BRIEF-TAKING QUESTIONS Inside this PDF are the 3 sets of questions freelancers should ask clients when taking a brief - covering the Basics, the Specifics and the Context.

1. Afreelancer's
Guide to
Taking agoodbrief
ByTiffanyMarkman

2. GOTACOUPLE OF
BADBRIEFS IN YOUR TIME?
ME TOO.

6. Unfortunately,
these are often
related.
Fortunately,
theyshare a
solution.

7. TAKING
BETTER
BRIEFS

8. I HAVE
ABSOLUTELY
NOIDEA
WHATI WANT.
?!?!$#!

9. Important!

10. ASKQUESTIONS

11. Because I'm
awriter…

12. I.D. STYLE & TONE
GETINFO& CONTEXT

13. YOU?

14. Whatever your niche, you'll wanttocover 3 categories.

15. a.
The basics

16. 6 QUESTIONS

17. 1. Whatbusiness or sector are you in?
2. Whatare the company's products/services?
3. Whoare your customers, in general?
4. Whois the targetmarketfor this particular
project?
5. Whoare your main competitors?
6. Whatcan you layclaim tothattheycan't?

18. b.
The specifics

19. 9QUESTIONS

20. 8. What's the main message you wanttoconvey?
9. What's the overall tone of voice/VISUAL IDof the
brand?
10. Is there aparticular style you like or don'tlike?
11. Whatare the actual projectdeliverables?
12. Whatexamples can you provide as guidance (either
positive or negative)?
13. Whatbackgroundmaterial is available?
14. Whatmandatoryinclusions are there, if any?
15. What's the specific problem/challenge mywork
needs tosolve?
16. How will you know whether the projecthas
succeeded?

21. The context
c.

22. 6 QUESTIONS

23. 17. Are there anysocial or environmental
initiatives thatcouldbe tiedtothe project?
18. Wouldyou wantthis projecttobe timeless,
or tofocus on currentevents/ideas?
19. Are there anyindustrymisconceptions or
contentions you'dlike toaddress?
20. Where doyou plan on publishing, sharing or
featuring the project?
21. Whoare you NOT targeting with this specific
project?
22. Is this aonce-off projector shouldittie
intopastandpossiblyfuture projects?

24. Whatif they
don'twanttoanswer?

25. Beflexible.Butalso,
Bepreparedtorun.

26. THE HOW

27. The olddays

28. Anew world

29. Offer achoice

30. If you're
Emailing

31. Please answer the questions in as
much detail as you can.
NONEEDTOstress aboutcreating
perfectprose andcrafting
magnificentsentences.
I justneedyour wisdom and
insights. Bulletpoints are fine.

32. If you're
On acall

35. whatI know for sure

36. ThatI
don’tlike
The two
things

38. Andthen
everyone is

39. Andthen
everyone is
happier

40. @tiffanymarkman

41. WEBSITE: tiffanymarkman.co.za
facebook.com/TiffanyMarkman
linkedin.com/in/tiffany-markman
twitter.com/tiffanymarkman
TIFFANYMARKMAN

42. TAKING
BETTER
BRIEFS

43. Dankie
Ngiyabonga
Ke aleboga
Ke aleboha
NdzaNkhensa
NdoLivhuwa
Enkosi
Thankyou