You're swamped with ad projects and tight deadlines. How do you decide which one takes priority?

Prioritize your tasks by your calendar as a framework: - What needs to be done by today - What needs to be done by tomorrow - What needs to be done by end of the week Working within your project management software or with your manager, prioritize based on milestone importance and time sensitive checkpoints for your projects.

Impact on the client: Which project has the most potential to affect the client? Crunch time: Which project has the earliest deadline? Which project provides the largest possible return on investment in terms of revenue? Team capacity: Take into account the workload and expertise required for each project by your team. Long-range objectives: Is the project in line with the overarching strategy of your business? You can make a prioritised list to work on tasks more effectively by evaluating these variables.

In a situation like this it’s best to first determine what can be automated and prescheduled. Then from there, organize tasks from which takes the longest to complete and determine which requires a specific or general skill set. Some Ad projects may be the initial product launch campaign and which case each task is important.

Prioritize projects for key clients or those with long-term value and potential for future work. Consider which projects align most closely with your business goals or have the highest potential for ROI. Evaluate the deadlines for each project. Projects with the most imminent deadlines should typically take priority. Consider any contractual obligations or penalties for missing deadlines. Larger, more complex projects might need to be started earlier to ensure they are completed on time. Assess the resources (time, personnel, budget) required for each project.

Once you've identified urgent projects, consider the following factors for further prioritization: ? Strategic Alignment: How well does the project align with your overall marketing goals? Does it support a specific marketing campaign or initiative? ? Revenue Potential: Evaluate the project's potential to generate leads, sales, or brand awareness. ? Resource Requirements: Consider the time, budget, and team expertise required for each project.

When a project has been approved, impact of each phase is already determined to accomplish the desired goal. If certain tasks fall behind but does not affect the project hard deadline or the impact of the campaign then you are good.

When evaluating urgent projects, consider these additional factors: ?Time constraints: How quickly does the project need to be completed? Urgent projects often have tight deadlines, so factor in the time it takes to complete each project effectively. ? Scalability: Evaluate if the project's benefits can be amplified or if it can be replicated for future use. This can help you determine the long-term value of the project beyond its immediate urgency. ? Stakeholder expectations: Clearly understand stakeholder expectations for the project's outcome. This will help determine the level of effort required and ensure everyone is aligned.

Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Formalize expectations with clients through SLAs. Proactive Communication: Regularly communicate with clients to understand their evolving needs and adjust priorities accordingly. Prioritization Frameworks: Utilize frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize projects based on urgency and importance. Transparency and Negotiation: Be transparent with clients about resource limitations and potential scheduling conflicts. Contingency Planning: Develop contingency plans to address unexpected situations that might impact client priorities. Client Loyalty: Consider the client's history and loyalty to your business. Client Relationships: Strong relationships are key to client retention.

I disagree with this perspective to an extent. At my agency, each client is “high-valued” to ensure that is the experience each client has, there are certain protocols in place. If another’s clients project is affected negatively due ones demands then we are not really giving a high valued experience. I believe collaborations are a good way to meet special requests that are also mutually beneficial.

Maintain Balance: Strive for a balance that ensures all projects progress without compromising quality. Maintain Open Communication: Foster clear communication within your team to address challenges, share updates, and ensure everyone's aligned on project priorities. Plan for Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt your resource allocation as project needs evolve or unforeseen circumstances arise. Cost-Benefit Analysis: Evaluate the potential return on investment (ROI) for each project. Resource Leveling: Use resource leveling techniques to avoid overloading team members or underutilizing their skills. Cross-Training: Invest in cross-training team members to broaden their skillsets.

When assessing urgency, allocation of resources are a part of that process. 1. What takes the longest to complete 2. Determine which tasks require specific skills vs. general skill 3. Delegate tasks to team members according to skill and time management. 4. What tasks take the least amount of time. 5. Determine which tasks require specific skill vs. general skill 6. Delegate tasks to team members and interns 7. Bonus: include incentives for completing tasks before the estimated time.

In addition to the benefits you mentioned, project management tools can also: Improve team collaboration and communication by providing a shared workspace for tasks, files, and discussions. Enhance client satisfaction by keeping them informed about the progress of their campaigns and allowing for easy feedback exchange. Streamline project workflows by automating repetitive tasks and creating a clear roadmap for each campaign. Project management tools can also empower data-driven decision making for your ad campaigns. By providing real-time performance insights, these tools can help you identify what's working and what's not, allowing you to optimize your campaigns for better results.

Too many times there are gaps in projects because the project was not monitored correctly. Managing a project and tracking tasks are imperative for success. You wouldn't just build a house without knowing if the foundation had been poured. Similarly, before you move to the next phase you need to ensure you have a strong foundation and that starts with tracking.

Build flexibility into your projects. Athletes don't just work on skills and strength training; they also work on flexibility. They do this because they know that flexibility can prevent an injury. Building flexibility into our projects allows us to shift and adapt later on maintaining great customer relations. When we lack flexibility that is when we risk breaking out our client's trust.

Flexibility is key when prioritizing tight deadlines and long-term projects. New projects always pop up that need immediate attention but it can hinder one’s ability to carve out time for long-term projects that can fall by the wayside. In advertising, I’ve found that non-marketers don’t understand how time consuming and mentally exhausting it is to “whip up a new ad for me by the end of the day” when it happens day after day not allowing for an ample amount of time to tackle those ever looming long-term projects. It is important to anticipate the needs of the business and schedule in time for last minute projects to get done and if none come up that day utilize that time to spend additional time on larger projects.