Creator Collaboration Brief Checklist: 12 Points to Agree Before You Start

Most collaboration problems between a brand and a creator come from something that was assumed instead of written down. This checklist lists the points worth agreeing in one short message or document before any work begins. It works for both sides: brands can use it to write the brief, creators can use it to check that nothing is missing.

The checklist

  1. Goal. What the content is for: awareness, a product launch, traffic, sign-ups or sales. One main goal keeps the brief focused.
  2. Deliverables. Exactly what will be produced: format (video, photo, story, post), number of pieces and length.
  3. Platforms. Where each piece will be published, and who posts it: the creator's account, the brand's account, or both.
  4. Key message and must-haves. The product points to mention, the link or code to include, and anything the creator should not say.
  5. Creative freedom. Which parts are fixed and which are left to the creator's own style and voice.
  6. Timeline. Delivery dates for a draft and for the final piece, and the planned publishing date.
  7. Approval rounds. Who approves the draft, how many rounds of changes are included, and how fast each side replies.
  8. Usage rights. Whether the brand may reuse the content (for example in its own ads or on its website), on which channels and for how long.
  9. Exclusivity. Whether the creator can work with competing brands during or after the campaign, and for how long.
  10. Ad disclosure. That the post will be labelled as a paid partnership in the way required where the audience is located. Check the rules of the relevant country; do not assume one label fits every market.
  11. Payment. The fee, the currency, when payment is released, and what happens if the work is cancelled or delayed.
  12. Reporting. Which results the creator will share after publishing, such as views, clicks or saves, and by when.

How to use it

Copy the twelve headings into an email or a shared document, fill in one line for each, and have both sides reply with a clear yes. Keeping everything in one written thread also gives both sides a record to refer back to if a question comes up later.

If you are a brand looking for creators, or a creator looking for paid collaborations, Collabios is a marketplace where brands find and book European creators.