Resources · Project brief checklist
Turn a vague request
into clear next actions.
A practical brief template for freelance and marketing projects. Resolve the important decisions before building a long task list.
01 / Step
Define the problem and desired result.
Ask what is happening today, who is affected and what should be different after the work. Keep the business goal separate from the list of assets.
“We need a landing page” is an asset request. The underlying goal might be to explain a new offer clearly and capture relevant inquiries.
02 / Step
Name the deliverables and acceptance rules.
List the assets, formats and review requirements. Define what makes each deliverable ready, including necessary copy, links, approvals and responsibility for implementation.
Avoid “finish the website” as a single task. Break it into decisions and deliverables that someone can own and review.
03 / Step
Map owners, dates and dependencies.
Work backwards from the real deadline. Add time for inputs and approvals. If a task depends on an unresolved decision, record that dependency instead of pretending it is ready.
The first action may be “confirm the offer and audience with the client,” before anyone writes a headline.
04 / Step
Leave a decision trail.
Record the final brief, unresolved questions and the next action in one place. When the scope changes, update the brief and discuss the impact on the schedule.
In Canvas, map the plan visually. Turn the decisions that are ready into linked tasks with a project, owner in the brief and deadline.
Copy this working template.
Fill in the decisions you know. Give the unknowns an owner and a next step.
PROJECT BRIEF Project / client: Problem today: Audience: Desired result: Deliverables / formats: Ready-for-review criteria: Required inputs: Dependencies or open questions: Decision-maker: Delivery and approval dates: Out of scope: First next action:
A clear brief does not eliminate change. It gives the project a starting point and makes the effect of a new request easier to discuss.
Keep the next step useful.
Use the checklist in the tools you have, or connect the plan to projects and focus in Your Daily OS.