Approvals are where many creator campaigns slow down. Drafts sit in inboxes, feedback arrives from several people at once and deadlines slip. A clear approval workflow keeps things moving and protects the relationship with the creator.
Agree the process upfront
Put the approval steps in the brief and the agreement. Everyone should know:
- When drafts are due and in what format.
- Who will review them on the brand side.
- How many rounds of feedback are included.
- How long the brand has to respond.
- What happens if feedback arrives late.
Name one point of contact
Creators should not receive conflicting notes from different people. Gather all internal feedback, resolve any disagreements and send one consolidated response. This saves time and avoids confusion.
Give feedback that helps
- Start with what works. Say what you like, so the creator knows what to keep.
- Separate must-fix from nice-to-have. Factual errors, missing disclosure or brand safety issues need fixing. Personal style preferences usually do not.
- Be specific. Point to the exact moment or line, and explain why.
- Respect their voice. Avoid rewriting captions into brand language their audience will not recognise.
Check the essentials
Before approving, run through a short checklist:
- Is the advertising disclosure clear and visible?
- Are product claims accurate and allowed?
- Are links and codes correct?
- Does anything conflict with the brief’s must-avoids?
After it goes live
Check the published post matches the approved version. If something needs changing, ask politely and quickly. Save a copy of the final content for your records.
Plan time for approvals
Build review time into your campaign schedule from the start. Tell internal reviewers when drafts will arrive, so they can set time aside. Rushed approvals lead to missed errors, while slow ones leave creators waiting and can push back launch dates.
A smooth approval process shows creators that you value their time. If you want help setting up a workflow for your campaigns, get in touch with the Northpeak team.
