{"id":147908,"date":"2020-12-28T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-28T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smartinsights.com\/?p=147908"},"modified":"2020-12-23T08:30:53","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T08:30:53","slug":"how-to-fit-in-those-pesky-one-more-thing-tasks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smartinsights.com\/agency-marketing\/growing-a-marketing-agency\/how-to-fit-in-those-pesky-one-more-thing-tasks\/","title":{"rendered":"Agency project management: How to manage those ‘one more thing’ tasks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before you try to whisk away your problems with software, try these agency project management methods to maximize productivity and improve client relationships<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re an agency professional and you feel like you\u2019re constantly scrambling, you\u2019re not alone. Once upon a time, clients would request changes to a campaign or initiative on a weekly or monthly basis. Now, they can ping you for changes via instant message and expect you to jump on it \u201cinstantly.\u201d More than ever, you need an established agency project management strategy to prioritize and track each relationship - and that's just basic hygiene in today's digital landscape.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s a Friday evening when you\u2019re on your way out the door or a busy Monday morning when every second has been carefully allocated, there's endless potential for \u201cjust one more thing.\u201d But, how do you cope when \"one\" thing becomes ten - each of the utmost importance to your client, naturally. Yes, there are software solutions, but even before taking that step, there are approaches that need to be put in place, as we'll outline in the blog below.<\/p>\n

Certainly, in a year of rapid digital adoption, changes in ways of working, workforces, and endless adaption of plans and strategies, the expectations placed on marketers are higher than ever. Smart Insights helps marketers plan smarter and more efficiently to get the job done fast, and maximize your results!<\/p>\n

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Still, no matter how busy you are or how many clients you have, you don\u2019t want to give a brand a reason to consider moving your functionality in-house. Think it couldn\u2019t happen to you? Barely five years ago, Verizon had a flock of more than 46 agency partners<\/a>, but it has since changed tactics and brought much of its creative and brand narrative needs in-house. The reason for that decision lack of agency project management.<\/p>\n

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Agency time and project management 101<\/h3>\n

For too many agency professionals, giving clients that feeling of control means operating at their beck and call. You can tell yourself that you\u2019re providing excellent customer service, that you're offering an incredible response time, or that you\u2019re proud to work at the most accessible agency in the industry. But in reality, you\u2019re burning yourself out.<\/p>\n

Agency staffers are working too hard and feeling the pressure from tightening markets and the migration of work back to the brands. As a result, turnover is high and work-life balance is practically non-existent. You're not alone, research by the National Alliance on Mental Health, shows mental illnesses can cost the U.S. economy $193.2 billion<\/a> in lost earnings annually. Clearly, proper agency project management can benefit both agency and client side.<\/p>\n

There are so many negative consequences for time-strapped teams. From a training point of view, employee's professional development time get be overlooked when resource is low. While this isn't a disaster on a one-off busy week, if this becomes the norm, you will miss out on the long-term benefits of professional development:<\/p>\n