Transitioning to “Being Agile,” isn’t only for software developers and IT project managers. We always strive to be more efficient and flexible and deliver valuable results. We also value the relationships we build with our clients. So, why not apply the same principals to our team that the software world was embracing?
We practiced daily stand-ups and weekly sprint planning for about a year to get the hang of it. We spoke with other agencies who applied agile to their operations. We read books. We created PowerPoint presentations. We memorized the agile manifesto.
Then, we decided to “go all in,” eventually investing in JIRA as our project management tool. We learned a lot during the process that I’m happy to share, but for this post, I’ll stick to the basic questions being asked by clients and other interested agencies.
An agile approach to inbound marketing (or any marketing plan) eliminates the old school method of forcing deliverables that lock marketers and their clients into premature decisions. Typically, these decisions are outlined in the very beginning of the relationship, when we knew each other the least, which just doesn't make sense.
Agile lets us all move away from set-it-and-forget-it assumptions in contracts that quickly become outdated. It also lets our team of inbound experts use their honed skill set and proactively advise clients on the strategic deliverables that will get the best results every month.
As markets, business goals and results change, so do the strategies and tactics we can recommend. This empowers our team and our clients to work more “in the now” and adapt to the current state of business. Learn more about the benefits of agile inbound marketing.
Here is an overview of the process we follow as an agile marketing agency:
Monthly: Agile was designed to make teams work more efficiently, better and stronger than before. This begins with a monthly “inspect and adapt” cycle, where we look at actual results and make decisions based on data, rather than assumptions. As part of our monthly reviews, we collaborate on the best opportunities to get the most results from every client’s inbound investment.
Weekly: We plan our workflow in one week “sprints” to keep all deliverables on track. All of our tasks remain in our backlog planning, until they are ready to be pulled into the current sprint to complete as done for the week. That’s why our clients’ participation and feedback is so crucial to working in agile. Together, we can get more done, in less time, and with stronger results.
Daily: Each morning our team meets for a quick check-in, called a scrum meeting, to plan the most efficient day possible as a team. During the meeting, each team member answers these three questions:
This daily check-in is perfect for our agency. Within 15 minutes, our entire organization is on the same page and knows what to expect for themselves and from their team members each day. It quickly prevents deliverables from falling behind schedule, helps us prioritize deadlines, and ensures that everyone is aligned with reaching each client’s marketing goals on a daily basis.
Our agile approach is also aligned with a transparent deliverables catalog. So, clients are never locked into a set of deliverables outlined in a stuffy, non-flexible contract. Instead, programs are customized monthly depending on each client’s needs, goals and results, and shared collaboratively with clients.
Interested in learning more about agile inbound marketing? Book a consultation to see if we're the right fit for your business.
