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Agile Sprint Board for Marketing Teams: How It Works

Stuart Brameld

Stuart Brameld

Founder
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A sprint board for a marketing team is a visual board that tracks every task in the current sprint, usually a one to two week block, from To Do through to Done. Use one when your team commits to a fixed set of work for a set period and wants to see progress and blockers at a glance.

An agile sprint board is a visual tool used in agile marketing to organise and track the progress of tasks within a specific time frame, known as a ‘sprint’. It’s divided into different sections, typically ‘To Do’, ‘In Progress’, and ‘Done’, and tasks are moved across these sections as they progress. This board helps teams to stay focused, manage their workload effectively, and quickly identify any bottlenecks or issues.

An agile sprint board can be physical, like a whiteboard with sticky notes, or digital, using software tools. Each task on the board is represented by a card, which includes details like the task owner, deadline, and any relevant notes. The board is updated daily, often during a meeting called a ‘daily stand-up’, where team members discuss what they’ve completed, what they’re working on, and any obstacles they’re facing. This constant updating and communication ensures transparency and keeps everyone on the same page, promoting efficiency and productivity.

Sprint board vs task board vs kanban board vs scrum board

The four boards look similar but are used differently. The main differences are the time frame and how work in progress is controlled.

BoardTime frameHow work is controlledBest for marketing teams that
Sprint boardFixed sprint, usually 1 to 2 weeksSprint capacity; reset each sprintCommit to a batch of campaigns per sprint
Task boardOpen endedOptional limitsWant a simple shared view of who is doing what
Kanban boardContinuous flowExplicit work in progress limitsHandle a steady stream of requests
Scrum boardFixed sprintSprint capacity; defined roles and ceremoniesFollow the full Scrum framework

For the framework behind sprints, see scrum marketing. For a flow-based alternative with no fixed sprint, see kanban marketing.

How does an agile sprint board work?

An agile sprint board works by providing a visual representation of the progress of a marketing project. It is divided into several columns, typically labeled as ‘To Do’, ‘In Progress’, and ‘Done’. Tasks or user stories are written on cards or sticky notes and placed in the appropriate column. As work progresses, the cards are moved from one column to the next. This allows the marketing team to see at a glance what work has been completed, what is currently being worked on, and what still needs to be done. It also helps in identifying any bottlenecks or issues in the workflow. The agile sprint board is a key tool in agile project management, promoting transparency, collaboration, and efficiency.

An example of an agile sprint board

Sprint Board for Growth Method:

  • Backlog: Research and identify target audience for new feature X, Develop a marketing strategy for feature X, Create a social media campaign for feature X, Develop an email marketing campaign for feature X, Analyse the performance of feature X’s marketing campaigns

  • To Do: Develop a blog post to introduce feature X, Create a video tutorial for feature X, Plan a webinar to showcase feature X

  • In Progress: Design a landing page for feature X, Develop a customer feedback survey for feature X

  • Testing: Test the landing page for feature X, Test the customer feedback survey for feature X

  • Done: Finalise the marketing budget for feature X, Launch the landing page for feature X, Send out the first email marketing campaign for feature X, Post the first social media campaign for feature X, Analyse the initial performance of feature X’s marketing campaigns.

Questions to ask yourself

As a modern growth marketing or agile marketing professional, ask yourself the following questions with regard to an agile sprint board:

  • What are the key tasks that need to be completed in this sprint and are they clearly defined on the board?

  • Are the tasks prioritised correctly, ensuring the most important tasks are tackled first?

  • Is there a clear understanding of who is responsible for each task and is this reflected on the board?

  • Are there any bottlenecks or obstacles that could hinder the progress of the sprint and how can these be addressed?

  • Is there a system in place to track the progress of tasks and is this visible on the board?

Here are some related articles on boards, sprints and agile marketing.

About Growth Method

Growth Method is the agentic marketing platform for B2B teams: plan your strategy, ship campaigns and learn what works, all in one place, for people and agents. Our view is that a sprint board only earns its place if the work on it is tied to a goal. Most boards track outputs, what got shipped, and say nothing about whether it moved the number that matters. In Growth Method, campaigns run through five agile stages, from Backlog to Complete, against one goal, with the before-metrics recorded at launch. Agents can plan, launch and analyse alongside your team, so each sprint ends with evidence of what worked, not just a column of finished cards. Read more about the agentic marketing approach.

Get started: first month free, no credit card required.

Frequently asked questions

What is an agile sprint board?

An agile sprint board is a visual board that shows every task in the current sprint and its status, usually across To Do, In Progress and Done columns. Marketing teams use it to keep a fixed block of work visible, spot blockers early and review progress in the daily stand-up.

What is the difference between a sprint board and a kanban board?

A sprint board is reset at the start of each fixed-length sprint and holds only the work the team committed to. A kanban board is continuous: work flows through it with no fixed end date and is controlled by work in progress limits.

How long should a marketing sprint be?

Most marketing teams run one to two week sprints. One week suits fast channels such as paid social and email, while two weeks gives enough room for larger pieces of work such as a landing page or a content campaign.

What columns should a marketing sprint board have?

A typical marketing sprint board uses Backlog, To Do, In Progress, Testing and Done. The Testing column is useful for campaigns because it gives A/B tests, landing pages and email sends a place to be checked before they are marked done.