTAs) that prompt the signer. A well-worded reminder boosts engagement and can improve response rates.
3. Test the Workflow: Before rolling out the reminders on important documents, test them with a sample document. This practice ensures that your workflow parameters are set correctly and that the reminders are sent as expected.

Best Practices for Reminder Automation

To get the most out of FastForm's reminder automation, consider the following best practices:

• Avoid Over-Communicating: Set a sensible number of reminders. Excessive reminders might annoy your signers and strain relationships.
• Maintain Clarity: Clearly indicate the purpose of each reminder. Specify action is needed and include a link or button to make signing as convenient as possible.
• Personalize When Possible: Use merge fields to replace generic greetings with the signer’s name. This personal touch can make the process feel less robotic.

Examples and Use Cases

Let’s explore a couple of real-world examples to illustrate how effective tracking and reminders can transform your business workflow:

Example 1: Freelance Contract Management

Imagine you are a freelance graphic designer. You send a contract out via FastForm to a prospective client:

• The initial email includes a link to the contract.
• The contract’s status is set to Pending.
• If the client does not sign after 24 hours, an automated reminder is triggered.
• The dashboard updates in real time, allowing you to see that the document is still pending.

With such a system in place, you can easily follow up with a quick call if the client remains unresponsive, ensuring that your project timeline stays intact.

Example 2: Solopreneur’s Approvals

As a solopreneur handling multiple channels, you might use FastForm to get approval on invoices. Here’s how:

• Upload the invoice document and send it out for approval.
• Monitor the signer dashboard to track who has viewed and signed the invoice.
• Configure reminder intervals to ensure timely payment approvals.
• Analyze data from previous invoices to optimize your reminder frequency.

These tailored workflows minimize delays and enhance your client interactions by keeping everyone accountable to a schedule.

Conclusion

Tracking signer status and automating reminders in FastForm offers a practical solution for freelancers and solopreneurs aiming to streamline their document workflows. By actively monitoring signer statuses and configuring actionable reminders, you empower yourself to manage critical documents without unnecessary delays.

Remember, the key is to establish a balanced workflow—one that is persistent without being intrusive. Analyze your signer data regularly and tweak your reminder protocols based on what works best for your clientele.

Utilizing these strategies not only enhances document management but also builds a more professional image with clients, giving you more time to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of your business.