How do I apply to a brief?

Applying to a brief takes a few minutes once you’ve found one that fits your style. Here’s the full flow and how to give yourself the best shot.

Before you apply: read the brief

Open the brief and take a quick read before opening the application:

• Brief overview — what the brand wants, the creative direction, the deliverables
• Sample content from the brand — many briefs include direction on the kind of sample they want you to submit (testimonial-style, voiceover, lifestyle, etc.). Not every brief includes this, but if it’s there, read it first.
• Non-negotiables — the brand’s must-haves around space, outfit, script, and other specifics
• Compensation, deadlines, and deliverables — make sure you can meet what the brief asks for

For more on writing a strong application, see How can I make my Application Stand Out?

Starting your application

Click Apply to brief on the brief page. You’ll be guided through a step-by-step wizard. The exact steps depend on the brief, but most applications include some combination of these:

1. A short personal message
Introduce yourself to the brand and explain why you’re a good fit for this brief. Keep it specific to the brand and product — generic copy-paste messages don’t stand out. (See How can I make my Application Stand Out? for more.)

2. Sample content
You can either upload a file (photo or video — MOV is supported) OR paste a URL from your authorized Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok account. Cohley validates the link, so random external URLs won’t work — the link has to come from a social account you’ve connected.

If the brand has provided sample content direction in the brief, pick something that matches the style they’re looking for.

3. Product selection (if the brief has multiple products or variants)
For briefs that include products, you’ll select the specific product you’re applying to feature. You’ll see the product image, name, and any variants (sizes, colors, flavors) so you can pick what makes sense for your content. The brand can later change your assignment — see What does it mean if my product selection is changed by the brand?

4. Concept selection (if the brief has multiple concepts)
If the brief has multiple creative directions (“concepts”), you’ll pick the specific concept you’re applying to. You apply to one concept per application, so pick the one that best fits your style and what you’d like to produce. See What are concepts?

5. Legal agreement
Before submitting, you’ll see the brief’s legal terms — three confirmation links covering Cohley’s Terms & Conditions, the brand’s specific terms, and the brief’s deliverable agreement. You’ll need to confirm each one. By submitting, you’re agreeing to deliver what the brief asks for if you’re accepted.

Submitting

Once you’ve filled out every step and confirmed the legal terms, click Submit.

After submitting:

• You’ll see a confirmation view (and you can chat directly with the brand from here)
• The brief moves into your Applied tab with the status Pending
• You’ll see your status update to Rejected or move to Active with the Accepted status once the brand makes a decision — see How will I be notified if a brand accepts my application?

Heads up: once you submit your application, it’s final — you can’t edit it.

Why don’t I see a brief I expected to see?

Brands set eligibility criteria on each brief — things like age, gender, location/state, kids, pets, follower count, and more. If your profile doesn’t match what the brand is looking for, the brief simply doesn’t appear in your feed. You won’t see a “you can’t apply” message; the brief is just filtered out.

If you think you’re missing briefs you should be seeing:

• Keep your profile current and complete — My Profile → Accounts and Your Details. Missing or outdated fields mean fewer briefs match you.
• Connect your social accounts if you want to be considered for Influencer Partnership briefs — see How do I connect or update my Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube account on Cohley?
• Answer brand surveys when they come up — many brands cast from their survey responders. See What are Surveys?

If a brief disappeared after you saw it (or after you applied), see I cannot see a brief in my dashboard anymore. The apply by date has most lik