Free Blog Assignment Brief Template Below!
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Here’s a sneak peek at our assignment brief template. Download the doc above to see the full brief.
If you know you want to outsource the writing of a blog or article, what comes next? How do you get started?
You need a blog assignment brief.
When it comes to content creation, the devil is in the details. A well-thought-out brief helps you get clear ahead of time and avoid stressful revision rounds.
If you’re not sure what your writer wants and needs to know, download our blog assignment brief template above.
It does take some work to fill it out well, but you’ll thank yourself later.
The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is very true here.
Working with a writer for the first time? A 30-minute intro call is also a good idea to make sure everyone is on the same page.
(Tip: Not sure about the answers to some of the questions in the brief? You likely need to work with a strategist before hiring a writer.)
P.S. If you’re on the hunt for a great writer (or strategist), check out our freelance writer directory!
What is a blog assignment brief template?
A writing assignment brief is a document that shares the details of a writing assignment with the writer. It often includes the topic, title, word count, target audience, notes on the piece, where it will be published, and a brief outline (at least). A good amount of forethought will generally be greatly rewarded by what you get back from the writer.
Do I need an assignment brief?
Blogs and articles are much more complicated than meets the eye, especially when bringing in an outsider to write them. They are not just 500 or 1000 words pulled out of the air. They are pieces of a much larger content strategy puzzle and aim to serve a specific purpose.
The writer must understand many aspects of your business, your customers, and your marketing strategy to write an effective piece. It’s not the writer’s job to figure out the strategy. Their job is to put the story together in a beautiful and eloquent way. The client needs to provide the pieces, which is where briefs come in handy.
Can I just provide the project details over a phone call?
While the details can be shared over a phone call, a written brief offers a few advantages over just a verbal exchange, including:
- Communicating the scope of the project in detail, making it easy for writers to quote it accurately.
- Working as a guide for both parties throughout the writing and revision process (a shared source of truth).
- Working as a standard to measure the final product against. Was everything met? Does it achieve the desired goal? Did the work fall short of, meet, or exceed the original scope?
So while you may work be able to manage a project without a brief, things often go much smoother with one.