Successful agency briefing: tips and tricks for the briefing

With over 15 years of experience as WordPress and online marketing specialists, we have the necessary know-how and we know how relevant and important a well-thought-out briefing is for the success of a project. A successful project begins before the actual website implementation process. Namely with a clear and precise agency briefing. A good briefing is like a map, it paves the way for a smooth project. In this article we would like to present you with valuable tips on how to create a perfect agency briefing. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Would you like to use the simpler version? Then our contact page is helpful: you can send a non-binding inquiry there and provide the information we need for a first assessment.

What effects can an inaccurate agency briefing have?

Creating such a brief can be a demanding task where every detail counts. However, an incomplete or inaccurate agency briefing can have consequences because your project should be based on a realistic basis.

Cost overrun:

• Without a thorough analysis and accurate cost estimate, there is a risk that the project costs will exceed the budget. This can lead to financial constraints and require compromises on quality.

Delay in Schedule:

• Unrecognized risks and problems during the project can lead to unexpected delays. This in turn can lead to project deadlines not being met and the overall duration being extended.

Quality defect:

• Inadequate calculations can overlook or undervalue important aspects of the project, which can result in it not meeting desired quality standards.

Lower ROI:

• ROI stands for “Return on Investment”. It indicates how much profit or benefit you received relative to the cost of your investment. ROI is often expressed as a percentage, a positive ROI means that your investment was profitable and you made more profit than was invested. A 100% ROI would mean that you got back exactly the same amount of money that you invested. If the number is over 100%, you have made a profit that was greater than your original investment.
• ROI is an important number and helps evaluate profitability.
• A low number indicates that the investment is making losses.

Discontent: 

• If the budget is exceeded, delays in the schedule or unsatisfactory quality, this will affect your project.
• In order to avoid exactly this, it is crucial to identify project risks early and make accurate estimates.
• This allows an agency to create a successful schedule and a realistic budget.

 

Checklist for perfect briefings

Clear communication in an agency briefing is essential. Make your wishes and ideas clear in as much detail as possible. Our checklist enables a structured summary and is useful for working with agencies and is crucial for the success of the project.

1. Clarity and precision are crucial

• Always start your briefing with a clear and precise description of your project. The more precisely you describe your goals and requirements, the better your agency can implement your project. Avoid vague wording and make sure to provide all important information.

2. Set budget for the project

• An important aspect is setting your budget. Provide clear financial guidelines so your agency can plan accordingly.
• The costs of a website cannot be generalized and are very individual.

3. Budget for any changes

• It is advisable to include a budget for any changes or additional services in the agency briefing. Requirements may change or new ideas may emerge during the project. A flexible budget makes it possible to respond appropriately to such changes without jeopardizing the entire project.

4. Create a schedule with dates and deadlines

• A detailed schedule is crucial to ensure your project is completed on time. In the agency briefing, you should set a rough schedule that includes milestones and deadlines.
• This allows the agency to better plan workload and avoid bottlenecks.

5. Communication measures with the agency

• Determine your preferred means of communication:
• Emails, phone calls or video conferences?
• Clear definitions can avoid misunderstandings.
• Clear agreements make collaboration easier.

6. Define goals and target group

• In the briefing, clearly describe what goals you want to achieve with your project. Who is your target group? What messages do you want to convey?
• The better your agency understands your intentions, the more targeted it can be.

7. Add references and examples

• If you find specific websites or designs inspiring, share those references in your brief.
• This gives your agency insight into your tastes and preferences.

8. Express design and functional requests

• It’s helpful if you describe your design and functionality requirements in detail. What colors, fonts and styles do you prefer?
• Which functions should be integrated on your website?
• Do you want special design elements?
• The more precisely you share this information, the better your agency can develop a suitable concept.

9. Clarify technical requirements

• If your project has technical requirements, make sure these are detailed in the agency brief.
• Specify what technologies, platforms, or integrations are required. The more precise you are here, the smoother the technical implementation will be.

10. Define milestones and project phases in the briefing

• A detailed division of the project into milestones and phases can make project tracking easier.
• Determine which steps should be completed in which order and set clear milestones to check progress.
• This allows you and the agency to keep an eye on the project status at all times.

11. Legal and contractual aspects

• Contractual agreements and legal aspects should also be taken into account in the agency briefing.
• This includes questions about liability, intellectual property, data protection and other legal matters. It is advisable to clarify these aspects early on to avoid later conflicts.

12. Ask for suggestions

• Ask for further inspiration.
• With our experience, we often have suggestions and ideas that we can incorporate into your project.

Overall, a well-developed agency briefing is the key to a successful project. With our tips and the form provided, the creation of your briefing will be more efficient and targeted. We would be happy to work with you on your project and turn your ideas into reality.