As a freelance writer, I’m always receiving and reviewing scope of work documents. These digital documents help me maintain clarity, so I know who’s responsible for what and when tasks are due. Many projects derail because expectations aren’t clearly set from the start. Deadlines get missed, budgets spiral out of control, and no one seems to know the next step. The good news? A well-crafted scope of work can solve these problems before they arise. In this guide, I’ll show you how to write a clear and effective scope of work, complete with examples and a handy template to streamline […]

Welcome to Creator Columns, where we bring expert HubSpot Creator voices to the Blogs that inspire and help you grow better. I started my career as a Designer before transitioning into Project Management, and I’ve now been in this field for over 15 years in which 10 of them I worked as a Program Manager. It’s amazing to reflect on how much the landscape has evolved and matured, with new roles and responsibilities along the way. When I moved to the United States and was building my career in this new country, I spent a lot of time searching for […]

Your project’s success hinges on a single crucial factor: clarity. When we say clarity, we’re talking about crystal-clear instructions on who does what. Everyone involved in the project, from employees to stakeholders, should know their roles and responsibilities inside out. Any confusion or oversight can lead to misunderstandings or conflicts, derailing your project faster than you can imagine. That’s where the RACI matrix comes in. When integrated into your project lifecycle (PLC), this simple yet powerful approach spells out project roles and responsibilities, guiding your team toward collaboration and improved outcomes. Click here to get HubSpot’s free RACI Matrix Template […]

Imagine you have hundreds of files in a folder labeled “Important Files.” Some of the files are named by date, some by subject, and some by author. You have to sift through all of them to find a review of the new neighborhood pizza place. Without a consistent filename or organizational structure, you’re not going to find that review anytime soon. That scenario illustrates the value of technical SEO, which I learned about while managing a project to rebuild a previous employer’s website from the ground up. The original website didn’t have a consistent formula for creating new URLs — […]

The first step in any successful project is drawing up a game plan with a clear objective. It’s one of the reasons marketers love creative briefs. A creative brief acts as a roadmap that takes a project from ideation to completion. It ensures the scope, timeline, key stakeholders, and purpose of the project are communicated clearly. The creative brief is the single source of truth for everyone working on a project. If questions come up or tasks become unclear, the creative brief will steer things in the right direction. The Purpose of a Creative Brief Whether you’re a consultant pitching […]

What problems and obstacles do you face as a project manager? For many, scope creep, poor communication, and task delays top the list. To state the obvious, project management can be tricky. Without careful planning and strategizing, it can feel like you’re f working blind. So, if you’re in a project management position, starting with the basics is your best bet. Here, we’ll break down projects into five phases to help you better understand what needs to be done and when. The Project Management Lifecycle The Five Stages of Project Management Stage 1: Project Conception and Initiation Stage 2: Project […]

Project management isn’t just about building software and hardware. Project managers distribute resources appropriately, manage timelines, and take care of stakeholders throughout the process. However, that’s often easier said than done. After all, there’s a reason project managers are constantly tweaking their approaches and rethinking their processes. In this article, you’ll learn project management basics and how you can implement them in your business. Let’s get started. Table of Contents What is project management? Why is project management important? What is a project manager? The Project Management Life Cycle Popular Approaches to Project Management Project Management Best Practices The process […]

Successful projects have support from stakeholders across the organization. That’s why stakeholder management is essential for any initiative. Stakeholder management allows you to identify and meet leaders’ needs while keeping communication open. In this article, you’ll learn what stakeholder management is, why it’s important, and how to create a stakeholder management plan. Table of Contents What is stakeholder management? Why is stakeholder management important? Benefits of Stakeholder Management Inside the Stakeholder Management Process Tips for Stakeholder Management Why is stakeholder management important? Projects fail when the interests and needs of stakeholders are ignored. This leads to a lack of buy-in […]

Project charters provide a guiding light for any new initiative. So, whether you work as a project manager or operations professional, you’ll need to become a pro at writing these documents. Besides providing you with the authorization to begin projects, project charters help you sell your project’s viability to stakeholders. This document will also help get your entire team on board with your plans and deadlines. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about project charters. We’ll cover: What is a project charter? The Benefits of Creating Project Charters How to Write a Project Charter The Anatomy […]

Whether you’re completing recurring tasks or creating a new program, process documentation can help you formalize your business endeavors. In fact, creating documentation helps improve coordination, structure, and consistency in your organization. This post gathers best practices for process documentation. Here, you’ll learn: What is process documentation? Why Process Documentation Matters Process Documentation Benefits Creating Process Documentation Tips for Process Documentation Process documentation could be a step-by-step tutorial on a new software tool or an onboarding document for new hires. This practice allows you to be proactive in designing internal systems and processes that save time, capital, and valuable energy. […]