| name | client-report-template |
| description | Designs client reporting templates with executive summaries, data visualizations, and next-step recommendations. |
| allowed-tools | Read Write Glob |
| metadata | {"author":"Salah-XD","version":"1.0"} |
Client Report Template
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when you need to:
- Create recurring client report templates (weekly, monthly, quarterly)
- Structure executive summaries that busy decision-makers actually read
- Present data with clear visualizations and narrative context
- Include actionable next-step recommendations in every report
DO NOT use this skill for internal team reports, financial statements, or one-time project deliverables. This is for ongoing client-facing progress and performance reports.
Core Principle
A CLIENT REPORT SHOULD TAKE 3 MINUTES TO SCAN AND 10 MINUTES TO READ IN FULL — IF THE CLIENT HAS TO ASK "SO WHAT?" AFTER READING IT, THE REPORT FAILED.
Phase 1: Report Requirements
Required Inputs
| Input | What to Ask | Default |
|---|
| Report type | "Is this weekly, monthly, or quarterly?" | Monthly |
| Service area | "What are you reporting on — marketing, development, consulting, other?" | No default — must be provided |
| Key metrics | "What 3-5 KPIs does your client care about most?" | No default — must be provided |
| Client's goal | "What outcome is the client paying you to deliver?" | No default — must be provided |
| Audience | "Who reads this — founder, marketing director, C-suite?" | Business owner / founder |
GATE: Confirm report structure and KPIs before building the template.
Phase 2: Report Template
Report Structure
## [Client Name] — [Month/Period] Report
**Prepared by:** [Your name]
**Date:** [Date]
**Reporting period:** [Start date] — [End date]
---
### Executive Summary
[3-4 sentences maximum. State the top result, the most important trend,
and the #1 recommended action. A busy CEO should be able to read only
this section and understand how things are going.]
**Bottom line:** [One sentence — are we on track, ahead, or behind the goal?]
---
### Key Metrics Dashboard
| Metric | This Period | Last Period | Change | Target | Status |
|--------|-----------|------------|--------|--------|--------|
| [KPI 1] | [value] | [value] | [+/-X%] | [target] | ✓ On Track / ⚠ Watch / ✗ Behind |
| [KPI 2] | [value] | [value] | [+/-X%] | [target] | ✓ / ⚠ / ✗ |
| [KPI 3] | [value] | [value] | [+/-X%] | [target] | ✓ / ⚠ / ✗ |
---
### What We Did
[Bullet list of completed activities and deliverables this period.
Keep it factual — actions taken, not just plans made.]
- [Activity 1] — [result or output]
- [Activity 2] — [result or output]
- [Activity 3] — [result or output]
---
### What Worked
[Highlight 1-2 wins with context. Explain WHY it worked so the
client understands the strategy, not just the result.]
---
### What Needs Attention
[Flag 1-2 areas of concern with honest assessment. Include what
you are doing about it — never present a problem without a plan.]
---
### Recommendations & Next Steps
1. **[Action item]** — [Why and expected impact]. Owner: [who]. By: [date].
2. **[Action item]** — [Why and expected impact]. Owner: [who]. By: [date].
3. **[Action item]** — [Why and expected impact]. Owner: [who]. By: [date].
---
### Appendix (Optional)
[Detailed data tables, screenshots, campaign breakdowns, or
supporting information for clients who want to go deeper.]
Phase 3: Data Presentation
Visualization Guidelines
| Data Type | Best Format | Avoid |
|---|
| Trend over time | Line chart | Pie chart |
| Comparison between categories | Bar chart | 3D charts |
| Part of a whole | Stacked bar or simple table | Complex pie charts |
| Single key number | Large bold number with context | Buried in a paragraph |
| Before/after | Side-by-side comparison | Long narrative description |
Narrative Rules
- Every number needs context — "2,400 visitors" means nothing without "up 35% from last month"
- Compare to the goal, not just the previous period
- Explain anomalies — spikes and dips need one-sentence explanations
- Use plain language — "conversion rate improved" not "we observed a positive delta in CR"
Phase 4: Delivery & Follow-Up
Delivery Checklist
Delivery Best Practices
- Send the report 24 hours before any review meeting
- Include a 1-sentence email summary: "Revenue is up 18% — full report attached"
- Schedule a 15-30 minute call to walk through the report and discuss next steps
- Archive all reports for trend analysis and annual reviews
Anti-Patterns
- Data dump with no narrative — raw numbers without interpretation make clients feel like they are doing your job for you.
- Burying bad news — hiding underperformance in an appendix erodes trust. Address it head-on with a plan.
- Reports that take 30+ minutes to read — if the client needs a meeting just to understand the report, it is too long.
- No recommendations — a report without next steps is a history lesson. Always tell the client what to do.
- Inconsistent formatting — changing the report layout every month makes it impossible to compare periods.
- Vanity metrics only — reporting impressions and followers when the client cares about revenue and leads.
Recovery
- Client never reads the report: Shorten it drastically. Lead with the executive summary and offer details on request.
- Client questions a number: Always have the source data ready. Show the calculation and methodology transparently.
- Metrics are not improving: Acknowledge it directly. Present the diagnosis and a revised strategy. Do not spin bad results.
- Client wants different metrics: Update the KPI dashboard immediately. Ask why the new metrics matter to align your work.
- Report takes too long to create: Templatize everything. Use the same structure each period and only update the data and narrative.
