Workflow Archives | Zenkit https://zenkit.com/en/blog/tag/workflow/ Zenkit Tagline Mon, 17 Jul 2023 09:36:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://zenkit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/zenkit_base-2-1-150x150.png Workflow Archives | Zenkit https://zenkit.com/en/blog/tag/workflow/ 32 32 How to Write a User Manual https://zenkit.com/en/blog/how-to-write-a-user-manual/ https://zenkit.com/en/blog/how-to-write-a-user-manual/#comments Thu, 24 Oct 2019 15:10:41 +0000 https://zenkit.com/?p=33040 A user manual, or user guide, is a technical communication document that is designed to educate users on a particular product. Produced in print or digitally, they can be written about almost any product, but are most common with computer software and hardware, electronic devices, and video games. Usually written by technical writers or product […]

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How to Write a User Manual

A user manual, or user guide, is a technical communication document that is designed to educate users on a particular product. Produced in print or digitally, they can be written about almost any product, but are most common with computer software and hardware, electronic devices, and video games.

Usually written by technical writers or product designers, its purpose is to inform users and help them solve any problems pertaining to the product. As a vital component of product distribution, the quality of your manual can heavily impact the overall customer experience, which is why you want to get it right!

In this article, I’ll share tips on how to write a user manual that conveys information to your customers clearly, and show you how you can organize the writing process in Zenkit.


Tips for How to Write a User Manual

There’s a lot that goes into writing a user manual. From feature descriptions, to repair instructions, to all the legal details and safety warnings. Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to writing it:

  1. Know your objective

Every user manual should have a purpose. Commonly, it’s to help users resolve issues concerning your product, but with that, you should also decide how you want to help them. Once you’ve decided on the angle you want to take, break down the information into sections and step-by-step instructions that are straightforward enough to follow.

  1. Determine the user

It’s imperative to know the kind of audience that will read your user manual as it will influence how you write it. Knowing your average user can give you an idea of the language you should use when writing the user manual, the format, and overall style. For instance, writing for tech-savvy IT specialists will be very different to writing for parents with young families.

  1. Use accessible language

Regardless of who your audience is, the language of the user manual text should be accessible to even the most non-technical person. You have to assume the reader has zero knowledge about your product, so it should be comprehensible, clear, and concise. It should address the reader and the use of jargon should be limited.

  1. Make it visual

Humans are known to process visual data 60,000 times faster than text, which is why you want your user manual to include images. User manuals almost always include relevant images with the text. Some products even share screenshot images of step-by-step instructions or are just purely images (IKEA manuals are famously text-free). Images can really help to convey the message you want to communicate to your reader.

  1. Enhance findability 

Face it, nobody’s going to read the entire user manual, so for readers to find value in it, you have to make it simple enough for people to skim through and find what they’re looking for. Give it a clean format by having a consistent layout from page to page and make sure there is a lot of space between chunks of text. Use familiar keywords related to the product and make sure the font is simple and readable.


How to Plan Your User Manual

Zenkit is a great tool for planning a user manual. The project management tool is packed with features that enable you to collect data and then structure it to create an optimized workflow. Here are the steps to organize your user manual writing process.

Step 1:

Sign up for a free Zenkit account and log in.

Step 2:

Once you’ve customized your profile, click on “new collection”, give your collection a name, and hit enter or “create”. You will be directed to the default Kanban view.

You can give your collection a little character by customizing an icon for it. To do this, click on the collection title, select “customization”, and pick the colours and icon logo that you want.

I’m personally a fan of using a Kanban board to visually map out a project plan. The visual scheduling system is great for identifying bottlenecks and issues that may arise during the planning process. It can also give you a crystal clear overview of how your project progresses.

The Kanban view presents you with three default columns labelled as “To-Do, In Progress, and Done”. You can rename the columns by simply clicking on one of the label names and going to the name section in the menu box that appears. To add more stages to your workflow, all you have to do is click on “+ Add Stage”, give the column a label, and either click on “create” or hit enter.

Of course you can select as many stages as you want for your workflow and label them whatever you see fit. The stages I went for are the following:

  • Info & Resources
  • Feedback & Instructions
  • Sections
  • Drafts

Step 3: 

Once the structure of your workflow has been determined, you can start adding other elements as items under each column.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, a project like writing a user manual involves a lot of content; content that needs to be broken down into various chapters and sections, and sections of sections.

Zenkit’s subitems are the perfect feature for breaking down bigger tasks into smaller ones. One of our project management tool’s 12 custom fields presents all your items in a structured way so you’re able to work with a manageable timeline.

You can further break down your already broken down items into sub-sub items!

To add a subitem to one of your items, simply click on the item to open it. Then click on the “+” sign which is located above the comment section, then select “custom field”. Under the “Type” section, scroll down and select the “subitems” field. Don’t forget to give the field a name!

Step 4:

To add further structure to your workflow, you can use Zenkit’s hierarchy view. To activate this view in your collection, click on “Kanban” (or the name of whichever view you happen to be in) which you will find in the top-right hand corner and select “New View”. A menu extension should pop up and simply select “Hierarchy”.

 

Step 5:

When you first use the hierarchy view, you will find that your items are unconnected. You can connect them by dragging and dropping each item onto the main hierarchy panel. If you drag a parent item, you will find that the subitems will come along with it.

The hierarchy allocated to an item depends on where you place it. For instance, items dragged to the top will have a level one hierarchy and items that are dragged underneath another will turn into a subitem of that item.

The hierarchy view shows you every single item you’ve added to the hierarchy of your items by using indentations to indicate when an item becomes a subitem. You can get an overview of top tasks only or see everything in your project at once by collapsing or opening the items.


Planning Other Kinds of Text Documents and Materials

Just like planning a user manual, Zenkit can be used to plan other text-heavy documents or materials. The hierarchy view and subitem feature are perfect for planning any project that requires organizing a large amount of content that needs to be broken down into different sections, such as a novel or a college thesis.

Novel writing plan

Writing a novel can take years to complete, which is why it’s a good idea to have somewhere to note it all down. Using a similar template to the user manual guide, you can structure your novel chapter by chapter and keep track of all the characters, plot, and theme details in one platform.

Thesis/dissertation plan

From topic ideas to research to collecting data, writing a thesis or dissertation requires a lot of planning. Using Zenkit to manage it all can help you to get your thesis done on time and ensure you won’t overlook something important!

Click here to use our Thesis/Dissertation Planning template.


Final Thoughts

A great user manual communicates information clearly to the reader so that they are able to overcome any issues that may arise with the product. Using Zenkit to plan the writing process, and taking advantage of the hierarchy view and subitem feature, can help you to produce a quality user manual that can give your customers the best possible experience.

Which was the last user manual you found to be helpful?

Cheers,

Dinnie and the Zenkit Team

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A Breakdown of the 5 Phases of Project Management https://zenkit.com/en/blog/a-breakdown-of-the-5-phases-of-project-management/ Tue, 11 Dec 2018 15:24:12 +0000 https://zenkit.com/?p=19111 Accomplishing a project is no easy feat. From the multitude of tasks to get through to the ever-changing demands of stakeholders and clients, there is a lot involved before reaching the finish line. The phases of project management provide a breakdown of the project life cycle. Dividing up the process into smaller stages helps to […]

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A Breakdown of the 5 Phases of Project Management

Accomplishing a project is no easy feat. From the multitude of tasks to get through to the ever-changing demands of stakeholders and clients, there is a lot involved before reaching the finish line. The phases of project management provide a breakdown of the project life cycle. Dividing up the process into smaller stages helps to make the project goal more achievable and more viable to execute.

In this article, I’ll touch on the different phases of project management and what purpose they each serve in the project management process.

cairn during day
Photo by Rachel Nickerson via Unsplash

What Exactly Are the Phases of Project Management?

The amount of phases the project management life cycle contains is up for debate. Some say four, some say five, while others say six. According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), there are five phases of project management. And since the PMBOK is basically the holy grail of project management, it makes sense to go with that. 

The five phases of project management, as stated by the Project Management Institute, can be best described as the steps that make up the process that is known as the project life cycle. Each phase is goal-oriented, has its own distinct characteristics, and contains a deliverable which is reviewed at the end to determine whether or not the team is ready to move on to the next phase.

Although the term “phase” may connote the idea that the various stages happen in chronological order, the reality is different. There are phases that can actually occur out of order or even simultaneously.


The 5 Phases of the Project Management Life Cycle Explained

1. Project Initiation

The first phase of the project management process is the conception of the project. This is where ideas are explored, preliminary research gets done, and prospects are determined. This is also where stakeholders and sponsors get convinced that the idea is worthwhile and that embarking on this project will lead to a fruitful result. 

All of this helps to determine whether or not the project is feasible enough to actually happen. If and once a decision has been made to proceed, then the project can move on to the next phase.

2. Project Planning

The second phase of the project management life cycle is where all the planning happens. This is the part where you consider client requirements and stakeholders’ concerns, assemble a team, establish goals and objectives, and create a project plan.

As a key element to a project’s success, a project plan should include details pertaining to the project’s scope, goals and objectives, and how the goals and objectives will be achieved. It should also include how risk will be managed, how communication will circulate, and what tools will be used.

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3. Project Execution

When most people think of “project management”, what they usually think of is what happens during this phase, the execution of the project. This is where processes are implemented, resources are allocated, and tasks are assigned.

It’s during this phase that the project team start creating deliverables and seeks to accomplish the objectives outlined in the project plan. An important stage of the project management life cycle, what happens during this phase can determine whether or not your project will be a success. 

4. Project Monitoring and Controlling

The next phase of the project management process is performance and progress tracking. The aim of this phase is to establish measures to ensure that the project is moving along according to the project plan and that everything is on course with the budget and timeframes.

The project manager may make adjustments to the schedule or resource allocation plan to ensure everything is kept on track. Holding review meetings and requesting regular project performance reports from the team are other common approaches they may implement.

5. Project Closure

The final phase is where everything is wrapped up and all activities across the project come to a conclusion. Closure doesn’t necessarily equate to success, even when a project fails it still needs to be closed. Common things that happen during this phase include—but aren’t limited to—the following:

  • The project is signed off and documents are handed over
  • Deliverables are given back
  • The staff are let go and resources are released
  • Supplier contracts are discontinued
  • Liabilities (insurance, bonds, and warranties) are settled

Once all the administrative affairs have been closed, a key part of the project closure phase is to conduct an evaluation. Assessing the project’s triumphs and failures will highlight the team’s successes as well as indicate what improvements can be made for future endeavours.

5 phases of the project management
The five phases of the project management (image by Alphamu57 via Wikipedia)

Final Thoughts

The five phases of the project management life cycle serve as a framework to help project managers and their teams to accomplish their goals and objectives. A project manager and a team that can carry out each phase impeccably are well on their way to achieving a successful outcome.

Cheers,

Dinnie and the Zenkit Team

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A Better Project Workflow with Trello’s Custom Fields https://zenkit.com/en/blog/a-better-project-workflow-with-trellos-custom-fields/ Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:51:55 +0000 https://zenkit.comblog/using-trellos-custom-fields-to-enhance-your-projects-workflow/ Just when you thought your project had reached peak management, in comes one of Trello’s Power-Ups that allow users to optimize their workflow — Custom Fields. A great visual tool for easier collaboration, other perks include adding more context to each task and keeping track of time and duration. Because these at-a-glance visual badges aren’t exclusive to one […]

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How do I improve my workflow using Trello?

Just when you thought your project had reached peak management, in comes one of Trello’s Power-Ups that allow users to optimize their workflow — Custom Fields. A great visual tool for easier collaboration, other perks include adding more context to each task and keeping track of time and duration.

Because these at-a-glance visual badges aren’t exclusive to one product, we’ll also include an alternative solution with Zenkit for those looking for even more options in their custom fields.

Custom Fields Trello

What Are Custom Fields?

Custom Fields are a Trello Power-Up (how you bring additional features and integrate apps into your board) that offer cards more functionality. Not only do they provide more context, but they also bring process and formality to your workflow. Whether it’s to emphasize different levels of priority or a way to track feature requests, Trello’s Custom Fields won’t disappoint. Here’s how they can help:

  • Add start and end dates to track duration, such as a campaign
  • …Or any kind of numerical value, eg. order numbers, prices
  • Feature a drop-down list of options
  • Export Custom Field data, restricted to Business Class and Enterprise accounts only
  • Include checkbox to cards — imagine how satisfying that would be?

Creating Custom Fields in Trello

Now that you know what they are, you’ll need to know how to create them on your Trello board. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1:

First thing’s first, you need to enable the Custom Fields Power-Up. To do this, go to the Power-Ups directory, and then you’ll see it under the Board Utilities category.

Custom Fields in Trello enable button

Step 2:

Once you’ve enabled the Power-Up feature, you can click the Custom Fields button, which is located on the back of the card, to add a new field. Once enabled, it shows on both the back and the front of your card.

Custom Fields Trello checkbox option

“Type” indicates what you can input for the field. Your options include ‘Date’, ‘Dropdown’, ‘Number, and ‘Text’.

“Name” is 25 characters long and is the moniker for your field.

Step 3:

Enter values for your fields by clicking on the field at the back of the card. To edit the entry, click on the Custom Field Power-Up button — this will also change its name of it.

Screenshot of Custom Fields Trello Kanban

To disable the Power-Up, simply go to the directory and enter the ‘Enabled’ section, click on the gear icon and choose ‘Disable’.


Trello Custom Fields Examples

Whatever your project, there are many ways to utilize this Power-Up feature. including the following examples:

  • Due dates: Editorial teams can use the Date Field to include due dates and deadlines when using cards to represent article topics.
  • Performance indicator: Teams who use their Trello boards to measure employee performance could include star emojis to their Text Field to rate accomplishments.
  • Inventory costs: Keep track of expenses by utilizing the Number Field to highlight inventory costs.
  • Account information: By using Custom Fields for added information such as email address, contact numbers

Keen for More Options? Here’s the Alternative Solution…

It’s always great to have options. Whether this means trying out a new product, or if said product had more ways for you to customize your cards.

Every field in Zenkit is a Custom Field, and it comes with 11 options to enable you to include all kinds of additional information, from extra dates to labelling costs. You can also sort and filter your data, as well as use special functions such as formulas and references. Oh, and they come at no extra cost!

Adding Custom Fields in Zenkit is as easy as it is in Trello. Here’s how:

  1. Click on an item to open it.
  2. Open the item menu (…), then click ‘add Custom Field’ and choose one from the list
Screenshot of Custom Fields Trello alternative
  1. Alternatively, you can click ‘add Custom Field’ at the bottom of an item
  2. You can edit the field properties in the popup whenever you add a new field. Give a name and description to each Field.

Tip: Use the Description to explain to fellow team members how that particular Field should be used. It’s a handy way to get your message across!

Each field has different properties. For instance, the number field allows you to depict decimals, integers, and currencies (which has a drop-down menu filled with various options), and the label field (which is one of Zenkit’s more important custom fields, as it allows you to categorize your data in as many ways as you need to) enables you to classify data with different colours — how’s that for options?

Screenshot of Custom Fields Trello alternative tool
Super customizable custom fields!

Here’s a further rundown on what they all feature (please excuse the old design!):

Signing up to Zenkit is free for individual use or for a small team of 5 or fewer people, so why not give custom fields a go?

If you’re already a custom field convert, don’t forget to let us know what you think!

Cheers,

Dinnie and the Zenkit Team

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5 Signs You Are Managing Team Tasks Effectively https://zenkit.com/en/blog/5-signs-you-are-managing-team-tasks-effectively/ Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:15:42 +0000 https://zenkit.comblog/5-signs-you-are-managing-team-tasks-effectively/ A happy team is a productive team, and a productive team means that tasks have been managed effectively. Anyone who’s ever had to manage a team knows that there’s more to it than allocating tasks A, B, and C to team members 1, 2, and 3. From matching tasks with applicable skill sets to sticking […]

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How to manage team tasks?

A happy team is a productive team, and a productive team means that tasks have been managed effectively.

Worker on phone exemplifying task management

Anyone who’s ever had to manage a team knows that there’s more to it than allocating tasks A, B, and C to team members 1, 2, and 3. From matching tasks with applicable skill sets to sticking within budget, to ensuring all team members are satisfied with the resources available to them — it is a lot to take in. Here’s what you can do to simplify it all.


How to Manage Team Tasks

Whether your group is as small as three people, or as big as 300, the smoothest way to coordinate team tasks and individuals is to use team-based productivity software. The best examples of this type of task management app are cloud-based project management tools and workflow management systems.

Using a project management tool allows you to coordinate the planning, executing, and tracking of a project. It can also permit you to control resources and budget, manage quality, and act as a communication device. It is a great way to facilitate team task management because the centralized space allows you to monitor the project’s activity, keep the files accessible, and contact members of the team.

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An online workflow management system operates similarly to a project management tool except that it oversees day-to-day operations instead of project based-work. With features such as role-based access to allow team administrators to control sensitive information, and report generators to indicate performance, this is another type of task management software that can boost efficiency and productivity amongst your team.


5 Indications You’re Managing Team Tasks Effectively

A clear indicator of whether or not team tasks have been managed sufficiently is if the end goal has been achieved within the appointed time frame and criteria. But waiting for the end result shouldn’t be the only way to learn whether or not you’ve done your job correctly. Here are five clues that suggest team task management has been successful:

1. There is only one person assigned to each task

That’s not to say that only one person should be working on a task — not at all — collaboration is encouraged, and expected. What it means is that only one person is accountable for the execution, and completion of the team task. Delegating effectively makes it easier to monitor progress, ensure information doesn’t overlap, and that there is someone responsible should things go awry. This method of task management also makes handovers more straightforward.

2. Communication isn’t excessive

‘Status-ing people to death’ is a thing — just make sure it’s not a thing within your team. Over communicating runs the risk of people becoming uninterested, and disregarding notifications and reminders altogether. While progress updates, and checking in on fellow team members on how they’re doing with their tasks should be advocated, be sure that only relevant information is being shared on a timely basis. Think twice before sharing anything other than duties, deadlines, and task dependencies.

GIF of team management what not to do

3. The frog is being eaten

Having a penchant for exotic cuisine isn’t a new task management approach. No, the term ‘eating the frog’ refers to tackling the most challenging task first thing. With the biggest task already completed, this sets the ball rolling for ‘actioning’ all the other tasks. This shows that prioritization and time management are being pursued, which are two traits that will result in a more favourable task outcome.

4. More than one solution is being embraced

While using a centralized team-based productivity software is a great way to manage team tasks effectively, the reality is that some people are more comfortable, and efficient, when using more than one platform. As long as the team-based software is being used, the idea of using other productivity solutions at the same time shouldn’t be excluded. For example, people could be using separate software to compile their online to-do lists, or the old school method — instead of the digitized version — of a whiteboard and markers may be the best way to create mind maps for free-flowing ideas. Consider every team member and their capabilities, and accommodate what will make them achieve peak efficiency and productivity.

5. There is room for feedback

Creating a safe space, and offering support make people feel more at ease, and when this happens, not only does it create a good working environment, but it allows everyone to be more comfortable in their creativity. Acknowledging feedback also shows that the manager/employee relationship is a two-way street, opening the door to more trust. With trust as a foundation of the team, commitment will be enhanced.


Final Thoughts

Have you managed a team’s task effectively or in such a way that the result was something better than expected? As always, I’d love to hear your insights. Share away!

Cheers,

Dinnie & the Zenkit Team

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How a Workflow Management System Can Transform You into a Model Worker https://zenkit.com/en/blog/how-a-workflow-management-system-can-transform-you-into-a-model-worker/ https://zenkit.com/en/blog/how-a-workflow-management-system-can-transform-you-into-a-model-worker/#comments Mon, 11 Dec 2017 14:40:49 +0000 https://zimportsitedi.wordpress.com/2017/12/11/how-a-workflow-management-system-can-transform-you-into-a-model-worker/ For most of us, being productive doesn’t come naturally. It is something we have to strive for, get into the habit of, and pursue consistently. So when the opportunity for a little assistance comes by, we’d be fools not to take it. A workflow management system may not be the snazziest of technologies, but if […]

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How workflow management systems boost productivity

For most of us, being productive doesn’t come naturally. It is something we have to strive for, get into the habit of, and pursue consistently. So when the opportunity for a little assistance comes by, we’d be fools not to take it.

Man looking at his workflow management wall

A workflow management system may not be the snazziest of technologies, but if you’re looking to up the ante on productivity, increase efficiency, and improve business overall, then I’m afraid it is a necessary one.


From the Beginning…

To help you grasp the idea of what a workflow management system can do, how it does it, and the potential it has to transform you into a model worker, you’ll need to know the workflow management definition.

Workflow is defined as the “orchestrated and repeatable pattern of business activity enabled by the systematic organization of resources into processes that transform material, provide services, or process information.” Workflow management is the discipline that coordinates all of that, and a workflow management system is a software that automates it.

In other words, it is an application that supports the set-up, performance, and monitoring of a sequence of tasks — kind of like what Zenkit does for project-based work instead of day-to-day business procedures.

Different businesses have different types of workflows, but whatever your routine, using a workflow management system will allow business activity to be outlined and controlled, making it easier to forecast any potential issues. As we all know, daily operations seldom go uninterrupted, there are always delays, setbacks, and last-minute changes. Having a clear overview of the workflow will help you react to challenges, and action things quicker. This type of organization will help you achieve peak efficiency with every task.

GIF of dog working on his workflow management
“Quick, fix the problem!”

What to Look Out For

The purpose of a workflow management system is to help your business achieve optimized results by streamlining the activity that goes on within your workplace. Just think about everything that’s involved in the day-to-day operation — the tasks, the roles, the processes, and the resources — imagine trying to keep on top of it all manually. While not impossible, a workflow management system does make it easier. Using the software can help to eliminate inefficiencies and foster productivity.

It is available in both desktop and web-based platforms, however, you will find that most businesses opt for the latter because not only can it be a more cost-effective solution (you don’t have to worry about having to constantly update desktop applications), but to keep pace with competitors in this ever-advancing digital market, it makes the most sense.

Here are other features your workflow management system should include so you keep up with (or exceed) competition:

  • Role-based access: Although a workflow management system can provide visibility for all users, it doesn’t necessarily mean they all should have it. This feature determines access to sensitive information, and the ability to assign, change and update roles, and tasks to team administrators only.
  • User-friendly interface: Ensure the software you select is easy to navigate so that even the Luddites of your office will find it a breeze.
  • Workflow customization: Every organization has their own unique workflow. Whatever the pattern or sequence is, your system should provide the flexibility to cater to it.
  • Status visibility: Progress tracking and status updates notify participants how they’re proceeding with work individually, as well as the team as a whole. This kind of transparency also advises what steps need to be taken next.
  • Report generator: One of the most valued features, being able to generate reports, is a key performance indicator. It shows users how much of their duties are being fulfilled, and how well they’re accomplishing tasks.
  • Integration: A quality workflow management system will enable you to incorporate your software with other cloud-based services.
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8 Ways a Workflow Management System Can Boost Productivity

Just because a workflow management system is implemented, it doesn’t mean you automatically become a master of productivity. As previously mentioned, being constructive doesn’t come out of thin air (for most of us), it is something that you have to take on board, and put into action.

Like what an editorial calendar is to a writer, and an online project management tool to a project manager, a workflow management system is simply a tool that, if used correctly and to its optimal potential, can result in effective perks. Said perks include:

  1. Digitizing your workflow management will allow you to identify, and remove any unnecessary steps and details, condensing your overall workflow.
  2. Ensuring work is done accordingly and in a standardized way. The sequential nature of a workflow management system means that something cannot be actioned until the step before it is completed.
  3. No more paper chasing, which means gone are the days of misplaced paperwork, lost files, and waiting for your colleague to finish their part until you can start yours. This means your business can save time, as well as become environmentally conscious.
  4. The visibility that process management offers highlights where you’re up to with your work, allowing you to pick up where you left off.
  5. A clear overview also means that tasks will be allocated to the employee who has the best skill set, which increases the quality of work being produced.
  6. Accountability will improve as an audit trail of who has done what is available. This can also remove micromanaging as task responsibilities will be accounted for.
  7. Less human intervention reduces the chances of human error. Not only is this valuable in terms of cost and time, but it can improve the overall efficiency in tasks.
  8. Having your workflow management process automated means that operational tasks are organized and that managers, as well as employees, can focus more on business strategy and development.
Homer Simpsons workflow management system

Final Thoughts

For those of you who are already using workflow management systems, and reaping the rewards, do let me know of any other ways that implementing an automated process management solution has benefited your productivity. Always great to hear different experiences!

Cheers,

Dinnie & the Zenkit Team

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Planning for Success: How to Build Your Editorial Calendar with Zenkit https://zenkit.com/en/blog/planning-for-success-how-to-build-your-editorial-calendar-with-zenkit/ Tue, 20 Jun 2017 14:35:29 +0000 https://zenkit.comblog/planning-for-success-how-to-build-your-editorial-calendar-with-zenkit/ Zenkit is a great tool for managing any type of project, and one area where it really shines is content management. These days, whether you’re a blogger, a journalist, or the managing editor of a large publication, the pressure is on you to regularly create and share valuable content. Generating that much content at such […]

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 How to build an editiorial calendar in Zenkit?

Zenkit is a great tool for managing any type of project, and one area where it really shines is content management.

These days, whether you’re a blogger, a journalist, or the managing editor of a large publication, the pressure is on you to regularly create and share valuable content. Generating that much content at such a quick pace is a tough task. You need to make sure that all your ideas are being saved, assessed, and eventually fleshed out into a high-quality piece of content.

zenkit editorial calendar

The best way to make sure everything stays on track is to create an editorial calendar. An editorial calendar is basically a way to track what you want to write, who writes it, when it should be published, where it needs to be shared, and much, much more. It should be intuitive to use and a great visual representation of your pipeline. Zenkit is perfect for editorial planning, we should know! It’s how we create our blog articles, videos, social media content, and more. Here’s how we use Zenkit to schedule and publish content:

blog kanban board in zenkit
Ta daaa!

Fields We Use

One of the best things about Zenkit is the flexibility of the custom fields. Here are the fields we use to manage our blog. Luckily they’re not that much different from the standard fields that appear when you create a new collection!

We use a Progress label field to track the progress of a post:

  • Ideas
  • Writing
  • Bottlenecked
  • Editing
  • Published

If you also regularly create graphic content or videos, you might need another label ‘Designing’ or ‘Filming’ (but if you create lots of videos, I’d set up a separate collection to manage video creation).

We also have a label field called Category to track the kind of article we’re writing.

An Assigned to member field helps us keep track of who’s responsible for the article.

The File field is used for writers to attach their Google Doc drafts of the article, and for our graphic designer (or Paint-happy writer) to attach hero images and screenshots.

attached files in zenkit

The Due Date field is pretty self-explanatory. The great thing about using it is that you can keep track of the history of your blog, and use the calendar view to easily schedule posts in advance. The writer or editor can also set up a reminder to ping them when the due date is coming up.

The Description field can be used to better describe the idea, propose publication dates, or brainstorm different titles.

Lastly, we add a Link field so that once the article’s published, we can always find it here.


Ideas

All Zenkit blog posts start out as ideas. Anyone on the team can add ideas to the list — it acts as a kind of ‘blog inbox’. Maybe one of our developers has been working on a particularly cool feature they want to be featured in a post. Maybe a customer service team member found a really interesting use case. Perhaps one of our managers is a productivity addict and has some great ideas about how to use Zenkit to increase productivity… It all goes in ideas.

Collaborating on ideas in this way is great, since everyone in the company can have their say, and often they will come up with exciting ideas that you’d never come up with yourself. It’s a steady drip of inspiration from people who care just as much as we do 🙂

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To-Do

Posts get dragged into this list when we’ve decided they should be written. A writer assigns themselves and they can begin researching the topic. We add a due date at this stage, so the writer knows how long they’ve got to get it done. The easiest way to do this is to switch to calendar view, then drag and drop the article from the ‘Unscheduled’ list onto the calendar.

editorial calendar in zenkit collection
A little sparse looking for now (we can’t show you everything 😉

At the moment we’re keeping things easy, churning out a blog article a week on Tuesdays, and producing guest blogs and videos whenever needed. However, this editorial calendar can be scaled right up to match any volume of content you create!


Writing

Once someone starts writing the article, the item gets dragged over to this list. They attach the Google Doc they’re writing it on into the file field so everyone can see how it’s coming along, and they can also add any images they create for the article so that the editor can check those over too.


Bottlenecked

Sometimes blog articles need to be put on hold when, inevitably, life gets in the way. This is totally normal — we’re not robots on a production line! When there’s a delay (whether in writing or in editing), we move the item to the ‘Bottlenecked’ list. Once some time clears up, we can pick up right where we left off.


Editing

A second person is assigned to the item to look over the writer’s work. They may discuss the article and suggest changes in the comments, or they might just go ahead and publish it. The editor is in charge of making sure the formatting works, that the pictures are in the right place, and that the right tags are applied on the blog. They’re also in charge of hitting ‘publish’.

commenting in zenkit

We also add a checklist to manage promotion across our social media accounts and in our newsletter.

blog checklist in zenkit
A typical ‘Tweets checklist’

Published

Ahh! That magical moment when all of your collective hard work goes live. Once the article is published on the blog, the editor drags it across to the ‘Published’ list, and it’s done!

Update: You can now download a template of this editorial calendar! Find it here: https://zenkit.com/templates


Final Thoughts

There you have it. We use this collection to create everything from blog posts to videos, to website text, and even guest posts on other sites. How do you organize your projects with Zenkit? Think we missed something? Let us know with our blog feedback form, or in the comments below!

Cheers,

Siobhan and the Zenkit Team

The post Planning for Success: How to Build Your Editorial Calendar with Zenkit appeared first on Zenkit.

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