Blog

Online Project Management Systems

January 08, 2020   /   by  Cassie Shukitis

Project management is difficult. If it wasn’t, there wouldn’t be a litany of certifications, books, classes, or specific occupations dedicated to it. Like a song on the radio that inundates the airwaves (looking at you, Weezer’s cover of Africa), project management just won’t go away. And unlike that darned overplayed melody, you can’t change the channel to escape it. You can’t wait for another song to take its place. Project management will always be there. The whisper in your ear. The organized angel on your shoulder.

The term “project management” is a favorite for corporate types, but what does it mean, exactly? According to the Project Management Institute, project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to activities that will meet project requirements. Project management within a marketing agency requires the magical combination of managing multiple marketing campaigns, employees, and expectations for multiple clients, through multiple initiatives and phases while keeping the tenants of generic project management in mind.

In other words - it’s a lot of work. So much work, that many marketing agencies struggle with the full extent of project management.

Does Your Agency Need An Online Project Management Solution?

Yep. Unless you’re an android with 12 terabytes of memory and advanced logistical skills, a project management software solution will help solve a whole ‘lotta problems.

According to a HubSpot Marketing Agency Growth Report, 43% of agencies can’t find the time to focus on simple administrative tasks, 55% of agencies couldn’t allocate time to grow their sales and marketing. The report also makes two interesting observations on how agencies approach project management. 20% of agencies reported having never used project management software, while 40% said that they needed a project management software solution to better run their agency.

Roger West recognized the need for an effective project management system early on, and introduced a customized version of ActiveCollab, an online platform that makes it easy to organize projects, due dates, meeting notes, team communication, and billing across multiple clients. A project management system, paired with a streamlined operations process is one way to elevate your agency to the next level.

What To Look For In Project Management Software

If you hop on the good ol’ web and start searching for options in the sea of project management software, you’ll surely drown. It’s best to approach your search for project management help with a list of requirements in mind. Yes, you need help organizing your projects and communications, but there’s more to it than that. This will be an invaluable tool in your marketing tool kit. Be prepared to do some research to find the best fit for your agency and its unique set of needs and problems. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to vetting online project management software, here’s a list of factors to consider:

  • Desktop vs. web application
  • Mobile capabilities/integration
  • Centralized documentation and filing conventions
  • User-interface
  • Invoicing integration
  • Ease of collaboration
  • Productivity features
  • Project capacity
  • Customization

Get It Together

It’s going to take some time to get it together, even with some project management assistance. There is an inevitable introduction and implementation phase when you bring a new tool to your team. Hang in there. Take note of what works and what doesn’t, so you can optimize your platform to best suit your agency. Take your time. And hey, if you need help running a few extra campaigns - Roger West can help. Give us a call anytime.

Cassie Shukitis

Cassie Shukitis

Account Manager

As an Account Manager for Roger West, Cassie worked with a variety of clients to develop SEO-based strategies that generated leads and increased brand awareness in their respective markets.