Why Isn’t Your Agency as Productive as It Could Be?

Being productive isn’t a luxury in the space of a digital marketing agency—it’s a necessity. As the old saying goes, time is money, and in the digital world, it might just be the most valuable currency of all.

As Jason Fried , co-founder of Basecamp, famously said, “Productivity isn’t about doing more things faster. It’s about doing fewer things better.”?

5 Tips for Agency Productivity (Quick & Easy)

Even the most well-organized teams can easily become overwhelmed by juggling numerous clients, strict deadlines, and creative demands. It is crucial to maintain high standards of quality and productivity in addition to implementing a robust Agency SOP to succeed in this field.

Now is the time to learn how to do it.?

?? Encourage Remote Work Flexibility

According to Buffer’s 2023 State of Remote Work survey, many employees find that remote work facilitates certain activities better than in-office work. Specifically, 70% of respondents mentioned that remote work is conducive to focused work.

Additionally, 65% found managing stress easier while working remotely, which could be attributed to a more comfortable, personalized environment and the absence of a daily commute.

?? Use Automation Tools as a Productivity Booster?

For digital agencies with huge teams, both project management software – a home truth. It allows you to schedule tasks, monitor workloads, and track progress toward the completion of long-term projects. In addition to using team management tools ,? simple task reminder apps like 苹果 ’s Reminders or 谷歌 Tasks can be set to notify you about upcoming project deadlines or regular checks, such as weekly reviews of PPC accounts or client report due dates.

This practice helps prevent the addition of new meetings and keeps you accountable for your own time. Before jumping into the next section, we recommend you check out our list of the best productivity management tools .

?? Sync Agency Data Across Platforms?

Syncing data across apps ensures that every team member of your agency has access to the most current information. In addition to ensuring everyone is on the same page, that kind of move also streamlines processes like sales, marketing campaigns, and customer support.

?? Speed up Invoicing and Payments

You may be wondering how finance-related issues can impact agency productivity , here is the answer:?

By simplifying financial procedures, automated invoicing and payment systems facilitate a quicker transaction cycle and minimize errors, which in turn speeds up the financial process and improves cash flow management. This efficiency allows agencies to handle a higher volume of transactions without a corresponding increase in errors or staff workload, ultimately supporting business scalability and growth.?

?? Part Ways with Toxic Clients

In our recent blog, we highlighted how important it is to fire a bad client without burning bridges .

As you already know, toxic clients often drain energy and morale with their unreasonable demands, late payments, micromanagement, or disrespectful behavior. This can lead to increased stress and burnout among team members. By discontinuing these relationships, agencies can pursue new opportunities that promise better returns and are more strategically beneficial.

Productivity Killers in a Digital Agency?

From internal challenges like inefficient workflows and employee burnout to external pressures like demanding clients and unexpected project changes, these productivity killers can significantly impact an agency’s bottom line.

? Toxic Productivity

Toxic productivity is actually the term we always confuse with “workaholic.”?

In the simplest terms, toxic productivity is the unhealthy obsession with being constantly productive, often at the expense of mental, physical, and emotional well-being. It’s the idea that you should always be doing something, even if it means sacrificing rest, relationships, family & friends, or hobbies.??

? Micromanagement??

As you already know, this is a management style characterized by excessive control and oversight of employees’ work. While it might seem like a way to ensure tasks are completed correctly, it often has the opposite effect.?

No need to say that excessive control stifles creativity, reduces employee morale, and hinders autonomy. Effective management involves clear communication, regular check-ins, and delegation.?

? Toxic Company Culture?

Toxic company culture, the silent killer of productivity in digital agencies, can greatly decimate morale and output.

A study by the American Psychological Association revealed that job stress costs U.S. businesses an estimated $300 billion annually in lost productivity. Moreover, a toxic culture can lead to a staggering employee turnover rate; high turnover is not only costly but also disruptive to project continuity and client relationships.

? Long & Unproductive Meetings

Sad but true, long meetings – both in person and through video conferencing – consume valuable hours but also disrupt workflow, stifle creativity, and contribute to employee burnout. Harvard Business Review’s article titled “Dear Manager, You’re Holding Too Many Meetings ” found that:

Across the 76 companies we surveyed, we found that employee productivity was 71% higher when meetings were reduced by 40%. This is largely because employees felt more empowered and autonomous. Rather than a schedule being the boss, they owned their to-do lists and held themselves accountable, which consequently increased their satisfaction by 52%.

In the said article, the writers claim that one of the possible reasons for setting up long and unproductive meetings is managers’ inability to connect with team members in person.?

Without the ability to connect with their team members in person often in the new hybrid workplaces, people newly promoted into management roles feel extra pressure to build connections digitally. They are driven by a desire to be more visible and get buy-in from their teams. It’s easier than ever to stack our days with back-to-back meetings. When we’re working remotely, we don’t have to travel between private meeting rooms. We can pretty much leave one meeting and log into another a minute later.

? Comparison and Criticism Culture?

When employees are constantly measured against their peers or past performance, it can cause a climate of fear, anxiety, and unhealthy competition. This environment blocks creativity, as individuals become more focused on avoiding mistakes than taking risks.?

To counteract this, agencies must cultivate a culture of constructive feedback, recognition, and support. By focusing on growth, learning, and collaboration, organizations can create a more positive and productive work environment where employees feel valued and empowered to contribute their best.

? Toxic Customers?

Toxic clients are those who make excessive demands, are consistently dissatisfied, and can create a hostile work environment for the agency team. These clients’ unreasonable expectations can divert resources away from other clients, leading to project delays and decreased overall efficiency. In the worst-case scenario, having to deal with toxic customers can be emotionally draining for employees, contributing to burnout.?