Verdict
Needs fixes. Counted from the checklist table below: 8 pass, 1 partial, 1 fail. Rule: ready if 0 fails and at most 2 partials; needs fixes if 1 to 3 fails; return to strategist if 4 or more fails. With 1 fail, this brief needs fixes before it goes to a new freelancer.
Checklist results
Default 10 point checklist. Writer level: new freelancer.
| # | Point | Result | Evidence (quoted from the brief) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Working title | Pass | "Title: How to Choose a Standing Desk for a Small Office" |
| 2 | Audience named | Pass | "Audience: office managers at companies with 10 to 50 staff." |
| 3 | One goal or CTA | Pass | "Goal: readers click through to the Upright Co. desk configurator at https://upright.example/configure" |
| 4 | Primary keyword and intent | Pass | "Keyword: standing desk for small office (commercial intent)." |
| 5 | Angle or thesis | Pass | "Angle: compare fixed, crank and electric desks on cost, noise and setup time." |
| 6 | Outline with H2s | Pass | "Outline: H2 Why small offices are switching; H2 Fixed vs crank vs electric; H2 What to measure before you buy; H2 Our picks." |
| 7 | Sources or SMEs | Partial | "Sources: interview Upright's head of product, Lena Ford; use our 2026 warranty claims data (attached)." The brief text you sent doesn't include the attachment, and there's no contact route for Lena Ford. |
| 8 | Word count or range | Pass | "Length: 1,500 to 1,800 words." |
| 9 | Internal links to include | Fail | Not found. The configurator link is the CTA. No other internal pages are listed. |
| 10 | Due date and approver | Pass | "Due: 2026-11-13, approver Raj Patel." |
Questions for the strategist
- Point 7: Where is the 2026 warranty claims data file, and can the writer open it? How should the writer reach Lena Ford, and is the interview already booked or does the writer book it?
- Point 9: Which Upright pages should the article link to, besides the configurator? Please list the URLs and the section each link belongs in.
- Outline (not a checklist fail): the H2 "Why small offices are switching" states a trend. What source supports it? If there isn't one, should the writer reframe the section?
- Outline (not a checklist fail): the angle compares desks on cost, noise and setup time. Will the writer get those figures from the warranty data, from Lena Ford, or from product pages?
Suggested fixes
These rearrange what's already in the brief; they don't add facts. - Under Sources, put the attachment link and Lena Ford's contact route right next to her name. - Add an "Internal links" line under Goal, and leave it blank until the strategist fills it. - Under the H2 "Fixed vs crank vs electric", list the three comparison points (cost, noise, setup time) from the Angle line, so the writer can see what the section must cover.
Needs your decision
- Approve returning the brief to the strategist with these questions, or assign it to the writer once points 7 and 9 are answered.