How to get your content calendar approved by clients
Six ways to present a content calendar so clients review it quickly and approve it the first time.
Most agencies plan content well. The slow part is getting it approved. A client receives a spreadsheet with forty posts, puts it off, and replies a week later asking to "change the tone".
How you present the calendar makes a big difference to how quickly clients approve it. Here are six ways to speed it up.
Send posts in weekly batches
Sending a month of posts at once gives the client a big job to do, so they delay it. Send a smaller batch each week instead. Reviewing eight posts takes a client a few minutes, so they're more likely to do it straight away.
Show the finished post
Clients find it hard to approve a description like "Carousel: product tips". Show them the post as it will appear, with the images, caption and posting time. It's much easier to say yes to something they can see.
Explain why each post is there
Add one line under each post that explains its purpose. For example, "Answers the most common question in last month's comments" or "Supports the product launch on the 14th". When clients understand the goal, they focus on whether the post achieves it rather than on personal taste.
Ask for one of two answers
Give the client two options for every post: approve it, or request changes with a note. Avoid open questions like "Any thoughts?", which tend to get vague replies. Keep each change request attached to its post, so your team doesn't have to search through emails to find it.
Keep a record of approvals
Save who approved each post and when, and make sure that record can't be changed later. If a question comes up months afterwards, you can check the answer straight away.
Agree on a deadline
Agree on an approval deadline when you start working with a client. For example, posts that aren't reviewed within two working days move to the next available slot. Clients usually appreciate clear rules, and the deadline protects your posting schedule.
How Ogasocial helps
In Ogasocial, each client gets a private link where they see only their own posts. They approve or request changes in one click, their notes stay attached to each post, and every approval is saved permanently.
