A useful brief starts with a customer task.

Explain what the business does, the services or products to prioritise and the customers it serves. Include a current website if one exists.

A specific task is more useful than a broad instruction such as make it modern. For example: a visitor should understand the repair service, check the service area and submit the details needed for a quotation. This is an illustrative example, not a client case study.

Write down the questions customers need answered before contacting you. Group the answers into page purposes rather than starting with an arbitrary number of pages.

• What does the visitor need to understand?
• What should they do next, and who handles that action?
• Which information or documents do you already have?
• Which features require another provider or an account?

List available logos, photos, product information and existing text. Note what needs writing, editing or permission to use.

Name one reviewer and record any business constraints, target dates and dependencies. A target date is useful planning information; it is not an agreed delivery promise.

Use the homepage fields to summarise the business and customer task. Budget guidance is optional; uncertain details can be discussed.

Keep a copy for yourself. The request starts a conversation and does not authorise a purchase, launch or third-party subscription.