Like most agencies, the team at Roundpeg is really good at multitasking. It’s great for us, but sometimes it throws off our clients.
As much as we wish we could work on one project until it’s finished, that’s just not realistic. So when a client calls wondering why a project they introduced to us on Monday isn’t done by Tuesday we have to explain that first, we’re not the McDonalds of marketing and second, we have other projects on our plate which need our attention too.
Curious about how you can make sure all of your projects get completed on time and to your standards? Keep reading.
Schedule, Schedule, Schedule
In college, I was never one of those students who put projects off until the last minute believing I could still turn in my best work. It was way too stressful and the quality of my work suffered.
To make sure projects are finished on time, plan ahead. I’m not talking about a week or two in advance, I’m talking about two to three months out. If you have the seed of an idea planted in your mind about a project, bring it up to your marketing firm immediately. The earlier you talk about a project the easier it will be to outline an accurate time frame for completing the project and your marketing team can get it on their calendars.
Do you want to redesign your logo? Great! Jenna is a fantastic graphic designer, but she can’t devote all of her time to just your project in a small window of time. Want a new website? Peter can give you a beautiful site that is user friendly and fully functional, but it can’t be done in a week. Expecting projects to be done in an impractical time frame will only set you up for disappointment. And the last thing you want to do is sacrifice quality of work for a quick turnaround time. It’s better for a project to be done right the first time, than redone multiple times (costing you more money).
Communication is Key
So, after you have created your schedule and discussed your upcoming projects with your marketing firm, you need to make sure you commit to either weekly phone calls to check in on the project, or dates for meetings to discuss its progress. You can’t just check out once your marketing team has the guidelines for your logo, website or email marketing campaign. You need to be as actively involved in the process as your marketing team. Your web designer, graphic designer or account executive will have numerous questions for you along the way and will need your feedback during important milestones in the process. Without your approval or involvement, the project just can’t continue. It’s that simple. Sure, there will be times when you need to reschedule a meeting or phone call, but don’t avoid your marketing firm all together. The easier you are to contact, the faster and smoother your project will go.
Stick to Your Word
When someone promises to send me something on a certain day at a certain time, a level of expectation is set that I will receive said email on said day at said time. It’s no different when working with a marketing firm. If you need to send content by a certain day, send it. You are just as much a driving force to get your project completed as your marketing team. Do you need to approve the latest draft of your business cards? Get to it within two or three business days of receiving the design files so you can keep the momentum of the project moving. As soon as you fall off the wagon, the project does too. Roundpeg will never publish, print or release any marketing materials without approval from a client. No matter how tiny the change might be, we want to make sure all parties are aware of what’s going on. You know that saying about assuming? Well we don’t want to make an ass out of our clients or ourselves. Make life easier for yourself by getting the materials needed to advance to the next stage of your project to your marketing team in a timely manner. Your marketing team will be so happy they might even thank you with gifts or treats (maybe – I’m technically not allowed to make any promises)!
Getting a project done on time requires equal parts of work from the client and the marketing team. One cannot function without the other. Avoid scheduling conflicts and misconceptions about turnaround time by planning ahead, communicating with your marketing team and providing any information your marketing team needs in a timely manner. Your marketing team might be working on various projects at a time, so use these tips to help your project go smoothly and avoid boat loads of stress. And let’s be honest, that’s a win, win for everyone.
Recommended Reading
Still not sure how to make the most out of your new marketing partnership? We have plenty of tips and tricks for making your relationship a success: