Here are some suggestions about the planning time for various promotion and media projects.
Steps of Media and Promotional Projects
Before planning a project, you should first have a goal or problem you’re trying to solve. Presuming that, the steps of a media project are something like this:
- Research options and costs, and decide to do the project.
- Craft the message, write the text and create the graphics.
- Design text, layout or video.
- Decision maker review of the design(s).
- Tweak and adjust the design and content.
- Repeat steps 3 thru 5, sometimes several times.
- Print or produce the finished product.
- Ship the product to you.
So how long does it take?
Planning Times
I use the term “planning time”. It’s an estimate that includes some time to “do it right” and is a little inflated in case there is a delay. The list below has planning times of typical promotional and media projects.
And earlier is even better because the commodity is one thing–the postcard, the website, the brochure. But what about the message you put on those commodities? That message is usually more important. Early planning means more time to generate ideas and refine your message. So earlier is a good idea, too.
| Simple – First Run (Subsequent Runs) | Complex – First Run (Subsequent Runs) | |
|---|---|---|
| Business Cards | 2.5 weeks (1.5 weeks) | 4 weeks (2.5 weeks) |
| Brochures | 3 weeks (1.5 weeks) | 8 weeks (3 weeks) |
| Signs | 3 weeks (2.5 weeks) | 8 weeks (3-4 weeks) |
| Website | 4 weeks | 3-6 months |
| Logo Design | 3 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Promo Items | 3-5 weeks (2-3 weeks) | 8 weeks (3-4 weeks) |
| Logo Apparel | 3 weeks (2.5 weeks) | 6 weeks (and longer) (4 weeks) |
| Trade Show | 3-6 months | 6-12 months as early as possible |
| Photography | 2 weeks (1 week) | 3 months (3 months) |
| Video | 3 weeks (2 weeks) | 2 months (2 months) |
| New Branding Project | 3 months | 12 months |
“Simple” means projects with a basic design or concept.
“Complex” means projects with extra features, high-end materials or complex design concepts. Complex also applies when the decision making process is complicated. If your organization typically takes extra time to make decisions, “complex” might apply.
“First Run” means the first creation and production of a project.
“Subsequent Run”, when applicable, means additional runs of the same project with very few tweaks or changes.
