View Categories

How can I review online content using link-based proofing?

7 min read

QuickReviewer allows you to review a wide variety of online content types using just a URL — without the need to upload files or embed code. This new link-based proofing feature enables you to collaborate on content hosted across the web, including:
* Live websites
* YouTube videos
* Audio files
* PDFs
* Images
* Hosted video files

 

This is especially useful for reviewing:
* Marketing campaigns
* Social media content
* Client deliverables
* Web banners and landing pages
* Multimedia presentations
With link-based proofing, you can now centralize feedback across all your digital assets — whether they’re hosted on your own site or a third-party platform.

 

Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Log in to your QuickReviewer account.
STEP 2: Click the “+ NEW” button on your dashboard.
STEP 3: In the pop-up, select the content type (Website, YouTube, PDF, etc.).
STEP 4: Paste the URL and click “Test” to verify.
STEP 5: If successful, click “Create” to open the proofing interface.

 

Notes:
* The URL must be publicly accessible and embeddable.
* For best results, test the link in an incognito browser window to ensure it doesn’t require login or authentication.
* You can organize your proofs into folders for better project and campaign management.

 

Reviewing and Commenting on Link-Based Content
Once your link-based proof is created, QuickReviewer opens the content in an interactive review interface — similar to how you would review PDFs, images, or videos. This interface allows you and your collaborators to leave feedback, track changes, and manage approvals in real time.

 

Key Features of the Review Interface
Depending on the content type (e.g., YouTube, website, PDF), the following tools and features are available:

Feature Description
Pinpoint Commenting Click anywhere on the content to leave a comment. Ideal for visual feedback.
Threaded Replies Collaborators can reply to comments, enabling contextual discussions.
Status Tracking Mark comments as resolved, unresolved, or approved.
Version Control Upload new versions of the same content and compare changes.
Timestamped Comments (for video/audio) Leave feedback at specific time codes.
Zoom & Pan Navigate through large images or PDFs with ease.
Multi-Device Support Review content on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices.

 

Real-Time Collaboration
* All comments and updates are synced in real time.
* Multiple reviewers can work on the same proof simultaneously.
* Notifications are sent when new comments are added or when proof is approved.

 

Example Use Cases (Updated)
Here are some practical ways you can use link-based proofing in QuickReviewer. In each case, you simply paste a publicly accessible URL into the proof creation window:

Use Case How It Works
YouTube Video Review Paste a YouTube video link (e.g., https://youtube.com/watch?v=…) to review marketing videos, ads, or tutorials. Leave time-stamped comments for precise feedback.
Website Review Enter the URL of a live website or landing page. Ideal for reviewing UI/UX, layout, or content before launch.
Audio Feedback Share a direct link to an audio file (e.g., .mp3, .wav) for reviewing voice overs, podcasts, or background music.
PDF Hosted Online Paste a link to a PDF hosted on your server or cloud storage. Review brochures, reports, or presentations without uploading.
Image Review Use a direct image URL (e.g., .jpg, .png) to annotate banners, mock ups, or social media creatives.
Hosted Video Files Paste a direct link to a video file (e.g., .mp4, .webm) for reviewing product demos or animations not hosted on YouTube.

💡 Tip: All you need is a valid, publicly accessible URL. QuickReviewer will handle the rest — loading the content into the review interface and enabling full collaboration.

 

Why Some Links May Not Work
While QuickReviewer supports a wide range of online content types, not all links can be reviewed successfully. Some URLs may fail to load or display properly due to technical restrictions, platform limitations, or security settings on the content host. Below are the most common reasons a link might not work, along with explanations to help you troubleshoot:

Link Type Why It Fails Technical Reason
Websites with X-Frame-Options: SAMEORIGIN These websites cannot be embedded in QuickReviewer’s iframe-based viewer. The X-Frame-Options HTTP header prevents the site from being displayed in a third-party iframe.
Private or Authenticated URLs These links require login credentials or session cookies. QuickReviewer cannot access content behind authentication walls or session-based logins.
YouTube Videos with Embedding Disabled The video owner has restricted embedding. YouTube settings prevent the video from being loaded in external players.
Age-Restricted or Region-Locked YouTube Videos These videos require login or are blocked in certain countries. YouTube enforces age verification or geo-restrictions that QuickReviewer cannot bypass.
Google Drive/Docs (without public access) The file is not shared publicly. Google requires authentication to access private files.
Dropbox Preview Links These links may expire or redirect. Dropbox preview URLs are not always direct file links and may not render properly.
Streaming Platforms (e.g., Netflix, Vimeo Private) These platforms use DRM or embed restrictions. Content is protected by digital rights management or blocked from third-party viewers.
Dynamic Web Apps (e.g., dashboards, admin panels) These apps rely on user sessions or scripts that may not run in an iframe. JavaScript-heavy apps often break when embedded outside their native environment.

 

Expert Tips for Troubleshooting
* Test the link in an incognito browser window. If it requires login or fails to load, it likely won’t work in QuickReviewer.
* Check for iframe restrictions. Use browser developer tools to inspect the X-Frame-Options or Content-Security-Policy headers.
* Use direct file links. For media files (audio, video, PDF, images), ensure the URL points directly to the file — not to a preview or redirect page.
* Ensure public access. For cloud-hosted content (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox), make sure the file is shared publicly and doesn’t require authentication.

 

Best Practices for Link-Based Proofing
To ensure a smooth and successful review experience when using link-based proofing in QuickReviewer, follow these expert-recommended best practices:

 

Use Publicly Accessible URLs
Ensure that the link you provide is accessible without requiring login credentials or session-based authentication. If the content is behind a login wall, QuickReviewer will not be able to load or display it.
🔍 Test Tip: Open the link in an incognito/private browser window. If it loads without asking for login, it’s likely suitable for proofing.

 

Use Direct File Links for Media
For audio, video, PDF, and image content, always use direct file URLs that point to the actual file (e.g., ending in .mp3, .mp4, .pdf, .jpg). Avoid preview links or links that redirect to a viewer page.

✅ Good Example ❌ Avoid
https://yourdomain.com/files/sample.pdf
https://something.somedrive.com/file/d/xyz/view
https://cdn.example.com/audio/track.mp3
https://storagebox.com/s/abc123/track.mp3?dl=0

 

Verify the Link Before Creating the Proof
Always use the “Test” button in the New Webproof window to check if the link is valid and embeddable. If the test fails, the system will provide an error message explaining why.

 

Avoid Sites with Embedding Restrictions
Some websites and platforms use security headers like X-Frame-Options or Content-Security-Policy to block embedding in third-party applications. These sites cannot be reviewed in QuickReviewer.
🛡️ Expert Tip: If you control the website, you can remove or adjust these headers to allow embedding.

 

Ensure YouTube Videos Are Embeddable
When reviewing YouTube content:
* Make sure the video is public or unlisted.
* Ensure embedding is enabled in the video’s settings.
* Avoid age-restricted or region-locked videos, as they may not load.

 

Organize Proofs by Project or Campaign
Use folders in your QuickReviewer dashboard to group link-based proofs by client, campaign, or content type. This helps streamline collaboration and keeps your workspace organized

Schedule a 30min demo