AI & Content

The Content Brief Checklist: Plan Before You Hire a Writer

By Destiny Shaba · Published October 28, 2026 · Last updated October 28, 2026 · 3 min read

organised desk notebook and laptop
Illustrative photograph for this article.

Give the writer a decision to support

A brief should identify the reader, the question they need answered and the next step the page should support. A topic such as business automation is too broad on its own. Explain which process, audience and level of experience matter.

Supply facts and boundaries

List the services, prices or product details that are confirmed, with their sources. Mark unverified points explicitly. Include claims the writer must avoid and a person who can answer questions. Never ask a writer to invent customer results or quotations.

Define the deliverable

Specify the format, approximate length, headings, internal links, examples and accessibility needs. Explain the desired voice with a short approved sample. Name the reviewer and distinguish factual approval from preferences about wording.

Make acceptance observable

A practical checklist might require accurate names, a clear introduction, useful subheadings, working links and an appropriate call to action. Agree how revisions will be collected and when the work is accepted. Avoid a vague instruction to make it engaging without describing what success means.

A reusable brief outline

Reader; reader question; purpose; confirmed facts; sources; exclusions; outline; format; reviewer; deadline; acceptance checks. Fill in these fields before commissioning the draft. This short preparation helps the writer spend time on the right problem.

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Destiny Shaba

Founder of Eri-Tech Global Ltd. Connect on LinkedIn.

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