Here's how you can effectively manage time and productivity with multiple brand strategy clients.

Prioritize the priorities and strategize for their successful completion. Combine channels of information where possible creating a minimized and nimble approach across many different brands with a common focus on success while diversifying each message individually. Information today is our most valuable commodity as well as the most overwhelming. Prioritize the importance of the message, find common purpose and implement through personalization across brands.

I think this all starts with knowing your capacity and communicating It. Managing multiple brand strategy clients begins with being realistic about your bandwidth. Be honest about how much time you can dedicate to each client, as some projects (and clients) will require more attention. Have candid conversations with your clients about timelines & set expectations early. I've found that clients appreciate transparency. They'd rather know in advance if a project will take longer than be surprised by delays later. Plus, it shows that you're focused on delivering quality work, not just churning through tasks.

Prioritize based on urgency of completion. Every client deserves your time and full focus. When tasks are organized, you are productive and able to allocate the right time for each project you are working on. I use an excel sheet per client and list the tasks into: New In progress Needs editing Pending approval Concluded. This excel sheet is shared with the concerned persons in my team.

Determine which tasks are the most critical and prioritize them accordingly. Use methods like the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance. Develop a detailed schedule that outlines your tasks, deadlines, and client meetings. Tools like Google Calendar, Outlook, or project management software can be very helpful. Allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks or clients. This helps ensure that you dedicate focused time to each client without distractions.

Set boundaries based on the project. Boundaries for every client could be different. For example, a client paying you a retainer for your expertise is paying for access. So, a client like this should have greater access to your availability. Clients like those have access to me seven days a week by phone. On the other hand, a client paying for a specific outcome should only have access to the point that it's necessary to complete the project. For clients like that, I usually respond to emails by the end of the day during the week and have a weekly scheduled call. With projects, it's also crucial to ensure you're clear about who can access you. It shouldn't be everyone. Be clear in your agreement about access.

I treat each client like a friend, understanding their needs deeply. I prioritize tasks ruthlessly, focusing on what brings the most value. I constantly tweak my approach, learning from each interaction to refine my efficiency.

Determine your working hours and communicate them to your clients upfront. Let them know when you're available for meetings and when you'll be focusing on their projects. This prevents last-minute requests that can throw off your schedule and allows you to allocate dedicated time for each client's needs. It also sets expectations and helps clients respect your time. Alongside boundaries, prioritize transparent communication. Keep clients updated on progress, timelines, and any potential roadblocks. If you need to adjust a deadline, let them know ASAP. Clients appreciate honesty. It shows that you value their time and are committed to delivering results. Plus, it builds trust and stronger long-term relationships.

As a marketing professional who works with multiple clients, one thing I have found helpful is the use of project management tools such as Monday.com. I not only use this platform for organizing projects and tasks, but to collaborate with internal team members and client partners. The ability to communicate with several people throughout the marketing process, as well as share and keep assets, all in one place makes project management so much more organized and efficient.

Asana: Great for task management, team collaboration, and project timelines. You can create project boards, assign tasks, set due dates, and track progress. Trello: Uses a card and board system that is excellent for visualizing tasks and their statuses. Ideal for tracking the stages of different brand strategy projects. Monday.com: Offers robust project tracking features and customizable workflows. It’s useful for complex project management needs. ClickUp: Combines project management, docs, goals, and chat in one app. Highly customizable and feature-rich.

Clear communication is crucial for building trust with your clients and customers. If there is a problem with customer orders or a delay, hiding it to avoid immediate backlash is only a temporary solution. Eventually, the issue will escalate, leading to a much larger problem. By addressing issues transparently and promptly, you can prevent the situation from turning into a 'noise storm' and maintain your customers' trust.

Managing multiple brand strategy clients starts with active listening and strong guardrails. Really seek to understand each client's unique needs, goals, and challenges. This lays the foundation for strong partnerships. From there, follow your proven process for success. Having a clear, structured approach keeps projects on track and ensures consistent quality. That said, be willing to adapt when needed – a bit of flexibility goes a long way. Throughout the journey, prioritize clear communication. Keep clients informed about progress, timelines, and any changes in scope. This transparency builds trust and alignment.

We are often tempted to take on more when business development is hitting its stride. As an owner, leader, or manager, this is the moment to care for your team and clients. Ask the often daunting question about timing and see if you can adjust your project list to serve multiple clients well while nurturing a pipeline of work to stay busy. I have found that, more often than not, extending a project timeline by a week to a few months works out. This often leads to deeper, more respectful conversations with clients and allows for pre-work to start, ensuring you hit the ground running when the project officially begins. Evaluate your internal sales and client nurturing processes and develop steps to manage times of both low and high workload.

We should strive to incorporate small automations into our daily routine work using existing or available resources to boost productivity and capacity. For example, I encountered a significant amount of manual work in my daily tasks. To address this, I created a Google Spreadsheet and integrated advanced formulas. Now, I simply copy and paste the data into the spreadsheet, and the formulas automatically process the information, providing results in the next sheet. This approach eliminates the need to manually input formulas each day, streamlining the workflow and saving valuable time.

Here are some strategies I've used to keep my sanity and ensure top-notch results ; Batching is Your Best Friend: Dedicate specific times for similar tasks across all clients. For example, schedule a "content creation block" on Mondays where you write blog posts for all your clients. Be upfront with your clients about your schedule and availability. Set realistic deadlines and expectations. Schedule breaks within your batching sessions. Get up, move around, grab a healthy snack. A burnt-out brain isn't a productive brain. The often-ignored part? Technology shouldn't control you. Don't become a slave to notifications. Schedule time to check emails and messages and stick to it.