Start with the job
Why this workflow exists
Briefs arrive in inconsistent formats and the strategist rebuilds context by hand.
Slow first drafts create avoidable review cycles and push campaign launch dates.
A new client brief is marked ready for planning.
Evidence and assumptions
What this playbook assumes
Briefs arrive in inconsistent formats and the strategist rebuilds context by hand.
The account manager already has access to the source system and can approve the output.
AI does not make the final customer, candidate, property, campaign, or client-facing decision.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-05
AI workflow
Where AI helps, and where a person decides
The workflow is useful because each automation step ends at a named human checkpoint.
Capture the brief
Collect the brief and source links in one structured record.
- Input
- Form, email, or document link
- AI action
- Extract objectives, audience, offer, channels, constraints, and missing fields.
- Human checkpoint
- Account manager confirms the extracted facts.
- Output
- Structured brief
Draft the campaign plan
Create a first plan that a strategist can improve.
- Input
- Approved structured brief
- AI action
- Suggest angles, channel roles, milestones, and measurement questions.
- Human checkpoint
- Strategist accepts, edits, or rejects each recommendation.
- Output
- Reviewable campaign plan
Prepare approval
Make client review focused and easy to act on.
- Input
- Edited campaign plan
- AI action
- Format an executive summary and list open decisions.
- Human checkpoint
- Account lead sends the approved version to the client.
- Output
- Client approval packet
Choose with context
What should your team do next?
Answer three questions to find the most practical next step for your current system, capability, and strategic need.
Answer the questions to choose a path for this workflow.
Strengthen team capability
Your team has the process but lacks confidence designing reliable AI steps.
Trade-off: Takes focused study before the workflow becomes repeatable.
Open the capability routeUse an existing tool
Your agency already uses a platform with structured intake and approval features.
Trade-off: Fastest start, but less control over the workflow logic.
Check your current systemCreate a custom workflow
The workflow is a repeated differentiator across many client accounts.
Trade-off: More control and maintenance responsibility.
Review the custom workflow routeRecommended next move
Start with the capability map below. It connects the selected workflow step to a focused resource and a concrete deliverable.
Open the capability routeKeep your current system if it can preserve source context, expose missing data, allow human editing, and keep observed facts separate from generated interpretation.
AgencyAnalytics · Specialist agency reporting platform
Compare AgencyAnalytics for this workflow
- Best when
- Your current system cannot preserve the required workflow inputs, controls, or review states.
- Avoid when
- Your existing system already satisfies the workflow requirements and keeps the data in one place.
- Why it fits
- Compare AgencyAnalytics when the current system fails one of the workflow requirements.
- Limitation
- Provider defaults may not match your fields, permissions, or review policy.
- Trade-off
- Faster setup with less control over vendor-specific workflow behavior.
Related template or use case: Open provider guidance
Alternative: Use the automation feature in your current platform · Last checked 2026-08-05
Create a custom workflow when the process is differentiated, integration-heavy, or sensitive enough to require ownership of data boundaries, approvals, and maintenance.
Make · Automation layer
Create this workflow with Make
- Best when
- The workflow repeats often enough to justify visible automation and an owned handoff.
- Avoid when
- The workflow is still changing or the team has not agreed on source ownership and human approval.
- Why it fits
- Make can support the workflow's explicit handoffs before a custom backend is justified.
- Limitation
- The team still owns configuration, monitoring, and the final human checkpoint.
- Trade-off
- More control than a fixed product, with more setup and maintenance responsibility.
Related template or use case: Open provider guidance
We may earn a commission if you sign up through this link.Alternative: Use the automation feature in your current platform · Last checked 2026-08-05
Railway · Application and infrastructure layer
Create this workflow with Railway
- Best when
- The workflow repeats often enough to justify visible automation and an owned handoff.
- Avoid when
- The workflow is still changing or the team has not agreed on source ownership and human approval.
- Why it fits
- Railway can support the workflow's explicit handoffs before a custom backend is justified.
- Limitation
- The team still owns configuration, monitoring, and the final human checkpoint.
- Trade-off
- More control than a fixed product, with more setup and maintenance responsibility.
Alternative: Use the automation feature in your current platform · Last checked 2026-08-05
Capability map
What does your team need to operate this workflow?
Choose a step and your current level to see the shortest route to a useful deliverable.
AI workflow design
The plan must be generated in bounded steps with useful context.
Recommended learning route
Using AI in Make
A practical no-code foundation for the automation step; apply it to your agency brief after the lessons.
Ready-to-use artifact
Campaign brief intake
This is the complete operating template for the workflow: input contract, runbook, automation handoff, human review, escalation, and a test case.
Workflow template
Open the complete operating runbook
The full Markdown stays out of the page until you ask for it. Open it when you are ready to adapt this workflow to your team.
What happens next
- Capture the briefExtract objectives, audience, offer, channels, constraints, and missing fields.
- Draft the campaign planSuggest angles, channel roles, milestones, and measurement questions.
- Prepare approvalFormat an executive summary and list open decisions.
Check before action
- Capture the briefAccount manager confirms the extracted facts.
- Draft the campaign planStrategist accepts, edits, or rejects each recommendation.
- Prepare approvalAccount lead sends the approved version to the client.
Client approval packet
Test the filled template on one real but non-sensitive example. Keep the source context and approval decision with the team that owns this workflow.
Implementation stack
What the workflow needs
Existing intake tool · Automation usage · AI usage for brief extraction and drafting
CRM or project management subscription · Human strategy and client review time
Next workflows
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