A good client update answers, in a few seconds of reading, the three questions every client quietly asks: what is the status, what do you need from me, and what happens next. Start with a one-line summary of where things stand, such as on track, waiting on something, or finished, so a busy client gets the headline immediately. Follow with a short, plain list of what has been done since the last update, focusing on outcomes rather than every small task. If you need anything from the client, state it clearly and separately, with a specific request and a deadline, because vague asks buried in a paragraph are easy to miss. Then say what the next steps are and when the client can expect to hear from you again, which prevents anxious follow-up messages. Keep the whole thing short and free of jargon, and if there is a problem, name it calmly along with what you are doing about it. Send updates on a predictable rhythm even when there is little news, since a steady drumbeat of brief, honest updates builds more trust than occasional long reports.