How Long Does Approval Take?
Quick Answer
Approval takes 1 business day for sponsor listings and 2-3 business days for free listings. This timeline starts when you submit your listing and excludes weekends and holidays. The review process includes manual verification of your information, third-party credential checks, and assignment to relevant publications. Rejected listings that need corrections follow the same timeline when resubmitted.
Standard Approval Timelines
Timeline by Listing Type
Listing Status | Review Time | Business Days Only | Includes |
Sponsor Listing | 1 business day | Mon-Fri only | Priority review, faster processing |
Free Listing | 2-3 business days | Mon-Fri only | Standard review queue |
Resubmission | Same as original | Mon-Fri only | After rejection fixes |
Bulk Listings | Per listing | Mon-Fri only | No expedited option |
Real Timeline Examples
Sponsor Listing Submitted:
Monday 10 AM → Approved by Tuesday 5 PM
Friday 2 PM → Approved by Monday 5 PM
Thursday before holiday → Tuesday after holiday
Free Listing Submitted:
Monday → Approved by Wednesday or Thursday
Wednesday → Approved by Friday or Monday
Friday → Approved by Tuesday or Wednesday
What Happens During Review
The Review Process
Heritage Web conducts thorough manual review with third-party verification:
Step 1: Initial Queue (0-4 hours)
Listing enters review system
Assigned to reviewer
Priority sorting (sponsors first)
Batch processing begins
Step 2: Identity Verification (Day 1)
Name verification
Account ownership confirmed
Profile vs. Organization check
Duplicate detection
Step 3: Credential Verification (Day 1-2)
What Gets Verified:
Credential Type | Verification Method | Time Impact |
Professional Licenses | State board databases | Adds 2-4 hours |
Business Registration | Secretary of State | Adds 1-2 hours |
Education Claims | Sometimes verified | May add time |
Contact Information | Automated tools | Quick check |
Step 4: Content Review (Day 1-2)
Appropriateness check
Terms of service compliance
Image/logo validation
Description quality
Contact info placement
Step 5: Publication Assignment (Day 2-3)
Community connections analyzed
Languages evaluated
Industry matching
Geographic considerations
Manual assignment to directories
Step 6: Final Approval (End of Timeline)
Quality assurance check
System activation
Email notification sent
Live on network
Factors That Affect Timeline
What Speeds Up Approval
Sponsor Benefits:
Priority queue placement
Dedicated review track
1 business day guarantee
Faster publication assignment
Complete Information:
All required fields filled
Valid license numbers
Clear, appropriate images
Correct listing type used
Clean Submission:
No policy violations
Professional content
Proper field usage
Accurate information
What Can Delay Approval
Verification Challenges:
Issue | Delay Impact | How to Avoid |
Invalid license numbers | +1-2 days | Double-check numbers |
Unverifiable business | +1 day | Use registered name |
Name mismatches | +1 day | Use legal name |
Poor image quality | Rejection | Use clear images |
Weekend submission | Not counted | Plan accordingly |
Complex Cases:
Multiple licenses to verify
International credentials
New business entities
Unusual industries
Multiple languages
High Volume Periods:
January (New Year rush)
September (back to business)
After holidays
Monday submissions
End of month
Timeline by Listing Category
Profile Listings
Typical Timeline:
Simple profile: 1-2 days
Multiple licenses: 2-3 days
Complex specialties: 2-3 days
Sponsor profiles: 1 day
What Takes Time:
License verification
Name format checking
Photo appropriateness
Specialty assignment
Organization Listings
Typical Timeline:
Established business: 2-3 days
New business: 3 days
Nonprofit: 2-3 days
Sponsor: 1 day
What Takes Time:
Business verification
Multiple locations
Team language verification
Industry categorization
Event Listings
Typical Timeline:
Standard event: 1-2 days
Conference: 2-3 days
Recurring event: 2-3 days
Sponsor: 1 day
What Takes Time:
Venue verification
Date validation
Ticket tier review
Speaker verification
Job Listings
Typical Timeline:
Standard job: 1-2 days
Multiple positions: 2-3 days
Executive roles: 2-3 days
Sponsor: 1 day
What Takes Time:
Company verification
Compensation review
Requirements validation
Discrimination check
Resubmission After Rejection
Rejection Timeline Impact
Process After Rejection:
Day 1: Receive rejection email Day 1: Make corrections Day 1: Resubmit listing Day 2-4: Review process (same timeline) Day 2-4: Approval or second rejection
Fast Track Resubmission
For Quickest Re-Approval:
Fix ONLY what was mentioned
Don't add new changes
Resubmit same day
Note corrections made
Example Resubmission Note: "Corrected: Changed Profile name from 'Smith Law Firm' to 'John Smith' as requested"
Editing Approved Listings
Edit Review Timeline
When You Edit an Active Listing:
Creates pending version
Same review timeline applies
Current version stays live
No service interruption
Timeline Factors:
Minor edits: 1-2 days typically
Major changes: Full timeline
Sponsor edits: 1 day priority
What Triggers Review
Requires Review:
Any text changes
Image updates
License modifications
Contact info changes
Adding languages
No Review Needed:
Pausing/unpausing
Team member changes
Hiding from publications
Message button toggle
Weekend and Holiday Considerations
Business Days Defined
What Counts:
Monday through Friday
9 AM - 5 PM PST (typical)
Regular business days only
What Doesn't Count:
Saturdays
Sundays
Federal holidays
Heritage Web holidays
Holiday Schedule Impact
Major Holidays Affecting Timeline:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving (2 days)
Christmas
Planning Around Weekends
Submission Strategy:
Submit On | Free Listing Approved By | Sponsor Approved By |
Monday | Wednesday-Thursday | Tuesday |
Tuesday | Thursday-Friday | Wednesday |
Wednesday | Friday-Monday | Thursday |
Thursday | Monday-Tuesday | Friday |
Friday | Tuesday-Wednesday | Monday |
Special Situations
Bulk Listing Submissions
For Multiple Listings:
Each reviewed individually
No bulk approval process
Same timeline per listing
Submit gradually for management
Example Bulk Timeline:
10 Organization listings submitted Monday: - Sponsor: All approved by Tuesday - Free: All approved by Thursday - Mixed: Varied by status
Enterprise Accounts
Large Organizations:
May have account manager
Custom review arrangements
Potential for expedited review
Still requires verification
Seasonal Variations
Busy Periods:
January: 3-4 days possible
September: 3-4 days possible
December: Slower due to holidays
Summer: Standard timelines
Best Times to Submit:
Tuesday-Wednesday
Mid-month
Non-holiday weeks
February, May, October
Tracking Your Review
Email Notifications
What You'll Receive:
Submission Confirmation:
Subject: Listing Submitted for Review "Your [Type] listing has been submitted. Review time: 1 business day (sponsor) or 2-3 business days (free)."
Approval Notice:
Subject: Your Listing Has Been Approved! "Congratulations! Your listing is now live on HeritageWeb.com and assigned publications."
Rejection Notice:
Subject: Your Listing Needs Corrections "Your listing requires the following changes: [Specific issues listed]"
Dashboard Monitoring
What to Check:
Status indicator
Submission timestamp
Expected review date
Any notes or messages
When to Contact Support
Appropriate Times:
Exceeded maximum timeline
No email received
Status seems stuck
Urgent business need
How to Inquire:
Email: [email protected] Subject: Listing Review Status - [Your Listing ID] Include: Submission date and listing type
Optimizing Your Approval Time
Pre-Submission Checklist
✅ Required Fields Complete
All mandatory information entered
No placeholder text
Accurate details
✅ Images Ready
Correct format (JPG, PNG, GIF)
Right size (min 100x100px)
Under 5MB
Professional quality
✅ Licenses Verified
Numbers double-checked
Currently active
Matches your name
✅ Content Appropriate
Professional language
No contact info in descriptions
Terms of service compliant
Best Practices for Fast Approval
Do's: ✅ Submit Tuesday-Thursday morning
✅ Complete all fields thoroughly
✅ Use correct listing type
✅ Verify information accuracy
✅ Upload required images/logos
✅ Consider sponsor upgrade
Don'ts: ❌ Don't submit Friday afternoon
❌ Don't use placeholder information
❌ Don't include marketing hype
❌ Don't submit duplicates
❌ Don't edit during review
FAQs
What if I need approval faster than the timeline? Upgrade to sponsor for 1-business-day approval. There's no other way to expedite.
Does paying for sponsor guarantee same-day approval? No, it guarantees 1 business day. Same-day is possible but not guaranteed.
Why does review take longer than automated systems? Manual review with third-party verification ensures quality and prevents fraud.
Can I submit on weekends? Yes, but review doesn't begin until the next business day.
What if there's a mistake after approval? Edit your listing; changes require re-review with the same timeline.
Do edits to approved listings take as long as new listings? Yes, the same timeline applies to maintain quality standards.
Next Steps
Plan submission timing strategically
Prepare all information before submitting
Consider sponsor upgrade for priority
Set calendar reminders for expected approval
Check email (including spam) for updates
Contact support only after maximum timeline exceeded