Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “handle ad-hoc marketing requests from sales and other teams”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

30 min
typically, every day
35%
of the time can be automated
Some setup
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

Process fixBest fix

Take requests through one form with a weekly triage

Requests by DM and hallway interrupt deep work. A form with the right questions and a weekly prioritization slot cuts interruptions and rework.

Typically saves about 30% of the time45 min to set up
  1. 1Create a request form in Asana, Monday, Wrike, Jira or Microsoft Forms: what, who it is for, deadline, examples.
  2. 2Reply to every DM request with the link.
  3. 3Triage once or twice a week and tell requesters the date.
  4. 4Publish what the team will not do, and point to self-serve templates.

Tools: Asana, Monday, Wrike or Jira forms · Microsoft Forms · Slack Workflow Builder

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Give sales self-serve templates and an asset library

Locked Canva templates, a Highspot or Seismic library, or a shared folder of approved one-pagers let sales make simple changes themselves.

Typically saves about 35% of the time2 h to set up
  1. 1List the requests you get most (one-pagers, event invites, case study edits).
  2. 2Turn each into a locked Canva or Adobe Express template with editable text.
  3. 3Publish them, with approved decks and case studies, in one library (Highspot, Seismic, SharePoint or Google Drive).
  4. 4Point repeat requests to the library.

Tools: Canva brand templates · Adobe Express · Highspot · Seismic · SharePoint or Google Drive

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

Marketing Manager / GeneralistMarketing Ops / AutomationBrand / Graphic Design

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

How many hours does this cost you?

The free 8-minute check works out where your week goes and gives you your top fixes. The team scan does the same for everyone and adds it up, so you know which leaks to fix first.

Take the free check Scan my team, $49

Answers are anonymous. Leaders only see team totals.

Other common tasks for Marketing Managers / Generalists