Ninety percent of disappointing UGC is not a creator problem, it is a brief problem. Vague ask in, vague content out. This is the one-page brief our team sends creators. It is deliberately short: a creator should be able to read it in two minutes and know exactly what to shoot. Copy it, fill in the brackets, and send.
CREATOR BRIEF · [Brand] x [Creator name]
Due: [date] | Paid: [rate] | Contact: [name, email/phone]
THE ONE THING
This video needs to make [target viewer] feel [emotion] so they [desired action]. If a clip does not serve that, cut it.
DELIVERABLES
- [1] vertical video, [9:16], [20-40] seconds, filmed on a phone is perfect
- Raw, unedited files sent to [where], plus your edited version
- [2-3] photo stills we can use as thumbnails / static posts
HOOK (SAY IT IN THE FIRST 2 SECONDS, PICK ONE)
- "I did not believe [product] would [result] until..."
- "3 things nobody tells you about [topic]"
- "If you [audience pain], watch this before you [common action]"
DO
- Talk to the camera like you are texting a friend
- Show the product actually being used, not just held
- Keep it in one continuous take where you can, natural light
- Say the brand name out loud once, early
DON'T
- Do not sound like an ad or read a script word for word
- Do not over-edit, no heavy filters, no stock music stings
- Do not make claims we did not give you (see approved claims below)
SHOT LIST (ROUGH, NOT RIGID)
1. Hook, straight to camera, [location]
2. The problem / before, quick
3. Product in use, close and clear
4. The payoff / result, show it
5. One-line call to action: "[CTA]"
TONE
[Pick 3]: warm · funny · confident · calm · fast · unpolished · expert
Sound like: [reference creator or video link]
APPROVED CLAIMS (SAY THESE, NOTHING BEYOND)
- [claim 1]
- [claim 2]
USAGE RIGHTS
We can use this content on [organic + paid] across [platforms] for [term, e.g. 6 months / perpetual]. Whitelisting / [Spark Ads / Partnership Ads]: [yes/no]. Exclusivity: [none / category, term].
WHAT TO SEND BACK
Edited video + all raw clips + stills to [link] by [date]. Questions before you shoot? Text [name]. It is always faster to ask first.
One more thing that matters more than any line above: pick a creator whose normal content already looks like what you want. The best brief in the world cannot make an off-brand creator feel native.