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How to use Makerbrief

Everything you need to manage your brand deals from first offer to final payment — and beyond.

Getting Started

Three things to do when you first open Makerbrief.

Log your first deal

A brand reached out. Don't let the details live in your inbox. Log the deal in 30 seconds so it's safe and searchable.

  1. Open Deals from the sidebar.

  2. Click Add Deal in the top right.

  3. Type the brand name, a short description of what they want, and the fee you're expecting.

  4. Hit Save. Your deal lands in the pipeline as New.

  5. Open the deal to fill in more details whenever you have them — nothing is required upfront.

Tip: You can also quick-add from the Dashboard. It's always one click away.

Log your first deal — mobile view

Fill in a brief

The brief is where you turn a vague email into a clear scope. It protects you from revision creep and misaligned expectations before you start creating.

  1. Open any deal.

  2. Click the Brief tab.

  3. Paste the brand's raw email or brief text into the Raw brief field — this is just for your reference.

  4. Fill in the structured fields: campaign goals, target audience, talking points, dos and don'ts, revision limit, and usage rights.

  5. Save. You now have a structured brief you can send back to the brand for confirmation.

Tip: Not all fields need to be filled in at once. Start with what you know and come back as the brand clarifies.

Set up your payment tracker

Log what you're owed as soon as a fee is agreed. That way you'll never forget what to invoice or when it's due.

  1. Open a deal.

  2. Click the Payments tab.

  3. Click Add Payment.

  4. Enter the agreed amount, the date you sent (or plan to send) your invoice, and the due date.

  5. When the payment arrives, mark it as Paid.

Tip: Overdue payments surface automatically in the Payments page in the sidebar — you never have to hunt for them.

Set up your payment tracker — mobile view

How-To Guides

Task-by-task walkthroughs for every part of your deal workflow.

A brand just sent me an offer — what do I do?

Don't leave it sitting in your inbox. Log it fast before the details blur.

  1. Open Deals from the sidebar.

  2. Click Quick Add Deal.

  3. Enter the brand name, a one-line description, and your estimated fee.

  4. Your deal appears in the pipeline as New.

  5. When you start discussing terms, open the deal and move it to Negotiating.

Tip: Even if you haven't decided whether to take the deal, log it. You can always cancel it later.

A brand just sent me an offer — what do I do? — mobile view

How do I fill in a structured brief?

Most brand briefs are vague. The brief builder in Makerbrief turns them into something you can actually work from — and send back to the brand for sign-off.

  1. Open a deal and click the Brief tab.

  2. Paste the brand's email or PDF brief into Raw brief. This is for your reference only.

  3. Fill in the structured fields. Work through what you know: campaign goals, audience, key messages, things to avoid, revision limit, and usage rights.

  4. Send the structured version back to the brand and ask them to confirm. This one step prevents most scope creep.

Tip: The revision limit field is the most important one to fill in. If you skip it, brands assume unlimited revisions.

How do I track a deliverable?

Add each piece of content as a separate deliverable so you always know what's left to do and what's been approved.

  1. Open a deal and click the Deliverables tab.

  2. Click Add Deliverable.

  3. Set the title (e.g. "Instagram Reel"), platform, content type, and due date.

  4. As you work, update the status: Pending → Draft Submitted → Approved → Posted.

  5. If the brand requests a revision, change it to Revision Requested and log the details.

Tip: One deliverable per piece of content. If a deal includes a Reel, a Story, and a blog post, create three separate deliverables.

How do I track a deliverable? — mobile view

How do I log a revision request?

Every revision round you log is a record you can reference if the brand keeps pushing for more changes beyond what was agreed.

  1. Open a deal and click the Deliverables tab.

  2. Find the deliverable the brand wants changed.

  3. Click the revision log icon on that deliverable card.

  4. Click Add Revision and describe what the brand asked for.

  5. The revision count updates automatically. If you hit your agreed limit, you can reference the log when pushing back.

Tip: If a brand has exceeded the revision limit in your brief, you have a legitimate reason to charge for extra rounds. The log is your proof.

How do I log a revision request? — mobile view

How do I record a payment?

Log payments as soon as fees are agreed — not just when money arrives. That way your overdue view stays accurate.

  1. Open a deal and click the Payments tab.

  2. Click Add Payment.

  3. Enter the agreed amount, invoice date, and payment due date.

  4. When the money arrives in your account, open the payment and mark it as Paid.

Tip: You can add multiple payments to a single deal — useful if a brand pays in instalments.

How do I record a payment? — mobile view

How do I chase an overdue payment?

Following up on late payments is professional, not awkward. Makerbrief gives you a template so you don't have to write it from scratch.

  1. Click Payments in the sidebar. Overdue payments are listed at the top.

  2. Click into the deal to see the full payment details: amount, invoice date, how many days overdue.

  3. Go to Settings → Email Templates.

  4. Copy the overdue payment follow-up template, personalise the brand name and amount, and send it.

  5. Back on the payment, add a note so you have a record of when you followed up.

Tip: Most brands pay after the first professional follow-up. The script removes the friction of deciding what to say.

How do I set a renewal reminder?

Renewals don't happen because creators forget to pitch. Set a reminder and Makerbrief will tell you when it's time.

  1. When a deal moves to Delivered or Paid, you'll see a prompt asking if you want to set a renewal reminder.

  2. Click Set Renewal Reminder.

  3. Pick the date you want to be reminded — typically 4–6 weeks after the campaign goes live.

  4. Add any notes about the campaign that would help you pitch a renewal (performance, what worked).

  5. On that date, your reminder appears in the Renewals page in the sidebar.

Tip: You can also set reminders manually from the Renewals page at any time.

How do I set a renewal reminder? — mobile view

FAQ

Straight answers to the questions we hear most. Ask us anything else.

Still stuck?

Email us at hello@makerbrief.com and we'll get back to you within one business day.