The Editorial Approval Process for Sponsored Content
How editorial approval works and what to check before publication.
Editorial approval is the process of reviewing sponsored content before publication to confirm it meets the brief and the marketplace's standards. This guide covers how editorial approval works and what to check. See The Backlink Marketplace Buyer's Guide for the full process.
What to check during approval
- The content matches the brief (topic, target page, anchor)
- The content is original and accurate
- The disclosure label is present
- The link attribute (rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow") is correct
- The target URL is correct
- The anchor text is descriptive and natural
- The tone matches the publisher's style
Approval outcomes
| Outcome | When |
|---|---|
| Approve | The content meets all requirements |
| Request revisions | The content needs changes (anchor, disclosure, accuracy) |
| Reject | The content cannot meet the brief or standards |
Primary sources
- Link spam policies — Google Search Central (accessed 2025-01-15)