Brands and businesses are where most creators earn first. Content adverts and skills frameworks ask creators to match a brand's voice, follow brand guidelines, interpret briefs and meet deadlines. One remote advert we read added meeting deadlines in the client's time zone. Clients rehire people who are easy to work with.
Understand the brief
A brief is the client's description of what they want. If they do not give one, ask questions and write it yourself:
- What is the goal: awareness, sales, sign ups or a message?
- Who is the audience?
- What must be included: product, price, logo, contact details, key message?
- Where will it be posted, and in what shape and length?
- What is the deadline?
- Are there brand colours, fonts or words to use or avoid?
Send the written brief back and ask the client to confirm it. This one step prevents most arguments later.
Quote and agree in writing
Before you start, agree in writing, even by WhatsApp message:
- Deliverables: for example, three vertical videos of up to thirty seconds and ten photos.
- Price and payment: amount in cedis, how to pay (often mobile money) and when. Asking for part payment upfront on bigger jobs is normal.
- Revisions: how many rounds of changes are included.
- Deadline: when drafts and final files are due.