by Ebani Advertising | Apr 20, 2023 | Blog
Writing is a beautiful and fulfilling form of expression, but it can also be challenging at times. As a writer, you may encounter writer’s block, lack of inspiration, or simply struggle to develop your ideas. In such instances, having a creative writing partner can make a significant difference. Enter ChatGPT, an AI language model designed to assist you in your creative endeavors. In this blog post, we will explore how you can effectively use ChatGPT as a creative writing partner to enhance your writing process and overcome common challenges.
1. Generating Ideas and Overcoming Writer’s Block
Writer’s block can be frustrating, but ChatGPT can help you overcome it. Start a conversation with ChatGPT, provide a brief description of your project, and ask for suggestions or ideas. ChatGPT can offer fresh perspectives, inspire you with new concepts, or even propose storylines and character arcs. It acts as a virtual brainstorming partner, providing a plethora of creative ideas to kick-start your writing process.
2. Engaging in Dynamic Storytelling
When developing a story, it’s essential to create engaging and relatable characters. ChatGPT can serve as a sounding board for your character ideas. Describe your character’s traits, motivations, and conflicts to ChatGPT, and it can provide feedback or suggest further development. This interactive process allows you to flesh out your characters more effectively and refine their arcs to captivate your readers.
3. Refining Writing Style and Grammar
A polished writing style is crucial for captivating your audience. ChatGPT can assist you in refining your writing by offering suggestions for sentence structures, vocabulary choices, and even grammar improvements. It can help you experiment with different writing styles and adapt your tone to suit the genre or target audience. With ChatGPT’s guidance, you can enhance the overall quality of your writing and ensure a smoother reading experience for your audience.
4. Conducting Research and Fact-Checking
Accurate information is essential in any form of writing. When you need to conduct research or fact-check certain details, ChatGPT can be a valuable resource. Ask specific questions or provide prompts related to your topic, and ChatGPT can provide relevant information, summaries, or direct you to credible sources. However, it’s important to verify the information from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and avoid potential biases.
5. Receiving Feedback and Editing Assistance
Feedback plays a crucial role in improving your writing. Share your work with ChatGPT to receive objective feedback on your ideas, plot structure, character development, or overall narrative flow. ChatGPT can provide insights into what works well and what might need further refinement. It can also assist you in identifying inconsistencies, plot holes, or areas that require more attention. This feedback can guide you during the editing process, helping you enhance your writing before sharing it with others.
6. Exploring Alternative Perspectives and Dialogue
Creating authentic dialogue can be challenging, especially when writing from different perspectives or cultures. ChatGPT can help you overcome this challenge by engaging in dialogue exchanges from various viewpoints. Describe a scene or a specific conversation, and ChatGPT can respond with alternative dialogue options, allowing you to explore different voices and perspectives. This interactive process can bring depth and authenticity to your characters and their interactions.
7. Overcoming Writer’s Doubt and Building Confidence
Writing can often be a solitary pursuit that comes with its fair share of self-doubt. Fortunately, ChatGPT can serve as a reassuring presence, offering support and boosting your confidence. Through positive reinforcement and reminders of your unique strengths as a writer, ChatGPT can provide the necessary motivation to overcome challenges.
When faced with writer’s doubt or moments of uncertainty, ChatGPT acts as a reliable companion, reminding you of your progress and highlighting your distinct writing style. Its encouraging prompts and motivational cues can help you regain your creative momentum, reaffirming your belief in your abilities.
Furthermore, ChatGPT can suggest engaging writing exercises and thought-provoking prompts to help you expand your horizons and explore new avenues in your writing. By tapping into its extensive knowledge and creative potential, you can experience a renewed sense of inspiration and confidence in your craft.
However, it’s essential to remember that true confidence as a writer is cultivated from within. While ChatGPT can provide invaluable support and guidance, it’s crucial to nurture self-belief and trust in your own unique voice. Utilize ChatGPT as a source of inspiration and assistance, while always recognizing that your creativity and perspective are what make your writing truly exceptional.
In conclusion, by incorporating ChatGPT as your creative writing partner, you can effectively overcome self-doubt and build confidence. Allow ChatGPT to be the encouraging ally who offers insights, motivational prompts, and reassurance along your writing journey. Embrace the power of AI as a tool to amplify your creativity, and let ChatGPT empower you to become a more confident and accomplished writer.
This Blog is written by ChatGPT, your supportive AI writing partner.
by Ebani Advertising | Apr 11, 2023 | Blog
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a massive shift in the way we work. With social distancing measures in place, many companies have had to implement work from home policies to ensure the safety of their employees. While this transition has been successful for many businesses, there have been concerns about its impact on the job market, particularly in the IT domain. This article will delve into the question of whether work from home is a reason for the latest layoffs in the IT domain and explore the different perspectives on this issue.
The IT Industry and Work From Home
The IT industry has been at the forefront of the work from home revolution, with many companies adopting this practice even before the pandemic. In fact, according to a report by Gartner, 74% of CFOs plan to shift some employees to remote work permanently, even after the COVID-19 crisis ends.
One of the main reasons why work from home has been so successful in the IT domain is the nature of the work itself. Many IT jobs can be performed remotely, and in some cases, even more efficiently than in the office. For example, a software developer can work on coding projects from anywhere with an internet connection, without needing to be physically present in an office.
Another factor that has contributed to the success of work from home in the IT industry is the availability of digital tools and platforms that enable remote collaboration and communication. From video conferencing software to project management tools, these technologies have made it easier for remote teams to stay connected and work together effectively.
The Latest Layoffs in the IT Domain
Despite the success of work from home in the IT industry, there have been concerns about its impact on the job market. In recent months, there have been reports of layoffs in the IT domain, particularly in sectors such as software development and IT services.
For example, in August 2020, IBM announced that it would be laying off an undisclosed number of employees, including those in its software development and IT services divisions. Similarly, in September 2020, Cisco Systems announced that it would be laying off approximately 8% of its workforce, with the majority of the layoffs affecting its software development and IT services divisions.
While these layoffs may be attributed to several factors, some analysts have pointed to work from home as a potential reason. One argument is that work from home has made it easier for companies to outsource jobs to countries with lower labor costs, as physical proximity is no longer a constraint.
In addition, some experts have suggested that work from home has led to increased competition in the job market. With remote work, employees are no longer limited by geographic location and can apply for jobs from anywhere in the world. This has led to a larger pool of candidates for each job, making it harder for individual employees to stand out and secure employment.
The Counterargument
While there may be some truth to the argument that work from home has contributed to the latest layoffs in the IT domain, there are also several counterarguments to consider.
One argument is that the layoffs in the IT domain are part of a larger trend of job cuts across various industries due to the economic impact of the pandemic. According to a report by the International Labor Organization, the COVID-19 crisis is expected to result in a global loss of 25 million jobs.
Another counterargument is that work from home has actually created new job opportunities in the IT domain. With the shift to remote work, there has been increased demand for digital tools and platforms that enable remote collaboration and communication. This has created new job opportunities in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and IT support.
Furthermore, work from home has also created opportunities for employees to work on freelance or contract basis, which can be beneficial for both employees and employers. For employees, freelance work provides greater flexibility and autonomy, while employers can benefit from a larger pool of specialized talent without the commitment of a full-time employee.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while work from home may have played a role in the latest layoffs in the IT domain, it is not the sole reason for job cuts. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the job market across various industries, and the IT domain is no exception. It is essential to recognize the larger economic context in which these layoffs are taking place and to consider the potential positive effects of work from home, such as increased flexibility and job opportunities.
Ultimately, the future of work in the IT industry will depend on a range of factors, including the trajectory of the pandemic, the evolving demands of businesses and consumers, and the development of new digital technologies. As we navigate this rapidly changing landscape, it is important to remain adaptable and open to new opportunities and possibilities.
Interested in knowing more, call Ajit Puttnam at +91 7799000590 or write to him at [email protected]
by Ebani Advertising | Mar 29, 2023 | Blog
Have you ever wondered who are the people within an agency that turn chaos into structure and make sure both creative teams and clients are happy after every project? Whether you are curious about working in or with the creative agencies, this is your chance to get an insight from a Creative Project Manager working in the award-winning global agency Havas.
On paper, every creative project seems straightforward. However, in practice, it’s rarely that straightforward. For one, life at a creative agency is always unpredictable and constantly changing. Working with various clients who all have different visions and demands, it quickly becomes clear that every project is an exception to the rule. This makes it virtually impossible to plan ahead or prioritize any project over another.
Secondly, creativity is often perceived as something that cannot be controlled or managed. Which makes the whole creative process and life at an agency somewhat chaotic. But is chaos a price every creative agency that wants to be successful has to pay? It certainly seems like it, especially in the light that structure is believed to kill creativity.
We don’t believe that any creative process and chaos are mutually inclusive. At least not to the full extent. Either way, chaos in the context of creative agencies might not be entirely negative. How can chaos, defined as “complete disorder and confusion,” ever be positive? A great explanation was offered by Jack Steel, who compared the creative chaos to a rush hour train station:
“Experienced commuters seem to dance between entries, exits, and platforms as trains come and go. It’s chaotic, yes, but everyone knows where they’re going, and they continually adjust to the fastest available way to get there.” – Jack Steel
The best takeaway would be that within the boundaries of structure, chaos can turn out to be positive. Which means that while agencies do have to be agile, they also have to find some discipline and structure to balance things out. But how do agencies find the best balance between creativity and structure? Who are the superstars within the agencies, who bring structure to any project; Who take care of the priorities and workflow, allowing the creative people to focus on developing killer ideas?
How did you end up in a creative agency and how long have you been there?
I was fascinated by the way the agency life looked like and decided to apply. It has been over five years now and even though it’s not always easy, the pros still overweight the cons.
What kind of skills do you need to be effective in your role?
You need a diverse set of skills. However, it is crucial to find the right balance between:
- Seeing the big picture
- Being a detailed planner
- Inspiring others in the team.
What are your biggest motivations at work?
Definitely seeing great ideas come to life and hearing the positive feedback from our clients.
“I see daily how the team does everything from the heart to produce the best work, and it’s such a great feeling to see when clients appreciate the outcome.”
How would you describe your average day? Can we even talk about an average day?
I could say that there’s an average morning because the first thing I do when starting the day is listing the priorities and making sure everyone is aware of the tasks for the day. However, the rest of the day is very much influenced by the nature of projects at hand and in many cases the need to “put out fires”.
Please describe your job: What do you do exactly?
Within Havas, it’s my job to make sure that every person in our team knows exactly what projects and tasks are in the pipeline, who is responsible for what, and what are the deadlines and priorities.
Also, every project is unique, but for the most part, I am handling the projects that involve creative concepts and material creation. It’s mainly up to me to make sure we have all the information from the client to produce best quality work while making sure that every client is involved and informed of the project at any step of the process. In other words, making sure the client doesn’t have to worry about the things we are responsible for.
What are some of the challenges you and your team face? How do you overcome them?
There are two key challenges for me:
- Making sure that the communication between the agency and the client is smooth and of the highest quality.
- Making sure that the communication within our team is healthy and well-organized.
Lately, one of the challenges has also been finding creative ways to use the limited budget resources. The expectation and willingness to do greater things in marketing is there from the client side; however, it doesn’t mean the budgets are limitless. My job is to find new ways and solutions to make sure the proposed ideas could be produced in high quality within any given budget.
Do you have a busy season? And how do you cope with a more hectic schedule?
Last few years it’s rather busy all-year-round. It does get more hectic when several brands launch new campaigns or projects at the same time. During these periods it’s definitely challenging to divide ourselves between different tasks while still making sure we produce high-quality creative work. That is why it’s even more crucial to have a clear overview of the priorities and to have transparency within the creative team. It is also essential to focus on one task at the hand instead of multitasking between several.
What are the most useful metrics and KPIs for measuring success?
When it comes to my personal KPIs, then it’s delivering projects on time and sustaining profitability.
For me, success is also measured by the happiness of the team and the clients.”
Have you automated certain daily tasks at work to make your day more productive? And do you use any tools to help you manage your job?
If someone would help me see how things could be done more productively, I would feel more confident trying to do things differently. Currently, different task management tools help me a lot. Unfortunately, they don’t help me with everything.
Do you have advice for anybody who wants to succeed in your field?
Being responsible for project management requires you to set the rules and processes that create a perfect environment for everyone to be creative. I really like the quote of one of the famous productivity coaches, David Allen:
“It’s hard to be fully creative without structure and constraint. Try to paint without a canvas. Creativity and freedom are two sides of the same coin. I like the best of both worlds. Want freedom? Get organized. Want to get organized? Get creative.”
– David Allen, author of “Getting Things Done”
Few things became clear after this interview. For one, creative agencies don’t operate in full chaos. Yes, the creative process and ever-changing landscape of advertising will always be accompanied by some level of chaos. However, this is only part of the process.
Also, there is still quite a lot of boundaries that creative agencies and teams are restricted by. As long as agencies work for the clients who don’t have an endless supply of money and time, there needs to be some structure. And creative project managers play a significant role in bringing structure to work.
Here are 4 key takeaways on how people responsible for the project management bring structure to the creative teams:
- Work Prioritization. It is necessary (especially during a busy season) to have a clear understanding of which projects are a priority at any given moment. Project managers have an overview of all the projects that are in the works and communicate this information to their teams.
- Productivity management. There’s a difference between being busy and being productive. What separates successful projects from all others is the way project managers can turn the busy into productive. Often the key is to work on one task at a time. Multitasking can seem like a great solution, but in most cases, it is not. Multitasking can damage our brains and quite mercilessly increase burnout rate. Focusing on one project at a time will improve productivity but also instantly limit chaos.
- Collaboration. Unless you are a freelancer, most projects are a collaboration between team members who all have their own set of skills and responsibilities. Making sure that all these people work together in an effective manner is a challenge that project managers have to deal with on a daily basis. A great solution is to have a centralized system with all the necessary project information. This way it’s easier to plan the team’s time wisely and have a clear overview of the entire project.
- Efficient project management. Ultimately, it all comes down to finding the most efficient way for your team to work on any creative project. And while project managers are invaluable to agencies, even they could benefit from a great project management tool. This will make their task easier but would also allow teams to have a better overview of their performance.
Interested in knowing more, call Ajit Puttnam at +91 7799000590 or write to him at [email protected]
by Ebani Advertising | Mar 14, 2023 | Blog
Project management might feel like an internal affair, but it’s really all about the client. Client feedback should be encouraged at every stage of the process to enable your teams to deliver the best projects.
Here, we’ll take a deep dive into the role of client feedback in successful projects. We’ll explore why feedback is so important, discuss how to respond to negative feedback, and provide some best practice tips to help you collaborate more effectively with your clients.
Why is Client Feedback so Important During a Project?
Client feedback is a rare resource in the business world. Not only does it cost nothing, it also provides direction and motivation for your team. Beyond that, client feedback gives your business a tried and tested route towards continuous improvement. All you have to do is to create a feedback loop, and you immediately have a simple way to become a better business.
The most common reason that some organizations and creative agencies don’t want feedback from their clients is pretty simple: they’re scared stiff at the prospect of hearing “We don’t like it” or “It doesn’t meet the brief.”
That fear is totally understandable. It can feel like a huge setback, leaving creatives with little choice but to redo work that they’ve already done. However, there is a way to shield yourself from such a setback, though it might seem like a counterintuitive solution: seek more feedback.
The trick is to keep clients in the loop right from the start of the project, and ask for feedback at every stage. That means making them feel involved from ideation and planning through to wireframing, prototyping, and development. By doing this, you’ll ensure that any issues that do need to be addressed are small tweaks, rather than wholesale changes.
Of course, if you’re going to ask clients for regular feedback, then they will also need to be willing to provide it. Explaining the importance of feedback to them from the start and the benefits it will bring will help get them on board.
Asking for regular feedback will:
- Save your clients’ time and money – You’ll be able to quickly solve small problems as and when they come up, instead of spending hours making major changes.
- Reduce the risk of deadline revisions – Making smaller changes as they arise will keep projects on schedule and reduce the risk of last-minute overhauls.
- Prioritize tasks and understand the features – The more you talk to your client, the better understanding you’ll have of which features are important to them and why. You’ll then be able to prioritize your tasks and resources accordingly.
- Set practical expectations on both sides – With greater feedback comes a better understanding of limitations and more realistic expectations.
How to Collaborate on a Project With Clients
Collaborating on a project is a fine line between improving your dialogue with clients and not getting them so involved in the process that you start getting bogged down. Similarly, from the client’s point of view, they’ll have hundreds of other things to do, so they won’t want to be consulted about every little detail.
With that in mind, what steps can you take to collaborate with your clients more effectively?
- Invite clients to use your project management software. Marketing agency management software lets you add clients to your project dashboard and control what they see. Clients will be able to access a general view of the project and keep track of different tasks without seeing how all the nuts and bolts work
- Make communication easy – To encourage client communication, make it quick and easy for them to contact you. Designate someone in the team as a dedicated point of contact, give them several ways to reach you, and be quick and consistent in replying. That will help to build trust and break down any barriers that could hinder workflow.
- Set milestones and keep them – There’s no better way to keep a client engaged in a project than by showing them that progress is being made. Setting project milestones, keeping to the timelines, and asking for feedback when appropriate can be a very effective way to collaborate.
- Include task owners in client communication – The team members who are responsible for each task should be included in all relevant client exchanges. These individuals will be best placed to interpret any ensuing needs and demands, which will then improve the clarity of communication.
- Share progress reports and relevant files with clients – Within reason, the more information you share with your clients, the better the collaboration will be. Sharing weekly or monthly progress reports will keep everyone up to date, while sending relevant files will make them feel more like project owners and encourage the participation you’ll need from them.
- Track time for client billing – If, like many creative agencies, you bill by the hour, invoicing can be a contentious issue. If you don’t provide enough information, clients can feel like they’re being overcharged. Issues like these can be resolved by the time tracking features. This ensures complete transparency by tracking actual and billable time spent on a project and transferring those hours to an invoice. You can then provide your clients with the reassurance that they’re only being charged for work that’s actually been done.
Responding Constructively to Client Feedback
There’s no point asking a client for feedback if you’re not going to actually use the information you’re given. So many businesses are afraid of client feedback because they don’t want to invite criticism. However, constructive criticism can be an extremely powerful tool for your business, helping you to improve the way you work and become a better agency.
No matter how experienced you are, it can still be jolting when you receive a phone call or open an email from a client with a negative response to your work. It can be even worse if you think the project went well and you’re happy with what you delivered.
However, despite the disappointed feeling you’re likely to be left with, you must be able to take an unbiased view in the wake of negative feedback, respond professionally, and act on it accordingly.
So, how can you turn negative feedback into a positive for your business?
- Take your time – The last thing you want to do is to respond to feedback immediately and fire off an email in anger. Instead, take the time to read the message carefully and try to see the situation from their point of view. You should set some time aside with your team to discuss and digest the feedback before you form a response.
- Ask for clarification if you need it – If there’s any doubt about what the client is unhappy with, it’s worth reiterating what you think they’ve said in your own words. Every client is unique and will have different styles of communication and expectations so it’s important to identify exactly what the issue is so you can make sure it doesn’t happen again.
- Say thank you – You may not feel like it initially, but accepting constructive criticism with good grace is a sign of a professional and trustworthy agency. Saying a simple “thank you” for the feedback does not necessarily mean that you agree with everything your client has said. However, it will leave them feeling valued, heard, and understood, and increases the likelihood that you’ll work with them again.
- Craft a thoughtful response – Once you’ve given yourself and your team the opportunity to consider and digest the feedback, it’s time to write your response. This should be sent within 24 hours of receiving the feedback and include details of the changes that you will make to produce an end result that the client is happy with.
- Turn client feedback into actionable tasks – Once you’ve processed the feedback and know what needs to be done, turn it into a series of actionable tasks and assign them to a team member. Give each task a deadline, priority, and status, and make that person accountable for those tasks. You should also ask for regular updates so you can be sure everything will be completed on time.
- Know when it’s time to cut ties – We’ve established that the ability to receive client feedback and respond constructively is important for any business. However, it’s equally important to be able to recognize when negative comments are less well-intentioned. It’s certainly not unknown for clients to respond negatively to great work, simply in the hope of a discount. If a client keeps giving consistently negative feedback despite continuing to work with or uses an inappropriate tone or language, then it’s time to re-evaluate your relationship with them.
Interested in knowing more, call Ajit Puttnam at +91 7799000590 or write to him at [email protected]
by Ebani Advertising | Feb 25, 2023 | Blog
Ideas are the beating heart of any creative business. That said, time is money. So, if you aren’t delivering a service professionally and within a promised time frame, you will lose clients – no matter how remarkable your ideas.
That’s why the shrewdest creative and digital agencies adopt standardized ways of working. Those seeking a slicker, quicker, less stressful way to deliver quality work to clients – every time – are switching to an array of digital workflow dashboards. With a well-managed, easily accessible workflow process, you’ll encourage creative juices to flow while avoiding chaos and confusion during content production and campaign delivery.
A streamlined product creation process saves an agency time, helps control costs, and protects reputation. You’ll keep your talented creatives calm and collected, too. As creative leaders agree, with creativity must come structure.
“Order is needed to have room for creative thinking itself. If one has to fight against overall chaos, dealing with messy practicalities, there rarely is time nor precondition for great creative work.” – Nils Kajander, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Bond Agency
A team manager or agency executive will know that operational efficiency also means maximizing billable hours, speeding up less profitable daily tasks, and tracking productivity metrics and client KPIs. As we say at Ebani, the key is to work smarter, not harder.
Delivering good ideas on time
1. Set clear goals
The first step of any creative campaign is agreeing on the project scope and setting practical goals. Once you know precisely what the client envisions and requires from the project, you can build a game plan and set out how your agency will achieve these goals.
Agreeing on a SMART framework will get you out of the starting blocks. It ensures all involved parties know what’s expected and who is taking responsibility for what. Just remember to set realistic deadlines for everyone.
SMART framework in a nutshell
Next, it’s a case of organizing key areas of a project into a multi-layered document (or other digital assets) that shows the flow of a project’s movement over time – from concept to revisions to final approval.
As Kaupo Kõrv, Designer and Founder at Haiku, explains, there’s no such thing as having too much communication between team members:
“Aligning the team around the right goals is crucial. Be it an internal project or consultation work, overcommunicate everything with everyone in the early stages.”
Nils Kajander agrees with this notion, stressing the importance of including every stakeholder in relevant communications:
“Everyone involved – including the client – should know exactly what the deliverables are at each phase of the project and that means being clear on deadlines.”
2. Identify inefficiencies
Unfortunately, when delays and inefficiencies creep into agency work, the profit margin takes a hit, and working relationships are put under intense strain. Valuable time for creativity is also drained.
“There will be tons of obstacles along the way and without everybody working tirelessly and in unison, success will be nearly impossible.” – Joe Piccolo, Creative Director, McCann
Therefore, it’s essential to plan projects meticulously, oversee progress, monitor team utilization, and track results. And this is only possible with visibility of what’s happening day-to-day.
Using a powerful collaborative work management solution enables you to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks and design them out of the workflow.
With the help of a work management solution, you can:
- Organize deadlines and complete operations in agreed stages;
- Detect problems on the horizon before any damage is done;
- Eliminating duplication of work.
And when you deliver the end product, you can be sure it’s compliant with the contract, thanks to an audit trail of approval decisions and amends.
“Being able to double-check all the developments during the process is a must. Today we can do that online, and through mobile apps, so having team meetings daily is just not that world anymore.” – Rauno Kutti, Co-Founder & Creative Director, VURR
3. Create a channel for clear, centralized communication
Clear and honest communication is the first step in understanding client needs and expectations. You also need a mechanism to track project progress and monitor the client’s feedback.
Find out why client feedback is essential during the project.
Ultimately, the client wants visibility and understanding of what your team is developing for them, including what the timeline looks like. As such:
- over-communicate if needed;
- encourage collaboration between departments;
- define channels for specific conversations.
Meanwhile, advertising and marketing campaigns are famously rich in production design and approval stages, often with tight launch dates that need to be closely managed.
“Nothing makes a project go off the rails faster than miscommunications or misunderstandings.” – Melissa Wolf, Account Director, Leo Burnett
One danger for all parties is wasting time searching for information across multiple tools and systems. This will increase the chance of miscommunication. Using a work management solution that has everything stored centrally means you have ‘one version of the truth’ with easy access for all stakeholders.
“When you use Slack for communication, there’s a false sense that just because someone else knows about the project, they’ll handle it and take care of it. That’s not the point of communication.” – Joao Rei, Head of Digital Innovation, Havas
Establishing and encouraging ownership is therefore really important in any creative team. As Rei continues: “Ownership in a creative project is super important. This isn’t about defining roles within a team. This is about making sure the whole team has ownership of the outcomes that are sent to a client and making sure they see the results of their work after the work has gone live.”
4. Perfect the process of prioritization
If your team feels as though they are constantly firefighting, it could be a case of simply understanding the difference between important and urgent when prioritizing tasks for the day.
“Not all briefs are equally important, so it’s a matter of choosing your battles. If you don’t, you’ll just end up working 24/7.” – Lise Skovsted Larsen, Senior Art Director, New York
Using a task management tool can help team members categorize each activity swiftly so that both they and other stakeholders know precisely in which order work will be carried out at any given stage of the project.
5. Know when to get feedback
Pursuing feedback on creative assets and marketing campaigns can be time-consuming and disruptive. Often, managers or clients are tied up with other tasks and won’t be available for ad hoc reviews or updates as a project evolves, halting the team’s progression.
As Rei explains, getting feedback is key to the success of the overall project:
“I don’t believe in the lone wolf creative genius idea. I’m all about teamwork and enhancing the ideas that one person has by getting feedback from others and bouncing those ideas back and forth.”
Therefore, it’s important to create a clear process, setting out when you require feedback and what type of feedback is appropriate at each stage. Remember, the more aligned your vision for a product is with your client, the fewer iterations and rounds of feedback you will need.
And the more organized your team is, the easier it’ll be for them to work collaboratively through tasks and milestones to get a client’s product delivered on time.
“Defining and agreeing on the key goals and boundaries of the project early on will give you the ability to refer back and use this as the steering wheel. Now everyone has a calibrated compass to take on the creative challenge at hand without getting too lost.” – Kaupo Kõrv
If you aren’t on the same page as your client and your team doesn’t have a clear roadmap for successful project delivery, it could cost your agency dearly when it comes to receiving repeat business or rave reviews.
6. Choose the right tools
Keeping a project on track and the team aligned requires putting in the groundwork before a project kicks off. The right software will support you every step of the way, so think carefully about what you need. Features such as a customer portal and real-time chart can help you confidently work with clients and forecast deadlines.
“There needs to be a proven process in place. A process that includes great resources and equipment.” – Joe Piccolo
However, it’s worth remembering that not all relevant features come as standard within standalone project management software. Therefore, creative agencies typically use a more creative management software for end-to-end planning and progress tracking, all within the same customizable dashboard.
The ability to speed up processes is a big win. With access to interlinked data and automated workflows, creative teams will have more time to focus on what’s important in their working day. They can collaborate securely, too, with information available on-demand, even from remote locations.
Learn how to successfully manage projects remotely.
A balance of structure and creativity
Although creative agencies thrive on their teams’ individual imagination and ingenuity, the process from planning to completing a project must be structured and organized throughout.
“Being creative has the connotation of freedom. But in the professional world, we are usually not being creative for the sake of it. Our job is to apply it in the right context.” – Kaupo Kõrv
Interested in knowing more, call Ajit Puttnam at +91 7799000590 or write to him at [email protected]
