Make Time For The Creative Process

But as a professional marketer, the struggle is more than just managing my time effectively; I need to establish time to create. Marketing directors must carefully balance a role consisting of both corporate and creative responsibilities. Reviewing advertising invoices, approving insertion orders, confirming correct ad spend and reconciling the design budget are all day-to-day tasks that can pile on top of the standard (and overwhelming) distractions of emails and meetings.

I can check off all the to-do boxes of my day’s required tasks — approved invoices, check; returned emails, check; reviewed on automated social media posts, check — but I can easily lose time to simply create. Small or privately held businesses may have one marketer on staff, and for my fellow lone marketers, I’m certain you’re struggling with balancing everyday tasks and the art of creating.

The creative process is different for everyone, but one thing is certain: It can’t (or, at least, shouldn’t) be scheduled into a day full of back-to-back meetings. The most unique, engaging and creative ideas should stem from a limitless clean slate — and if you’re a marketing leader in a privately held company, that may be hard to come by.

Here are five techniques that have helped me manage workplace distractions in order to create meaningful and successful marketing campaigns:

1. Say no to meetings.

This is probably the hardest thing to do, and not yet widely accepted in the modern workplace. I’ve come to accept the concept that my schedule is my responsibility, and that means (respectfully) declining meetings when I’m not needed, when they can be completed during a quick phone call or if there’s a history of mismanagement with the meeting’s organizer.

I’ve also started to block off my availability on both Mondays and Fridays. Does anyone really want to have a meeting on these days? Establishing a “no meeting day” at least one day a week provides creative professionals free time to think, brainstorm, design and write.

2. Turn off emails.

If I’m working on a new marketing campaign, whether writing copy, designing, proofing or scheduling social media posts, I’m the most focused when my Outlook app is closed entirely. Even removing pop-up window notifications of new emails didn’t do the trick — just knowing that my email app was open and receiving messages was distracting. I’ve found closing out my email app altogether gives me clarity over the message I’m trying to communicate and impacts my writing abilities profoundly.

3. Delegate.

Small department marketing directors may be overwhelmed with corporate/management duties, but they also make up most of the creative experience within the team. Identifying a responsible delegate to help with the administrative tasks of marketing campaigns will go a long way.

These tasks can include setting up automated billing across social media advertising campaigns, reconciling invoices with paid campaign completion, running performance reports of the website for analysis, and management of marketing-required (but time-consuming) tasks of ordering business cards, stationery and branded giveaway items. Trusting a delegate to manage incoming meeting requests is also a huge time saver, especially when they will help maintain your “no meeting Monday” standard.

4. Create with a blank slate.

When brainstorming a new marketing project, I start with a blank page. Literally. I’ve found writing and drawing by hand help me formalize the concept of the campaign, including determining copy, design and structure. Hand drawing a new email template design helps me visualize possibilities before plugging away in Dreamweaver or the standard email programs’ canned templates.

Even in a world dependent on technology, running through copy drafts by hand provides an untouched feeling of accomplishment.

5. Be ready for the flash.

Another workplace must-have for me, personally, is managing a healthy work-life balance. But a true marketer’s creative juices will never stop, and you could get a brilliant idea for a new ad campaign when you least expect it. You might even get the best ideas outside of the workplace (remember all the distractions?), so always remain ready.

For me, this means keeping an old-school notebook in my “mom bag” or sending myself notes on my smartphone. The last two major brand campaigns I’ve completed came from ideas at night while watching Netflix. Maybe there’s truth to getting out of the office to generate new ideas.

Time management isn’t a new topic by any means. All professionals can relate to constant workplace interruptions. But creative leaders must dual-manage employer-specific processes while keeping time available to create. Here’s to all the amazing ideas to come from shutting off emails, delegating minor administrative tasks, declining meetings and finding an open space to create.

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Having been within the workforce for greater than 15 years (that’s simpler than saying I’m in my mid … nope, nonetheless can’t say it), time administration has been a constant battle, particularly as I’ve moved up in my tasks. I do know I’m not alone: Firms and consulting companies have hung out (pun supposed) and cash in understanding the perfect administration expertise to extend productiveness. A easy search can produce a number of articles with nice suggestions and methods for taking management of your time.

However as knowledgeable marketer, the battle is extra than simply managing my time successfully; I want to ascertain time to create. Advertising and marketing administrators should fastidiously steadiness a job consisting of each company and inventive tasks. Reviewing promoting invoices, approving insertion orders, confirming right advert spend and reconciling the design finances are all day-to-day duties that may pile on high of the usual (and overwhelming) distractions of emails and conferences.

I can verify off all of the to-do packing containers of my day’s required duties — accepted invoices, verify; returned emails, verify; reviewed on automated social media posts, verify — however I can simply lose time to easily create. Small or privately held companies could have one marketer on employees, and for my fellow lone entrepreneurs, I’m sure you’re fighting balancing on a regular basis duties and the artwork of making.

The inventive course of is totally different for everybody, however one factor is for certain: It may’t (or, a minimum of, shouldn’t) be scheduled right into a day filled with back-to-back conferences. Probably the most distinctive, participating and inventive concepts ought to stem from a limitless clear slate — and in the event you’re a advertising and marketing chief in a privately held firm, which may be laborious to return by.

Listed here are 5 methods which have helped me handle office distractions to be able to create significant and profitable advertising and marketing campaigns:

1. Say no to conferences.

That is in all probability the toughest factor to do, and never but broadly accepted within the fashionable office. I’ve come to simply accept the idea that my schedule is my accountability, and which means (respectfully) declining conferences after I’m not wanted, when they are often accomplished throughout a fast cellphone name or if there’s a historical past of mismanagement with the assembly’s organizer.

I’ve additionally began to dam off my availability on each Mondays and Fridays. Does anybody actually need to have a gathering on today? Establishing a “no assembly day” a minimum of at some point per week offers inventive professionals free time to suppose, brainstorm, design and write.

2. Flip off emails.

If I’m engaged on a brand new advertising and marketing marketing campaign, whether or not writing copy, designing, proofing or scheduling social media posts, I’m probably the most targeted when my Outlook app is closed completely. Even eradicating pop-up window notifications of recent emails didn’t do the trick — simply realizing that my electronic mail app was open and receiving messages was distracting. I’ve discovered closing out my electronic mail app altogether provides me readability over the message I’m making an attempt to speak and impacts my writing talents profoundly.

three. Delegate.

Small division advertising and marketing administrators could also be overwhelmed with company/administration duties, however additionally they make up many of the inventive expertise inside the staff. Figuring out a accountable delegate to assist with the executive duties of selling campaigns will go a great distance.

These duties can embody establishing automated billing throughout social media promoting campaigns, reconciling invoices with paid marketing campaign completion, operating efficiency reviews of the web site for evaluation, and administration of marketing-required (however time-consuming) duties of ordering enterprise playing cards, stationery and branded giveaway gadgets. Trusting a delegate to handle incoming assembly requests can be an enormous time saver, particularly when they’ll assist preserve your “no assembly Monday” normal.

four. Create with a clean slate.

When brainstorming a brand new advertising and marketing undertaking, I begin with a clean web page. Actually. I’ve discovered writing and drawing by hand assist me formalize the idea of the marketing campaign, together with figuring out copy, design and construction. Hand drawing a brand new electronic mail template design helps me visualize prospects earlier than plugging away in Dreamweaver or the usual electronic mail packages’ canned templates.

Even in a world depending on know-how, operating by means of copy drafts by hand offers an untouched feeling of accomplishment.

5. Be prepared for the flash.

One other office must-have for me, personally, is managing a wholesome work-life steadiness. However a real marketer’s inventive juices won’t ever cease, and you could possibly get an excellent thought for a brand new advert marketing campaign once you least count on it. You would possibly even get the perfect concepts outdoors of the office (bear in mind all of the distractions?), so at all times stay prepared.

For me, this implies retaining an old-school pocket book in my “mother bag” or sending myself notes on my smartphone. The final two main model campaigns I’ve accomplished got here from concepts at night time whereas watching Netflix. Perhaps there’s fact to getting out of the workplace to generate new concepts.

Time administration isn’t a brand new matter by any means. All professionals can relate to fixed office interruptions. However inventive leaders should dual-manage employer-specific processes whereas retaining time obtainable to create. Right here’s to all of the wonderful concepts to return from shutting off emails, delegating minor administrative duties, declining conferences and discovering an open area to create.