Partner approval delays: key steps: Identify exact decision still open and show what depends on it.; Give approver one current version with a clear question and intended release point.; Escalate if needed—ACCC may investigate misleading claims without evidence.
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Joint Campaigns

Part of Partner marketing operations

Managing a partner's delayed approval

Find the decision blocking a joint campaign, give the approver a complete version and choose a revised release plan.

Co-Marketing Desk · · 2 min read

When a partner’s approval is late, identify the exact decision still open, show what depends on it and agree a revised release plan. Give the approver one current version and a clear question.

A missed response date does not make an asset ready to publish unless the partners have expressly agreed an applicable rule.

Find the cause of the hold

Check what the approver received. Was it the final layout or an earlier copy draft? Were they asked to check a product claim, brand use or the whole customer-facing piece? Do they have authority for that decision?

Another reminder will not resolve missing material or an unclear approval route. Send a short request with the asset and version, intended audience and channel, decision required, material conditions and proposed release point. Consolidate comments from older threads so the partner is not asked to approve an obsolete file.

Show the effect on release

Identify the work that actually depends on the approval. An unrelated asset may continue; a scheduled email that uses the disputed claim may need to wait. Give decision-makers concrete options:

  1. Move review and release datesso the original asset receives its agreed review.
  2. Narrow the assetby removing an unverified element, then submit the revised complete version to affected approvers.
  3. Split the releaseif an independent item is already approved and the remaining campaign promise stays accurate.
  4. Pause the affected activityif its central claim or partner permission is unresolved.

Route any change to a partner or supplier commitment through the people authorised to decide it.

Escalate the decision

At the agreed response point, ask the backup or escalation contact whether they can decide, when a decision is possible or what evidence is missing. Describe the consequence plainly: without a decision on the current email version, its send date and dependent page review may have to move.

If a claim is challenged, ask its offer owner to verify it or supply narrower wording. The ACCC accepts reports about possible misleading or false claims and can require businesses to back up claims about their products or services; it may investigate and take compliance or enforcement action. A material change can require review of the full layout again.

Reset the plan

When a decision arrives, record the approver, date, version, intended use, conditions and next owner. Check conditional edits before treating the asset as cleared. Confirm that the publishing team has that same version, then tell both partners which release dates, bookings or messages changed.

After the campaign, record whether the delay arose from missing context, unavailable authority, review scope or an evidence question. Use that finding to improve the next approval request.

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