Managing projects can be a lot to handle: process, deliverables, dates, deadlines, people, personalities, budgets, and more. Arguably, managing people and personalities can be the most difficult. And, when that is the case, you need for the rest of the job to be a little bit easier. These days, we’re using modern tools to help us manage the administrative side of projects. Having a tool that provides a simple output of data that’s needed to keep the project on track, and your team and stakeholders informed can be critical, depending on what you track and report. So we’re wondering: what do you measure? And what do you have a hard time with when it comes to reporting data? We’d like for you to share your practices with us in a new survey created by Digital PM Summit 2017 sponsor 10,000ft. Read more.
As humans, we are social creatures. We crave to be with others who make us feel like part of the pack, especially when we feel a little different. That's why the web industry has been about community from the beginning. Over the past two decades, designers and developers have been getting together to share, learn and support one another. As the industry has evolved, so have the communities. In this episode of the Bureau Briefing, Carl and Chris talk about helping communities they are a part of to grow while making sure the value of the connections are maintained.
Listen to this episode.
You run a digital agency. Your team looks to you for all the answers. Some things you’ve learned over the years and feel confident to solve. Others… well, you just don’t know! The solution? You are not alone! Every year hundreds of owners come together to learn, share and commiserate at Owner Summit. Many owners tell us they’ve drastically improved their shops and avoided major pitfalls through the relationships they’ve formed.
Read more.
Every digital agency has a set of services they sell. Deciding what you'll offer out of the gate is always tricky. Do you base it on what the team is passionate about or what clients are willing to pay for? Maybe both.
Listen to this episode.
The Digital PM Summit is full of learning and networking opportunities that will impact your career and affect how you do your job. Plus, your organization will see the benefits of your participation when you return refreshed with new practices and ideas.
You get it, but how do you convince your boss to send you? First, you've got to explain what makes the Digital PM Summit unique and worthwhile. Here are three of the top reasons... Read More
You know that idea you had? The one that seemed like it could really make a difference in your life. Then, over a period of time, you convince yourself that it will never work. Why do we do this? Well, one day Jason Zook decided to be a force of nature. He took one of his crazy ideas and decided to launch a company where he was paid to wear t-shirts. And it worked…eventually. Because he did the work. He contacted everyone he knew. And hustled. And after months of not quitting, he got traction. Eventually IWearYourShirt made over a million dollars in revenue. Then he shut it down and forced another crazy idea to work. So why aren't you doing your idea again?
Listen to this episode.
Well, I guess that does it. You’ve clicked on a link and expect to find something. But that’s how expectations work. They start before you realize you are thinking about them and they never stop changing. Why do they matter? Because they set the tone for everything we do.
Read this post.
Digital project management has been a part of the web from the beginning, even if we didn’t call it that when we started. As the digital services industry matured, we loosely formalized the role of a digital project manager. But the gaps and differences from one shop to another has led to some confusion. Especially with the increase of account managers being brought on at digital agencies. And now, a tangled web of AM, PM and DPM has us all a little confused as to who should do what. Listen in as Brett Harned shares why we should focus on clarifying the role and not the title. And more specifically, the human beings we task with the responsibilities.
Don't miss your opportunity to be a part of the conversation! Get your ticket for the Digital PM Summit, this October 15-17 in Las Vegas!
Listen to this episode.
This October marks five years of the Digital PM Summit, and quite possibly the start of an active global community for digital project managers. Over the past five years, the Digital PM Summit has served as a meeting place for people who lead digital projects to learn, share ideas, and meet like-minded industry friends. We’ve explored important topics that have not only strengthened attendees’ skills, but have strengthened our sense of community. This year, we’ll continue with that tradition, but will also celebrate who we are, and where we are now as a greater community. It’s not just about the people who end up in the room during our 2-day event, it’s about the people around the world who are a part of the ongoing conversation via Twitter, blogs, meetups, and other great events that have arisen since then. Read more.
Diversity. It’s a big word that causes a lot of conversation. Unfortunately, the conversation isn’t leading to action. In fact, it’s leaving some disengaged convinced that others are “fixing” the problems. In this episode of the Bureau Briefing, Willie Jackson shares his thoughts on why we need to get past the concept of diversity and move forward with a focus on inclusion. To do that, we have to accept some uncomfortable truths about how we got here and what we all need to let go of to move forward.
Listen to this episode.
Every year there are digital agencies that are having their best year ever and holding on as their companies experience rapid growth. At the same time, there are shops that are struggling and are convinced that the sky is falling. Yet it never seems to come crashing down.
So what’s really going on? Find out by watching this Owner Summit presentation!
They call them "the basics". Little, innocuous things that don't seem to really matter. But they do. In fact, something as simple as sending an acknowledgment email to an important message can make all the difference in keeping a team engaged and a client confident. This week Carl and Sam Barnes talk about why getting back to the basics is so important and how to get better at them. And when you do, you can enjoy the positive changes in both your work and your relationships with the people on your team.
Learn more and meet Sam at the Digital PM Summit in Vegas this October!
Listen to this episode.
If there is anything a digital project manager can tell you about the role, it’s that each project brings a new challenge. This fact alone makes the job equally exciting and frustrating. Not knowing what could pop up from one minute to the next, and knowing that not all client projects will run the same exact way can be stressful, because there is a level of problem solving that’s always needed. But that’s the way the client service industry works, and good project managers have to think on their feet and always be aware of what’s happening (or not happening). That’s what’s exciting about it: every day brings something new, whether it be a new development, process, or even a challenge. Read more.
Soft skills are rarely discussed in the process focused world of digital project management. But when you spend time understanding the team and the client as humans, an amazing thing can happen. People start to care. They open up and share ideas. They talk about what matters to them. Concerns they may have. Even previous experiences that could impact the way work gets done. With that openness, everything gets better. Even the bottom line. But across cultures, there is a tendency to get a little mechanical. So how can we put people back at the heart of how we approach project management? Peta Kennett-Wilson has some thoughts.
Join Peta's workshop at the Digital PM Summit this October in Vegas.
Listen to the podcast.
Every year, hundreds of digital professionals improve themselves and their teams by learning, sharing and connecting at Bureau of Digital events. And while the Bureau has grown based on existing connections and relationships, it’s time to expand our efforts to reach people outside of our circles. So today we are excited to announce the Bureau Diversity Scholarship. Combined with our outreach efforts, these scholarships are intended to encourage a more diverse group of digital professionals to join us at our events and help our community to evolve.
Read the full announcement.
In the early days of web design, there was more work than any one shop could handle. Everyone was super selective on the clients they took, and project focused. There was no need for a business development person as much as a need for filtering through the mass of inbound leads. If you treated people fairly, did decent work and kept your commitments you would succeed. As they say, those were the days. And they are gone. So now what? What are we hanging on to from the past that's hurting our future? It's time to figure it out because there is a new wave of agencies coming in without the baggage. And if the established shops want to succeed, some changes are in order.
Need to get your biz dev on track? Join us for Biz Dev Camp!
Listen to this episode.
Conferences are great for all the reasons you can think of: learning new things, honing your craft, making new contacts in the industry, reconnecting with old friends, and so much more. But when the conference is in a location that offers some fun, it makes it even better! Every year we aim to take the Digital PM Summit to a city our attendees can explore. This year, for our fifth anniversary, we are leveling up! Read on for more info on things to do in Vegas, our location, and a sweet deal to get yourself some cash to spend during your stay.
Read more.
Fact: Digital agencies struggle with Agile. It feels like a private club with a secret handshake. But if you get in it will open up a world of faster and better project management. The problem is it never quite fits with how a shop works. One solution is to lowercase the "A", or "a" if you will. What does that even mean? Listen in as Dave Prior, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, CSPO, CSP and CST shares his insights from over 20 years of helping teams and individuals manage their work in the most effective way possible.
Want to learn more? Catch Dave's workshop at the Digital PM Summit this October in Vegas!
Listen to the podcast.
Here’s the scenario. A potential client hits you up for a project. You submit your proposal and get the verbal green light so you send off a contract or work agreement and prepare to begin. But then...crickets. Hate to break it to you, but you just got ghosted!
Ghosting, flaking, vanishing - whatever you want to call it, I think we can all agree that it is a pretty uncool thing to do. It’s uncool in your personal relationships and it’s especially uncool in business when time and money are at stake. It’s not something you want to develop a reputation for and it sure isn’t something you want to deal with from someone else. But let’s be real, it happens and sometimes for completely justifiable, unintentional reasons. The question is how do you respond when a ghoster, a flaker or a Houdini comes back around as if nothing ever happened.
Read on to find out what to do...
When you start a business you pour your heart and soul into it. If you’re willing to make the commitment and sacrifices, your business makes it. If you’re really lucky it thrives. But eventually, almost all businesses fail. And when they do it is a horrible, painful and severely depressing experience. Today, Jess Singer shares her story of founding and closing Mamabargains, one of the first and most successful deal sites ever. It had crazy growth, major corporate partnerships, and a huge fan base. So what went wrong? And more importantly, how does a founder recover from failure in the face of success?
Listen to this episode.
