For Brands Series. 1. How to Launch a Task on Prime Oracles · 2. How to Write a Brief — you are here · 3. How to Calculate Your Cost Per 1,000 Views (CPM)
The creative brief is what a creator reads before they start shooting. It's the difference between getting twenty similar, successful videos and twenty different ones, half of which you'll have to reject. A good brief is short, specific, and answers a creator's questions before they even have to ask.
Below, we'll break down the components of a great brief for short-form video, provide a copy-paste template, and cover the mistakes that make creators scroll right past your task.
Time commitment: 30–40 minutes for your first brief. After that, it's just ten minutes: the product changes, but the structure stays the same.
The Golden Rule: Creators Read on Their Phones
Briefs are often opened on the go, between shoots. Therefore:
- Keep it short. All essential information should be on the first screen.
- Use lists, not paragraphs. Requirements that can be checked off are more likely to be followed.
- One requirement per line. "Show the interface and mention the name with your voice or text" is two separate requirements.
- No marketing jargon. "An innovative solution for business growth" tells a creator nothing about what to film.
The Anatomy of a Brief
1. Your Product in Two Sentences
What it is and who it helps—in simple terms, as if you were explaining it to a friend. The creator needs to understand the product well enough to talk about it in their own words, not just read your copy.
Bad: "A service for optimizing business processes."
Good: "A Telegram bot that automatically replies to customers at night. It's useful for anyone who sells through direct messages."
2. What You're Looking For
Describe the kind of video you want to see. The best approach is to focus on the outcome for the viewer: what should they understand or feel by the end of the video?
If you have good examples, link to two or three. A few good examples are more effective than a page of requirements.
3. Mandatory Requirements
A short list of non-negotiables. Without these, the submission will be rejected. A typical set includes:
- Vertical video, minimum duration
- Live-action content, not a slideshow of screenshots
- Show the product or interface
- Mention the name with voice or on-screen text
- Mandatory hashtag
- Link in bio, if you need clicks
For banners, add: how long the banner should be on screen, where it can be placed, and what it shouldn't cover—for example, the creator's face.
4. What Not to Do
List these separately. This saves both you and the creator time on rejected submissions. This section usually includes:
- Promises the product can't keep: "guaranteed income," "will cure you"
- Mentioning competitors
- Rudeness, provocations, or controversial topics, if they don't align with your brand
- Third-party content the creator doesn't have rights to
5. How to Submit Your Work
Provide step-by-step instructions: publish the video, submit your application, and include a direct link to the post and screenshots of the analytics. If there's a deadline, state it here.
6. Payment
State the payment model and the numbers directly in the brief, even if they're also on the task card. For CPV, state the rate per 1,000 views. For tiered rewards, list the thresholds and the payout for each. Clarify that the reward is a one-time payment for the highest tier reached. For CPV models, also specify the minimum and maximum payout. Creators decide whether to take on a task based on these numbers.
7. Penalties
If a requirement is critical but not a reason to reject the submission outright, assign a penalty as a percentage of the payout. For example, we've seen these on live campaigns: missing the mandatory hashtag—minus 40%; banner is poorly visible or cropped—minus 50%; small, unreadable text—minus 20%.
Penalties must be clear upfront. A creator who knows the rules will follow them. A creator who finds out about a penalty after posting will choose a different task next time.
Brief Template — Copy and Fill
ABOUT THE PRODUCT
[What it is] — [who it helps and how]. One or two sentences.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
A video that makes the viewer understand: [key message].
Examples we like: [link], [link].
MANDATORY
- Vertical video, at least [N] seconds
- Live-action content, not screenshots
- Show the [product / interface / result]
- Mention "[Name]" with voice or on-screen text
- Hashtag [#hashtag]
- Link in bio: [link]
PROHIBITED
- Promising [what the product doesn't do]
- Mentioning competitors
- [Other brand no-gos]
PAYMENT
CPV: $[N] per 1,000 views, minimum payout $[N], maximum payout $[N]
or Tiered: [N]+ views — $[N], [N]+ — $[N], [N]+ — $[N]
(Payment is one-time for the highest tier reached)
HOW TO SUBMIT
1. Publish the video on [platform]
2. Submit your application with a direct link and a screenshot of the analytics
PENALTIES
- No hashtag: minus [N]%
- [Requirement]: minus [N]%
QUESTIONS? Ask in the task chat.
How to Test Your Brief Before Launching
Have someone who doesn't know your product read it. If they can tell you what to film and what's forbidden after one read-through, your brief is ready. If they start asking questions, you need to add those answers to the brief.
Mistakes That Make Creators Skip Your Brief
- Too many requirements for the reward. A 20-point checklist for a low-paying task will make a creator choose another brief.
- No examples. The creator doesn't understand what you want and fears their work will be rejected.
- A word-for-word script. Memorized lines sound like an ad, and viewers will scroll away. Give them the main point and let them use their own words.
- Unannounced penalties. Trust can be lost in a single submission.
- Vague requests to "be creative." That's not a requirement. Tell them what needs to be in the video.
FAQ
Should I provide a full script?
It's better to provide the main takeaway and examples. A pre-written script that's read word-for-word sounds like an ad and has lower viewer retention.
How many requirements is too many?
Five to seven mandatory points and three to four restrictions is a good range. Any more than that, and creators will have trouble keeping them all in mind.
Can I change the brief after launching?
Yes, but announce the changes in the task chat. Creators who have already filmed based on the old brief shouldn't be at a disadvantage.
What if the videos aren't turning out the way I wanted?
Post a couple of successful submissions in the task chat and explain what makes them good. This works faster than rewriting the requirements.
What's Next
Your brief is ready—now it's time to launch the task: a step-by-step guide to launching on Prime Oracles. And to see if your videos are paying off, calculate your cost per 1,000 views.