Know-How Exchange : Other

Welcome back Ricky!
As for me I use ad planner pro (around $299) it allows you to create the verbiage for a plan but I mainly use it to track campaign results as we go along. For more extensive tracking I use an internal proprietary program that was developed for our agency.

There are also more expensive programs such as Creative Manager Pro that do extensive charting and tracking of everything.

Alyson

Like Alyson, we use a proprietary tool created in-house. The advantage is complete control over what is tracked and how, and the ability to easily add custom controls and features. Our tool is web-based and sits on a common database. This way, it is accessible from any location (it uses MD5 security, military grade) and can be easily updated. The number of custom components we have built into this backend has boosted our organization and productivity more than any other single factor in our business.

One important point here is that if you go custom, not only do you get exactly what you need, but the costs might be worth it alone. When you consider many sophisticated software suites can run $30,000 or more (much more), it's easy to see how hiring a few skilled web developers and building something in house might pay off. It will take time, but may be worth it. Our "dashboard" took me over a year to get it where it is now, but doing it in individual components meant it was useful all along the way, just getting more powerful every day.

wowwweeee ... I think I am just old school. I think it depends on types of organizations that you work with.... you work with what you have. I have been with organizations where money is like water and others where you needed to justify why you needed to buy a pencil ....

I have spent countless hours "surfing" and you know.. at the end of the day my own home jobs withy excel has never failed me. Excel is actually a pretty powerful tool if you put the time into it. The problem I find with some custom software is that it is just that... custom. Implementation time is a luxury I often do not have time to use up. Admittedly, I have worked for a lot of start up companies and technology companies. Interestingly enough though.. even in institution gigs I have had... justification is tedious.

Marketing... last to hire, first to fire. So I have always taken the position of definitely keeping it simple and showing my clients, employers where I can save them money. But the deal is always... I save you $100 ... you give me back $50. Introducing a bunch of customized software never seems to be part of that plan.

Not very helpful... sorry about that... but just a different strategy I guess.

Cheers,

T.

Hi Ricky,

hope you are having a great day!

There are many systems that I have used during my consulting career that have been quite effective.

MORE THAN ANYTHING JUST GET A METHOD AND WORK IT...

HERE'S WHAT I DO TO GET ORGANIZED.

THINK ORGANIZED---GET TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT IT...
I use the power of making habits a consistent part of my organizational strategy. Some things about getting organized have to be self maintained in your habits.

USE RIGHTEOUSNESS TO WORK FOR YOU...
Yes you right action, right reaction, right response and right habits to work for you. It's like when we eat right we feel better and the same is true when we create right actions of thinking that help us to see strategies more clearly. We can even use our cell phones to help us maintain those set structures.

GET A SECRET TO USING YOUR CELL PHONE HERE...
in a structured way that really supports me keeping an organizational strategy so that I'm even using my cell phone to work for me. For example when I know multiple people from the same company, non-profit organization, school or Synagogue I code the listing with the organizations initials. This way I list my numbers by groups versus by individual. I carry this strategy straight through to my computer listing of individuals by storing their names in blocks versus individuals unless they don't belong to a company.

BE CONSISTENT...
most people don't practice the habits of behavior that strengthens the system of keeping organized. But the more consistent you are the more successful you will become.

I LOVE A MANUAL SYSTEM BECAUSE I CAN TRANSLATE TO COMPUTER FOR BACK-UP.
For me nothing beats the old school methods like the "Day-Timer" system. You can put it to work in multiple types of format sheets that allow you to structure it in 2 page per week formats, 2 page per day formats, or 1 page per day. It's been quite effective for me for years, especially when I've coupled it with my email system.

THINK LESS---GETTING ORGANIZED RESTRUCTURES YOUR THINKING...
When you've been putting the methods in place for as long as I have I've discovered it restructures your whole thinking to the point that I can use the characteristics of the system even when I don't have access to the system itself. I.E., I can take a yellow legal pad and accomplish the methodology of the system inspite of the fact that I don't have the templates on paper or the templates in technology.

USE A SYSTEM...MAKE A HABIT & LIFE EASIER...
I've only covered a few of the ways I get organized but a great deal of my organizational strategies are scribbled between the hundreds of responses I've given right here on this forum. Check it out and you'll see it's true.

WANT PEACE OF MIND---USE A GREAT SYSTEM...
By making the system a habit you will have to think less about the strategy of how the system works and more about how to get the system to work more for you as you work less because of it. Remember our only real problem in life is our failure to be "MORE Creative" than we’ve ever been. If you “Invent” your opportunity YOU WILL most definitely create your future. Just know that I'm here for you if you need my help. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)