Define the work before the sponsorship campaign starts.

Start with the parties, campaign, and commercial unit

Record the legal contracting parties, the product or service being promoted, the campaign dates, the program or episode inventory, and the exact unit being sold. State whether the placement is host-read, pre-recorded, newsletter, social, video, or a combination. A CPM reference is not itself a complete scope of work.

Describe each deliverable in observable terms

For every deliverable, name the channel, format, planned publish or insertion window, duration or word count where useful, required links or codes, placement position, and any quantity limit. Replace phrases such as “full support” or “promotion as needed” with a record another person could verify.

• Channel, format, position, quantity, and planned date
• Creator production work and sponsor-supplied materials
• Required link, code, disclosure, or call to action
• Delivery evidence and reporting deadline

Set the approval and revision path

Specify what materials the sponsor supplies, who approves copy or creative, the review deadline, the number of included revisions, and what happens if approval arrives late. Keep the creator’s editorial and production boundaries explicit.

Separate usage rights, exclusivity, and category conflicts

Say whether the sponsor may reuse an audio clip, video, newsletter creative, quote, or creator name; where it may be used; for how long; and whether paid media is allowed. Define category exclusivity by category, dates, channels, and exceptions. These are separate commercial decisions, not automatic additions to a placement fee.

Assign disclosure and claim responsibilities

Identify who supplies substantiation for objective advertising claims, who approves required disclosures, and where the disclosure will appear. FTC guidance says endorsements must be honest and not misleading; an unexpected material connection may need clear and conspicuous disclosure. The facts and jurisdiction matter, so this operational checklist is not legal advice or a compliance safe harbor.

Define delivery proof and the reporting window

List what will count as proof of delivery: a publication link, timestamp, episode or newsletter identifier, screenshot, platform export, or another agreed record. State the reporting window, metric definitions, source system, known limitations, and due date. Keep delivery facts separate from interpretation.

State payment, cancellation, and make-good terms

Record the price, currency, invoicing or payment timing, tax responsibility, late-payment handling, cancellation points, and the remedy if a promised placement cannot run. A make-good should identify the replacement placement, timing, and whether it changes the original scope.

End with one documented next decision

Before the campaign begins, identify the owner and due date for every open item. After delivery, make the next decision explicit: repeat, change, pause, or stop. Carry the agreed terms into the sponsor proposal, document the result with the campaign report framework, and use the free sponsorship rate calculator to pressure-test the commercial scope.