Creating an awesome content brief is essential for ensuring that your writers produce high-quality, on-brand content that meets your goals. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you craft a detailed and effective content brief.
A content brief is a document that provides writers with the necessary information and guidelines to create content that aligns with your objectives. It serves as a roadmap, ensuring that the final piece meets your expectations and resonates with your target audience. Here are the steps to create an awesome content brief:
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Define Your Objectives
Start by clearly defining the objectives of the content. What do you want to achieve with this piece? Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, driving traffic, generating leads, or educating your audience, having a clear goal will guide the entire content creation process.
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Identify Your Target Audience
Understanding your target audience is crucial. Provide detailed information about who the content is for, including demographics, interests, pain points, and preferences. This helps the writer tailor the content to meet the needs and expectations of your audience.
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Specify the Content Type and Format
Clearly state the type of content you need (e.g., blog post, article, social media post, white paper) and the format it should follow. Include details such as word count, structure, and any specific elements you want to be included, like headings, subheadings, bullet points, or images.
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Outline the Key Messages
Identify the key messages or points that the content should convey. This ensures that the writer focuses on the most important aspects and delivers a coherent and impactful message.
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Provide SEO Guidelines
If SEO is a priority, include guidelines for optimizing the content. This can include primary and secondary keywords, keyword placement, meta descriptions, and any other SEO best practices. Providing a list of keywords helps the writer understand the focus of the content and how to naturally incorporate them.
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Include Research and Resources
Provide any necessary research, data, or resources that the writer can use to create the content. This can include links to relevant articles, studies, or internal documents. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for the writer to produce accurate and well-informed content.
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Define the Tone and Style
Specify the desired tone and style of the content. Whether you want a formal, professional tone or a casual, conversational style, make sure to communicate this clearly. Providing examples of previous content that matches your desired tone can be very helpful.
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Set Deadlines and Milestones
Clearly outline the deadlines for the content, including any milestones for drafts or revisions. This helps manage expectations and ensures that the content is delivered on time.
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Include Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
If the content should include specific call-to-actions, make sure to include them in the brief. Whether it’s encouraging readers to sign up for a newsletter, download a resource, or contact your sales team, CTAs are crucial for driving engagement and conversions.
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Provide Examples and Templates
Including examples of similar content or templates can give the writer a better understanding of what you’re looking for. This can be particularly useful for complex or technical topics.
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Specify Internal and External Links
Identify any internal links (links to other pages on your website) and external links (links to other websites) that should be included in the content. This helps improve SEO and provides additional value to the readers.
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Outline the Review Process
Explain the review and approval process for the content. Who will review the drafts? How many rounds of revisions are expected? Providing this information upfront helps streamline the process and avoid any misunderstandings.
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Address Legal and Compliance Issues
If there are any legal or compliance issues that the writer needs to be aware of, make sure to include them in the brief. This can include industry regulations, copyright considerations, or any other legal requirements.
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Include Visual Guidelines
If the content requires visuals, provide guidelines for images, graphics, or videos. This can include specifications for image sizes, formats, and any branding guidelines that need to be followed.
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Offer Support and Communication Channels
Finally, provide contact information for any questions or clarifications. Let the writer know who they can reach out to if they need additional information or have any concerns.
Creating a comprehensive content brief is essential for producing high-quality content that meets your objectives and resonates with your audience. By following these steps, you can ensure that your writers have all the information they need to create content that aligns with your brand and drives results.
