Creative agencies like to focus on the work, not the project details involved in managing it. But, alas, project management is vital to completing any project, especially with multiple creatives or teams involved. Thankfully, there are many project management tools available today that can handle the important connections and details, while your creatives focus on being creative.
Techopedia defines Project Management Software like this: “Project management software is software used for project planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and change management. It allows project managers (PMs), stakeholders, and users to control costs and manage budgeting, quality management, and documentation, and also may be used as an administration system. Project management software is also used for collaboration and communication between project stakeholders.”
The best tool for your company is going to depend on your size and your needs, but here are a few recommendations of top project management software tools for busy agencies.
Asana
No matter how large or small your creative agency, you can benefit from using Asana. Keep up with the details of your projects from start to finish, all in a single, easy interface. Asana is simple to use. Start using it for free and check it out for yourself. There are also paid packages for larger teams. Everyone on your team in any location will be able to keep up with projects and their progress, as well as what still needs to be accomplished.
Paymo
With Paymo project management software, you can take total control of projects and know if and when everyone is working together and getting things done. Paymo includes many useful features, like task management, task assignments, project templates, project planning, progress visual Kanban boards, a bird’s eye view of all projects, milestones, and detailed project data. Spend more time working on your projects than managing them with Paymo.
Wrike
Wrike project management software provides users with real-time information about everything that your team is working on. Create reports to track the performance of your team, track all your different projects, and all at the click of a button. Wrike is ideal for marketing teams, creative teams, project management teams, and product development teams with multiple team members involved on different projects. Everyone stays connected to the projects at hand and to one another, so everyone knows what needs to be done.
Workamajig
Workamajig is billed as the best project management software for those working in any creative industry. It can be used both for agencies and for in-house teams, and it is used by some of the most famous creative teams across the globe. Collaborate, get accurate data, create reports, and improve your team’s visibility on projects, all on one platform. This is an all-in-one solution for creative teams that want to spend less time on project management details and more time on actually getting work done.
LiquidPlanner
Schedule multiple projects, track time, communicate with your team, collaborate with team members, schedule tasks and assign time expectations, all with LiquidPlanner. This project management tool is also safe and easy to use on all mobile devices, so you can take speed and accuracy on the road. There is a free trial for those interested, or a demo on the website.
Basecamp
One of the most popular project management tools, and a go-to for many project managers, is Basecamp. Simple, easy to use, easy to personalize, basecamp allows for effective task management and communication for all your team members, no matter their location or time zone. Assign tasks t people or teams, create boards for project discussions, and chat with team members as you work.
Trello
Trello is a popular tool among creative agencies because it allows your team to visualize tasks and everyday assignments on a simple dashboard. Great for task management, multiple task lists with different team member assignments, and filters for better organization. Trello is basic project management at its best.
Teamwork
Teamwork combines team project management, help desk, and chat software into a single efficient tool. It features a customizable navigation, milestone and timeline visualization through a Gantt chart, private messaging, and other great organizational features.
If your creative agency is searching for the right project management tool, give those above a try. Each has singular features that may fit your agency or teams better than others. Since most allow free use or at least a free trial, you won’t have any trouble using and choosing the best one for you.
Do you have other favorites we did not list above? We’d love to hear about your favorite project management tools! Share your suggestions in the comments below.