Aquent Studios’ Post

Mastering stakeholder management is key to driving successful ad agency projects. From identifying all stakeholders to establishing clear lines of communication and utilizing the right technology, our article covers it all. Elevate your project management skills and ensure your next ad project is a success. #ProjectManagement #AdAgency #StakeholderManagement

Honest question(s) to fellow agency owners, creative professionals and project managers: good, fast or cheap? Is it possible to deliver all three? How many client briefs have you seen that demand all three? How do you typically respond? #goodfastcheap #creativeagency #projectmanagement

I rarely toot my own horn - very rarely really. I’m terrible at sharing testimonials. But I recently had a lovely testimonial from a project management client - so I thought I should practice what I preach and share it. I love taking a big project and calming the entire team down, planning it out, coming up with creative solutions to inevitable hiccups or spanners being thrown at us left, right and centre - and making it enjoyable and impactful. This project is still going on - but we’re six months in and starting to see the results. I can’t wait to share the full case study, but that will be a few months away yet. As a result of this big, I don’t have a huge amount of capacity at the moment - but if you have a marketing, brand or digital project planned and you need some help getting it in ship shape - give me a shout and I can pop you on the wait list or see if I can squeeze you in. “Emily has been project managing a number of major brand, digital and editorial projects for us for the last six months or so, and I can honestly say I don’t know what we would have done without her! “She has slotted right into the team and managed everything impeccably. She is always several steps ahead, pre-empting issues we hadn’t even spotted yet. Emily is so easy to work with and feels like she is a member of the team, and colleagues outside of the core projects teams have come to know and trust her too. “No issue ever seems to faze her and she is always upbeat and normally has a range of possible solutions up her sleeve! I wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest to recommend Emily.” #testimonial #clientfeedback #freelanceprojectmanager #projectmanagement #rebrand

A lot of our clients are amazed at what they perceive as the "magic" of our creative process, where blank pages are transformed into visual masterpieces. Yes, our creative and design teams are like modern-day wizards, but there’s more to this magic than meets the eye. There was a time when the key to a great creative agency was thought to be beanbags and slides - creating an environment akin to a kids’ playgroup to keep the creatives perpetually inspired. Fostering creativity is essential, but the real secret lies in the meticulous planning and rigorous processes behind the scenes. Our project management team is the backbone of our operations. Their day is filled with briefing teams, adjusting quotes as project scopes evolve, reshuffling schedules as timelines shift, and proofing (then reproofing... and reproofing again) every detail. They’re constantly checking in with our lovely clients and making sure that every task is on track. Planning is our secret sauce at Potting Shed. It keeps everything moving smoothly, allowing our creatives and designers to do what they do best, without the wheels coming off. It’s how we turn good ideas into great realities. So yes, it’s magic. But it’s magic meticulously crafted with a lot of planning and preparation. Here's to the unsung heroes (Keelie Chadwick & Marike Visagie) who turn creative potential into impactful results. Who are the unsung heroes in your business? PS - we have a strict "no beanbag" policy at Potting Shed ❌ PPS - this is partly because some of us are getting on a bit and it's getting harder to extract ourselves from a beanbag without assistance 😭

Project review and approval delays are a common headache for marketing and creative services teams. Whether it's micromanaging stakeholders or a lack of clear procedures, these issues can derail timelines and affect project quality. Here are some simple steps to speed up the content review and approval process: 1. Define a process: Ensure everyone knows what's expected at each review stage—who to send feedback to, in what format, and what final approval looks like. 2. Establish single accountability: Only one department should review a project at a time to avoid confusion and redundant edits. Set a clear hierarchy for the order of reviews. 3. Set clear guidelines: Specify the type of feedback needed from each stakeholder. This will prevent people from weighing in on areas outside their expertise and keep the project on track. 4. Remind your team: Be persistent in getting the approvals you need. Utilize project management tools that show tasks and alerts to keep everything moving forward smoothly. What strategies do you use to streamline your content approval process? Read our full blog post to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ePzaegyn #ProjectManagement #Marketing #CreativeProcess

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟 – 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 💡 In the dynamic world of marketing and project management, understanding the distinction between a brief and a creative brief is crucial. Each serves its own unique purpose and knowing how to craft both is an invaluable skill for any account manager. Here’s why: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟: 𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 A brief provides a high-level overview of the project. It outlines: 1. 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: : What we aim to achieve. 2. 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: Key milestones and deadlines. 3. 𝐁𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭: Financial parameters. 4. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬:  Who’s involved. 5. 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬: What needs to be produced. Essentially, a brief sets the strategic direction and ensures everyone is aligned on the broader goals of the project. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐟: 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 A creative brief dives into the specifics of the creative aspects. It details: 1. 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Who we’re speaking to. 2. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: What we want to say. 3. 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: How we want to say it. 4. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: The look and feel. 5. 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬:  Desired outcomes for the creative work. A creative brief provides the roadmap for the creative team, ensuring that the creative output is cohesive, on-brand, and aligned with the project’s objectives. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 As an account manager, being proficient in both types of briefs allows you to: 1.  𝐄𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: Clear communication with all stakeholders and the creative team. 2. 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬: Make sure strategic goals are translated into effective creative work. 3. 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: Streamline the project process by providing detailed and precise information. 4. 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: Increase the likelihood of project success through planning and clear guidance. Mastering both briefs means you can bridge the gap between strategy and creativity, ensuring that every project not only meets its goals but also resonates with the intended audience. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 In today's fast-paced industry, the ability to craft a compelling brief and a detailed creative brief is a game-changer. It’s not just about managing projects; it’s about leading them to success with clarity and creativity. #ProjectManagement #Marketing #CreativeBrief #Brief #AccountManagement #Leadership #MarketingStrategy

Struggling to keep projects on track and maintain creativity? 🎨💼 Creative Directors and Project Managers can transform your workflow to ensure your projects are both innovative and efficiently managed. Dive into our blog to find out which one might be the key to enhancing your team's performance! https://hubs.la/Q02H5ryv0 #CreativeDirector #ProjectManager #CreativeProcess #ProjectPlanning #CreativeTeam

Effective Project Management Strategies Producing annual reports often comes with tight deadlines, adding pressure to coordinate effectively with design agencies. Delays in the design process can jeopardise timely report releases. 1. Strategic Timeline: Develop a comprehensive project timeline with clear milestones and deadlines for each phase. 2. Team Commitment: Ensure both the marketing team and design agency are fully committed to meeting these deadlines. 3. Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular progress meetings to review the status of each milestone, address potential issues early, and keep all stakeholders aligned. #ProjectManagement #AnnualReports #Deadlines #TimeManagement #Marketing #DesignAgency

🎬 Navigating the world of media production can be as complex as it is thrilling. Here are some essential tips to keep your projects hitting those high notes: 1. Plan Like a Pro: Start with a detailed project plan that outlines every step. Break down your script or storyboard into actionable tasks and set realistic deadlines. 2. Budget Wisely: Keep a close eye on your budget. Regularly review your expenditures against your initial estimates to avoid any financial surprises. 3. Communicate Clearly: Ensure your team knows what's expected by maintaining open lines of communication. Regular meetings and updates can help keep everyone aligned. 4. Embrace Flexibility: Be prepared to pivot. Adaptability is key when dealing with creative projects, as changes are often part of the process. 5. Prioritize Quality: Never compromise on the quality of your output. Your reputation is built on what you produce, so make it count every time. 6. Delegate Effectively: Understand the strengths of your team and assign tasks accordingly. Trusting your team to do their best work is essential for a successful project. 7. Learn Continuously: Stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in the industry. Continuous learning can give you an edge in this competitive space. Remember, every project is a learning opportunity. Keep refining your approach, and your projects will shine! 🌟 #CreativeProduction #MediaProducers #ProjectManagementTips #trigr

ATTN Agency Owners 🔊 Struggling to manage all the deliverables of your service AND keep up with the project management, relationship building, communication, and, well, ALL THE THINGS? I've got a quick tip for you that has saved the lives (and the sanity) of the agencies who have worked with me on their operations. Separate account management and production 🤯 Seriously, it's simple, it's elegant and it'll create immense clarity in your team. Operationally, there are two very different skill sets, systems, and processes to follow when you are producing deliverables for clients vs project managing those deliverables behind the scenes. Incredible website builders are not always incredible project managers. This simple shift has helped my clients run a more peaceful agency, teammates feel more fulfilled in their work, it's created more profitable projects, and increased their overall retention rates. If projects are running amuck, consider teasing these out... Check out the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/eW39jbqv