Delayed deadlines? Stalled projects? Barely relevant overdue content?
The struggle is real when it comes to the review and approval of your content.
If you recognise this struggle you might be a content marketer (or a business owner who manages the responsibilities of a content marketer). Either way, delayed deadlines and overdue projects can be a drag, especially to your motivation.
The good news is there’s still hope. I have a few efficient tips to consider in order to accelerate your content review and approval process. Keep reading…
Create a template for your review and approval system
Your review and approval system needs a structure. You can’t leave it up to fate.
Your structure may depend on how much content you will be producing that month, as well as how many reviewers are going to check your content.
An important step that, most of the time, gets overlooked by other urgent upcoming tasks is taking some time to decide what has worked and what hasn’t for your system until now.
Tip: Take a step back and examine your whole review & approval process. Keep whatever worked and ditch what hasn’t. Move on from there.
You may also be interested in: How To Create Your Digital Marketing Strategy? A Step-By-Step Guide
Get qualified reviewers
There’s a tendency to get as many reviewers as you can on board to check your content in the hopes that your content might increase in quality.
Not a good strategy.
The “quality over quantity” principle stands true. Focus on getting a small number (1-2) qualified reviewers and a great writer as opposed to many reviewers (3-4) and an average writer.
Does it make sense?
The quality of your content will probably not increase if you add one more person to review your content but it will add to your review/approval process.
Tip: Be picky when it comes to choosing your reviewers. Go for a few qualified ones rather than many average reviewers.
Reduce content review rounds
If your content review and approval process takes a long time, chances are you have too many review rounds.
Try reducing those rounds and instead increase the time you spend on brainstorming. Allow more time for getting every team member’s’ ideas and input. This way everyone will have a clear picture of the desired end result.
The problem with too many content review rounds is it takes too much time. Also, most likely, the problem with that piece of content is probably not even in the content.
Tip: Most of the times, these problems can be avoided with an intense brainstorming session before even starting to work on the content.
Establish consequences for delayed deadlines
A delayed deadline can start a ripple effect. The next thing you know your whole well-thought monthly planning gets pushed back. Things can quickly get out of control.
Make sure you establish consequences for delayed deadlines. As important as establishing these consequences is discussing them with your reviewers/approvers. They need to understand their full responsibility in reviewing your content.
Tip: Creating an effective content review/approval system with specific consequences for postponed deadlines will create an organised workflow for all team members.
Settle for nothing less than specific feedback
Efficient feedback is specific feedback. It makes it easier to learn from your mistakes.
There are different types of feedback depending on the content that needs reviewing. For example, feedback for a video may look different from feedback given for a written article.
Tip: Create specific guidelines for your content feedback. The reviewers will know exactly what is expected of them. Effective communication makes everyone’s job easier.
Take a step back and evaluate
Evaluation is a crucial step before stepping forward.
Evaluate your content review and approval process. It will give you some good ideas for moving forward. Make sure you ask for your reviewers’ feedback. Take all the input you’ve collected and decide on the best way to move forward with your system.
Does your content review process need a makeover?
I can assist you in finding the right content marketing strategies and tools to create an efficient content review and approval system. Let’s get in touch now.