The internet doesn’t sleep… which can be good and bad for digital marketers. If you’re like me, you like to thoroughly prepare for time out of the office, so that all runs smoothly and so you don’t return to account fires (preventable ones at least).

As we approach the holidays, I thought I would share some of the ways I prepare for time out of the office this holiday season.

Review Automated Rules

As we’ve said before, we love automated rules. However, this great piece of technology can become a nightmare if forgotten about.

My favorite use for automated rules at the holidays is for pausing and activating campaigns. Since some of my lead gen clients pause at the holidays and eCommerce clients kick it up, having things set to pause and activate can be a time and sanity saver.

Before heading out for vacations, give your automated rules in all channels a once-over. Not only will this help for the holidays, but it is also a great regular review item anyways.

Send Automated Reports

With more to do and less time in the office during the holidays, automated reports can be a lifesaver. Sending a daily or weekly recap of performance can keep clients in the loop and keep everyone on the same page.

If you don’t have software that you regularly use for reporting, I’d recommend getting started with Google Data Studio. Data Studio is a free reporting platform that allows you to make professional looking, multi-channel reports.Read up on Google Data Studio here.

Download Channel Apps

Now I don’t recommend these apps for everyday use, but if you’re on the go and need to quickly check in, these can be very useful.

Google AdWords App

Available for iOS and Android, the AdWords app allows you to see campaign stats, see alerts/notifications and allows you to update bids and budgets. While you won’t be running search query analysis on the app, you can check in and see how things are going.

Facebook Ads Manager App

The Facebook Ads Manager app allows you to check in on Facebook campaigns to see performance, create or duplicate campaigns and get notifications on the go. (I have not personally done anything but look in on campaigns and pause campaigns.) Get this app for iOS and Android devices.

Communicate

Make sure to discuss out of office dates with clients as well as contact information should something arise while you’re away from the computer. Consider turning on an automatic reply in your email that includes emergency contact information as well.

Additionally, make sure you chat with your team to know when folks are taking time off. It can save you a headache!

Review Budgets and Projections

We’ve written about Supermetrics and how much time it saves us with reporting and projections. I highly recommend checking out a way to automate your projections. If a third party tool is not what you’re looking for, here’s a way to utilize Excel for projections tables.

If you need tips on how to work in a different city or while you’re on a long-haul flight, check out my tips for PPC on the go.

The holidays can be a crazy time of year, but if you plan correctly, they can also be stress-free!

Wi