We at image.works pride ourselves on our ability to turn marketing projects around very quickly with great creativity and quality, while keeping our costs transparent and reasonable. And you, as our client, are part of this equation! There is a good deal of prep work – on your part and ours – that goes into an effective, customized marketing piece. Although we appreciate receiving all the information we need already prepped and ready for us, we understand that is not always feasible, and we work with you no matter what works best for you. However, if your marketing promotions are running on a tight timeline, here are some tips to help ensure timely turnaround:
1. Send complete and organized content at the beginning.
Sending your direction, copy and images in multiple emails or via various means of communication (email, phone, Dropbox, etc.) over a great amount of time can complicate the process. Here are some ideas for organizing your information:
• Send complete and organized content at the beginning.
• Give clear and relevant names to email subjects, documents and images.
• Condense copy into one document when possible.
• Use folders to help organize lots of content.
• Include highlighted notes for images, ideas or directions within the document.
• Too much content to send through email? Ask your team for other options
(for example, WeTransfer.com).
2. Deliver everything on schedule.
We understand this is not always an option; however, moving a project forward with pieces missing can increase the difficulty of developing a complete layout and affect the timeline. If you are unsure of when various pieces need to be provided, be sure to ask your image.works team.
3. Include key decision makers at the beginning.
Sometimes not including everyone at the beginning can cause a project to do a one-eighty when it was thought to be almost complete.
4. Decide on a point person.
You may have a whole team of people at your financial institution working together on projects, but your image.works team appreciates knowing whom to contact with questions. Plus, information from multiple sources can be conflicting. A point person is helpful for giving the final say, or gathering it from others, and filtering the content directions to us.
5. Make edits concise and specific.
The proofing process has the potential to be the most time-consuming part. Everyone works differently, and there are many variables. Once you reach that first proof, your content should be mostly set, and it’s best to provide concise, specific changes if you have any. Limiting rounds of review can greatly enhance your project and speed up the production process.
6. Send edits in an easy-to-understand format.
We receive edits in many ways: email, fax, PDF markups and over the phone. We recommend marking up a PDF with your edits. It takes a little know-how with Adobe Acrobat, but once you’ve got it down, it’s one of the easiest, most effective and efficient ways to communicate your changes. For more information on how to use PDF markup, check out our blog Using Adobe Acrobat PDF Comments for Proofing.
7. Allow time for the process.
Keep in mind that are several steps to the process: copy, design, proofing, production and printing. image.works provides a set schedule for each step, which allows for a smooth process and leads to the best outcome, and we’re known for our timely turnaround. We invite you to talk with your team about the schedule. We’re more than willing to work with you on how to generate the best product in an efficient manner.
8. Make your approval clear.
We receive many emails with “Looks great!” or “I like it.” While these emails are much-appreciated, they don’t clearly indicate that you’re ready to go to print. Until we get a signed approval sheet, or an email stating a clear approval, we do not move ahead with producing your pieces.
9. Take approvals seriously.
When you send us approval, your project can immediately be thrown into production, and a lot of behind-the-scenes processes go into play. Going back on your approval can complicate the process and affect the timeline.
We hope these tips give you a better idea how to keep your projects moving forward smoothly and without delay. If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to reach out to your team. We want to help you achieve the most effective marketing materials possible in a timely manner.