How to write a good freelancer brief

Start with the outcome

Describe the business or user outcome before listing tasks. This gives a specialist room to recommend a better method while keeping the engagement accountable.

• ✓Who the work is for
• ✓What should change when it is complete
• ✓How the output will be used

Make scope observable

Replace broad phrases such as ‘improve the website’ with pages, workflows, formats and explicit exclusions. Attach representative examples and identify which assets are final.

• ✓Required deliverables and formats
• ✓Inputs you will supply
• ✓Dependencies and exclusions
• ✓Reviewers and approval stages

Define done

Acceptance criteria should be checkable. Agree device support, file formats, revision rounds, rights, source files and the process for work that falls outside the original scope.