School term three is fast approaching, and so are a few client projects. I’m sharing some of my wisdom for managing projects.
As we navigate the intricate WordPress design and development world, the line between project success and mishap often seems as thin as a thread. Today, let’s focus on amplifying our successes and minimising those pesky project pitfalls that can throw a wrench in our well-laid plans.
1. Clear the Fog – Define Success from the Start 🎯
Like every great story has a straightforward plot, every successful project needs a well-defined scope.
Before you start your next WordPress project, write down what success looks like.
Your scoping needs to be deep and wide. During your scoping, try to ask your client as many open questions as possible.
🗨️ Make the site faster? How much faster? What goal will that drive – SEO/Traffic/Sales/Conversions?
🗨️ A more intuitive user interface? What do you mean by intuitive? Which elements are currently confusing? Which goal will that drive – sales?
🗨️ A 300% increase in sales by the end of next year? What products or services have the highest ROI? Which ones are the best/worst sellers? What does the sales funnel look like?
When numbers come up, like increasing sales by 300% in a set period, you ask a closed question to lock that metric down. “Are we agreeing to lock in a 300% sales increase next year?”
Clarifying these goals upfront sets the stage for success and helps prevent the infamous scope creep.
💪 Practical Tip: For your following project proposal, try including a scope of work section that outlines all objectives, deadlines, and deliverables. This document becomes your roadmap and a reference point for you and your client.
2. Communication is Key – Don’t Let It Break Down 🔊
As freelancers, we often manage multiple projects and clients. This makes effective communication not just a necessity but a lifeline. Regular updates, either through email or a project management tool like ClickUp, Notion, Trello or Asana, ensure everyone stays on the same page. ClickUp is my go-to project management tool right now.
💪 Practical Tip: In your weekly update emails, include a brief recap of accomplishments in the past week, what’s on the agenda for the coming week, and any issues or roadblocks that need attention.
3. Stake Your Claim – Know Your Stakeholders 🤝
Identifying who has a stake in your project’s success is as crucial as the development work. Whether it’s the marketing team, a business owner, or end users, understanding their needs and expectations can guide your project’s direction and ensure you deliver value where it matters most.
If you miss a crucial stakeholder, you run the risk of them significantly derailing your project when they become involved.
💪 Practical Tip: Create a stakeholder map for your project initiation documents. A stakeholder map helps you tailor your approach and communication strategy to each stakeholder’s influence and interest.
4. Tools of the Trade – Equip Yourself 🛠️
Using the right tools can dramatically improve your efficiency and effectiveness. For instance, leveraging WordPress plugins like Rank Math for SEO optimisation or Advanced Custom Fields for customised editing experiences can save you hours of development time and enhance the project’s outcome.
Your development stack is equally important. I use PHPStorm, Local WP, Affinity Photo, Designer and Publisher (as a replacement for Adobe CS).
💪 Practical Tip: Consider a scenario where a client needs a complex, dynamic form. Instead of coding from scratch, use tools like Gravity Forms to create robust forms quickly and efficiently.
5. Agile Adaptation – Stay Flexible 🔄
The world of web development is ever-evolving, and being adaptable in your project approach can make a huge difference. Incorporating an agile methodology where you iterate based on feedback ensures that the project evolves in alignment with the client’s needs and any unforeseen market changes.
💪 Practical Tip: Introduce sprint planning and regular review sessions with your clients. Sprints will keep them engaged and allow you to make adjustments in real-time, ensuring the final product aligns with their vision. Use Gannt charts to show progress, milestones, and resource dependencies.
6. The Grand Finale – Proper Project Closure 👋
A project isn’t complete until you’ve conducted a post-mortem/closure meeting to discuss what went well and what didn’t. Holding a closure meeting is crucial for continuous improvement. Additionally, ensure you have transitioned the site entirely to the client, including handing over all credentials and documentation.
💪 Practical Tip: Schedule a closure meeting with your client to review the project deliverables. Use this opportunity to get feedback and discuss any follow-up support or training they might need, like WordPress maintenance, blocks of support maintenance hours or retainers.
Focusing on these critical areas can elevate your project management skills and ensure that your WordPress projects are completed and celebrated for their success.
Remember, every project is a stepping stone in your freelancing journey. Each is an opportunity to refine your skills, impress your clients, and build a reputation that opens doors to new and exciting challenges.
Until next time, keep thriving!
Wil.
P.S. I’d love to hear your experiences or tips on successfully steering WordPress projects. Hit reply or comment, and let’s chat!
