As a creative, it’s easy to get bogged down in the logistics of managing projects.
As necessary as they are, logistics can suck the life out of an otherwise creative afternoon.
I don’t know about you, but following up on emails, gathering details and putting together promotion schedules is NOT why I became a creative.
It was to CREATE.
In today’s #AskRADIdeas Jennifer asks:
How do you marry the creative side and logistic side of communications?
To start, we have to look at the 3 phases of every promotion
- Plan
- Produce
- Promote
During these phases the goal is to set up systems to help manage the logistics so you can focus on the creative side.
1) Plan – All Logistics
Start your project out with a solid foundation of logistics. Setting the right technology in place to start with will make a huge difference going forward.
Use Online Forms
Ditch the written forms, and build a simple “Project Request” form using Wufoo or Google Docs. Make the link available to staff and key volunteers. When someone makes a request for a project, send them a link to the form. This helps keep all project details in one place, gives you a record of projects and allows you to copy info into your promotions
Track Your Progress
White Board
This is totally old school, but allows you to see at a glance what you have to work on. It also gives you a way to show your staff and volunteers what projects are in the pipeline. It’s a great way to educate your staff about the time a quality project takes and show them why procrastinating is a challenge.
Digital To-Do List
Find a to-do list that syncs between your desktop, tablet and phone. That way you have a record of what steps have been, or still need doing. It also helps when you’re sitting in a meeting to be able to give a detail synopsis of a project.
I’ve used several of these but Things on Mac and iOs is the most recent one.
Project Management Software
The larger the group of people who need to share project timelines, data and updates the more extensive a solution you will need.
Check out options like BaseCamp and Asana to provide project management solutions that will grow with your.
Schedule your Promotions
Create a calendar overview of your church communications. Working backwards from event dates, determine what type of promotions you need and when you will deliver them.
This will give you a better handle on not just the one promotion, but the entirety of what your church promotes in a period of time. Use this information to make sure you don’t overwhelm your church with too much, too fast.
2) Produce – All Creative
This is where you get to exercise you creativity.
- Write copy
- Create visuals
- Proof project
- Export images
- Print needed items
The Calendar from the Plan stage is your friend. It will help you know what needs to be created and when it is due.
3) Promote – Both
This is your chance to publicly share all the created materials.
Once again, the Calendar from Plan stage is your friend.
Use it to keep you on track, but be open to adjusting your Plan as you gather responses to your promotions. Remain flexible and listen.
Just because you expected to send 2 emails doesn’t mean it won’t take a 3rd to drive the point home.
Remember, the key is to create a system you can use over an over again with each project so you aren’t reinventing every time.
Build your system around the logistics and free yourself to be creative.