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Reducing Freelancer Misunderstandings With Good Briefs



How Small Businesses Can Avoid Delays, Revisions, and Disappointment

When freelancers deliver something completely different from what you imagined, it’s almost always because of an unclear brief — not because the freelancer is bad.

A great brief is the single easiest way to reduce mistakes, avoid arguments, and get work done exactly the way you want.

Here’s how to write one that eliminates 90% of misunderstandings.


1. Start With the Goal (What You Actually Want to Achieve)

Most clients tell freelancers what to do, but not why they need it.
The “why” gives clarity.

Example:
❌ “Write 2 blog posts.”
✅ “Write 2 blog posts to help us rank for beginner-friendly SEO keywords and attract organic traffic.”

When freelancers understand the purpose, they make smarter decisions.


2. Provide Clear Deliverables (No Guessing)

Spell out exactly what you expect:

✔ Length
✔ Format
✔ Tone
✔ Examples
✔ Must-include points
✔ Deadline
✔ File type

The more specific you are, the better.

Example:
“1,200-word blog post, friendly tone, SEO-optimized, Google Docs format, must include 3 examples and a CTA at the end.”


3. Give Context About Your Brand or Business

Freelancers cannot read your mind.

Include:
• What your business does
• Who your target audience is
• What makes you different
• Your brand tone (formal, casual, funny, technical, etc.)

This avoids work that “doesn’t feel like us.”


4. Share Visual or Written Examples

Examples are powerful.

If you want:
• A logo → share logos you love
• A blog → share writing styles you like
• A website → share layouts you prefer

Examples give freelancers a creative direction instantly.


5. Clarify What You Don’t Want

This step is underrated.

Tell the freelancer:
• Words to avoid
• Colors you hate
• Formats you dislike
• Competitors you don’t want to imitate
• Tone you don’t want (too serious? too playful?)

This saves hours of revisions.


6. Outline Your Workflow & Expectations

Explain:
• How many revision rounds
• How you communicate
• What tools you use (Google Docs, Trello, WhatsApp, email)
• How fast you respond

Freelancers love clients who are organized.


7. Add a Simple “Success Checklist”

At the bottom of the brief, include a short, clear checklist the freelancer can follow.

Example:

Final Delivery Checklist:
✔ 1,200 words
✔ SEO title + meta description
✔ Friendly tone
✔ Google Docs format
✔ 3 examples included
✔ CTA included

This helps them double-check their work before submitting.


8. Keep It Short & Easy to Read

A good brief is short, clear, and structured.
Bullet points work better than paragraphs.

Your goal is:
➡ Make it impossible to misunderstand your expectations.


9. Update Your Brief Over Time

Your first brief won’t be perfect — and that’s fine.

Refine it based on:
• Freelancer questions
• Repeated mistakes
• Revisions
• What worked well

Eventually, you’ll have a brief you can reuse forever.


Final Takeaway

Freelancers don’t want to disappoint you — they just need clarity.

A strong brief:
✔ Reduces revisions
✔ Makes delivery faster
✔ Creates better results
✔ Makes freelancers enjoy working with you
✔ Builds long-term relationships


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