ApproveThis manages your Contently Integration approvals.

Two Tools, One Powerful Workflow

Modern content teams face a constant challenge: moving projects from draft to publish without drowning in email chains or missed deadlines. Contently excels at managing content creation pipelines, while ApproveThis specializes in structured approval workflows. When connected through Zapier, these platforms create an airtight system for managing creative projects with accountability at every stage.

Marketing agencies, enterprise content teams, and compliance-heavy industries benefit most from this integration. Imagine automatically routing every new blog post draft to legal review, or ensuring client sign-off on campaign concepts before writers start working. These aren't hypothetical scenarios – they're operational realities for teams using ApproveThis and Contently together.

Why This Integration Works

Contently organizes content production, but final approvals often happen in messy email threads or disjointed Slack conversations. ApproveThis adds structure:

• No More License Headaches: External clients or legal reviewers approve directly via email – no need for Contently logins
• Conditional Logic: Route high-risk content to additional stakeholders automatically
• Audit Trails: Maintain permanent records of who approved what, and when

A pharmaceutical company might auto-route all patient education materials through medical, legal, and compliance teams sequentially. An e-commerce brand could set approval thresholds where product descriptions under $50k get automatic approval, while premium items require CMO review.

Real-World Use Cases

1. Enterprise Content Governance

Financial institutions using Contently for thought leadership content need strict compliance checks. The integration can:

- Auto-create approval tasks when drafts are marked complete
- Require sequential sign-off from compliance officer → legal → CMO
- Apply conditional rules (e.g., trigger extra reviews for "cryptocurrency" mentions)

2. Agency Client Approvals

Marketing agencies lose billable hours chasing client feedback. With this setup:

- Client stakeholders receive branded approval emails with one-click decisions
- Missed deadlines automatically escalate to agency PMs
- Approved content auto-publishes without manual intervention

3. Regulated Industries

Healthcare and legal teams using Contently for client communications benefit from:

- Automatic version comparison during approvals
- Mandatory dual approvals for sensitive topics
- Vacation coverage rules to prevent approval bottlenecks

Implementation Made Simple

Setting up the integration takes under 30 minutes for most teams:

Step 1: Connect the Apps

Create a Zapier account and connect both ApproveThis and Contently. Zapier's interface guides you through authentication without needing technical skills.

Step 2: Map Your Triggers

Choose Contently triggers that matter most:

- New content requests submitted
- Pitch proposals finalized
- Stories marked as ready for review

Step 3: Configure Approval Rules

Build workflows in ApproveThis that match your content risk profile:

- Set approval thresholds based on content type or budget
- Assign primary/backup approvers for each team
- Enable email fallbacks for external reviewers

Step 4: Test and Deploy

Run test submissions through Contently to verify:

- Approval tasks generate correctly
- Conditional routing works as intended
- Final approvals trigger next steps in Contently

Team-Specific Benefits

Content Teams

Reduce follow-up emails by 60-80% with centralized approval status tracking. Writers see real-time feedback in Contently instead of digging through inboxes.

Legal/Compliance

Maintain version control with automatic audit trails. All approved content includes timestamps and decision comments for regulatory purposes.

Client Services

Provide white-labeled approval portals without paying for extra Contently seats. Clients approve directly via mobile-friendly emails with branded styling.

Executives

Get summary digests of pending approvals instead of piecemeal requests. Configure "batch approval" windows that fit leadership schedules.

Advanced Features Worth Exploring

Beyond basic approvals, the integration supports:

Calculated Fields

Auto-flag content needing extra scrutiny:
- Word count vs. project guidelines
- Budget allocations against quarterly limits
- SEO score thresholds

Delegation Rules

Prevent delays when approvers are OOO:
- Temporary reassignments during vacations
- Automatic escalation after 48hrs of inactivity
- Department-level backup assignees

Threshold Approvals

Speed up routine sign-offs:
- Auto-approve blog posts under 1,000 words
- Require CMO review for campaigns over $250k
- Bypass legal for pre-approved content templates

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

While powerful, the integration works best when teams:

Do:

- Start with 2-3 critical approval paths vs. automating everything at once
- Use Contently's metadata to pre-populate approval forms
- Set clear SLAs for approval turnaround times

Don't:

- Overcomplicate workflows with unnecessary conditional branches
- Forget to test vacation coverage rules quarterly
- Neglect training stakeholders on email-based approval actions

Getting Started

Teams using Contently for regulated content or client work see the fastest ROI. Implementation typically shows:

- 40-70% reduction in content cycle times
- 90%+ compliance with approval SLAs
- 50% fewer version control errors

Ready to transform your content approval process? Register for ApproveThis or schedule a custom demo to see how it works with your Contently workflow.