Create Your Contest Brief
The contest brief is the most crucial element of your contest. It educates creators about your product and provides clear guidelines for creating content. Simplicity and clarity in your brief are key to receiving high-quality, organic content that performs well. Follow this framework to craft an effective brief:
1. Project Overview
Start by explaining:
What your product is: Provide a concise description of your product. For example, "PuffCount is an app that helps people quit vaping."
Why users love your product: Highlight one or two core features that make your product appealing. Avoid listing too many features.
Provide product access links: Include download links for iOS and Android or other relevant access points so creators can easily showcase your product.
2. Rules
Establish clear rules for content creation. Some examples include:
Content must be in English.
Content should follow the style of inspiration content provided (discussed further in the next section).
Include specific calls to action: For instance, "Show the home screen of the app for at least 3 seconds."
List any prohibited mentions: For example, "Do not mention specific vape brands."
3. Keep It Focused
Avoid overloading creators with too many details about your product. Instead, emphasize:
The core feature that will entice viewers to click and learn more. For PuffCount, this might be: "Track how many times you vape daily."
A subtle call to action to keep the content feeling organic and not like an ad.
Remember, the goal is to drive clicks to your product, not to explain every detail in the video. Let your product or website provide the deeper explanations once the audience engages.
4. Content Ideas and Guidance
Guide creators by:
Suggesting types of content that perform well for your brand. For instance, "Educational or entertaining videos that resonate with the audience."
Providing proven examples. For example, PuffCount’s successful video involved showing the insides of a vape, which garnered significant engagement because it was educational, shareable, and featured a simple call to action at the end.
5. Understand What Works
Identify what content resonates with your target audience by:
Conducting market research.
Reviewing past successful content to find patterns in style and messaging.
Work backward from your findings to guide creators toward producing similar content. For example, content that educates, entertains, or inspires curiosity tends to perform best, as it feels authentic and shareable.
Final Tips
By following this framework, you’ll set creators up for success and ensure your contest produces engaging, high-performing content. Always remember to:
Keep instructions simple and concise.
Focus on the purpose of the content—driving clicks to your product.
Provide inspiration and clear guidelines to help creators deliver their best work.