Good shoutout instructions should ask for the recipient's name and pronunciation, the occasion, one personal detail, and anything to include or avoid. Keep the request to five focused asks so the fan can respond before paying and you can record the correct personalized video without guessing or unnecessary follow-up.
Last verified August 2026.
This guide explains how to write the instructions field. If you have not enabled Personalized Shoutouts, start with how to set up shoutouts on your link in bio. To evaluate the offer for your audience, read the full guide to selling personalized video messages as a small creator.
Why does the instructions field matter?
FanBell collects a fan's request details before the fan pays for a Personalized Shoutout, giving the creator the information needed to record and deliver the order (FanBell order workflow, verified August 2026).
A prompt such as “Tell me what you want” leaves the fan to decide which details matter. As a recommended creator template—not a proven conversion rule—use focused questions that correspond to decisions you will make while recording. If an answer will not affect the video or its delivery, do not request it.
What should shoutout instructions ask for?
Use the following five-ask template as a practical starting point. The five asks cover the recipient, purpose, personalization, boundaries, and sender context without requiring an essay.
| Ask for | Why it matters | Exact prompt wording |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient's name and pronunciation | Identifies whom the video is for and helps you pronounce an unfamiliar name | “What is the recipient's name, and how should I pronounce it?” |
| Occasion | Establishes the appropriate tone, such as a birthday, graduation, pep talk, or just-because message | “What is the occasion?” |
| One personal detail | Provides an inside joke, interest, or nickname you can use to personalize the video | “What is one personal detail I can mention, such as a hobby, nickname, or inside joke?” |
| Anything to include or avoid | Identifies a requested phrase and any sensitive or unwanted topic | “Is there anything you want me to say or avoid saying?” |
| Who is asking, if relevant | Explains whether the message comes from a friend, sibling, partner, or colleague | “Who is the message from, and how do you know the recipient?” |
FanBell delivers the completed order through the creator's page, so its standard workflow does not require the recipient's phone number or home address (FanBell delivery workflow, verified August 2026). Ask only for details that help you record or deliver the requested message.
What shoutout-instruction examples can you copy?
Use these templates as starting points and adjust the wording to match how you normally speak.
General-purpose instructions
Tell me: (1) the recipient's name and how to pronounce it, (2) the occasion, (3) one personal detail I can mention, such as an inside joke, hobby, or nickname, (4) anything you want me to say or avoid, and (5) who the message is from. A few sentences is plenty.
Birthday instructions
Who is celebrating, how old are they turning, and what should I call them? Give me one detail I can mention, such as their favorite show, a running joke, or what they are into right now. Tell me who the message is from and whether there is a phrase you want included word for word.
Pep-talk or encouragement instructions
What do they need encouragement for, such as an interview, a hard week, or a big decision? Include their first name, how I should address them, one personal detail that will make the message specific, who it is from, and anything I should avoid mentioning.
Focused questions are recommended because they define the expected answer more clearly than “What should I say?” The goal is not to collect as much information as possible; it is to collect the smallest useful brief for recording the promised video.
What should you leave out of shoutout instructions?
- Essay-length prompts. As a recommended creator template, five short asks are more scannable than a dense paragraph and can usually be answered in a few sentences.
- Questions whose answers you will not use. Do not request a phone number, home address, or social handle “just in case.” FanBell's delivery workflow does not require the recipient's contact details (FanBell delivery workflow, verified August 2026).
- Unnecessary personal information. Collecting only recording-relevant details limits the private information included in the request.
- A blank “Anything else?” prompt. Replace it with a bounded question such as “Is there anything you specifically want me to avoid?”
- Promises you cannot consistently keep. Do not invite complex scripts, impersonations, or sensitive topics unless they fit your offer and stated boundaries.
Clear instructions can prevent many unusable requests, but they cannot screen out every inappropriate or impractical order. For refusal criteria and sample language, read how to set boundaries for custom video requests.
If the submitted details were usable but the finished video still needs attention, consult how to handle revisions for personalized videos. A revision decision should follow the applicable order details and your stated boundaries rather than an assumed automatic re-recording rule.
How do you set up the instructions field on FanBell?
The documented settings path is Shoutouts settings → instructions field. The instructions field appears alongside the price and delivery window and does not require a separate form builder (FanBell shoutout setup guide, verified August 2026; how it works, verified August 2026).
Use this setup sequence:
- Open Shoutouts settings in your FanBell creator controls.
- Locate the instructions field beside the price and delivery-window settings.
- Paste or adapt one of the templates above.
- Confirm that the prompt asks for a name, occasion, personal detail, inclusion or avoidance request, and sender context.
- Save the settings and review the published offer from a fan's perspective.
For the complete enabling and configuration walkthrough, read how to set up shoutouts on your link in bio.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum a fan should type before paying?
Ask for enough information to identify the recipient and purpose of the video: usually a name, occasion, and one or two useful personal details. The recommended five-ask template can generally be answered in a few sentences and is guidance for creators, not a mandatory FanBell minimum.
What should I do if a fan leaves vague instructions?
Ask one focused clarifying question before recording rather than guessing. FanBell keeps the request in the creator's order workflow until it is delivered (FanBell order workflow, verified August 2026). If the request is inappropriate or outside your offer, follow how to set boundaries for custom video requests.
Should I request the recipient's phone number or address?
No. The finished video is delivered through FanBell, so the creator does not need the recipient's phone number or home address for the standard delivery workflow (FanBell delivery workflow, verified August 2026). Request only information that directly supports recording or delivery.
Is a requested change always a revision?
Not necessarily. A change may result from unclear original instructions, a recording error, or a new request from the fan. Whether you accept it or make a new recording depends on the applicable order details and your stated boundaries. See how to handle revisions for personalized videos.
Create your free FanBell link and write a tight instructions field before you share it — a few well-chosen questions now save you a round of back-and-forth on every order later.
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