Briefs have a few key dates. Here’s what they mean and exactly when they cut off, so you don’t miss one.
The dates to watch
- Apply by — the last day to apply to the brief.
- Content due — once you’re accepted, the date to submit your content for the brand to review.
- Post date (Influencer Partnership briefs) — when you post to your platform, after your content is approved.
When exactly does a deadline end?
A deadline date runs through the end of that day, currently measured in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) — the cutoff is midnight UTC. In the US that means the deadline passes during your evening, not at your own midnight — 8:00 PM Eastern while daylight saving time is in effect, 7:00 PM Eastern the rest of the year, and earlier still the further west you are. Don’t leave it to the last minute. Invitation emails show the exact cutoff time, so you don’t have to convert it yourself.
Does “content due” mean a first draft or the final version?
For most briefs (UGC, Influencer, Voice of the Shopper, Product Review) you submit your content once for the brand to review. On Professional briefs that include an editing round, your first submission is the unedited version, and you’ll have a separate, later deadline for the final edited content.
Always check the dates listed on the brief itself — they’re the source of truth.