5 Ways to Reduce the Headache of Review and Approval

1. Standardize your process
Creative work is started from an email, or a meeting action item, or a desk drop-by. Sometimes pieces needing review are emailed, sometimes they’re posted to YouSendIt or an FTP. Reviewers are selected on a case-by-case basis. It’s too confusing!

Establish this: Put a formal process in place that applies to every piece of work created by your department. Write it down, distribute it, and stick to it.

2. Make status reports centralized and transparent
Wondering what the status of a project is? Somebody’s got to dig through their email, see who’s responded, check their handwritten notes from a meeting, call people up. “Did you get a chance to look at this yet?” That’s time wasted!

Create this: One central place where project statuses are updated. Let everyone know where it is and keep it updated regularly.

3. Create an audit trail of sign-offs and approvals
How long would it take to figure out who signed off on a six-week old project? How about a six-month old project? Don’t wait until there’s a fire to buy an extinguisher!

Track this: Start keeping an accountability log of who signed-off on what, when. Include project, reviewer(s), designer(s), sign-off date, and notes.

4. Establish a productive review culture
Reviewers want to communicate their change requests, content producers want to receive feedback that’s clear and actionable, and managers want to minimize friction and increase productivity. But sometimes teams need a little guidance on building a culture of productive reviewing.

Share this: Give your team the tools they need to work together to get the best content out the door quickly.

5. Adopt an Approval Workflow Solution
Many of the above strategies can be more easily accomplished – and even automated – with a content review and approval solution.

Consider this: Determine what your organization’s specific review management needs are and look for an online proofing, approval workflow, or content production management solution to fit.

the Property Marketing Group can help you manage your creative process and organize your approval workflow.