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Help with briefings
Hello everyone, I’m new here.
I currently work as an online copywriter. My position was created as the company I work for began to expand and my supervisor isn’t really used to briefing copywriters. I often find it difficult to get a straight brief from her about what she specifically wants.
As you can imagine, I often complete pieces of work which she genuinely likes but then gradually asks me to change more and more bits of because she remembers things she should have told me earlier.
I try to ask questions before I start work but my supervisor’s always so busy that she’s moved on to another conversation by the time I’ve asked a few questions.
Can anyone suggest a way I can (politely!) get a straight brief without seeming like I’m being a nuisance?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Alex
I currently work as an online copywriter. My position was created as the company I work for began to expand and my supervisor isn’t really used to briefing copywriters. I often find it difficult to get a straight brief from her about what she specifically wants.
As you can imagine, I often complete pieces of work which she genuinely likes but then gradually asks me to change more and more bits of because she remembers things she should have told me earlier.
I try to ask questions before I start work but my supervisor’s always so busy that she’s moved on to another conversation by the time I’ve asked a few questions.
Can anyone suggest a way I can (politely!) get a straight brief without seeming like I’m being a nuisance?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Alex
- Contact in PM
thetopcopy
Messages count : 2Likes count : 0Registration : 10 November 2007Mmm it's a tricky one. The ideal solution would be to create a detailed questionnaire for her to fill in every time she gives you a new job covering everything you will need (which depends on what sort of copywriting you tend to do and what your business is). You would have to craft this questionnaire carefully so that everything you might need is covered.
As she is very busy she may hate this idea. However, you could present it to her in a way that highlights the positives of filling in the questionnaire, for example;
'i would complete the project more quickly'
'i would not be continually asking you questions throughout the project'
'it would help me to produce even better quality work'
If she agrees you would have to get this process formalised - i.e. get her to agree in writing to provide you with a written brief in the form of a questionnaire.
From what you've said though I am not sure she would go for this!
Claire - Contact in PM
AlexLouise
Messages count : 3Likes count : 0Registration : 14 July 2008Thanks!
I think that might work!
Maybe if I make myself a form and tell her that every time I start something new I'm going to ask her the questions and fill it in myself.
Thanks for your help. 🙂 - Contact in PM
thetopcopy
Messages count : 2Likes count : 0Registration : 10 November 2007That's a good idea - it makes the process more formal and means she has no excuse not to answer the questions properly!
Claire