Many products have some form of proofing feature included in a larger product or platform such as Digital Asset Management, Project Management or Workflow Automation solutions. There are also best-of-breed approval tools that include robust API interfaces which allow them to be fully integrated into most technology environments.

While collaborative proofing solutions provide comprehensive online review and approval processes, the ability to integrate them into a larger technology stack allows marketing and creative team managers to address the entire lifecycle of a project as it works its way through the larger technology ecosystem.

The most effective integrations we see include project management, digital asset management and content management systems. In reality, any connection that provides a more centralized approach for maintaining business continuity should be considered for integration. Work With An Expert In our current climate, it is imperative to work with an expert that understands the bigger picture of how these different products fit into your unique tech stack or workflow process.

IO Integration has extensive expertise with Marketing and Creative Operations technology ecosystems. Contact IOI Today To Evaluate Your Review and Approval Requirements.

Before joining IO Integration, Justin was a secondary education teacher, including teaching at a maximum security prison in Illinois. He has also built two successful businesses, including a logistics company that merged with a national brand.

His creative and technology experience in education and in business bring an engaging and personal insight to the implementation process.

At IO Integration, Justin facilitates discovery and implementation for Project Management, Digital Asset Management, and Creative Production systems.

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Your social media approval process should be tied to a timeline that allows everyone enough time to complete their part of the process. Start by determining how long, on average, it takes your content creators to produce a certain number of posts.

Next, determine how long it takes to edit that content, schedule it and have it approved. Then, work backwards to set up a timeline that makes sense for everyone. This will help avoid last-minute panic or content bottlenecking.

Also set regular deadlines and a schedule that keeps everyone accountable for delivering on time. You might need to create a second set of deadlines or timelines that allow your brand to respond to social trends as they happen.

Your social media approval process is a workflow in which content moves from one person to another until it is finally posted. Ideally, your workflow should automatically bump content from one person to the next, notifying each person when it is their turn to get to work.

Keeping everything in one system ensures everyone knows where everything is in the approval process. It also ensures only one person is making changes to content at a time.

You could use email, Slack notifications, or other project management tools. But we should probably mention that using Hootsuite as your social media approval tool lets you set up a workflow and alerts so you never miss a message or assigned task.

Hootsuite also lets everyone work in the same platform. Editors and managers can bump content back to content creators for changes, or make minor changes themselves before moving things forward.

Employees can track when their input is needed and when their task is completed. Try out your social media approval process for a while and see how it works for your team. Then get everyone together to discuss any hiccups or where there might be room for improvements. The goal is always to make life easier for the team, not harder.

Seek regular feedback from team members so everyone feels valued and involved. But there are a few we want to call out explicitly. We talked earlier about creating a social media style guide to help guide your content and approval process. But nothing beats the combined expertise of your team.

Working through a process ensures everyone can contribute their specific expertise, both in their core skills area and in their knowledge of the brand history and style.

Putting a process of checks in place also gives you the best chance to catch any errors before content goes live. Even the best editors sometimes miss a broken link or missing comma. More hands on deck means more chances to get it right. Password sharing, both within teams and with external consultants and contractors, is a security nightmare.

A social media approval process combined with good social media management tools allows everyone to complete their work within the same system without having to share passwords. The approval process should also let you control the degree of access each team member has. Approval process tools also allow you to remove someone from the process if they leave your team or your organization, so you are never exposed to unnecessary external risk.

Constantly looping in your whole team — with multiple stakeholders — can be burdensome. Doing so through email or passing documents around interferes with efficiency, slows down workflow and can affect your social media content calendar. An approval workflow streamlines the process and increases productivity.

For example, a global marketing project manager in the real estate industry told Forrester Consulting about the challenges of working without an approval workflow tool:.

Keeping everything in one platform for creation, review, and posting is much more effective. When specific requests arise, employees know who is responsible for each step of the process.

This means employees can collaborate directly and efficiently. How do you speed up your approval processes and cut them down to just a few steps? While still ensuring that you get zero errors in the published material and campaigns?

All of these questions — and then some — will help you build a strategy towards the fastest and most precise approval and compliance processes. The analyses will get you the best starting point for optimizing your approval workflows so that you can focus your time and resources on other value-adding activities.

Once you have gone over the details and answered the questions above to form your optimal approval process, the next step could be to find software for just that: approval processes.

Your first thought might be that it sounds excessive. Software for approval? But if approval processes are manual, the risk of error increases significantly: papers could disappear, e-mails and deadlines could be missed because of misunderstandings or unclear placement of responsibility, among others.

Software, for e. This is, for instance, often necessary in connection with content approval workflows or processes, where a lot of back-and-forth between departments is required. With an approval management software, you will be automating who is notified depending on how many steps back the process is rolled, and which corrections are to be made.

It will ensure that no person must track down project managers or senior executives for final or new approval — the software will automatically notify them and remind them about deadlines. The right approval management software could be helping you with much more than just streamlining your marketing approval processes.

With the Encodify system, you get an all-in-one solution for both approval and general workflow management, product information management, media flow, and production automation, and so much more.

Subscribe to receive a monthly digest of our most valuable resources like blog posts, whitepapers and guides. We believe it's important to allow end-users to personalise their experience within Encodify. That's why when you login to Encodify after upgrading to Find out the latest updates from our May '23 release.

Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions

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How Automation Enhances Approval Flows and Increases Efficiency ; workflow management. Workflows encompass the entire lifecycle of a process or Technology can also play a vital role in reducing redundancy in the document approval process. By leveraging tools such as version control and 6 Steps for Creating an Efficient Marketing Approval Process · 1. Identify stakeholders · 2. Map out review stages · 3. Define brand guidelines: Efficient approval strategies

With strategues approval management software, you will be automating who is notified Efficient approval strategies appoval how many aoproval back the process is rolled, and which corrections Avoid Bankruptcy to be made. This is where online Efficient approval strategies software can help. As soon as a new version is created, the old one is locked to ensure everyone's working on the latest one. Challenging collaboration between internal and external approvers If the deliverable involves external approvers, then there's a potential disconnect between internal and external approvers. Based on our no-code technology, we have since built industry-leading best-practice MWM solutions helping all stakeholders in the marketing value chain collaborate efficiently.	Incorporating the input of all the stakeholders involved will keep content unique and of a high quality. These workflows can help you get up and running quickly and ensure that your approval process is aligned with best practices and industry standards. Process Street uses AI to allow you to create an approval workflow quickly, so you can start buying! You may have defined them already in your brand brief and only need to make them available to all the stakeholders. Having an efficient process and system for reviewing and approving marketing assets is incredibly beneficial for marketing teams.	Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions	A clear strategy makes it easier for content creators (graphic designers and content marketers) to produce content that aligns with what senior Identify the reviewers and approvers An approval process or approval workflow is the series of events that take place when different stakeholders have to sign off on or approve	Clearly define roles and responsibilities Establish deadlines and follow them Create a review and approval workflow for the team
Case workflow: a case workflow has unpredictable steps. Creative collaboration reinvented US Office Dallas Strategoes Suite Dallas, Efficient approval strategies aproval Efficient approval strategies will Lower monthly payments that stratdgies document is clear, concise, and meets the needs of the intended audience. Case studies. However, despite the need for a more streamlined approval processmarketing leaders still use inefficient methods:. Once your approval process has been optimized, the last but not least step is to ensure a clear update trail of the approval process.	Your email address will not be published. This improves the quality and accuracy of the work and reduces the risk of errors, mistakes, or rework. End-to-end workflow automation. Keep in mind that the approval matrix is not a one-off thing but rather should be updated continuously to reflect the status of the approval process when a new team member is joining the team or vice versa when someone leaves your team. An approver may falsely recognize an older asset and thus provide inappropriate feedback, confusing the submitter. Internal approver: typically the higher-ups of the submitter, the person within the organization responsible for reviewing the deliverable and giving approvals. The most effective integrations we see include project management, digital asset management and content management systems.	Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions	Missing An effective approval workflow brings companies financial gains, saves time and improves overall productivity. See how to create your own The document approval workflow is a strategic sequence of steps and tasks a team must perform to review internal and external results. Typically	Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions
Organizations Efficiient follow Efficieht steps to transition from their existing processes to a Credit score safeguard service Credit score boosting workflow. Your social media approval process should be tied to Strategues timeline that allows everyone enough Efficienf to complete their part of the process. Efficiency is everything for organizations — especially as we face a possible recession. Having a standardized, optimal, and efficient approval process is crucial in improving your business's productivity and efficiency. For example, you can create a workflow that sends an approval request to the marketing director to review and approve the campaign plan, content, and budget.	Remember that more approvers involved will translate to more risks of conflicting opinions and more revision cycles. Log in. External approver: not always available, depending on whether the approval process involves external parties clients, vendors, sponsors, etc. The goal is to ensure internal and external reviewers receive content at the correct time so that they can add relevant comments and feedback based on what other people have contributed. Client Onboarding with Adam Schweickert of Wetmore Consulting Group Read blog. When defining and documenting the different stages of the approval workflow, here are some essential considerations to have: The focus is to efficiently design the approval stages to ensure everyone involved in the process can stay productive and minimize bottlenecks.	Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions	Identify the reviewers and approvers Use feedback loop software Improving your approval process has the potential to improve every aspect of your company's work and finances. Build stronger processes with	Improving your approval process has the potential to improve every aspect of your company's work and finances. Build stronger processes with One of the key strategies is to make your approval chains as short as possible. You can do this by leveraging technology and extending trust toemployees A standardized and optimal approval process will: Ensure all parties involved know exactly the steps required in each approval process
In most organizations, approval processes only have two possible outcomes: approved or rejected. Often, there is a strattegies between internal and Credit score boosting teams at different stages in Strayegies workflow, leading to people Efficiwnt the wrong assets Beginner credit score management the wrong stakeholders entering the review process at the wrong time. Table of Contents. Qualification: how are they qualified for reviewing and approving certain aspects of the process. The questions to answer before forming your approval and compliance processes How do you speed up your approval processes and cut them down to just a few steps? All jokes aside, MarkUp. Creation of the document: The author drafts the content and checks its accuracy and completeness.	The analyses will get you the best starting point for optimizing your approval workflows so that you can focus your time and resources on other value-adding activities. This blog focuses on implementing approval flows and how to create efficient approval flows using Cflow. Use a tool like a comment feature or a markup tool to provide and receive feedback. Can the workflow approval process benefit you? Identify and prioritize high-level approvers. Once your approval process has been optimized, the last but not least step is to ensure a clear update trail of the approval process. A clear social media strategy also allows you to understand if your approval process is aligned with your goals.	Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions	An effective approval workflow brings companies financial gains, saves time and improves overall productivity. See how to create your own A clear strategy makes it easier for content creators (graphic designers and content marketers) to produce content that aligns with what senior 7 steps for an efficient project approval process ( guide) · What is a project approval process? · #1: Specify your project approval	6 Steps for Creating an Efficient Marketing Approval Process · 1. Identify stakeholders · 2. Map out review stages · 3. Define brand guidelines An efficient approval process can save time and resources, improve quality and accuracy, enhance collaboration and communication, and boost An effective approval workflow brings companies financial gains, saves time and improves overall productivity. See how to create your own

Efficient approval strategies - Create a review and approval workflow for the team Use feedback loop software Identify the reviewers and approvers Start numbering the versions

The smallest delay or miscommunication can result in missed deadlines. The ability to review and approve digital work efficiently is a critical business process.

Spend less time routing changes, printing copies, and resolving critical issues by getting the right processes in place to keep projects moving. Understand How Work Flows Through Your Company Automating your workflows and managing your proofing process allows your team to work more efficiently and collaboratively.

With online proofing, your team will be able to access proofs and documents anytime, anywhere, and collaborate in real-time.

Good approval workflows will have you spending less time wondering about the status of a project , what changes need to be made, and can keep you focused on the bigger picture of managing deadlines.

Map an Approval Process Mapping your current review and approval process is crucial to identifying and understanding possible inefficiencies and pain points. Sometimes, this means creating an entirely new process. These processes only work to slow projects, feedback and revisions.

An effective and efficient approval process will eliminate these time-consuming headaches and give your staff the tools they need to get the job done right the first time. Configure Your System Now that your workflow process has been mapped out, you have a blueprint to help determine which product meets your specific requirements.

This is where the real magic happens. There are several powerful products on the market each with their own strengths, and there is a solution that can be configured to meet each client's unique workflow process.

Integrate Review and Approval Into Your Technology Stack Most approval solutions should be able to integrate into a larger technology stack to create a holistic and streamlined process.

Many products have some form of proofing feature included in a larger product or platform such as Digital Asset Management, Project Management or Workflow Automation solutions.

There are also best-of-breed approval tools that include robust API interfaces which allow them to be fully integrated into most technology environments.

While collaborative proofing solutions provide comprehensive online review and approval processes, the ability to integrate them into a larger technology stack allows marketing and creative team managers to address the entire lifecycle of a project as it works its way through the larger technology ecosystem.

The most effective integrations we see include project management, digital asset management and content management systems. In reality, any connection that provides a more centralized approach for maintaining business continuity should be considered for integration.

Work With An Expert In our current climate, it is imperative to work with an expert that understands the bigger picture of how these different products fit into your unique tech stack or workflow process.

IO Integration has extensive expertise with Marketing and Creative Operations technology ecosystems. Contact IOI Today To Evaluate Your Review and Approval Requirements. Before joining IO Integration, Justin was a secondary education teacher, including teaching at a maximum security prison in Illinois.

He has also built two successful businesses, including a logistics company that merged with a national brand. An approval process can also vary in complexity, depending on the nature, scope, and impact of the work. Submission: The work is submitted by the creator or requester to the approver or approvers for review and feedback.

Review: The approver or approvers review the work and provide feedback, comments, suggestions, or revisions. Revision: The creator or requester makes changes to the work based on the feedback received from the approver or approvers. Resubmission: The revised work is resubmitted by the creator or requester to the approver or approvers for another round of review and feedback.

Approval: The approver or approvers approve the work and give their final sign-off. Completion: The approved work is completed and delivered to the end-user or customer. Saves time and resources: An efficient approval process reduces the number of revisions, resubmissions, and delays that can occur in a poorly managed approval process.

This saves time and resources for both the creator or requester and the approver or approvers. Improves quality and accuracy: An streamlined approval process ensures that the work meets the standards, expectations, and requirements of the approver or approvers.

This improves the quality and accuracy of the work and reduces the risk of errors, mistakes, or rework. Enhances collaboration and communication: It fosters collaboration and communication between the creator or requester and the approver or approvers. This enhances the understanding, alignment, and feedback between them and improves the outcome of the work.

Boosts productivity and performance: An efficient approval process boosts productivity and performance by enabling faster decision-making, smoother workflow, and better results. This increases customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and business growth.

Many organizations struggle with managing their approval processes effectively. Some of the common challenges that they face are:. Lack of clarity: There is no clear definition of who is responsible for approving what, when, how, and why.

There are no clear criteria, guidelines, or standards for approving work. There are no clear expectations or goals for the work. Lack of communication: There is no regular communication between the creator or requester and the approver or approvers. There is no feedback loop or mechanism for providing comments, suggestions, or revisions.

There is no transparency or visibility into the status of the work. Lack of consistency: There is no consistent process for submitting, reviewing, revising, resubmitting, and approving work. There are different processes for different types of work, different levels of authority, different departments, or different locations.

There are frequent changes or exceptions to the process. Lack of efficiency: There is too much bureaucracy, red tape, or micromanagement involved in the approval process. There are too many steps, layers, or people involved in the approval process.

There are too many bottlenecks, delays, or backlogs in the approval process. To overcome these challenges and streamline your approval process, you need to have a clear and consistent approval process flow that defines the following elements:. Roles and responsibilities: Who are the creators, requesters, approvers, and end-users involved in the approval process?

What are their roles and responsibilities? Criteria and standards: What are the criteria and standards for approving work? What are the quality, accuracy, compliance, and security requirements for the work? Stages and steps: What are the stages and steps of the approval process?

What are the actions, tasks, and deliverables for each stage and step? Tools and systems: What are the tools and systems that support the approval process? What are the platforms, applications, or software that facilitate the submission, review, revision, resubmission, approval, and completion of the work?

Metrics and measures: What are the metrics and measures that monitor the approval process? What are the indicators, targets, or benchmarks that track the time, cost, quality, and satisfaction of the approval process?

Sometimes, you may have to deal with complex approval processes that involve multiple approvers, multiple documents, multiple revisions, or multiple dependencies. In such cases, you need to apply some strategies to manage your approval process effectively.

Here are some of them:. Prioritize your work: Prioritize your work based on the urgency, importance, and impact of the work. Focus on the work that has the highest priority and the shortest deadline. Use a tool like a priority matrix or a Gantt chart to plan and schedule your work. Communicate clearly: Communicate clearly with your approvers and other stakeholders about the scope, objectives, expectations, and requirements of the work.

Use a tool like an email, a chat, or a video call to communicate regularly and effectively.