If you’ve ever watched a new client get lost in your onboarding process, you know the pain. Maybe you’re a customer success manager, an implementation lead, or in sales ops. Either way, you want your buyers to feel like they know what’s going on, not like they’ve been dumped in a maze. That’s where customizing buyer portals in Buyerassist can actually help—if you do it right.
Below, I’ll walk you through how to set up these portals so they’re actually useful (not just another branded login page). I’ll show you what to tweak, what to ignore, and how to avoid the usual pitfalls that slow onboarding to a crawl.
Why bother customizing Buyerassist buyer portals?
Let’s cut to it: Out-of-the-box buyer portals are fine, but they’re generic and often confusing. If you want your clients to get moving quickly, you have to remove friction—unclear steps, jargon, missing documents, and so on.
Customizing your portal can: - Give buyers a clear path so they’re not guessing what’s next. - Cut down on back-and-forth emails (“Where’s the kickoff call link again?”). - Make your company look organized, not chaotic.
But don’t get lost in the weeds. Fancy graphics and endless tabs don’t matter if the essentials aren’t clear. Focus on making life easier for your buyers, not just impressing your boss.
Step 1: Know what your buyers actually need
Before you start dragging widgets around, ask yourself: What does a new client really need to get started? - A checklist of steps (with due dates) - Access to core documents (contracts, guides, kickoff slides) - A way to ask questions and get answers - Contact info for their onboarding team
If your portal just dumps everything in one place, it won’t help. Figure out the 5-10 things every buyer asks for in the first week. That’s your starting list.
Pro tip: Talk to your last three onboarded clients. Ask what confused them. Build your portal to fix those pain points first.
Step 2: Map your onboarding journey (don’t wing it)
Even if you’re customizing just one portal, sketch out your onboarding process. This isn’t about making a pretty flowchart—it’s about spotting the rough patches. - Write out the key steps in order. Keep it high level: “Kickoff call → Account setup → Training → Go live.” - Identify which steps are the buyer’s responsibility, which are yours, and which are shared. - Note where buyers get stuck or go radio silent. Those steps need extra clarity.
If you skip this, your portal will just reflect your internal chaos.
Step 3: Get into Buyerassist and set up your portal basics
Log in and create or open the buyer portal for your new client. You’ll see options to add modules or sections. Here’s what actually matters: - Welcome message: Keep it short and human. Avoid marketing fluff. “Hi [Client], here’s your onboarding plan. Reach out anytime.” - Timeline or checklist: Use the built-in checklist feature, but don’t overload it. 5-7 clear steps is usually enough. - File/document section: Upload only what’s relevant. No one needs your 47-page product manual on day one. - Team/contact info: Add photos and direct emails if you can. People trust faces more than generic support addresses. - Q&A or comments: If your portal supports discussions, enable it. But set expectations—don’t promise instant replies if you can’t deliver.
Leave out the extra tabs unless you know clients need them. More isn’t better; it’s just more.
Step 4: Customize content for clarity, not flash
Now, make each section actually useful. Some real-world advice: - Checklists: Use plain language. “Upload signed contract” beats “Finalize legal documentation.” - Files: Label documents clearly (“Kickoff deck - March 2024” not “FinalDeck_v3.pdf”). - Links: Double-check they work. Nothing kills trust like a broken welcome video link. - Due dates: Only add due dates if you and the client agree to them. Otherwise, it just adds pressure and confusion. - Branding: Add your logo and colors if you want, but don’t waste hours here. The content is what matters.
What to ignore: Buyerassist sometimes pushes features like “gamification” or “progress badges.” In most B2B onboarding, these are more distracting than helpful. Unless your clients are asking for it, skip it.
Step 5: Set up notifications (but don’t spam your buyers)
Buyerassist lets you set email or in-app notifications for updates—use this, but with restraint. - Send a welcome notification when the portal is ready. - Notify for big milestones or if you need a response (“Please review and sign…”). - Avoid daily reminders or automated nagging. If you overdo it, buyers will tune out every notification.
If possible, let buyers adjust their own notification preferences. Respect their inbox.
Step 6: Test the portal—pretend you’re the client
Before you invite your client, preview the portal as a buyer. Or better, ask a colleague who’s never seen it to run through it. - Can you tell what to do next at every step? - Is anything missing or unclear? - Are there broken links, typos, or documents that won’t download?
Fix any issues before going live. This one step saves hours of cleanup later.
Step 7: Invite your client and set expectations
Now invite your client to the portal. Don’t just send the invite and hope for the best. - Send a short, personal email explaining what the portal is for and what they’ll find there. - Tell them how to get help if they’re stuck (don’t make them guess). - Let them know what’s expected of them in the first week.
Pro tip: In your kickoff call, walk through the portal together. Show where to find key info. Most buyers appreciate this—nobody likes hunting for what matters.
Step 8: Iterate based on feedback
No portal is perfect on the first try. After your client’s first week, ask for feedback: - What worked? - What was confusing? - What’s missing?
You don’t need to overhaul everything. Fix the top 1-2 pain points for the next client. Over time, your portal will actually work for real humans—not just for your internal process docs.
What actually makes a difference (and what doesn’t)
Works: - Short, clear checklists - Up-to-date files and links - Real contact info for help - Occasional, well-timed notifications
Doesn’t: - Endless tabs or nested pages - Overly “branded” experiences - Gamification in B2B onboarding (unless clients specifically ask)
Ignore: - Features you “might” use later. Stick to what solves actual problems now.
Keep it simple and keep improving
Don’t overthink your Buyerassist portal. Your goal isn’t to impress anyone with complexity—it’s to help clients get going fast, with minimal confusion. Start simple. Add improvements based on real feedback, not just new features. That’s how you turn onboarding from a headache into a win—for you and your clients.