Free Checklist Templates for Advertising

Advertising

OR

Advertising Production Checklist

Brief & Strategy

Intake the client creative brief

Align KPIs and success metrics

Flag regulated-category constraints

Concepting & Client Approval

Develop concepts in tissue session

Run the CD walk-through and internal sell

Present concepts to the client

Revise concepts and re-present

Pre-Production

Issue bid request to production companies

Cast principals through Casting Networks

Execute SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts

Scout locations and collect releases

Hold the pre-production meeting

Production / Shoot Day

Distribute the callsheet via StudioBinder

Confirm SAG-AFTRA meal-period compliance

File the wrap report

Post-Production

Cut the offline rough in Frame.io

Lock picture with client sign-off

Color grade against brand spec

Execute sync and master music licenses

Pass final QC against deliverables matrix

Run pharma fair-balance and ISI review

Trafficking & Use-Cycle Maintenance

Deliver assets to the traffic vendor

Reconcile affidavits of performance

Calendar the talent use-cycle expiry

Upload final assets to the DAM

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Agency Client Onboarding Checklist

Client Intake and Discovery

Open the client record in Workamajig

Capture stakeholders and decision-makers

Document the business challenge and KPIs

Confirm regulated-category status

Scope, SOW and Engagement Terms

Confirm the engagement type

Draft the SOW and deliverables matrix

Define the change-order threshold

Account Team and Roles

Assign account, creative, and strategy leads

Name the client-side approver and day-to-day

Document the escalation path to the Account Director

Tools, Access and Brand Assets

Provision the client folder in Bynder

Collect brand guidelines and logo lockups

Spin up the Frame.io review project

Add the client to a Slack Connect channel

Legal, Compliance and Rights

Execute the MSA, NDA, and IP assignment

Document the FTC #ad disclosure protocol

Schedule category-specific regulatory review

Finance, Billing and Kickoff

Complete W-9 and client AP onboarding

Configure retainer billing cadence in Workamajig

Schedule the client kickoff meeting

Publish the weekly status report cadence

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Agency Compliance and Risk Management Checklist

Advertising Claims and FTC Compliance

Audit active campaigns for claim substantiation

Verify influencer #ad disclosures

Review regulated-category creative

Log open NAD challenges and decisions

Talent, Music, and IP Rights

Reconcile SAG-AFTRA use-cycle expirations

Negotiate extensions or buyouts for expiring talent

Verify music sync, master, and PRO licenses

Audit DAM for stock license scope

Confirm freelancer NDA and IP assignments are signed

Data Privacy and Brand Safety

Validate consent banners and pixel firing

Review programmatic brand-safety lists

Confirm CAN-SPAM and TCPA compliance

Check COPPA controls on under-13 targeting

Implement verifiable parental consent flow

Financial Controls and Client Billing

Reconcile time tracking against SOW hours

Issue change orders for scope creep

Review accounts receivable over 60 days

Audit pass-through markups against MSA terms

Risk Register and Incident Response

Update the agency risk register

Confirm E&O insurance covers current SOW values

Run a tabletop on a data-breach scenario

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Agency Employee Onboarding Checklist

Pre-Day-1 Setup

Confirm signed offer letter and start date

Send welcome email with first-day logistics

Confirm department for stack provisioning

Provision laptop and core software image

Create Workamajig and Harvest accounts

Order branded swag and business cards

Day 1 Orientation

Run agency intro and studio tour

Complete I-9, W-4, and direct deposit forms

Sign NDA and IP assignment agreement

Issue building badge and parking pass

Tools and Agency Stack Access

Grant Frame.io, Bynder DAM, and Figma access

Add to Slack channels for assigned accounts

Walk through timesheet expectations in Harvest

Provision Adobe Creative Cloud and Frame.io seats

Provision media-buying platform access

Agency Craft Onboarding

Review brand guidelines for active accounts

Walk through the creative brief template

Shadow a live client status call

Review FTC endorsement disclosure policy

Pair with assigned onboarding buddy

First-Month Milestones and Reviews

Complete required compliance training

Hold 30-day manager check-in

Hold 60-day performance review

Hold 90-day performance review

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Agency Invoicing Checklist

Pre-Invoice Reconciliation

Pull the job number and signed SOW

Reconcile timesheets for the billing period

Verify pass-through vendor invoices

Confirm change orders are countersigned

Invoice Drafting

Build line items per the billing structure

Apply agency mark-up on pass-throughs

Calculate sales tax by client jurisdiction

Attach backup documentation

Internal Review and Approval

Account Director reviews the draft invoice

Revise invoice per AD feedback

Finance verifies WIP and revenue recognition

Issue Invoice to Client

Match invoice to the client PO number

Submit invoice through the client AP portal

Log the invoice in Workamajig

Collections and Reconciliation

Monitor the 30-day aging report

Send Net-30 follow-up to client AP

Escalate to AD for a collections call

Apply received payment in the GL

Close the job and archive backup

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Agency Monthly Financial Close Checklist

Pre-Close Preparation

Lock timesheets in Harvest

Pull the WIP report from Workamajig

Reconcile freelancer hours against POs

Project and Retainer Reconciliation

Review project actuals against SOW budgets

Flag projects exceeding the scope threshold

Issue change orders for over-scope projects

Reconcile retainer burn against monthly fee

Client Billing and Accounts Receivable

Generate milestone invoices in Workamajig

Apply media-buy markups per MSA terms

Distribute the AR aging report

Escalate invoices past 60 days outstanding

Vendor Payments and Pass-Throughs

Process freelancer invoices with W-9 and IP assignment verified

Reconcile production pass-throughs against the bid

Schedule media vendor payments per Mediaocean terms

Talent and Rights Cost Maintenance

Calendar SAG-AFTRA use-cycle expiry dates

Reconcile music sync license fees against active spots

Schedule talent residuals due in the next 60 days

Month-End Reporting and Sign-Off

Calculate utilization and realization rates

Prepare ASC 606 revenue recognition entries

Distribute the P&L pack to leadership

Sign off the close with the CFO

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Campaign Reporting and Analytics Checklist

KPI & Measurement Setup

Confirm campaign objectives with the account lead

Define primary KPIs and benchmarks

Document attribution model and lookback windows

Align on incrementality methodology

Data Collection & Tagging

Verify UTM taxonomy across placements

Confirm pixel and conversion tag firing

Escalate tag issues to ad ops

Validate platform connectors in Funnel.io

Reconcile CM360 placements against the media plan

Data Validation & QA

Reconcile spend against Mediaocean Prisma

Review IAS viewability and IVT rates

Document anomalies and data-quality status

Escalate major anomalies to media trafficking

Analysis & Insight Development

Refresh the performance dashboard in Looker

Calculate ROAS, CPA, and CPM trends

Integrate brand lift study results

Draft three insights with recommended actions

Client Report Build & Delivery

Populate the monthly report template

Write the executive summary

Run internal review with strategy and account

Deliver the report to the client

Optimization & Follow-up

Schedule the optimization working session

Issue change orders for budget shifts

Update next month's pacing forecast

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Client Delivery Checklist

Pre-Delivery QC

Reconcile against the deliverables matrix

Confirm picture lock and final color sign-off

Verify network specs and audio loudness

Re-cut and re-QC the failed deliverables

Rights and Clearance Confirmation

Confirm music sync and master licenses cover all channels

Verify SAG-AFTRA talent contracts and use cycles

Check FTC disclosure on influencer and native assets

Collect signed influencer disclosure attestations

Asset Delivery and Trafficking

Send final files to the traffic vendor

Deliver client master files via the approved transfer method

Upload final assets to the client DAM

Confirm affidavits of performance from the network

Post-Delivery Wrap

Send the production wrap report to the client

Schedule talent residuals and use-cycle calendar reminders

Run the post-mortem with the agency and production team

Submit awards consideration entries

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Client Intake Checklist

Contact and Account Setup

Capture primary client contact

Record company and billing details

Open the client record in Workamajig

Engagement Scope and Brief

Classify engagement type

Document scope and deliverables

Capture client objectives and KPIs

Confirm timeline and key milestones

Category and Compliance Review

Flag regulated category exposure

Engage regulatory counsel for review path

Confirm data and privacy obligations

Legal and Financial Setup

Execute MSA or confirm existing one

Draft and route the SOW for signature

Collect NDA and IP assignments

Complete vendor onboarding portal

Kickoff and Team Handoff

Assemble core team and resourcing plan

Provision DAM and tool access

Run the internal kickoff briefing

Schedule the client kickoff and recurring status

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Creative Asset Quality Assurance Checklist

Brief & Scope Alignment

Re-read the approved creative brief

Confirm deliverables against the SOW asset list

Identify the campaign category for routing

Copy & Legal Clearance

Proofread copy against the approved script

Run trademark clearance on taglines

Route pharma copy for fair-balance review

Confirm FTC #ad disclosure placement

Design & Brand Compliance

Verify logo lockup against the brand book

Check Pantone and hex values against brand spec

Confirm typography uses approved typefaces

Review key visual against the approved comp

Technical & Trafficking QC

Validate file specs against the deliverables matrix

Confirm broadcast audio at -24 LKFS

Test tracking pixels and UTM parameters

Run cross-browser checks on Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge

Verify cookie consent gates pixel firing

Final Sign-Off & Delivery

Resolve outstanding Frame.io review comments

Capture CD and account sign-off

Return assets to creative for revision pass

Upload final assets to Bynder with rights metadata

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Creative Brief Checklist

Project Overview & Business Challenge

Capture project name and client

Define the business challenge

State the single-minded proposition

Lock the project timeline

Audience & Insight

Define the target audience

Document the key consumer insight

Identify cultural and competitive context

Brand Guardrails

Attach the current brand guidelines

Confirm tone of voice and mandatories

Flag the regulated category status

Document the category compliance constraints

Deliverables & Channels

List the channels in scope

Build the deliverables matrix

Specify localization and language versions

Measurement & KPIs

Define the success metrics

Set the measurement plan

Budget & Approvals

Capture the working and non-working budget

Route the brief for internal CD review

Revise the brief and recirculate

Secure client sign-off on the brief

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Digital Campaign Execution Checklist

Brief Intake & Planning

Confirm the SOW and media budget

Capture campaign objectives and KPIs

Define audience segments and personas

Flag the regulated-category review path

Build the flighting and pacing calendar

Creative & Landing Experience

Develop creative concepts against the brief

Build the deliverables matrix by placement

Clear music, stock, and talent rights

Run legal and brand review on final assets

Build the campaign landing page

Route assets through Frame.io for client approval

Regulated-Category Legal Review

Submit assets to client regulatory or MLR

Apply age-gating and audience restrictions

Capture the regulatory approval reference

Trafficking & Tag QA

Set up campaigns in CM360 and the DSP

Apply IAS or DoubleVerify pre-bid filters

QA conversion pixels and server-side events

Confirm UTM taxonomy and tracking sheet

Run end-to-end test in staging

Fix tag failures before launch

Launch & In-Flight Optimization

Push campaigns live across platforms

Monitor pacing and delivery daily

Run the week-one optimization pass

Review brand-safety and IVT post-bid report

Escalate and remediate verification breach

Refresh creative to combat fatigue

Post-Buy Reporting & Wrap

Pull final delivery from CM360 and DSPs

Reconcile spend against the media authorization

Build the post-buy report deck

Hold the client wrap and post-mortem

View Workflow Use Workflow

Media Purchasing Checklist

Brief & Campaign Objectives

Intake the client media brief

Define KPIs and north-star metric

Confirm flight dates and in-market window

Lock the working media budget

Confirm regulated-category review needs

Audience & Channel Planning

Build the audience segmentation

Select the channel mix

Run reach and frequency modeling

Specify ad formats and creative dimensions

Confirm the buy type

RFPs & Negotiation

Issue RFPs to publishers and partners

Benchmark CPMs against SMI and prior flights

Negotiate value-adds and added-value units

Secure makegood and cancellation terms

Approve the final plan with the client

Trafficking & Launch

Execute IOs and digital insertion orders

Set up the buys in Prisma or Mediaocean

Traffic creative tags through CM360

Apply brand-safety and inclusion lists

Pre-flight QA the live tags

In-Flight Optimization

Confirm pacing in week one

Review delivery against KPIs

Flag underperforming line items

Shift budget to top-performing partners

Audit IVT and viewability through IAS

Post-Buy Reconciliation & Wrap

Pull final delivery against ordered units

Reconcile billed spend to actual delivery

Determine if makegoods are required

Negotiate makegood units with the publisher

Deliver the post-buy report to the client

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