When it comes to project management for creative agencies, do you ever feel like you are losing your mind? There is so much information to track. Tasks, people, ideas… how can a marketing agency effectively keep up in a way that is simple yet sufficient?
The good news is that you can!
Using the right project coordination tools allow your team members to level-up their client service game. Consider the following solutions for your company:
1. Adobe Creative Cloud (CC)
A centralized location for all your creative works created with Adobe.
Price: Starting at $39.99 for a Single App
Adobe Creative Cloud (CC) is a full-stack suite of applications that we have all come to know and love by the maker of the same name. Users can subscribe to this project management tool and unleash the power of from popular programs like:
- Photoshop
- InDesign
- Illustrator
- Audition
- Premiere Pro
Not only does Adobe provide a centralized location for applications and storage, but it also developed features that allow teams to communicate across all team projects, including collaborative video editing, shared stock photo plans, and asset-syncing.
Adobe CC is available on a subscription basis. Creative agencies can select a monthly or annual subscription plan to suit their needs. Even better, your team can access applications using their cloud services or by downloading directly to their devices.
As you can see, Adobe CC is a critical tool for your creative agency. File management and coordination, especially mid-project, can be difficult to share across teams. This tool allows you to save projects without the hassle of versioning or accessibility issues.
2. Clockify
Time tracking and timesheets to ensure your business accounts for every second on a project.
Price: Free Forever (Premium Accounts Start at $9.99)
Time tracking and timesheets. They are both simultaneously challenging to manage, yet necessary to managing costs, creating efficiencies, and billing projects correctly. Introducing your new favorite timekeeper: Clockify.
Clockify is more than just a convenient little timeclock. It records your team’s activities across several categories. You can create reports in a single click, mark time as billable or non-billable, and design templates to save you time later.
Additional features of Clockify include:
- Real-time status updates
- Time category analysis
- Breakdown reports of productivity
You can share reports regarding your time and productivity tools via PDF, CSV, or through a publicly viewable link. These handy reports also allow you to keep an eye on project budgets by setting pay rates and time limits.
Your employees and colleagues can share information with you under the Clockify umbrella as well. Instead of chasing down emails and text messages, this time tracking platform allows you to keep everything in a single location. It works everywhere you are across any device or location. Their free subscription will enable companies to include unlimited users for life.
3. Heycollab
A centralized project coordination tool that combines the best features of your favorite apps and expands upon them.
Price: Free Forever (Premium Accounts Start at $29.99)
Heycollab is an all-in-one project management and collaboration tool that has all of the features that teams across the globe need and want. The overarching vision of Heycollab is simple: help teams work better together. Their team accomplishes this goal by offering teams tools that include:
- Instant messaging
- Kanban-style task boards
- Feedback channels
- Ample Cloud Storage
- Project Tracking and Progress
The Heycollab team designed the platform after needing a custom solution for their design agency, Creative27. They saw that productivity tools hampered productivity more than freed it. Plus, project coordination tools like Trello, Slack, and Asana require multiple integrations to meet the needs of a creative agency.
Heycollab takes all the features you love from your existing project management apps and houses them under a single platform. Instead of having to manage several applications spread across your teams, simplify the process by switching to a centralized solution, like Heycollab.
4. Microsoft OneNote
A robust information gathering solution that allows organizations to work seamlessly.
Price: Free (Premium Accounts Start at $6.99 per user)
Microsoft OneNote is an oldie but goodie. Few applications out there can capture the features that a notetaking app like this one can provide. Microsoft designed OneNote for users who want to create, store, and sync ideas across every device.
No longer are agencies subjected to clunky, manual notes. Instead, they can use this application to scribble down ideas or create professional documents all within a single location. OneNote’s ultimate goal is to provide you with a project collaboration tool to develop ideas and see them through.
Additional OneNote features include:
- Note presentation mode
- Categorization of tasks and ideas
- Visual elements to emphasis important ideas
- Export and download to PDF, CSV, shareable link, or OneDrive
Since OneNote works with OneDrive seamlessly, it allows you to integrate your notes with many popular applications and project management tools without skipping a beat. Versatility and flexibility are some of the many features that make this platform an excellent project coordination solution.
5. Google Drive
As the most popular cloud storage app, Google Drive offers convenience and collaboration to creative agencies.
Price: Free Forever
Google Drive a cloud-based storage solution that allows users to access their files across every device and location. Your team simply needs an internet connection to access it. Accounts work with existing Gmail log-ins, which means that it’s highly likely that your employees are already familiar with the product.
The project coordination tool also allows creative agency teams to work across the suite of Google services they already know, including Calendar, Gmail, and Hangouts. File storage limits are abundant, yet still limited for business use under a free account. Users can purchase 100 GB of storage starting at $1.99 under Google’s monthly subscription option.
Like Microsoft, Google Drive is an excellent choice for file storage since it integrates with several third-party business applications. Flexibility and awareness are two critical components when selecting extra cloud storage. Google makes it easy to share files and discuss them among your team.
Final Thoughts and Considerations
As you can see, better project management for creative agencies requires you to put the right systems in place. Consider finding a comprehensive solution with plenty of features, like Heycollab, to help you coordinate your next project.