Managing a digital team is no small feat. Project managers interact with a variety of team personalities, and they’re typically responsible for translating team output to less-savvy clients. It’s a challenging position that requires focus and dedication. But, it’s also a rewarding and growing career path.
As investment in web development skyrockets, employers will need project managers who can communicate with a multi-disciplined team of web professionals. So what does it take to effectively manage a diverse group including programmers, web designers, creative writers and SEO professionals?
Get the basics: HTML and CSS
These two web coding languages form the backbone of the Internet. Even if you’re not a programmer, it’s vital for digital project managers to understand coding fundamentals. It’s not uncommon for project managers to step in and help their team during crunch time. A project manager who can clear simple tasks and knowledgeably communicate with developers is invaluable.
Understand beauty and function: Web Design
Project managers serve a critical role in web design. Beyond acting as a sounding board for their designers, project managers often serve as the filter between client requests and the design team. While you may not need design skills, the best project managers understand how web design impacts the overall project. Managers often have to rein in their designers’ creative impulses, so it’s important to understand the design process.
Know how to make it look right: Image Editing
Image editing and Photoshop skills bring serious value to the team, especially when they get bogged down in art requests. Designers face a ton of work on every project, and project managers who can touch up a photo or create simple graphic assets are a blessing.
Attract an audience: SEO
In many traditional agencies and companies, web developers, designers and content creators often work in their own silos to build web projects. Project managers are typically responsible for bringing the full project together, and that means understanding how each segment ties together. Search engine optimization plays a critical role in website performance, and project managers must understand how the team’s individual work impacts SEO.
Engage with the written word: Copywriting
Some digital teams simply don’t have copywriters within the web team, so project managers often bear the burden of creating – or at least editing – written content. Copywriting skill often goes hand-in-hand with SEO expertise.
Offer what your audience needs: Content Management
Web developers build a site’s structure and designers make it look great. But they usually hate the tedious work of inserting content into editable areas of the website; a vital (and time-consuming) task. Project managers should be aware how content management systems like WordPress work, because they’ll likely be supporting the team with content integration across projects.
Test and make it better: Analytics and Data
Project managers also have a great opportunity to help their teams track the effectiveness of what they build. Nearly everything on a website can be tracked through analytics software, but developers are often too busy learning the latest coding framework to worry about tracking best practices. Understanding the power of analytics can help your team deliver value to your clients.
Align purpose: Communication
And of course, a digital project manager’s job all comes down to client communication. Project managers are typically a client’s sole contact on a web team, responsible for relaying client requests to developers and designers. Strong communication skills are a hallmark of a successful project manager.
Digital project managers must bring all these skills to bear when leading a web development team. More than a team leader, project managers must be versatile professionals who can support their team with insights, practical ability and more. Gaining these skills and expertise can be challenging.
That’s why the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications launched its online master’s degree specializing in Web Design and Online Communication. Through 100% online classes, students learn essential coding languages, web design techniques and in-depth digital strategies. You’ll leave the program ready to work hands-on in development and design, or prepared to lead a multi-disciplined web team.
Contact us today to get started or call 877-937-7440 to speak with an enrollment coach.
