Episode 503 Mastering the Creative Brief with Pieter-Paul von Weiler and Matt Davies

Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This week, host Drew McLellan is joined by Matt Davies and Pieter-Paul von Weiler, the strategist duo behind the Better Briefs Project, to tackle one of the most persistent and frustrating challenges agencies face: the elusive art of creating a truly effective brief. If you’ve ever struggled with unclear objectives, misaligned expectations, or wasted rounds of creative development, this episode is packed with data-driven answers and practical solutions.

Drawing on global research from over 1,700 marketers and agency professionals across 70 countries, Matt and Pieter-Paul share eye-opening findings about the wide gap between what clients think they’re delivering in a brief and what agencies are actually receiving. They break down the staggering disconnect—like the fact that 78% of marketers believe their briefs offer clear strategic direction, while only 5% of agencies agree—and explore the ripple effect this misalignment has on wasted budgets, morale, and creative outcomes.

Drew leads a discussion on why so many briefs fall short, what really constitutes a great brief, and how both agencies and clients can step up to improve the process. You’ll hear actionable advice on teaching clients the value of a well-crafted brief, initiating honest conversations before a live project starts, and creating custom templates that actually work for both sides. Plus, Matt and Pieter-Paul draw on their extensive agency experience to explain the difference between client briefs and creative briefs, and how agencies can strategically refine incoming briefs for stronger creative results. 

Whether you’re an agency owner, account executive, or creative lead, don’t miss this episode if you’re ready to reclaim lost time, reduce budget waste, and build stronger partnerships with your clients around the brief-writing process. By the end, you’ll feel equipped to have more candid, constructive conversations and ensure every campaign starts with clarity and purpose. Head over to betterbriefs.com for more resources and get ready to produce your agency’s best work yet! 

A big thank you to our podcast’s presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They’re an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

• • Understanding the disconnect between marketers and agencies when it comes to briefs  
  • Why most briefs lack clear objectives, strategic direction, and alignment
  • The business impact of poor briefs—including wasted budgets and extra rework
  • How agencies can proactively educate clients and improve the briefing process
  • The difference between client marketing briefs and agency creative briefs
  • The importance of partnership and communication in crafting great ideas
  • Practical steps to help clients (and agencies) write better, more effective briefs