How to Get Started With ClickUp

How to Get Started With ClickUp

ClickUp helps teams replace scattered tools like Milanote with a single workspace for ideas, plans, and projects. This how-to guide walks you through setting up a visual, collaborative system based on the workflows highlighted in the Milanote alternatives comparison, so you can structure your notes, tasks, and creative assets in one place.

Understand Why ClickUp Works as a Milanote-Style Hub

The source guide compares tools that blend note-taking, task management, and visual planning. ClickUp stands out by combining those strengths into a highly customizable workspace.

Instead of jumping between separate apps, you can:

  • Capture ideas and notes alongside active tasks
  • Organize projects with flexible views
  • Collaborate with your team in real time
  • Turn creative concepts into actionable workflows

Before you start, outline what you want to manage in ClickUp: content ideas, client projects, product roadmaps, or design concepts.

Step 1: Create a Workspace in ClickUp

Your Workspace is the home for everything you and your team do in ClickUp.

  1. Sign up or log in to your ClickUp account.

  2. Create a new Workspace and give it a descriptive name (for example, “Creative Studio” or “Product Team”).

  3. Invite team members who will collaborate with you.

Think of the Workspace as the top level that holds all your projects, similar to how Milanote boards sit over individual notes and cards.

Step 2: Build Spaces in ClickUp for Your Main Work Areas

Spaces in ClickUp represent major departments or workflows. The Milanote alternatives article highlights tools that let you keep different work types separate but still connected; Spaces do exactly that.

Common examples of Spaces include:

  • Content & Editorial
  • Design & Creative
  • Client Projects
  • Product & Roadmap

To set them up:

  1. In your Workspace, create a new Space for each major area.

  2. Choose a color and icon so each Space is easy to recognize.

  3. Configure default views (List, Board, or Calendar) according to your workflow.

Step 3: Organize Lists and Folders in ClickUp

Lists and Folders in ClickUp help you break Spaces into clearly defined projects or themes, similar to grouped boards or collections in visual tools.

A simple structure might be:

  • Space: Content & Editorial
    • Folder: Blog
    • Folder: Social Media
  • Space: Client Projects
    • Folder: Active Clients
    • Folder: Archived Clients

Within each Folder, create Lists such as “Q1 Campaigns”, “Website Redesign”, or “Brand Guidelines”. This mirrors the way Milanote boards separate campaigns or projects while preserving a visual hierarchy.

Step 4: Turn Ideas Into Tasks in ClickUp

Many Milanote alternatives are designed to capture ideas visually. In ClickUp, those ideas become tasks you can track, prioritize, and complete.

  1. Create a new task in the appropriate List for each idea, deliverable, or piece of work.

  2. Give the task a clear name, like “Landing Page Wireframes” or “Article Draft: Milanote vs ClickUp”.

  3. Add a description that captures your notes, references, and goals.

  4. Set an assignee and due date if the idea needs action.

Use subtasks or checklists to break down complex work. For example, a blog post task might include subtasks for research, outline, draft, review, and publish.

Step 5: Use Visual Views in ClickUp for Creative Planning

The tools showcased in the Milanote alternatives article emphasize visual organization. ClickUp offers multiple views so you can see work the way your team thinks.

Board View in ClickUp for Kanban-Style Flow

Board view is ideal if you like the card-based, column layout common in creative tools.

  • Group tasks by status, such as “Ideas”, “In Progress”, and “Complete”.
  • Drag and drop cards as work moves forward.
  • Filter by assignee or tag to focus on specific workloads.

List and Calendar Views in ClickUp

List view keeps details organized, which is crucial when you move from brainstorming to delivery.

  • Sort tasks by priority or due date.
  • Quickly edit fields like status, owner, or estimate.

Calendar view helps you map deadlines across weeks or months so campaigns and content schedules stay aligned.

Step 6: Customize Fields and Templates in ClickUp

The Milanote alternatives discussion points out how custom attributes make planning tools more powerful. ClickUp lets you build Custom Fields to track exactly what matters.

Useful Custom Fields include:

  • Content type (blog, video, social post)
  • Stage (brief, draft, review, published)
  • Channel (web, email, social)
  • Client, product line, or campaign name

Once your structure feels right, save Lists or individual tasks as templates. Templates in ClickUp help you spin up new projects quickly with consistent steps and fields.

Step 7: Collaborate With Your Team in ClickUp

Just like the best Milanote alternatives, ClickUp supports real-time collaboration so your team can work together smoothly.

Comments and Mentions in ClickUp

Use comments to discuss work inside each task and keep feedback close to the context.

  • Mention teammates with @ to notify them.
  • Convert comments into action items when necessary.
  • Attach files, mockups, and reference links.

Docs and Whiteboards in ClickUp

ClickUp Docs help you draft briefs, meeting notes, and outlines directly in your workspace, while whiteboard-style features let you map workflows or brainstorm visually to complement your tasks and Lists.

Step 8: Monitor Progress and Improve Your ClickUp Setup

As your team works, review how your ClickUp structure performs compared to other Milanote-style tools you may have used.

Ask questions like:

  • Are Spaces and Lists aligned with how we actually work?
  • Do our views make it easy to see priorities?
  • Are we capturing ideas and turning them into actionable tasks quickly?

Adjust statuses, fields, and templates over time. ClickUp is flexible, so continuous refinement is expected and encouraged.

Enhance Your ClickUp Workflow With Expert Help

If you want strategic support connecting ClickUp to broader marketing or operations systems, consider working with specialists. For example, Consultevo provides consulting and implementation services that can help align your workspace with your business goals and automation stack.

Next Steps: Apply Lessons From Milanote Alternatives in ClickUp

The Milanote alternatives article showcases a range of tools for creative planning, note-taking, and project management. By using ClickUp as your central hub, you can bring those strengths into a single, integrated environment where ideas, tasks, and timelines stay together.

Start with a simple structure, build a few key Spaces and Lists, and then gradually add views, Custom Fields, and templates. As your team gets comfortable, your ClickUp workspace can grow into a complete system for organizing every stage of your work, from initial concept to final delivery.

Need Help With ClickUp?

If you want expert help building, automating, or scaling your ClickUp workspace, work with ConsultEvo — trusted ClickUp Solution Partners.

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