30-second summary. Public approval links speed reviews when stakeholders don’t have accounts. Keep them safe with expiring tokens, view-only scope, watermark previews, and full audit logs. Use for low-risk posts or one-off approvers; switch to account-based review for sensitive work.
What are public approval links?
A shareable, unlisted URL that lets someone review (and optionally approve) a specific post/version without creating an account. They’re perfect for busy execs or clients who approve occasionally.
Pros and cons
| Public link | Account-based review | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed to first view | Fast — no signup | Slower — login required |
| Security | Good if scoped/expiring | Stronger by default |
| Audit trail | Requires identity capture | Built-in identity |
| Best for | One-off approvers, low-risk assets | Recurring reviewers, sensitive work |
When to use (and when not)
- Use for: exec/client one-offs, creator/partner reviews, simple organic posts.
- Avoid for: regulated topics, embargoed launches, anything with personal data or contractual restrictions.
Security & compliance best practices
- Expiring tokens: set TTL (e.g., 3–7 days) and auto-revoke when the post is approved or replaced.
- Scope-limited: link can view only one post/version; disable listing/browsing.
- Identity capture: gate with email + one-time code before approve/comment.
- View-only by default: enable comments/approval explicitly; no editing rights.
- Watermark previews: especially for video or paid assets.
- Rate limiting & bot protection: basic throttling + captcha for submit actions.
- Revocation & rotation: one click to invalidate a leaked link; new token on new version.
- Full audit log: store viewer identity, IP/country, timestamp, action (view/approve/comment), and version hash.
Suggested workflow (10 minutes)
- Create/attach the public link to the current version; set expiry and permissions.
- Send the link with a clear request: “Approve or comment on CTA only — due by Tue 5pm.”
- Capture identity at open; consolidate feedback on this version.
- On approval: auto-lock the version and log who/when. Revoke the link.
- If a new version is created: rotate the token and notify.
Copy you can reuse (email/DM)
Subject: Final review — 1 click
Hi {{Name}}, here’s a view-only link to review this post. Please approve or comment on CTA only. The link expires {{Date, Time}}. Thanks!
KPIs to track
- Time to first view (send → first open)
- Approval rate (% approved without new round)
- Rounds per post (median ≤ 2)
- Link expiry rate (expired before action)
- Unauthorized attempts (blocked by token/TTL)
FAQ
Are public links safe?
Yes, if you scope them to a single version, require identity before actions, and use expiring tokens + revocation.
Should we allow comments via public link?
Yes for clarity, but keep edits off. Comments + approve/deny are enough.
How long should links last?
Short windows work best (3–7 days). Rotate on every new version and revoke after approval.
Can we use them for legal/compliance?
Prefer account-based review for regulated topics; if you must, enable stronger gate (OTP) and require signatures elsewhere.
