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Approval Workflows

Control exactly how and when your content gets published with flexible approval workflows that match your team's needs.

Overview​

3L3C's approval workflows give you complete control over your content publishing process. Whether you need everything reviewed before going live or want to automate within safe boundaries, you can configure workflows that match your team's structure and risk tolerance.

Workflow Types​

1. Draft-Only Mode​

Maximum Control - Nothing publishes without explicit approval

Perfect for:

  • Highly regulated industries
  • New campaign launches
  • Teams requiring full oversight
  • Testing new AI configurations

How it works:

  • All content is generated as drafts
  • Nothing is scheduled or published automatically
  • Each piece requires manual review and approval
  • Full editing capabilities before publishing

2. Require Approvals Mode​

Balanced Control - Designated approvers review before publishing

Perfect for:

  • Multi-team organizations
  • Agency-client relationships
  • Campaigns with compliance requirements
  • Quality assurance processes

How it works:

  • Content is generated and queued for approval
  • Designated approvers receive notifications
  • Approved content publishes at scheduled times
  • Rejected content returns for revision

3. Auto-Publish Mode​

Maximum Efficiency - Publish within your defined rules

Perfect for:

  • Experienced teams
  • Time-sensitive content
  • High-volume campaigns
  • Trusted AI configurations

How it works:

  • Content publishes automatically at optimal times
  • Safety checks run before publishing
  • Brand guidelines are enforced
  • You can still pause or rollback anytime

Setting Up Approval Workflows​

Step 1: Choose Your Default Workflow​

Navigate to Settings → Workflows and select your default:

  • Draft-Only
  • Require Approvals
  • Auto-Publish

Step 2: Configure Approval Rules​

For "Require Approvals" Mode:​

{
  "approvalSettings": {
    "requiredApprovers": 1,
    "approverRoles": ["content_manager", "marketing_lead"],
    "escalationTime": "4h",
    "escalationTo": ["admin"],
    "allowSelfApproval": false
  }
}

For "Auto-Publish" Mode:​

{
  "autoPublishRules": {
    "allowedPlatforms": ["instagram", "facebook", "linkedin"],
    "maxBudgetPerPost": 100,
    "requireComplianceCheck": true,
    "blacklistedTerms": ["competitor", "guarantee"],
    "publishWindow": {
      "days": ["mon", "tue", "wed", "thu", "fri"],
      "hours": "9-17",
      "timezone": "America/New_York"
    }
  }
}

Step 3: Assign Team Roles​

RolePermissions
ViewerView campaigns and content only
EditorCreate and edit content, cannot approve
ApproverReview and approve/reject content
ManagerAll permissions plus workflow configuration
AdminFull access including team management

Approval Process​

Content Review Interface​

When content requires approval, reviewers see:

  • Full preview of the post as it will appear
  • Platform-specific formatting
  • Scheduled publish time
  • Campaign context and objectives
  • AI's reasoning for content choices

Approval Actions​

Approvers can:

  • Approve - Content publishes as scheduled
  • Reject - Returns to draft with feedback
  • Edit & Approve - Make changes then approve
  • Delegate - Forward to another approver
  • Request Changes - Specific revision requests

Bulk Operations​

For efficiency with high-volume campaigns:

  • Select multiple posts for bulk approval
  • Apply approval to all posts in a date range
  • Approve all posts for specific platforms
  • Set conditional approvals based on content type

Notification System​

Email Notifications​

  • New content pending approval
  • Approval status updates
  • Escalation alerts
  • Publishing confirmations

In-App Notifications​

  • Real-time approval requests
  • Status changes
  • Comment threads
  • Deadline reminders

Slack/Teams Integration​

  • Direct approval links
  • Quick approve/reject buttons
  • Thread discussions
  • Daily approval summaries

Advanced Features​

Multi-Stage Approvals​

Set up sequential approval chains:

  1. Content Manager reviews copy
  2. Legal reviews compliance
  3. Brand Manager approves visuals
  4. CMO gives final approval

Conditional Workflows​

Different rules for different scenarios:

  • High-budget campaigns → Require 2 approvers
  • Time-sensitive posts → Auto-approve from trusted creators
  • New platforms → Always require approval
  • Established campaigns → Auto-publish

Approval Templates​

Save and reuse approval configurations:

  • Product launch workflow
  • Crisis communication workflow
  • Seasonal campaign workflow
  • Executive content workflow

Version Control​

  • Track all edits and revisions
  • See who made what changes
  • Revert to previous versions
  • Compare before/after states

Compliance & Audit​

Audit Trail​

Complete record of:

  • Who created content
  • Who approved/rejected
  • When actions were taken
  • What changes were made
  • Why decisions were made

Compliance Checks​

Automatic verification of:

  • Brand guideline adherence
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Copyright and trademark usage
  • Sensitive content detection
  • Fact-checking when enabled

Export & Reporting​

  • Download approval histories
  • Generate compliance reports
  • Export for legal review
  • Analytics on approval patterns

Best Practices​

1. Start Conservative​

  • Begin with Draft-Only or Require Approvals
  • Gradually increase automation as confidence grows
  • Monitor AI performance before full automation

2. Clear Guidelines​

  • Document approval criteria
  • Set clear escalation paths
  • Define rejection reasons
  • Establish SLAs for approvals

3. Regular Reviews​

  • Audit approval patterns monthly
  • Identify bottlenecks
  • Optimize workflow rules
  • Update based on team feedback

4. Emergency Protocols​

  • Define crisis communication workflows
  • Set up rapid approval chains
  • Establish override permissions
  • Create pause-all mechanisms

Platform-Specific Considerations​

  • Always require approval for campaigns over $X
  • Extra compliance checks for regulated industries
  • Budget approval separate from content approval

Real-Time Platforms (Twitter/X)​

  • Faster approval cycles for time-sensitive content
  • Pre-approved response templates
  • Auto-approve within defined parameters

Visual Platforms (Instagram/TikTok)​

  • Visual review requirements
  • Brand consistency checks
  • Rights and permissions verification

Troubleshooting​

Content Stuck in Approval​

  • Check if approvers are assigned
  • Verify notification settings
  • Look for escalation triggers
  • Review approval queue filters

Auto-Publish Not Working​

  • Confirm workflow is set to Auto-Publish
  • Check publish window settings
  • Verify platform connections
  • Review safety check results

Missing Notifications​

  • Check email spam folders
  • Verify notification preferences
  • Confirm correct email addresses
  • Test notification system

FAQ​

Q: Can I have different workflows for different campaigns? A: Yes, each campaign can have its own workflow settings that override the default.

Q: What happens if an approver is unavailable? A: The escalation system automatically routes to backup approvers after the defined time period.

Q: Can I approve content from mobile? A: Yes, the mobile app supports full approval functionality including preview and editing.

Q: How do I handle urgent content? A: Use the priority flag to push content to the top of approval queues and trigger immediate notifications.

Q: Can I partially approve content? A: Yes, you can approve for specific platforms while requesting changes for others.