Let’s chat frankly about those end of financial year projects
As I write this on a sunny Spring morning, I’m hyper aware that we’re entering into the time of year when we at Pickle Jar Communications start to receive a flurry of requests for project proposals. They’re often projects that you’ve wanted to do for ages. But the impetus to deliver on them now might be a use-it-or-lose-it opportunity: the financial year end is near, and that leftover budget is about to run out.
It’s reality. For you and for us. We ready ourselves for it. So why not have an out loud and frank conversation about it?
In this post my intention is to share five ways that you can help us (or your other agencies) to help you in being able to deliver those projects in a timely way and to the highest standards, and maximise the use of your remaining budget. I also invite you to start talking to us right now about what they might be.
Stop perfecting the brief
This is often where a project stalls before it starts. Perhaps you want to outsource that project because you’re just too busy to deliver it yourself. But is your busyness also getting in the way of developing that perfect project brief and getting it out to agency partners in good time (or at all)?
Contrary to what some people think (and some agencies say), good agencies welcome the chance to work with you to co-create the project brief. Especially if it increases their chance of winning the gig. It doesn’t have to all be on you. So, whatever state it’s in, even if it’s just a vague idea in your head, start partnering with your agencies right away and have them support the briefing stage too. Heck, they might even suggest an approach that you hadn’t considered.Be up front about your budget
You probably know how much money you have in that pot, and it’s unlikely to be unlimited (if only, hey?). Your agency or consultancy partner doesn’t know what that number is. Much time can be lost with negotiations caused by an agency not knowing what the financial scope of a project actually is. So, don’t be afraid to give them a number and they’ll be able to tell you what you can get for your budget. It speeds up the proposal and contract stage significantly. The more flat we can be in talking about money, the smoother everything moves.
Know that you won’t be the only one
We love you and we want to make you feel special. But you won’t be the only organisation asking us to do end of financial year budgets. So, get in there fast and be amongst the first to be having those conversations.
Invest in products and services that are ready to go or quick to start
Much of our work at Pickle Jar Communications is bespoke. But we also offer many products and packages that are just ready to go, or fast to get in development because they follow an existing model, don’t require lengthy planning, or they’re already created. And some of these don’t even require significant investments of time from you and your team too. These can include:
Audience research packages (been wanting those top tasks, user journey maps, personas, mental models, or user stories fully fleshed out?)
Content creation and visual design for your campaigns
Content audits (a quick win to happen behind the scenes with little input from you and with the benefit of an objective pair of eyes)
Skill reviews and training strategies (see our exemplar work with the University of Bath)
Online training programmes ready and waiting for you in the ContentEd School (purchase now, dive in when you’re ready)
Book places for the Utterly Content Global Festival or the ContentEd conference (take advantage of early bird discounts too)
Our content strategy maturity study (set yourself up to start the next academic year knowing exactly what you need to focus on)
Our book: The Connected Campus (2020) (beach reading anyone?)
We even have a few campaign plan concepts - such as clearing and induction campaigns - ready to share with the right client!
Look for options for single supplier procurement solutions
We are the only true content strategy consultancy in the UK (and probably Europe) that specialises exclusively in the education sector. We don’t take this claim lightly (and we don’t confuse it with just content marketing and content campaigns - content strategy is much more). Many of our clients have legitimately been able to avoid lengthy procurement processes in order to work with us because they’ve been able to prove that we’re uniquely placed in our offer. This can shave months off of getting a project started. So talk to us and your procurement team now about single supplier options. We can share how other institutions have supported that claim to make it work for them.
No matter where you’re at - even if you’re just mulling over a problem without any idea of a solution - it can all just start with an open and frank conversation. So do talk to us. We’re very good at listening.