Tips on Creating an Effective Creative Brief
A creative brief is a document that defines the scope and goals of a project. In our world of user-generated content, this means defining the specific content you want for your project or campaign. Each project will be different, of course, but the creative brief outline and structure should always remain the same. Here are some tips from our team on ways to make your creative brief and effective and efficient.
A creative brief is a document that defines the scope and goals of a project. In our world of user-generated content, this means defining the specific content you want for your project or campaign. Each project will be different, of course, but the creative brief outline and structure should always remain the same. Here are some tips from our team on ways to make your creative brief and effective and efficient.
1. Define your creative. What is the overall concept of the campaign? What type of content are you looking for? Videos or stills, audio or text. Also, what the content will be comprised of is very important to define.
2. Always allow room for creative expansion. You may see content that can spark another creative idea within the confines of the original concept. Therefore, it’s important to be flexible to pivot slightly when and if desired.
3. Keep it brief. As it is called a brief, this means the creative parameters should be clear and concise.
4. Be realistic with your timelines. Although we have the fastest team on the planet, if you work Locomotive into the plan early, it will be much more cost-effective and your deadlines will be met within budget, and on time.
5. Ask lots of questions. If you have an idea for a creative campaign, but aren’t sure where to go with it, don’t be afraid to reach out with questions. Here at Locomotive we can evaluate your brief at no cost, and relay components that are realistic or not. We will also let you know if we see any red flags before you sign on to do any work. We never sell through anything that we don’t believe is deliverable. Just ask our partners on over 400 projects!
These are our tips for building a creative brief that will reap the best results. Writing a good brief is a valuable skill in our industry and will get better the more you do it. If you haven’t worked with us on any found content campaigns, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about the process. We do our best at Locomotive to streamline it for our agency partners and provide solutions to support them with their creative process.
Small Business Advantage
In our world today, we likely think of big conglomerates owning markets. However, in the U.S., small businesses comprise of 99.9% of all firms according to the SBA. Strategies between large and small brands are going to be different, due to their specific marketing niches. While larger companies can offer more to a wider variety of consumers, small businesses do have their advantages. As a small business ourselves we pride ourselves on these unique traits that make us stand out in our area of expertise. Here are some ways that small businesses have an upper hand from large firms.
In our world today, we likely think of big conglomerates owning markets. However, in the U.S., small businesses comprise of 99.9% of all firms according to the SBA. Strategies between large and small brands are going to be different, due to their specific marketing niches. While larger companies can offer more to a wider variety of consumers, small businesses do have their advantages. As a small business ourselves we pride ourselves on these unique traits that make us stand out in our area of expertise. Here are some ways that small businesses have an upper hand from large firms.
Specific niches. Just as we are here at Locomotive most small businesses focus on a very concise skill set. This means that people will know where to go when they need specific products or services. For us, it’s our expertise in the area of sourced content for advertising campaigns. Big brands may not even know what their particular niches are.
Faster decision making and flexibility. While large companies focus on consistency, it will take longer for approvals for just about anything they do. Small business has more flexibility to make their own decisions and less chain of command when it comes to thinking on their feet. This makes for quick decisions and changes when sometimes going with the flow can help your clients and consumers.
Personalized service. Small brands can offer more personalization and treats each client or customer as a human. They can take time to get to know their audience or clients to develop a real relationship with them. people inherently want to connect with others. You will understand what they want and need from you. This will also ensure loyalty and word of mouth recommendations.
Innovation. The innovative aspect of small business can be due in part to lack of this service or product from larger companies. This already makes you a stand out company. Make sure to highlight what it is that makes your brand innovative.
Adaptability. Because of the personalized experiences and flexibility that your small business can offer adaptability is the result. Since they know their audience personally, they can adapt to any changes in their needs quickly.
These are only some of the benefits of owning a small business. There are so many reasons that your small brand has advantages over the “Big Guys.” Highlight your uniqueness and share your passions for what you do with confidence. Others will see this spark and be drawn to your brand.
Developing a Solid Business Strategy
Having a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. A solid business strategy will help your brand succeed over the long haul. Think of it as a road map. You have goals that you want to get to and your strategy will help you get there. There are a few components to a good business plan.
Having a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. A solid business strategy will help your brand succeed over the long haul. Think of it as a road map. You have goals that you want to get to and your strategy will help you get there. There are a few components to a good business plan.
1. Objectives and a clear vision. Why did you start this company? What is its mission? Where do you see your brand going in the future? These are all questions that wil help you find your brands vision. Once this is established, it’s important to set clear and decisive goals. Start with the destination goal and work your way backward to see how you can achieve it.
2. Know your target audience. Defining your niche will help determine who you should be marketing to. People who need what you have to offer will help you gain customer retention.
3. Know your competition and be innovative. Make your brand’s product or service stand out from the rest. Although wise to choose an undersaturated market for a business, that’s not always going to be the case. So, what makes you better than the next guy? Being innovative is what will make you stand out and beat your competitors.
4. Measure your results. This is crucial. You need to see if your plan is working. Check weekly, monthly and annually to assess the data. Check your KPI’s to make sure your hitting the mark.
5. Always be adaptable. After you measure your result, they may not be performing how you had hoped and that’s ok. What’s not ok it being stubborn and beating your head against a wall when something is falling short. We get it. You really wanted that awesome idea to work but If a strategy isn’t working then change it. What’s more important is finding what works. Look for ideas within your company from others who may have specialties in a particular field of interest.
This is a general overview of what is needed to build a solid business plan and should be considered a starting point. Make sure to do plenty of exhaustive research for your brand in order to customize the business plan that will be right for you.