As we charge into the new year, we at MASON are reflecting on the tools and strategies that make our work possible. Managing a creative agency means staying organized, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that every project is delivered on time and on point.
There are several tools that have become integral parts of how we manage projects, keep workflows streamlined and ultimately deliver services and work that exceed our client’s expectations.
Below, we’ve highlighted the key project management tools that have been essential to our success and continue to drive our projects forward.
1. Streamlining Communication and Collaboration
Creative projects thrive on strong communication. This eliminates confusion and ensures that everyone—your team and your clients—are always on the same page.
At our agency, Google Workspace plays a pivotal role in streamlining our operations and fostering collaboration. We rely on Google Drive to securely store and share files, ensuring our team and clients have easy access to the resources they need. Google Docs is an essential tool for keeping and capturing ongoing notes, which are shared with clients for their comments and to maintain transparency and alignment. Additionally, Google Sheets allows us to develop and manage templates for work feedback, enabling efficiency and organization.
2. Staying Organized and On Schedule
When juggling multiple projects, keeping everything on track can feel overwhelming. That’s where project management tools really shine. They help break down complex projects into manageable tasks, set realistic timelines, and monitor progress in real time. This keeps your team efficient and ensures deadlines are met without compromising creativity.
We use Bonsai, an all-in-one business management platform, to manage clients and projects from onboarding all the way through to billing. You can read more about how we use Bonsai in this feature where we shared our feedback on the platform: Bonsai Customer Story. Or, watch this clip from the interview:
3. Building Stronger Client Relationships
Transparency is key to building trust with clients. With the right tools, you can provide clear timelines, regular updates, and detailed invoices, making it easier to keep clients informed and aligned with project goals. Consistent communication fosters stronger, more dependable relationships.
It’s our practice to check-in across multiple channels. In addition to our shared notes in Google Docs, we also send weekly status updates via email and/or have a planned weekly call to cover project updates, upcoming or current milestones and any questions.
4. Staying Focused on What Matters
Creativity is the heart of any successful project. Having processes in place, supported by our management tools, allow us to keep focus on what matters to us most: delivering creative solutions that impress our clients (and make them look impressive) and effectively support the objectives set. When logistics are streamlined, creativity can thrive, leading to impactful work.
As we look ahead to another year of creative challenges and exciting projects, we’re grateful for the tools that help us do our best work.
