Contrary to popular belief, writers aren’t mind readers. Even if you were to hire the absolute best writer in the world, they could potentially deliver content that fails to meet your expectations. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your expectations are as clear as possible—and well-communicated to your writer.

 

The best way to do this is through a creative brief—a template that clearly explains what the purpose of the project is, what you want it to look like and where the writer can find the necessary information to write it.

 

The template should leave room to address information about:

 

  • The audience (who is this project for?)
  • The tone (will it be informative, informal, enthusiastic?)
  • Additional resources (to fill in missing information, offer examples or illustrate a preferred format/style)
  • The deadline
  • Additional notes of interest

 

Getting into the habit of filling out a creative brief before every assignment will not only help your writer produce better content, but it will allow you and your team to better think through your content on a piece-by-piece basis,  ensuring it fits into your overall content marketing strategy.

 

Want more tips on working effectively with external writers? Download the new AR Communications Inc. ebook, The Right Fit: How To Outsource Great Writing.