On this page, we’ll explain how to write a video brief. Or to save time, download a video briefing document below.
Below are a TV advertising brief, a video briefing document and a briefing template for animated explainer videos. If you’ve got a project you would like to discuss, simply email the completed briefing template to slice@toasttv.co.uk
How to write a brief?
Writing a brief is the best way to convey your thoughts to a creative team.
It doesn’t need to be an in-depth exploration of everything about your company, the more focused on the current project, the better. The brief can include more extensive information, but it should always be related to the current project.
Getting everyone to focus
The process of writing a video brief forces people to focus. It can be a painful process to boil down ideas into a single document. It’s vital to focus on what needs to be in a video and what doesn’t.
CONTACT US20A single point of contact
Knowing who to talk to is one of the most critical elements of effective communication. Pick a primary point of contact and add them to the video briefing document. Being sent feedback from a group can lead to unnecessary delays and duplication of work.
Include the deadline
Add the deadline or any milestones to the brief. If it’s a rushed job with a short timeframe, it’s best to know about it early.
Innocent Smoothies
TV Advert
Eco Marathon
Video Production
CyberArk
Explainer Video
What’s the intended outcome after watching?
The outcome is the most crucial part of the brief. What do you want the viewer to do or feel after watching the video? It can be as simple as clicking a button or visiting a website. Or it could involve thinking differently about a company or subject.
A concise outcome will drive the creative and distribution strategy so needs to be thought through.
Who is it aimed at – the audience
Picking a target audience and defining a voice. Some messages need to appeal to a broader audience. If yours doesn’t, you have the freedom to target a tighter demographic. We have a section of the video briefing document where the audience can be listed.
The tone of Voice – Your brand’s personality
Your brand is more significant than just your product. Think about how your brand should come across to the public. Describe the tone of voice to be used in your messaging precisely.
Single-minded message
Condense your message into a concise nugget of thought. The single-minded message will help focus the creatives to make sure this message comes across.
Is there a call to action?
How will the viewer interact with your video? If it’s a DRTV commercial are you including a toll-free number or URL? If you’re using interactive video, the CTA can be more involved and may lead to further user interactions.
Are there mandatories
Do you have to use a branded endframe or a specific typeface? They might feel like constraints, but a great creative team will find ways to get the best from your assets.
Please add a budget, even a ballpark
Knowing a ballpark budget when creating ideas is very useful. It’s tempting to ask creatives to “ignore the budget and give me your best ideas”. They will, and every script will start with “open on a palm-fringed beach”. There’s a place to add your ball-park budget in our video briefing document, please do add something, it will prevent a lot of wheel spinning.
Trying to shoehorn those ideas into a realistic budget will lead to compromise and disappointment. Starting with a ballpark budget or budget ranges will mean you’ll receive the best ideas which will get the most from your budget.
Who are your competitors
When writing the brief include info on your competitors. It might not always be apparent to those outside your industry who they are. It’s a useful exercise to see what your competitors are doing in their marketing.
Is there any research to include
If you have market research, stats from your website or data from your marketing, please add it. Having stats to construct a campaign around gives you the certainty that the ideas are heading in the right direction.
What deliverables are required
Including all the delivery formats in the video briefing helps the agency deliver useful content. It also makes sure the idea has been built to work across multiple platforms. Sometimes having delivery constraints can throw up unusual or surprising ideas which elevate the concept.
Campaign Measurements
How will the campaign be measured? It’s good to let the agency know. In the TV advertising world, the days of buying media packages and hoping for the best are over. Software that correlates TV adverts running with website visits means media spending success can be measured and optimised. Tracking of social media campaigns happens in real-time.
How many companies to brief?
The number of companies to work with is a tricky question and probably depends on the size of the project. If you’re creating the next round of Olympic pitch films, you’ll want to see ideas from all the talent in the country.
If you’re creating an advert for a new product and you’re busy do you want to spend days meeting ten creative teams?
The chances are you’ll start to see similar themes crop up anyway. A good rule of thumb is: massive project – go wild ask everyone. Not so large project – aim for about three or four creative agencies.
Have questions on how to write a Video Production brief?
If you need help writing a video production brief, do get in touch we can walk you through the process. Make a start by downloading a video briefing document, if you get stuck give us a call.