Planning
Your China Content Brief: A Checklist Before You Publish
Use this checklist to turn an announcement, company introduction, or product story into a brief that can be quoted, reviewed, and approved.
You do not need a finished Chinese article to start a project. You do need enough information to define the message, assess publishing options, and understand the cost.
Use the checklist below when briefing a localization or publishing partner. If a detail is undecided, label it that way. A clear unknown is more useful than an assumption that reaches the final draft.
1. State the purpose.
Explain why you want to publish now. Are you introducing the company, explaining a service, sharing a launch, or answering a question buyers often ask?
Write down the desired reader action. “Build awareness” is broad. “Help potential applicants understand the program and visit the information page” gives the content a clearer job.
2. Define the audience.
Name the audience by role or need, not only by location. Include what they already know and what may need explanation.
For example, an article for enterprise procurement teams has different information needs from an introduction for individual consumers. If you have several audiences, decide which one this piece should prioritize.
3. Provide source material.
Send an existing article, company page, product introduction, or a list of key points. Include public reference links if they help explain the topic.
Avoid sending personal records, confidential legal files, passwords, or payment information in an initial brief. If sensitive supporting material is genuinely needed, agree on how it will be handled first.
4. Identify fixed business facts.
List the official company name, approved brand and product names, relevant dates, service locations, product capabilities, and pricing conditions.
Provide preferred Chinese terminology if it exists. Flag claims that require exact wording, and identify the person responsible for checking them. Do not expect a localization partner to independently verify every fact about your business.
5. Support the claims.
Attach or reference evidence for certifications, accreditation, comparisons, performance figures, and customer results you want to mention. Explain any conditions or limits.
Testimonials require their own review: permission to use the wording, accurate attribution, and support for any result claim. Avoid inserting a customer's name or success story into public content before that review is complete.
6. Describe channel requirements.
If you have a preferred publisher or account, name it. If not, explain the reader and content format you need so options can be assessed.
Ask whether the placement supports your desired links, images, and contact information. Confirm commercial disclosure, public access, publication evidence, and any retention commitment. A general platform name is not enough to define a purchased placement.
7. Define the review process.
Name the final approver and any internal reviewers. Decide whether they need English review notes, a full back translation, a terminology list, or several channel versions.
Agree on the included revision scope. Separate a correction to the original facts from a new requirement that changes the project. Record the final approved version so everyone knows what may be submitted.
8. Share timing and budget.
Provide a preferred publication date and explain whether it is tied to a fixed event. Ask the partner to distinguish draft preparation, your review, and independent publisher review in the estimated schedule.
Give a budget range if you have one. Ask for writing, localization, publishing, optional services, and taxes to be itemized, with a full payable total. A publishing starting price does not necessarily include content production.
9. Confirm delivery and failure handling.
Decide what evidence confirms the publication: a live link, platform record, or other agreed proof. If you need audience data or ongoing monitoring, define it separately and confirm access.
Review the policy for publisher rejection, customer cancellation, and discrepancies after publication. Do not assume those situations have identical refund rules.
A brief you can copy.
Company and website:
What we offer:
Purpose of this content:
Audience in China:
What readers should understand:
What readers should do next:
Source text or public reference link:
Facts and terminology that must stay consistent:
Evidence for claims:
Preferred channels or format:
Required English review materials:
Final approver:
Target date and any fixed event:
Budget range in USD:
Required publication evidence or reporting:
Open questions:
Start with what you know.
You can send a partial brief for an initial discussion. The important step is to resolve the facts, scope, price, and approval process before submission.
At iWriter 9, we review your brief and recommend content work and publishing options. You receive a scoped quote before deciding whether to proceed.
Put this into practice.
Tell us about your audience and message. We will review your brief and recommend a scoped next step.