6 essential project planning steps to success

Distillery District, Toronto.

Whether you're improving work-flow, starting a new venture, updating your website, an app or promoting products & services, these steps will confidently set the foundation for success.

What's the Scope of the project?

Step 1: Needs Assessment

Ask a lot of questions

• Project goals –  what is the challenge. what is the opportunity
• Intended audiences – who is this for
• Information scope – what do we want to say, sell, promote
• Staffing and resources requirements – who will do the work
• Technical requirements – how will this be built & how will it be distributed
• Implementation and maintenance
• Budget & timeline.

Step 2: The Creative Brief

Write It All down

• Gather information in all formats
• Content – words, images, videos, forms etc.
• Functional Specifications - description of features
• Information Architecture - create a Site Map or table of contents 
• Work in Progress presentation

Stage 3 - Prototype Design

Picture This

• Comprehensive presentation
• Content
• Layout
• Functionality

• StyleGuide – document design decisions.

Stage 4 - Development

Make It Work

• Create working model or comp
• User Acceptance testing – are you sure the people you're making this for, really, really like it?.
• Conduct quality assurance review - Create a checklist to fix typos, bugs, errors, testing that everything works as it is intended
• Production & delivery.

Stage 5 - Promote Promote Promote

Get the message out

Marketing strategy will be product specific using current targeted platforms including

• Social channels
• Search Optimization
• Web, mobile platforms
• Print distribution & live events.

Stage 6 - Maintenance

Keep it Fresh

These considerations are project specific and may include

• Administration User Guide
• Content Launch Plan
• User Experience Review - for continuous improvements.