Would Project work?

[Michelle]

Would Project be useful in creating and tracking schedules for advertising?
I've looked into Access, and that is not the solution. I need a program
where I can create an ad schedule based on product, publication, and due
dates and then pull reports. Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[tadk]

Michelle,

That is exactly how i got into doing schedules in the first place a few
years ago was working as the Creative Assistant / Traffic Manager at an
Advertising Agency.

Back then it was MacProject, but as I work with MS Project currently it
should do just fine since you have fixed time frames for creative, artistic
work, video editing and commercial production and all via I presume billable
hours so you can do it fine.

Best to you

Tad Kelson
Project Scheduler

 

[Steve House]

Depends on what you mean by "scheduling." If you mean all the things that
go into creating and executing an ad campaign - photography, copywriting,
commercial recording, etc - all the things that go into a campaign from
conceptualizing through execution then it should work very well for you.
But if by "scheduling" you mean "We need to purchase a 1/4 page in Time for
each of the 4 issues in October" sort of scheduling where and when the ads
should appear, than it's not so good for that sort of thing.

One thing to keep in mind is that Project's function is not to document a
schedule you have already planned - it's job to create the plan for you in
the first place. You don't tell it when you'll do the photography, it tells
you that with your current staff you should be able to finish the
preliminary comps by the end of August so you can book the photographer for
the 2nd week in September and if you can get him then, that will let you
finish in time for the ads to be run in the November issues.

 

[davegb]

Michelle,

That is exactly how i got into doing schedules in the first place a few
years ago was working as the Creative Assistant / Traffic Manager at an
Advertising Agency.

Back then it was MacProject, but as I work with MS Project currently it
should do just fine since you have fixed time frames for creative, artistic
work, video editing and commercial production and all via I presume billable
hours so you can do it fine.

Best to you

Tad Kelson
Project Scheduler

:

Hadn't thought about MacProject in years. Ugh! The only really good
thing about it was the little bulldozer icon that appeared when you
resource leveled! Only slightly better than a pencil and a piece of
paper.