CONTENT BRIEFS
What is a Content Brief?
A Content Brief is a document that outlines the key information and instructions needed to create a specific piece of content, like a blog post, article, or video. It serves as a roadmap for writers, designers, or creators to ensure they cover the right topics, meet the goals, and match the tone or style required.
In simple terms, a content brief tells the content creator the following:
- What to write,
- Why it’s important, and
- How to structure the content to meet the desired purpose.
It typically includes target audience details, key points to address, word count, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) requirements, and any specific instructions or resources.
Examples of Content Briefs
- Blog Post Brief: A content brief for a blog post may outline the main topic, target audience (e.g., small business owners), keywords to use for SEO, and subtopics to include. For example, a brief on “How to Improve Your Website SEO” might list specific tips like using backlinks or optimizing page speed.
- Product Review Brief: If you’re writing a product review for an eCommerce website, the brief might include the product’s key features to highlight, the tone (e.g., friendly or professional), and comparison with similar products.
- Social Media Post Brief: This could outline the message, hashtags, image requirements, and call-to-action for a promotional tweet or Facebook post.
Why are Content Briefs Important?
Content briefs are essential for keeping content creation on track and ensuring quality. They provide clear instructions, so the writer or creator knows exactly what is expected, which reduces misunderstandings and saves time.
For businesses, content briefs are vital because they ensure consistency in tone, messaging, and style across all content. When multiple writers or creators are involved, briefs help maintain a unified brand voice and focus on meeting the specific goals, whether that’s driving traffic, boosting engagement, or improving search engine rankings.
In the context of Mercantela.com, content briefs could help ensure that all product descriptions or blog posts are clear, relevant, and follow SEO best practices to attract more visitors and improve sales.
Available Tools & Resources
- Surfer SEO: This tool helps generate content briefs with SEO recommendations based on competitor analysis and target keywords.
- Content Harmony: A platform that helps teams create detailed content briefs by analyzing search intent, top-performing content, and outlining required sections.
- SEMrush Content Marketing Toolkit: A tool that helps marketers and content creators research, organize, and create optimized content briefs focused on driving traffic and ranking higher on search engines.