A content brief is an assignment for the author that specifies what the text should be about and what it should achieve. A usable brief includes the target query and related questions the content should answer, who it is intended for and what stage of decision-making they are in, a proposed outline with headings, the required length and format, specific facts, figures, and sources the company has available, a list of internal pages to link to, and information on what the reader's next step should be. It is also worth adding what to avoid, topics the company does not handle, or claims it cannot substantiate. A good brief is the most effective tool for shortening the review process, because most revisions arise from the client's unspoken expectations.
See also: Brief for a supplier, Editorial content review, Semantic topic coverage.
