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What Happens When I Edit an Approved Listing?

Brandon Austin avatar
Written by Brandon Austin
Updated over a week ago

What Happens When I Edit an Approved Listing?

Quick Answer

When you edit an approved listing, the system creates a "pending version" that requires review while your current approved version stays live and continues working normally. You experience no downtime - visitors see your current listing, you continue receiving leads, and all features remain active during the 1-3 business day review period. Once approved, the pending version automatically replaces the live version.

Overview

Heritage Web's pending version system ensures your business never experiences interruption when you need to update your listing. Whether updating your phone number, adding new services, or refreshing your description, your current listing remains fully functional while changes undergo review. This guide explains how the dual-version system works, what triggers review, and how to manage edits efficiently.

The Pending Version System

How Dual Versions Work

When you edit an approved listing, two versions exist simultaneously:

Version

Status

Visibility

Function

Live Version

Active

Public sees this

Full functionality

Pending Version

Under Review

Only you see this

Contains your edits

Visual Representation

Your Approved Listing (Live) ↓ You Make Edits ↓ System Creates β†’ Live Version (unchanged) + Pending Version (with edits) ↓ During Review β†’ Public sees Live Version ↓ After Approval β†’ Pending Version becomes new Live Version

What This Means for You

No Service Interruption:

  • Listing stays visible on all publications

  • Continue receiving matched leads

  • Messages and inquiries flow normally

  • No "under maintenance" message

  • No downtime whatsoever

Peace of Mind:

  • Make updates without worry

  • Test changes safely

  • Current version protected

  • No rush to perfect edits

  • Can edit pending version multiple times

What Triggers Review

Changes That Require Review

Any modification to your listing content triggers review:

Text Changes:

  • Name modifications

  • Description updates

  • Bio revisions

  • Service additions

  • Specialty changes

  • Address updates

Image Updates:

  • New profile photo

  • Logo changes

  • Cover image updates

  • Gallery additions

  • Image replacements

Credential Changes:

  • License updates

  • Education additions

  • Certification changes

  • Professional associations

  • Award additions

Contact Updates:

  • Phone numbers

  • Email addresses

  • Website URLs

  • Office locations

  • Hours of operation

Changes That DON'T Require Review

These actions take effect immediately without review:

Status Changes:

  • Pausing/unpausing listing

  • Marking job as filled

  • Hiding from specific publications

Account Management:

  • Team member changes

  • Payment method updates

  • Notification settings

  • Dashboard preferences

Access Controls:

  • Message button toggle

  • Section visibility

  • Display preferences

The Review Process for Edits

Timeline for Edit Reviews

Same as New Listings:

  • Sponsor listings: 1 business day

  • Free listings: 2-3 business days

  • Excludes: Weekends and holidays

What Gets Reviewed

Focus Areas for Edits:

Review Aspect

What's Checked

Why It Matters

Changed Content

Only modified sections

Faster review

New Information

Licenses, credentials

Must verify

Compliance

Terms of service

Maintains quality

Accuracy

Contact info, claims

Prevents fraud

Review Outcomes

Possible Results:

  1. Approved: Pending version replaces live version

  2. Rejected: Live version continues, fix pending version

  3. Partial approval: Rarely, specific issues noted

Managing Your Pending Version

Editing Your Pending Version

You CAN:

  • Continue editing pending version

  • Make multiple changes

  • Save drafts repeatedly

  • Preview your changes

  • Add new content

Each New Edit:

  • Replaces previous pending version

  • Doesn't create multiple versions

  • Restarts review if already submitted

  • Maintains single pending version

Example Workflow

Monday: Edit phone number β†’ Creates pending version Tuesday: Edit description too β†’ Updates same pending version Wednesday: Add new photo β†’ Still same pending version Wednesday PM: Submit for review β†’ One consolidated review Friday: All changes approved together β†’ New live version

Viewing Your Versions

Dashboard Display:

Listing: Immigration Law Practice Live Version: Last updated Jan 1, 2025 βœ“ Pending Version: Edited Jan 15, 2025 (Under Review) [View Live] [Edit Pending] [Preview Changes]

Comparing Versions

What You Can See:

  • Current live content

  • Pending changes

  • Modification timestamps

  • Review status

  • Expected approval date

Common Edit Scenarios

Scenario 1: Simple Contact Update

Changing Phone Number:

Time: Monday 10 AM Edit: Update phone from 555-1234 to 555-5678 Submit: Monday 10:15 AM Review: 1-3 business days Result: Approved Tuesday (sponsor) or Wednesday (free) Meanwhile: Old number visible, still receiving calls

Scenario 2: Major Description Overhaul

Rewriting Your Bio:

Current Bio: 200 words about experience Edit: Complete rewrite with new focus Add: New specialties and languages Include: Updated credentials Submit: All changes together Review: Same timeline as minor edits Live Version: Unchanged during review

Scenario 3: Multiple Rounds of Edits

Perfectionist Approach:

Day 1: Edit description β†’ Pending version created Day 2: Also edit specialties β†’ Same pending version updated Day 3: Add new photos β†’ Still same pending version Day 4: Fix typo noticed β†’ Updates pending version Day 5: Finally submit β†’ One review for all changes

Scenario 4: Urgent Changes Needed

Emergency Update:

Issue: Office moved suddenly Solution: 1. Update address in pending version 2. Submit immediately 3. Add note in current description: "New location as of [date]" 4. Note directs to new address 5. Full update live after approval

Team Member Edits

Who Can Edit

Permission Levels:

Role

Can Edit

Can Submit

Creates Pending

Owner

Yes

Yes

Yes

Admin

Yes

Yes

Yes

Content Manager

Yes

Yes

Yes

View-Only

No

No

No

Collaborative Editing

How Team Edits Work:

  • All team edits go to same pending version

  • No conflicts between team members

  • Last edit wins for same field

  • Owner sees all changes

  • Single review for all edits

Example Team Workflow:

Monday AM: Content Manager updates description Monday PM: Admin adds new languages Tuesday: Owner reviews and submits Wednesday: All changes approved together

Special Considerations

Annual License Review

During Annual Review:

  • Licenses checked automatically

  • Expired licenses marked

  • Listing stays live

  • No pending version created

  • No re-approval needed

Different from User Edits:

  • System verification only

  • No content review

  • No approval process

  • Immediate updates

Multiple Listings Under One Account

Independent Reviews:

Profile Listing: Edit Monday β†’ Pending version Organization 1: Edit Tuesday β†’ Separate pending Organization 2: No edits β†’ Stays active Event Listing: Edit Wednesday β†’ Own pending Each reviewed independently

Publication Changes

What You Can Control:

  • Hide from specific publications (immediate)

  • Request new publications (via support)

  • Cannot self-assign publications

  • Heritage Web staff determines assignments

Edit Strategy Best Practices

Batch Your Changes

Efficient Approach: βœ… Collect all needed updates
βœ… Make changes in one session
βœ… Submit once for review
βœ… Avoid multiple review cycles

Inefficient Approach: ❌ Submit phone change Monday
❌ Submit address change Wednesday
❌ Submit description change Friday
❌ Three separate reviews

Timing Your Edits

Best Times to Edit:

  • Tuesday-Thursday submission

  • Avoid Friday afternoon

  • Not before holidays

  • Plan around busy seasons

For Urgent Changes:

  • Edit and submit immediately

  • Consider sponsor upgrade for faster review

  • Add temporary note to live version

  • Contact support if critical

Managing Seasonal Updates

For Recurring Changes:

Restaurant Example: - Summer menu update β†’ Edit in May - Fall menu update β†’ Edit in September - Holiday hours β†’ Edit in November - Each creates pending version - Plan review time accordingly

Common Questions About Pending Versions

What If I Make a Mistake?

Before Submitting:

  • Continue editing pending version

  • Fix mistakes immediately

  • No limit on edit attempts

  • Save drafts frequently

After Submitting:

  • Can't edit during review

  • Wait for approval/rejection

  • Fix any issues if rejected

  • Resubmit corrected version

Can I Cancel a Pending Version?

Current Limitations:

  • Cannot delete pending version

  • Cannot revert edits

  • Must wait for review completion

  • Can fix issues if rejected

What If Pending Version Is Rejected?

Process:

1. Live version continues unchanged 2. Receive rejection email with reasons 3. Fix issues in pending version 4. Resubmit for review 5. Live version still active throughout

Can I See What Others See?

Preview Options:

  • You see pending version when logged in

  • Public sees live version

  • No public preview of pending available

  • Trust that live version remains unchanged

Impact on Different Features

Lead Matching

During Pending Review:

  • Uses live version criteria

  • Current specialties/languages

  • Existing locations/radius

  • No interruption in leads

After Approval:

  • New criteria take effect

  • Updated matching parameters

  • May affect lead volume

  • Immediate implementation

SEO Implications

While Pending:

  • Live version stays indexed

  • No SEO disruption

  • Rankings maintained

  • URLs unchanged

After Approval:

  • Search engines recrawl

  • New content indexed

  • May improve rankings

  • Smooth transition

Team Access

During Edit Review:

  • Team sees live version normally

  • Admin/Content Manager see pending

  • No access disruption

  • Full functionality maintained

Best Practices

Do's

βœ… Batch multiple changes together
βœ… Review edits before submitting
βœ… Keep live version in mind
βœ… Plan for review timeline
βœ… Update licenses proactively
βœ… Use notes for urgent changes

Don'ts

❌ Don't panic about downtime
❌ Don't create duplicate listings
❌ Don't submit incomplete edits
❌ Don't edit during review
❌ Don't make unnecessary changes

FAQs

Will my listing go offline during review? No, your current version stays live and fully functional.

Can I edit my pending version multiple times? Yes, until you submit for review. Each edit updates the same pending version.

What if I need to make another change after submitting? Wait for current review to complete, then make additional edits.

Do small changes review faster than big changes? No, all edits follow the same timeline: 1 day for sponsors, 2-3 days for free.

Can two team members edit simultaneously? Yes, but edits go to the same pending version. Last edit to each field wins.

What if my pending version has been under review for too long? Contact support if review exceeds the standard timeline (excluding weekends).

Next Steps

  • Plan your edits strategically

  • Batch changes together

  • Review everything before submitting

  • Allow time for review process

  • Monitor email for approval

  • Keep current version in mind for urgent needs

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