A digital project manager (DPM) is responsible for overseeing and managing digital projects, usually from inception to completion. Here at Fresh Pies, our DPMs oversee things like website development, print, and marketing.

Having a dedicated person to focus on management is really valuable. It allows the specialists to focus on what they’re good at…but what is it that the DPM actually does?

What does a Digital Project Manager do?

1. Assist In Project Planning and Scope Definition
Your project manager will help the team members engaged in writing the project pitch clarify the project objectives and deliverables, in collaboration with stakeholders.

2. Budgeting and Resource Allocation
They develop and manage the project budget, ensuring costs are controlled and resources are used efficiently. Our on-site web development project managers always have their eyes on the figures. This lets the respective development teams do their thing without stressing about the project process.

3. Timeline and Schedule Management
A web Project Manager keeps track of the schedule, adjusting plans as necessary to accommodate any delays or changes. The dev team wants to develop, not produce detailed project timelines. A DPM does that AND logs the milestones and deadlines.

Our DPMs use advanced software to help do the job and keep track of task allocation and time spent. By using software such as ClickUp we can share project info with clients, such as a Gantt chart for timeline management.

5 Tips from the Fresh Pies Web Development Project Management Team

Clients can never give too much detail for a job

Whether it’s a new job or an old problem, hearing a clients’ likes and dislikes is helpful! Especially if it’s a larger project – we absolutely want to discuss your likes and dislikes with you.
Don’t know where to start? Understanding your likes or dislikes around what your competitors (or clients) are doing is an important part of the success of any job.

Keep us in the loop

When coming together to design and then agree on the brief, many initial conversations can be quite scattered across platforms or formats, and rather ephemeral.
When it comes to the conversations in all the various channels, get as much of it as possible to the project manager! We can then digest and centralise all the things that we will likely need to refer to later, as well as assess what the best tools are for the team.

Weekly check ins are always really handy

Better and more efficient way to keep everyone up to date. Honest and real time reaction, sense checking a visual element. Authentic instant reaction – vital especially in early stages of the project when scoping out. With big projects or clients with regular work

Mirror, mirror, on the team

In our experience, it’s good when both agency and the client company team are mirrored in terms of team size and responsibility distribution. Internal project managers, leadership, team members, essentially making sure the individuals involved on both sides have an opposite number.If you’re able to do that as a customer, we’ve found it makes for a smoother process. Having that structural understanding across the team fosters clear communication as everyone knows who does what. It’s also beneficial in terms of helping manage expectations, particularly for feedback loops.

Who does what and how

Following on from the above point on mirroring, it’s best to flesh out as a priority in the early stages who does what for particular projects. Make the most of people’s skills, designate clear lines of support, flow of tasks, feedback and broad responsibilities. That goes both ways!

Set out your internal team responsibilities. Identify the stakeholders, the decision makers, who is the day to day point of contact, and who is the project team. Keep it as tight as possible, and you’re more likely to complete on the expected timeline.

Get in touch to find out how our use of a Digital Project Manger can make your website development project run smoothly today.