Your Marketing Intelligence dashboard includes two critical analytical layers: behavioral gaps showing where execution falls short, and capacity context revealing whether your team can realistically implement recommendations.
Behavioral gaps reveal the disconnect between what your organization says it's doing and what it actually does. For example:
- You state a strategy to invest in content marketing, but your team spends most time on paid ads
- You claim customer retention is a priority, but you have no retention program in place
- You profess commitment to data-driven decisions, but you rarely measure marketing outcomes
- You've defined a clear target customer, but your messaging addresses multiple audiences inconsistently
These gaps often explain why your capability scores in specific dimensions are lower than expected. Strategy without execution doesn't drive results.
Identifying behavioral gaps is critical because they represent the highest-leverage improvement opportunities. Closing a behavioral gap requires no new budget, just better execution of your stated strategy. This is often easier and faster than changing strategy entirely.
Your dashboard highlights which behavioral gaps are most significant and recommends playbooks designed to help your team execute more consistently.
Capacity context evaluates your team's realistic ability to execute on recommendations. The analysis considers:
- Current workload and project commitments
- Team size relative to marketing scope
- Skill gaps and training needs
- Time required to implement each recommendation
- Technology and resource constraints
A recommendation might be perfect for your situation strategically, but if your team lacks capacity or skills to implement it, it won't succeed.
When reviewing recommendations, consider the capacity context alongside the impact assessment. High-impact recommendations that require low capacity are quick wins. High-impact recommendations requiring significant capacity may need phased implementation or resource allocation decisions.
Your Account Manager uses capacity context to help you sequence initiatives realistically and identify where external support or additional headcount would be most valuable.
If capacity gaps are preventing progress, your dashboard and playbooks suggest solutions like:
- Automation and tool implementation to increase efficiency
- Process improvements to eliminate waste
- Training and skill development for existing team members
- Outsourcing or agency partnerships for specialized work
- Prioritization to focus limited capacity on highest-impact initiatives
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Retaking the marketing assessment periodically helps you measure progress, identify emerging gaps, and keep your recommendations current as your organization evolves.
Your account team notifies you when you're ready for reassessment. This typically occurs every 6 to 12 months depending on how quickly your marketing practice is changing. Consider a retake sooner if:
- You've implemented major marketing initiatives and want to measure impact
- Your business strategy or target market has shifted significantly
- Your organization has undergone leadership changes or restructuring
- You've completed several recommended playbooks and want to see the results
Periodic reassessment ensures your Marketing Intelligence dashboard reflects your current reality. As you improve in some dimensions, others may evolve, and new recommendations become relevant. Regular assessment keeps your insights fresh and actionable.
Go to your Handbook page and launch the assessment again from the Assessment card. You'll answer the same questions as your initial assessment, but you can reflect on how your capabilities have changed.
The assessment takes the same 15 to 20 minutes as the initial version. Answer as honestly as you did the first time for accurate comparison.
Once you complete the reassessment, your dashboard updates with new scores. You can immediately compare your new results to previous assessments to see:
- Dimensions where you've improved most
- Areas that still need attention
- How your cohort position has changed
- Whether your health score has moved up, down, or stayed flat
Your dashboard includes an improvement timeline showing each assessment date and corresponding health score. This visualization makes it easy to see your progress trajectory over months and years.
Use the improvement timeline to celebrate wins and understand the long-term impact of your marketing investments. If progress has stalled, it may be time to shift strategy or intensify efforts in key areas.
After you retake the assessment, your recommendations update automatically. You may see playbooks you previously addressed no longer recommended if you've improved in that dimension. New recommendations emerge based on your updated profile.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Channel and Methods Analysis section of your Marketing Intelligence dashboard breaks down how you're using different marketing channels and methods, and where you may be losing leads or engagement.
Review which channels you rely on most for reaching and engaging your audiences. Your dashboard shows:
- Channels in active use and their relative emphasis
- Channel performance against your outcomes
- Coverage gaps where important channels are underutilized
- Alignment of channel mix to your target audience distribution
Use this analysis to evaluate whether you're investing in the right channels to reach your customers effectively.
Beyond channels, review the specific marketing methods and tactics you employ. The analysis compares:
- Methods you use versus methods commonly used in your cohort
- Effectiveness of your current method mix
- Methods with proven impact in your industry
- Methods you haven't yet tried that could address your gaps
This helps identify whether your tactical approach is competitive and where to experiment.
See how your marketing budget and effort is distributed across different channels and methods. The analysis identifies:
- Whether allocation matches your strategic priorities
- Concentration risk if too much budget is in one channel
- Reallocation opportunities to improve overall impact
Your dashboard flags points where leads, customers, or engagement are being lost in your funnel. Common leaky funnel indicators include:
- High awareness but low consideration or credibility
- Good reach but poor retention and repeat engagement
- Strong communication in some channels but weak in others
- Gaps between your strategy and your team's execution
When the dashboard identifies a leaky funnel, it provides specific playbook recommendations to address the gap.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The marketing assessment evaluates your capabilities across six core dimensions. Each dimension represents a critical area of marketing strength and directly influences your ability to achieve business goals.
What it measures: Your organization's ability to reach and attract target audiences in your market.
Awareness includes your reputation, visibility, and reach. Strong awareness means your target customers know who you are and consider you when making decisions. This dimension covers brand recognition, marketing reach, and top-of-funnel effectiveness.
What it measures: How well you establish authority, trust, and expertise in your market.
Credibility reflects whether customers view you as knowledgeable, reliable, and worth doing business with. This includes social proof, testimonials, certifications, thought leadership, and consistency of messaging.
What it measures: The quality, consistency, and relevance of how you communicate with your audiences.
Communication covers messaging clarity, tone of voice, channel consistency, and audience-specific tailoring. Strong communication ensures your target customers understand your value proposition and feel heard by your organization.
What it measures: Your ability to maintain customer relationships and reduce churn.
Retention includes customer loyalty programs, ongoing engagement, support quality, and relationship management. This dimension reflects how well you keep customers satisfied and reduce the need to constantly acquire new ones.
What it measures: The depth of interaction and participation your audience has with your brand.
Engagement goes beyond awareness to include active participation, community building, feedback mechanisms, and relationship depth. High engagement means your audience actively interacts with and advocates for your brand.
What it measures: The clarity, coherence, and alignment of your overall marketing direction.
Strategy reflects how well your team understands and executes a unified approach. This includes goal alignment, resource allocation, cross-functional coordination, and measurement discipline.
Each dimension is scored with confidence adjustment, meaning your rating reflects both your capability level and how confident we can be in that assessment based on your response patterns. Scores are compared against industry cohort benchmarks to contextualize your performance.
Together, these six dimensions provide a complete picture of your marketing capability and identify where investments will have the greatest impact.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Your Marketing Intelligence dashboard synthesizes your assessment results into actionable insights about your marketing capabilities and performance.
At the top of your dashboard, you'll see your overall health score, which ranges from 0 to 100. This score reflects your marketing capability across all six dimensions. Below it, a trend indicator shows whether your score has improved, declined, or remained stable since your last assessment.
Your health score is confidence-adjusted based on how consistently you answered assessment questions, making it a reliable indicator of your actual capability.
See how your health score compares to similar organizations in your industry cohort. This context helps you understand whether your capabilities are ahead of, aligned with, or behind peer organizations.
Benchmarking informs whether improvements in specific areas will give you competitive advantage or are table stakes in your market.
The radar chart visualizes your scores across the six capability dimensions: Awareness, Credibility, Communication, Retention, Engagement, and Strategy. This visualization makes it easy to spot your strongest areas and opportunities for growth at a glance.
The chart also shows industry benchmarks for comparison, helping you see which dimensions lag furthest behind peer organizations.
Your dashboard flags important issues like measurement gaps, where you may not be capturing sufficient data to evaluate performance. It also alerts you to campaign fatigue or other red flags that require attention.
Based on your assessment results, outcome routing CTAs direct you to specific recommendations and playbook suggestions. These are customized to address your weakest dimensions and most pressing opportunities.
Track your progress over time by comparing current scores to previous assessments. The improvement timeline shows when you completed assessments and how your capability evolved, helping you see the impact of your initiatives.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Your Company Profile card in the Handbook displays your organization's information and past assessment results in one convenient location.
Open your Handbook page and locate the Company Profile card near the top, next to the Assessment card. Click on it to view or expand your profile details.
Your Company Profile displays:
- Organization name and logo
- Industry and market segment
- Company size and location information
- Contact information for key stakeholders
- Past assessment scores and completion dates
- Current health score and capability ratings
This snapshot helps new team members quickly understand your organization and provides context for your marketing situation.
If any organizational details are outdated, contact your Account Manager to request updates. Accurate company information ensures your assessment results and comparisons to industry benchmarks remain meaningful.
When your organization changes name, location, or size, updating your profile helps Sun Locke provide more relevant guidance.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Marketing Assessment is your foundation for understanding your marketing capabilities. Taking this assessment generates insights that power your Marketing Intelligence dashboard and personalized recommendations.
Open your Handbook page and locate the Assessment card near the top. Click the button to launch the assessment iframe in your portal.
The assessment takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to complete. Answer honestly about your current marketing practices and capabilities. Your responses are confidential and only used to generate your insights.
The assessment evaluates your marketing capabilities across six dimensions:
- Awareness: Your ability to reach and attract target audiences
- Credibility: How you establish authority and trust in your market
- Communication: Quality and consistency of your messaging
- Retention: How you maintain relationships and reduce customer churn
- Engagement: Depth of interaction with your audience
- Strategy: Clarity and coherence of your overall marketing direction
Once you complete the assessment, your responses generate:
- A health score showing your overall marketing capability
- Confidence-adjusted ratings for each dimension
- Comparison against your industry cohort benchmarks
- Personalized recommendations based on your gaps
- Playbook and resource suggestions matched to your weakest areas
Your Marketing Intelligence dashboard displays all this data, making it easy to understand your strengths and opportunities.
As your marketing practice evolves, retake the assessment when your account team indicates you're ready for reassessment. This typically happens every 6 to 12 months depending on your situation.
Each time you complete the assessment, your historical scores are compared, and you can see your progress over time on the improvement timeline.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The How We Work Together tab defines your working relationship with Sun Locke, including communication cadences, review processes, and escalation paths.
This tab includes:
- Preferred communication channels and response expectations
- Review cadences and meeting schedules
- Decision-making processes and approval workflows
- Escalation procedures for issues or concerns
- Roles and responsibilities for your account team and Sun Locke team
- Key contact information and timezone considerations
Use this tab as a reference when coordinating with your account team. It ensures both parties understand expectations and can work together efficiently.
If communication isn't flowing as expected or you have questions about the process, reference this tab to see if clarification is needed. Your Account Manager can help adjust workflows if circumstances change.
As your organization grows or priorities shift, your working relationship may need adjustment. Discuss any changes with your Account Manager to update this tab.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Key Context and Current Strategy tabs in your Handbook document your organization's marketing situation and strategic direction. Use these tabs to align stakeholders and guide decision-making.
This tab provides background information about your marketing situation, including:
- Your market position and competitive landscape
- Target audience insights and customer segments
- Current marketing challenges and opportunities
- Organizational priorities and business goals
- Historical context and previous marketing efforts
Reference Key Context when you need to explain your organization's situation to new team members, stakeholders, or partners.
This tab outlines your active strategic direction, including:
- Strategic priorities and focus areas
- Key messaging and positioning
- Target audience and customer journey focus
- Channel and method recommendations
- Success metrics and KPIs
When briefing stakeholders, board members, or new team members on your marketing direction, pull from both tabs to provide complete context. Start with Key Context to explain where you are, then move to Current Strategy to show where you're heading.
These tabs also inform which recommendations and playbooks from your Marketing Intelligence dashboard are most relevant to your organization.
Your account team updates these tabs as your situation and strategic direction evolve. Review them at the start of each quarter or when preparing for major stakeholder conversations.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Brand Rules and Guidelines tab in your Handbook contains the specific brand standards your organization follows. Use this as your reference for all marketing materials and communications.
Open your Handbook page and click the Brand Rules and Guidelines tab. Your account team has uploaded your organization's approved brand standards here.
Your Brand Rules tab typically covers:
- Logo usage and placement specifications
- Primary and secondary color palettes
- Typography and font guidelines
- Tone of voice and messaging guidelines
- Design standards and component guidelines
- Approved imagery and visual style
Reference these guidelines when creating marketing materials, updating website copy, or designing new campaigns. Consistency across your brand strengthens recognition and trust.
If you notice discrepancies between the guidelines in your Handbook and materials currently in use, contact your Account Manager. They can help you bring materials into alignment.
When your organization updates brand guidelines, your account team refreshes this tab. Check back periodically for changes, especially after company rebrands or strategy shifts.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Handbook page is your central reference for brand guidelines, organizational context, strategy, and working agreements with Sun Locke. It consolidates all essential information managed by your account team.
Your Handbook contains four main content tabs along with assessment and company profile cards:
- Brand Rules and Guidelines: Logo usage, color standards, tone of voice, and design guidelines specific to your organization
- Key Context: Background information about your marketing situation, market position, and organizational priorities
- Current Strategy: Your active strategic direction and marketing approach
- How We Work Together: Collaboration guidelines, communication preferences, and review cadences
Start with the Handbook whenever you need to reference brand standards or align stakeholders on strategy. Your account team updates these tabs regularly as your situation evolves.
The Assessment and Company Profile cards at the top of the page provide quick access to marketing health data and organizational details. Review these sections to understand your baseline and current performance.
Sun Locke keeps your Handbook current with regular reviews and updates. When your strategy, brand guidelines, or working relationship changes, your account team refreshes the relevant tabs. Check back regularly for new information.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Resources page displays external links, guides, and helpful materials your account team has selected for you. Resources are organized in a grid and personalized based on your account needs.
Navigate to the Resources page from your main dashboard. You will see a grid of resource tiles. Each tile represents a link or resource your team recommends.
Each resource tile displays the following:
- Resource Title: The name of the external link or guide
- Description: A brief summary of what the resource covers
- Source: Where the resource comes from (may be an external website or internal recommendation)
Resources cover topics like industry best practices, platform tutorials, educational content, and competitive analysis.
Click any resource tile to open it. Resources open in a new browser tab so you stay in your portal. This prevents losing your place if you need to navigate back to the Resources page.
If you navigate to the Resources page from your Intelligence Report, you may see a "Recommended for You" banner. This banner appears when the Intelligence page identifies dimensions where your performance is weak. Your account team has selected specific resources to help you address those gaps. Click any recommended resource to learn more.
If you reach the Resources page through a recommendation from Intelligence, a back navigation link appears at the top. Click it to return to your Intelligence Report without losing your progress. This lets you toggle between viewing weak dimensions and exploring resources to improve them.
If you find a resource particularly useful, bookmark it in your browser. This lets you return to it quickly without logging into your portal each time.
If you need resources on a topic not currently shown, contact your Account Manager. They can research recommendations and add new resources to your Resources page.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Your toolkit contains downloadable assets and resources included with your account. Products are organized by category and contain files ready to download and use.
Navigate to the Toolkit page from your main dashboard. You will see all products you have purchased or been granted access to, displayed as collapsible cards.
Each product card shows the following information:
- Product Name: The title of the toolkit item
- Thumbnail Image: A visual preview of the product
- Description: A brief summary of what the product contains
- Category: The type of product (templates, guides, checklists, etc.)
- Upload Date: When the product was added to your toolkit
Some products display a "Free" label to indicate no additional licensing fee is required.
Click any product card to expand it and see the individual assets inside. The card opens to reveal a list of all files available in that product. Each file shows its name, format, and file size.
Once a product is expanded, locate the Download button next to each asset. Click Download to save the file to your computer. Your browser will download the file in its original format.
Each asset displays the file format (PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PNG, etc.) and file size (measured in KB or MB). Larger files may take longer to download depending on your internet connection. Check the file size before downloading if you have bandwidth concerns.
Create a folder on your computer to store downloaded toolkit assets. This keeps your files organized and easy to find. You can download the same asset multiple times without restriction.
Toolkit assets are ready to use immediately after download. Customize templates and guides as needed for your brand. If a product includes a license agreement or usage guidelines, review them before modifying or sharing assets outside your organization.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The handbook request feature lets you ask your account team for documents you need but do not currently have in your handbook. Requests go directly to your team, and completed deliverables appear in your handbook automatically.
Go to your Handbook page. Look for the Request Documentation button near the top of the page. Click it to open the request form.
In the request form, provide a clear description of the documents or materials you need. Be specific about what you are looking for. For example, instead of saying "brand materials," say "2024 social media templates in Instagram and LinkedIn sizes" or "updated brand guidelines document with new logo usage rules." The more detail you provide, the faster your team can fulfill the request.
If possible, indicate which handbook category the documents should be filed under: Brand Guidelines, Marketing Messaging, Website Content, Advertising, Operational, or Legal. This helps your account team organize the materials correctly.
Review your request details and click Submit. Your request is sent to your account team immediately. You will see a confirmation message in your handbook.
Your request is now in progress. Your account team will gather the documents, scan them for security, and upload them to your handbook. Depending on complexity, this may take several days. Once completed, the documents appear in your handbook under the appropriate category.
Check your handbook regularly. When your team completes a request, the new documents appear with the status Cleared and are ready to download or share. You may receive a notification from your Account Manager when large requests are fulfilled.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Document security scanning is an automatic process that runs on every file you upload to your handbook. It protects your account from malware and unsafe content.
When you upload a file to your handbook, the system immediately sends it to a security scanner. The scanner analyzes the file for threats, including malware, unsafe code, suspicious scripts, and other security risks. This process runs automatically without any action needed from you. Most files scan and clear within minutes.
As your document processes, it displays one of these statuses:
- Pending: Your file is in the queue waiting for the scan to begin. Pending files are not yet available to other team members.
- Scanning: The security scan is actively analyzing your file. This usually takes a few minutes. Documents remain unavailable during this phase.
- Cleared: The scan found no security threats. Your document is safe and now available for all users in your handbook to view and download.
- Quarantined: The scan detected a potential security issue. The file is restricted and access is blocked. Quarantined files appear in a separate section so you can review them.
Check your handbook regularly to see scan progress. The status updates automatically as scanning completes.
A quarantine means the scan detected content that may pose a security risk. This can happen with PDF files that contain embedded scripts, Office documents with macros, or files with unusual code structures. Quarantine is a precaution; it does not mean the file is definitely harmful.
If a file you uploaded is quarantined and you believe it is safe, contact your Account Manager immediately. Provide the file name and explain why you believe it should be cleared. Your Account Manager can submit the file for manual security review. A security specialist will examine the file and either clear it or explain the risk. If cleared, the file becomes available in your handbook.
To reduce the chance of quarantine, upload files in standard formats like PDF or Word (.docx). Avoid files with embedded code, macros, or scripts unless necessary. If you must upload a file with complex formatting, compress it first or convert it to PDF.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Your handbook stores brand guidelines, marketing assets, legal documents, and operational materials in one secure location. You can upload documents directly to organize all your resources by category.
Go to the Handbook page from your main dashboard. Look for the upload area at the top of the page. Click the upload button or drag and drop files into the designated area.
When you upload a document, assign it to one of these categories:
- Brand Guidelines: Logo usage, color palettes, typography, voice and tone
- Marketing Messaging: Campaign copy, value propositions, key talking points
- Website Content: Page copy, product descriptions, FAQs
- Advertising: Ad templates, media assets, paid campaign materials
- Operational: Process documentation, checklists, internal procedures
- Legal: Terms and conditions, privacy policies, compliance documents
Select the appropriate category during upload so documents appear in the right section of your handbook.
Every document you upload goes through automatic security scanning. This scan checks for malware, unsafe code, and other security threats. The scan runs automatically and completes within minutes. You do not need to take any action; the scan happens in the background.
Documents display a status indicator while they process:
- Pending: Your file is queued for scanning.
- Scanning: The security scan is in progress.
- Cleared: The scan completed with no threats found. Your document is now available to all users in your handbook.
- Quarantined: The scan detected a potential security issue and the file is restricted.
Monitor the status in your handbook. Most documents clear within a few minutes. Once cleared, team members can view and download the file.
If a document is quarantined, the file is flagged as potentially unsafe and access is restricted. This sometimes happens if a document contains code, scripts, or unusual file structures. If you believe the document is safe and the quarantine is incorrect, contact your Account Manager. They can review the file and request a manual security review.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
PIB statuses tell you whether content is ready to use, still in development, or no longer current. Understanding these statuses ensures you reference the right version of your process guides.
Published PIBs are complete and approved for use. This is the status you should rely on for your day-to-day work. Published content has been reviewed and is ready to implement. Always reference published PIBs as your primary guide unless your Account Manager directs you otherwise.
Draft PIBs are still being prepared by your account team. Content in draft status may change before publication. You can access draft PIBs if you need to preview upcoming content, but do not use draft versions as your official reference until they are published. Your Account Manager will notify you when a draft becomes published.
Archived PIBs are retired or outdated and no longer in use. Your account team marks PIBs as archived when they replace an older process or no longer apply to your business. Only reference archived PIBs if you need to understand a previous version of a process. Do not implement guidance from archived PIBs.
The status label appears on every PIB card in your library. The status is also visible when you open the PIB. If you are unsure whether a PIB is current, check the status label first. When in doubt, ask your Account Manager which PIB version to use.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
PIBs (Promotion Informational Bulletin) are branded resource collections and playbooks that provide step-by-step guidance for key business processes. Your account team has assigned specific PIBs to your portal based on your needs.
Navigate to the PIBs section from your main dashboard. You will see all PIBs assigned to your account, displayed as cards with the PIB title, status, and version information.
Each PIB displays a status label that indicates its availability and reliability:
- Published: Ready for use. This is the version you should reference as your primary guide.
- Draft: Still being prepared by your account team. Use with caution as content may change.
- Archived: Retired or outdated. Review only if you need historical context.
Many PIBs contain multiple pages of content. When you open a PIB, a sidebar navigation menu appears on the left side showing all available pages. Click any page title in the sidebar to jump to that section. The current page is highlighted. Use this navigation to move between related topics within the same PIB.
Version labels appear near the status label on each PIB card. This shows which iteration of the PIB you are viewing. If your account team updates a PIB, the version number increases. Check for the latest version to ensure you have the most current information.
Some older PIBs may contain a single page of content rather than multiple pages. These function the same way; simply open them to view the content without sidebar navigation.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Click the Approvals link from the main navigation menu. This page displays all tasks and deliverables awaiting your sign-off in one centralized location.
At the top of the Approvals page, you will see summary cards showing:
- Pending Approvals: Total number of items waiting for your decision right now.
- Approved This Month: How many items you have approved so far this month.
- Total Approval Requests: Total number of approval requests you have received.
These stats help you track your approval workload and see at a glance how many decisions you need to make.
Below the statistics, a list displays all approval requests waiting for action. Each item shows:
- Item name and type (task or deliverable)
- Related project or campaign
- Submission or due date
- Current status
Items are sorted by submission date, with the oldest at the top so you prioritize the items that have been waiting longest.
Click any approval request to open its detail modal. The modal displays the full item, any attached files, notes from the creator, and relevant context you need to make your decision.
In the detail modal, click Approve to sign off on the item, or click Request Changes to provide feedback. If you request changes, enter specific notes explaining what needs to be revised. Your decision is recorded and the assignee is notified immediately.
The Approvals page maintains a record of all approvals and rejections you have made. Scroll down to see your recent approval history, which helps you track progress on projects and see what you have already reviewed.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Sun Locke Timeline View filters the main calendar to show only milestones, deliverables, and campaigns managed by the Sun Locke team. This view removes your personal calendar events so you can focus solely on agency work and deadlines.
Navigate to the Timeline page and look for the view selector at the top. Select Sun Locke Timeline from the dropdown. The calendar now displays only agency-managed work.
The Sun Locke timeline shows:
- Project milestones (key checkpoints for each project)
- Deliverable due dates (when assets are due for your review)
- Campaign launches (when initiatives go live)
Each event displays the related project name and date. Hover over an event to see more details.
The Sun Locke timeline uses the same month navigation, date picker, and stat cards as the main timeline. Upcoming events, due deliverables, and campaign launches are still summarized at the top.
Toggle between the main timeline, personal calendar, and Sun Locke view anytime using the view selector. You can easily switch views to see different perspectives on your marketing calendar.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The personal marketing calendar allows you to create and track your own marketing events, campaigns, and initiatives outside of the Sun Locke work. You can mix personal events with agency deliverables on the same timeline for a complete view of all your marketing activity.
From the Timeline page, click the Create Event button. A form opens where you provide:
- Event Name: The title of your event.
- Category: Select one: Social Media, Email Campaign, Content, Ad Campaign, Event/Webinar, Brand, or Note.
- Start Date and End Date: When the event occurs.
- Status: Planned, In Progress, Complete, or Canceled.
- Budget (optional): Budget allocated for this event.
- Target Audience (optional): Who you are targeting with this event.
- Platforms (optional): Which platforms are involved (social, email, web, etc.).
Click Save to add the event to your personal calendar.
As your personal events progress, update their status. Click the event on the calendar and select a new status from the dropdown: Planned, In Progress, Complete, or Canceled. This keeps your calendar accurate and helps you track what is being executed.
Use the timeline view selector to switch to the Personal Calendar view. This shows only the events you created, filtered out from Sun Locke deliverables so you can focus on your own work.
Switch back to the main timeline view to see both your personal events and Sun Locke deliverables on the same calendar. This gives you a complete picture of your marketing calendar and helps prevent scheduling conflicts.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Click the Timeline link in the main navigation menu. The timeline opens to the current month by default, showing all milestones, deliverable deadlines, and campaign launches from your active projects.
The timeline displays events as colored entries on the calendar. Each event type has a distinct color so you can quickly distinguish between:
- Project milestones (major checkpoints)
- Deliverable due dates (when assets are due)
- Campaign launches (when initiatives go live)
Hover over any event to see more details including the project name, event name, and date.
Use the month navigation arrows at the top of the calendar to move forward or backward. Click on a specific date from the date picker to jump to a different month or year quickly.
At the top of the timeline page, you will see stat cards displaying:
- Upcoming events (milestones, launches, and deadlines in the next 30 days)
- Due deliverables (assets coming due)
- Campaign launches scheduled
These stats give you a quick overview of what is coming up without scrolling the calendar.
Three timeline view options are available. The main timeline shows all work. You can also view only your personal calendar (events you created) or filter to show only Sun Locke team deliverables and milestones. Use the view selector to switch between them.
The timeline has two tabs: Upcoming and Past. The Upcoming tab shows future events. The Past tab displays completed milestones and published deliverables for your records.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Deliverables move through distinct statuses as they progress from creation to publication. Understanding these statuses helps you know what action, if any, is needed from you.
Draft: The deliverable is being created and is not yet ready for review. This is internal work in progress. No action needed from you.
In Production: The deliverable is actively being developed by the Sun Locke team. Work is underway. No action needed yet.
Pending AM Review: The deliverable has been completed and is awaiting review from your Account Manager or internal team lead. This is an internal checkpoint.
AM Approved: Your Account Manager has approved the deliverable internally and it is now ready for client review.
Sent to Client: The deliverable is now with you for review and approval. You should review the work, provide feedback if needed, and make an approval decision. This is where client action is typically required.
Client Approved: You have approved the deliverable and it is ready to move to publication or implementation.
Changes Requested: You have reviewed the deliverable and requested revisions. The team is working on the feedback. Once revisions are complete, the deliverable will be sent back to you for final review.
Published: The deliverable has been finalized and published or implemented (posted to your website, sent to your audience, launched, etc.). This is a final status.
Archived: The deliverable has been archived and is no longer active. Archived deliverables are kept for record-keeping but are not in use.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Approving deliverables requires specific approval capabilities in your account. If you need approval authority, contact your Account Manager.
When a deliverable is ready for your review, it moves to Sent to Client status and a notification is sent to you. You then review the work, provide feedback if needed, and either approve it or request changes. Once you approve, the deliverable can move toward publication or handoff.
Navigate to the Deliverables page or the relevant project. Filter by Status and select Sent to Client to see all deliverables awaiting your approval. You will also see these items in your Approvals queue.
Click on a deliverable to open its detail view. You will see:
- The deliverable name, type (asset, campaign, etc.), and description
- The asset or file itself, if applicable
- A summary of work completed
- Any comments or notes from the creator
- Timeline and key dates
If the deliverable is not quite right, click the Request Changes button. A text field opens where you can enter specific feedback and notes about what needs to be revised. Be clear about what changes are needed so the team can revise efficiently. Click Submit Feedback.
The status moves to Changes Requested and the team is notified. You will see this deliverable again once revisions are submitted.
If the deliverable meets your expectations, click the Approve button. Add any final notes if desired, then confirm. The deliverable moves to Client Approved status and the team is notified. The work can now proceed to publication or the next phase.
The Approvals page shows your approval history and the number of approvals you have completed this month, helping you track your review workload.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Due Soon view automatically filters your task list to show items with approaching deadlines, helping you prioritize urgent work. This view is available from the Tasks page.
Navigate to the Tasks page and click the Due Soon tab. The system displays tasks due within the next 7 days at the top, followed by tasks due within 30 days. Each task shows its due date and current status so you can quickly assess urgency.
Tasks that have passed their due date appear with a red Overdue badge. Overdue tasks require immediate attention. If a task is overdue, either begin work immediately if you are the assignee, or contact the assignee to understand the delay and provide support.
If you foresee a deadline concern or need an extension, use the Support page to submit a support ticket. Select the Timeline Concern category and provide details about which task or deliverable is affected and why. Your Account Manager will review the request and work with the team to adjust the timeline if possible.
If a task is approaching its due date and you have concerns about completion, contact the assignee directly or flag the issue in the project Messages tab. Proactive communication helps prevent missed deadlines.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Your tasks move through various statuses as work progresses. Below is a complete reference to help you understand what each status means and what action, if any, you need to take.
Not Started: The task has been assigned to you or your team but work has not yet begun. No action is required until you are ready to start.
In Progress: Work is actively underway. The assignee is completing the task according to the timeline. No action needed unless you are the assignee.
Blocked: Progress is halted due to a dependency, missing information, or an external issue. If you see this status, contact the assignee or your Account Manager to resolve the blocker.
Waiting Documentation: The task is complete but supporting documentation or notes are being gathered. This is a temporary status.
Waiting on Client: The task requires your input, approval, feedback, or additional information. You should act promptly to unblock the team.
Waiting Approval: Work is complete and awaiting sign-off from an approver. If you have approval authority, review the work and decide.
Pending Handoff: The task is ready to be transferred to another team or person. This is typically a temporary transition status.
Handoff Requested: A formal handoff has been requested. Review the handoff notes and confirm acceptance or request clarification.
Ready for Handoff: The task has been formally handed off and is ready for the receiving team to begin their phase of work.
Completed: The task has been finished and approved. No further action is needed.
Canceled: The task has been canceled and will not proceed. This typically indicates the task is no longer needed due to a change in scope or strategy.
Needs Escalation: A significant issue has arisen that requires immediate attention from leadership or your Account Manager. If you see this status, contact your Account Manager right away.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Task approval authority requires specific capabilities assigned to your account. If you believe you should have approval authority, contact your Account Manager.
When a task is complete, it moves to Waiting Approval status and appears in the Approvals view. You are notified that sign-off is needed. As an approver, you have the authority to review the work and either approve it or request changes.
Go to the Tasks page and click the Approvals tab. This view shows all tasks currently waiting for your sign-off. Each item displays:
- Task name and description
- Assigned team member
- Due date
- Submission date
Click a task to open its detail view. Review the completed work, any attached files, and the work summary provided by the assignee.
To approve, click the Approve button. To request changes, click Request Changes and enter specific feedback notes explaining what needs to be revised. The task assignee will be notified immediately of your decision.
The Approvals page also shows your approval history for the current month and total approval requests. You can review past approvals and rejections to track project progress.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Creating and editing tasks requires specific task management capabilities in your account. If you need to create tasks, contact your Account Manager.
Go to the Tasks page from the main navigation menu. You will see three default views:
- My Tasks: All tasks assigned to you, regardless of status.
- Approvals: Tasks waiting for your approval or sign-off.
- Due Soon: Tasks with approaching deadlines.
Each task displays a status badge indicating where it stands. Common statuses include:
- Not Started: Task has been assigned but work has not begun.
- In Progress: Work is actively underway.
- Blocked: Progress is halted due to a dependency or issue.
- Waiting Approval: Work is complete and awaiting sign-off.
- Waiting on Client: Task is pending your input or feedback.
Use the filter options at the top of the task list to show only tasks with a specific status, assigned to a specific person, or due within a certain timeframe. Sort by due date to prioritize urgent items or by assignee to see work by team member.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
A project is a complete marketing engagement with its own timeline and goals. Within each project sit campaigns, which are specific marketing initiatives designed to achieve particular objectives. For example, a project might be a full-year marketing plan, and campaigns within it could be a spring product launch, summer email series, and fall brand refresh.
When you open a project, you land on the Overview tab. This page displays:
- Project name and description
- Current status and phase
- Assigned Sun Locke team members and their roles
- Important dates (start, launch, completion)
- Project-level messaging from your team
Navigate to the Campaigns tab to see all initiatives under this project. Each campaign card shows:
- Campaign name and objective
- Assigned team
- Key milestone dates
- Campaign status (Planning, Active, Complete)
Click a campaign to expand its details, including deliverables, tasks, and timeline specific to that initiative.
The Deliverables tab shows all assets for the entire project, organized by status and due date. Use the Timeline tab to see a calendar view of all campaign launches, milestone dates, and deliverable deadlines across the project.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Projects page displays your active marketing projects in a card-based grid. Each project card shows the project name, current status badge, assigned team members, and key dates so you can quickly assess where things stand.
Status badges on project cards indicate the current phase:
- Planning: Project is being set up and scoped.
- Active: Project work is underway.
- On Hold: Work is temporarily paused.
- Completed: All deliverables have been finalized.
Click any project card to open its detail view. The detail page organizes information into tabs:
- Overview: Project summary, assigned team, key dates, and status.
- Campaigns: Individual initiatives within the project, each with its own deliverables and timeline.
- Deliverables: All assets and completed work items.
- Timeline: Calendar view of milestone and due dates.
- Messages: Project-level conversations and updates from the Sun Locke team.
Use the filters at the top of the Projects page to narrow down your view by status, team member, or date range. Sort projects by name, start date, or status to find what you need quickly.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Welcome, Admin
As an Account Admin, you're responsible for managing who has access to your organization's portal and what they can do with it. This article walks you through your core responsibilities: inviting team members, assigning and approving roles, keeping your organization secure, and understanding billing. For deeper dives on any topic, we've linked to standalone articles below.
The first thing you should do is invite the people who need portal access. Here's how:
- Click Users in the sidebar.
- Click Invite User in the top right.
- Enter the person's email address.
- Select a role from the dropdown. The portal suggests a role based on their declared function when they onboard, but you can pick any of the 9 roles initially.
- Click Send Invitation.
The system sends them an email with a setup link. They have 30 days to accept and complete onboarding. After they finish, they'll either get immediate access or their access will be pending your approval (depending on your organization's settings). Learn more in Inviting Team Members to Your Organization.
The portal has 9 preset roles designed to cover most job functions. Here's a quick reference for who typically gets which role:
RoleBest ForKey AbilitiesSuper AdminYourself or a co-adminFull control, billing access, user managementAdminTeam lead, operations managerUser management, settings, approvals (can add billing)Project ManagerProject leads, operationsCreate projects, manage tasks, update timelinesMarketingMarketing manager, content leadCreate projects, manage marketing content, view analyticsCommunicationsComms lead, spokespersonView deliverables, post announcementsContributorTeam members, freelancersUpload assets, view tasks, provide feedbackFinanceFinance manager, accountantView invoices and reports (add Full Billing to make payments)LegalGeneral counsel, compliance officerReview deliverables, access handbookViewerExecutives, stakeholdersRead-only access to dashboard, projects, deliverablesCapability Packs: Extending Permissions Beyond Base Roles
Each role comes with standard permissions, but you can enhance them with 8 capability packs. Common scenarios include:
- A Contributor who needs to approve work: Add the Approver capability.
- A Communications person who should manage the resource library: Add the Asset Manager capability.
- A Finance person who will pay invoices: Add the Full Billing capability (instead of just Billing Access).
- A team member who leads projects: Add the Project Lead capability.
- Anyone who needs access to reports: Add the Reporting capability.
To add a capability pack to a user, click their name from the Users page, find the Capability Packs section, check the boxes for the packs they need, and click Save. You can change or remove capabilities at any time.
When a new user finishes onboarding and their declared activities suggest they need permissions beyond their base role, those requests come to you for approval. Here's what to do:
- You'll get a notification that there are pending requests (either in the portal or by email, depending on your settings).
- Go to Users and find the new user's row.
- Click their name to open their profile.
- Scroll to Pending Permission Requests.
- Review each request, which will show their declared activities and the capability they're asking for.
- Click Approve or Deny. If you deny a request, the user can still work with their base role.
Once you approve, they get that permission immediately. Read more in Inviting Team Members to Your Organization.
To keep your organization secure, visit the Security section from the sidebar. This dashboard shows you:
- Security Score: An overall rating (0-100) of your organization's security posture. It's based on MFA adoption, password age, and login activity patterns.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Adoption: How many of your team members have MFA enabled. Aim for 100% adoption to maximize security.
- Login Activity: A log of recent logins by team members, including date, time, device type, and location. Look for any unusual activity.
- Team Member Status: A list of all users with their MFA status. Anyone with MFA disabled will show here.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds a second verification step when logging in. Here's how to set it up for yourself and encourage your team:
- Click Settings in the sidebar.
- Click the Security tab.
- You'll see an option to Enable Multi-Factor Authentication. Click it.
- The portal will ask you to verify your phone number or set up an authenticator app. Follow the prompts.
- Once you enable MFA for yourself, go back to the Security section (in the sidebar) and encourage team members to enable it as well.
You can require MFA for all users if your organization needs higher security. This setting is in Settings under the Security tab.
If you have billing permissions (Super Admin always has them; other admins need the Billing Access capability), you can view and manage billing from the Billing section in the sidebar. Here you'll find:
- Invoices: A list of all invoices, their dates, amounts, and payment status.
- Payment Methods: The credit cards or accounts on file for your organization. You can add or remove payment methods here.
- Billing Summary: A dashboard showing total invoiced, paid, and outstanding amounts.
If your organization needs to make payments or update payment information, make sure the Finance person has the Full Billing capability. If you only need to view billing information, the Billing Access capability is enough.
Here's a suggested order for setting up your admin account:
- Invite your team members from the Users page.
- Review and approve any permission requests that come in as they onboard.
- Visit the Security dashboard and check your security score. Encourage your team to enable MFA.
- Set up billing permissions for whoever manages payments.
- Review Understanding Roles and Permissions to decide if any capability packs would help your team.
- Go through the remaining onboarding articles to understand other portal features your team will use.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
If your business works with Sun Locke across multiple client relationships or divisions, you might be invited to the portal more than once. Each separate business relationship is its own organization in the portal. You can belong to multiple organizations and switch between them depending on which work you need to do.
When you're invited to your first organization, you'll complete the standard onboarding wizard (either 9 steps if you're the first admin, or 6 steps if an admin invited you). You'll create a password, set up your profile, declare your function and activities, and either get immediate access or see the pending approval screen.
When you're invited to a second organization by its admin, you'll receive an email invitation. Instead of asking you to create a new password (you already have one), the portal recognizes you as a returning user and shows a simpler onboarding experience:
The first time you see an invitation to a new organization, the portal may show a screen asking which organization you want to set up first. If you're getting invitations to multiple organizations at the same time, you can pick which one to onboard into right now. The others will be waiting for you later.
For each new organization after your first, you'll complete a quick 3-step onboarding:
- Review Your Profile: Your name, email, and contact information are already filled in from your account. You can change these if your contact info has changed, but usually you'll just click Continue.
- Declare Your Function and Activities: Just like your first organization, you declare what role you play in this organization. That organization's admin may have given you a specific role, or the system may recommend one based on your function. Check the activities that apply to your work in this organization specifically.
- Review and Complete: Confirm everything looks right and click Finish Setup.
After you complete these 3 steps, you get access to that organization's portal. If the organization requires admin approval, you'll see the Pending Approval screen (see What Is Pending Approval Status? for more detail).
Your name, email, title, and contact information are part of your account and are the same across all organizations. But your role and permissions are set separately for each organization. You might be a Super Admin in one organization and a Contributor in another, depending on what each organization needs from you.
Similarly, if you change your profile information, that change appears in all your organizations. But if you change your declared function for one organization, that change is specific to that organization only.
- Click your profile icon or avatar in the top right corner of the portal.
- Click Switch Organization.
- You'll see a list of all organizations you belong to. Click the one you want to enter.
- You'll be taken to that organization's dashboard.
You can switch between organizations as many times as you need throughout your day.
Your current organization is displayed in the header at the top of the portal or next to your profile icon. If you forget which organization you're in, look there to see the organization name.
If you received invitations to 2 or 3 new organizations at the same time, you might see a list asking which one to set up first. You can choose one and complete its 3-step onboarding now. The others will still be waiting in your pending organizations list, and you can set them up whenever you're ready. Just log out and log back in, or go to your profile menu, and select the next organization.
If you no longer need access to one of your organizations, go to Settings, click the Account tab, and look for Organizations. Click the X next to any organization to leave it. You'll lose access to that organization immediately, but you'll stay part of your other organizations.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Early in your onboarding, the portal asks you to declare your job function: your primary role within your organization. This is how the portal understands what type of work you do. Based on your answer, the system recommends a role and set of permissions that match your responsibilities.
When you onboard, you'll see these function options. Choose the one that best describes your job:
- Owner/Executive: You oversee the business or a major function. Usually assigned the Super Admin or Admin role.
- Marketing Lead: You manage marketing strategy, campaigns, and initiatives. Usually assigned the Marketing role with possible project lead capabilities.
- Communications/PR: You handle external and internal messaging, public relations, and brand voice. Usually assigned the Communications role.
- PM/Ops: You manage projects, operations, timelines, and workflows. Usually assigned the Project Manager role.
- Finance/Billing: You manage payments, invoicing, and financial reporting. Usually assigned the Finance role with Billing Access.
- Legal/Compliance: You ensure contracts are compliant and manage legal requirements. Usually assigned the Legal role.
- Creative/Design: You create visual assets, designs, and creative work. Usually assigned the Contributor or Marketing role with Asset Manager capabilities.
- Sales: You manage accounts, drive revenue, and coordinate with clients. Usually assigned the Project Manager role.
- External Collaborator: You're from an external agency or partner organization. Usually assigned a more limited role like Contributor or Viewer.
- General Team Member: You support general work without a specific focus. Usually assigned the Contributor role.
- Other: Your function doesn't fit the categories above. You'll be prompted to describe it, and the admin will assign an appropriate role.
After you select your function, the portal shows you a list of activities: specific tasks you perform on a regular basis. These might include "Approve deliverables," "Manage budgets," "Post announcements," or "Create marketing content." Check all the activities that apply to your job.
Here are the activities you may see during onboarding:
- Create and manage projects
- Create and manage tasks
- Upload and manage assets
- Create and edit deliverables
- Approve deliverables
- Approve team member access
- View and approve budgets
- Manage payments and invoices
- View reports and analytics
- Manage team members and permissions
- Post announcements
- Manage campaigns and marketing initiatives
- Review contracts and compliance
- View project status and timelines
Here's what happens behind the scenes:
- The system maps your declared function to a recommended base role (for example, "Marketing Lead" maps to the Marketing role).
- The system then checks the activities you selected.
- If any of your activities require capabilities beyond your base role (for example, if a Contributor checks "Approve deliverables"), the system flags that as an elevated permission request.
- If your organization doesn't require admin approval for new users, you get those extra permissions right away.
- If your organization requires approval, your requests go to your admin. Once they approve them, you gain those elevated permissions.
This way, your role and permissions match what you actually do in your organization.
If your job changes or you discover you picked the wrong function, you can update it anytime:
- Click Settings in the sidebar.
- Click the Profile tab.
- Scroll down to the Declared Function section.
- Select a new function or update your activities.
- Click Save Changes.
The system will re-evaluate your role and permissions based on your updated function. If the change suggests you need new capabilities, your admin will get a notification to approve them.
If you think your role should be higher based on what you do, update your declared function or ask your admin to review your permissions. The admin can always adjust your role or add capability packs manually, regardless of your declared function. Your declared function is a starting point, not the final word.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
After you complete onboarding, you may see a screen that says your account is pending approval. This means your organization has a policy requiring an admin to manually review and approve new users before they get full portal access. It's a security measure to ensure only the right people gain entry.
The screen you're looking at shows:
- Your email address (the account that was invited).
- Your organization's name.
- A 3-step explanation of what's happening: you completed onboarding, your admin needs to review and approve your access, and then you'll be notified and can start using the portal.
- Two buttons: Check Approval Status (to see if you're approved yet) and Sign Out (if you need to leave).
Your organization's admin or super admin is responsible for approving new user access. They receive a notification when you complete onboarding and can approve you from the Users page in their portal. You don't need to do anything on your end. Just wait for them to review your onboarding information and approve your request.
Most organizations approve new users within a few hours or a business day. The timeline depends on how frequently your admin checks the portal. Some organizations have a dedicated person who processes approvals every morning. Others might only check once a week.
If you need faster approval, ask the person who invited you to give your admin a heads-up that you're waiting.
Click the Check Approval Status button to refresh the page and see if you're approved yet. The page will update automatically, so you don't have to keep clicking, but it's fine to check periodically.
Once your admin approves your access, you'll get an email notification. The next time you try to log in or visit the portal, you'll go straight to your Dashboard instead of seeing this pending approval screen. You'll have full access to the sections and features your role allows.
If your admin approved you but you're still seeing the pending approval screen, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Click Check Approval Status to refresh the page.
- Close your browser completely and log back in.
- Clear your browser cache and try again.
- Try logging in from a different browser or device.
If none of these work, your admin may need to troubleshoot on their end. Have them check the Users page to confirm you're marked as approved.
If more than a few business days have passed and you still haven't been approved, reach out to the person who invited you. They can contact your admin to ask about the status. Alternatively, submit a support ticket from the Support page (you can do this from the pending approval screen) and mention that you're waiting for account approval.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Dashboard is the first thing you see when you log in. It's a personalized overview of what matters most to you: active projects, upcoming deadlines, work awaiting your approval, and important announcements. Unlike other sections of the portal, your dashboard is customizable, so you can set it up to show exactly what you need.
Every dashboard includes these sections, though not all may apply to your role:
A widget showing all the projects currently underway. Click any project to open it and see its tasks, timeline, and deliverables. The widget displays the project status (On Track, At Risk, or Off Track) at a glance.
A chronological list of deliverables and milestones due in the next 30 days. Click any deadline to jump directly to that deliverable or task. If a deadline is approaching or overdue, it's highlighted in red.
Official messages from your organization or Sun Locke. Admins post announcements from the Toolkit or Marketing Intelligence sections. You can't miss important updates because they appear here.
If you have approval permissions, this widget shows deliverables and requests waiting for your review. Click any item to approve or request changes. This widget only shows if you have the Approver capability.
If you have billing permissions, you'll see financial summaries including invoiced amount, paid amount, and outstanding balance. Click to view detailed billing reports. This widget only shows if you have Billing Access or Full Billing capability.
- Click Settings in the sidebar.
- Click the Dashboard tab.
- You'll see a list of available widgets. Check the boxes next to the ones you want to see.
- Click Save Changes.
Your dashboard will update immediately to show only the widgets you selected. You can change this at any time by going back to the Dashboard settings.
- Bookmark this page: The dashboard is your quickest route to what needs attention. Bookmark it in your browser.
- Watch the color codes: Green means on track, yellow means at risk, red means overdue or off track.
- Check upcoming deadlines first: Start your day by reviewing what's due soon.
- Use notifications: Set your notification preferences in Settings so you get alerted about changes, approvals, and deadlines.
Some widgets only appear if you have the right permissions. For example, the Approval Queue won't show unless you're an Approver. The Billing Stats widget won't show unless you have Billing Access. If you think you're missing a widget, check your role and capabilities. If something should be there and isn't, reach out to your admin.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Only admins and super admins can invite new people to your organization's portal. If you'd like to bring someone onto your team but don't have admin access, ask your account admin to send them an invitation.
- Click Users in the sidebar.
- Click the Invite User button in the top right.
- Enter the email address of the person you want to invite.
- Select a role from the dropdown. The portal suggests a role based on common job functions, but you can choose any of the 9 available roles.
- Click Send Invitation.
The portal will send an email to that address with a link to set up their account. They have 30 days to accept the invitation. After 30 days, if they haven't set up their account, you can resend the invitation from the Users page.
When someone receives an invitation email, they'll click a link that takes them to a setup page. Here's what they experience:
- They create a password for their account.
- They complete the 6-step invitee onboarding wizard, which includes: profile information, declared function and activities, communication preferences, goals, services, and brand direction.
- The portal uses their declared function to recommend a role. If they select activities that suggest they need higher permissions, those elevated requests are flagged for admin approval.
- Once they finish the wizard, they either get immediate access or see the Pending Approval screen if your organization requires admin approval for new users.
When a new user declares activities that suggest they need elevated permissions beyond their assigned role, they'll see a notification that their request is pending admin approval. You'll get a notification, too.
To review and approve these requests:
- Click Users in the sidebar.
- Find the user in the list and click their row to see their full profile.
- Review the capability or permission they requested, along with the activity they said they perform.
- Click Approve to grant the permission or Deny if they don't need it.
Once you approve a request, the user gets immediate access to whatever they asked for. If you deny it, they can still work with their base role, but they won't have those extra capabilities.
If someone was invited but never set up their account, you can check their status from the Users page. You'll see "Pending Setup" next to their email. Click the menu icon (three dots) next to their name and select Resend Invitation to send the setup link again.
If a team member needs to leave your organization, go to the Users page, click the menu icon next to their name, and select Remove User. They'll immediately lose access to the portal. Their work and data stay in the system; they just can't log in anymore.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
Your role in the Sun Locke Client Portal determines what you can see and do. A role is a preset collection of permissions that matches common job functions. Most people are assigned a role during onboarding based on the function and activities they declare. Admins can change roles at any time from the Users page.
Full control of the organization and all its data. Can invite users, assign roles, approve access requests, manage security settings, and access billing. Only one or two people in an organization typically have this role.
Manages team members and settings on behalf of the organization. Can invite users, assign roles, approve elevated permission requests, and customize dashboard settings. Cannot access billing unless the Billing Access capability is added.
Oversees project timelines, tasks, and deliverables. Can create and edit projects, assign tasks, update timelines, and approve deliverables if the Approver capability is added.
Creates and manages marketing deliverables and campaigns. Can create and edit projects, upload assets, and access marketing intelligence. Can view approvals but cannot approve work unless the Approver capability is added.
Handles messaging and stakeholder communication. Can view all deliverables, post announcements, and access resources. Limited ability to create or edit projects.
Supports project work without broad access. Can view assigned tasks and deliverables, upload assets, and provide feedback. Cannot approve work or make organization-wide changes.
Manages billing and payment information. Can view invoices, payment methods, and financial reports. Cannot access projects, tasks, or deliverables unless additional capabilities are added.
Reviews contracts and ensures compliance. Can access all deliverables for review, view project details, and access the Handbook. Cannot edit projects or make approvals unless the Approver capability is added.
Read-only access to view dashboards, projects, and deliverables. Useful for executives or stakeholders who need visibility but won't be doing active work.
Your base role gives you a starting set of permissions. To handle specialized work, your admin can add one or more capability packs that grant extra abilities. Here are the 8 capability packs available:
- Approver: Allows you to approve deliverables, tasks, and access requests.
- Project Lead: Grants full project creation and management, even if your base role is Contributor.
- Billing Access: Lets you view invoices and payment methods.
- Full Billing: All of Billing Access, plus the ability to make payments and manage payment methods.
- Reporting: Access to advanced reports and analytics across all projects.
- Asset Manager: Upload, organize, and manage assets in the Resources library.
- Publisher: Create and publish announcements and communications to the whole organization.
- Campaign Manager: Design, schedule, and run marketing campaigns from the Marketing Intelligence section.
When you request additional permissions during onboarding (for example, checking an activity that requires higher access), the system recommends an appropriate role or capability pack. If that capability goes beyond your base role, the request goes to your admin for approval. Once approved, you'll have those extra abilities right away.
Behind every role and capability pack are 23 individual permissions called granular capabilities. They cover 7 modules: Deliverables, Projects, Approvals, Billing, Reporting, Team, and Communications. Admins can also customize a user's permissions at the granular level if needed. Most people won't need to worry about this level of detail, but it means your portal access is precise.
Only admins can change roles or add capability packs to your account. If you need additional access, ask your admin. If you think your role is assigned incorrectly based on your declared function, you can update your function from Settings and ask your admin to review your role.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
When you first sign into the portal after being invited, you'll be guided through an onboarding wizard designed to set up your account and give you the right access for your role. The wizard is broken into steps that you complete in sequence. Every 30 seconds, your progress is automatically saved, so you can safely close the browser and come back to where you left off.
The number of steps in your onboarding depends on your situation:
- First Organization Admin (9 steps): If you're the first person from your organization to join, you'll walk through a full setup including organization details, key people, and service selections.
- New Team Member Invited by Admin (6 steps): If someone already in your organization invited you, your wizard is shorter and focused on your personal profile and role.
- Returning User with Multiple Organizations (3 steps): If you're already a Sun Locke portal user and are being added to a second organization, you'll see a quick setup since your profile already exists.
Here's what to expect if you're going through the complete wizard:
Step 1: Profile Information
Enter your full name, title, and contact information. This information is used to identify you in the portal and ensure people can reach you when needed.
Step 2: Organization Details
Confirm or enter your organization's name, industry, and location. This helps Sun Locke understand your business context.
Step 3: Key People
Identify other important contacts in your organization, such as project leads or decision-makers. You can add them now or skip and add them later from the Users page.
Step 4: Communication Preferences
Choose how often you want to receive notifications from the portal. You can set preferences for project updates, approval reminders, and deadline alerts.
Step 5: Goals
Tell us what you hope to accomplish using the portal. This helps Sun Locke tailor your experience and recommend features that matter to you.
Step 6: Services and Experience
Select which Sun Locke services your organization uses (for example, marketing strategy, creative development, public relations). This determines what sections of the portal are most relevant to you.
Step 7: Brand Direction
Share your brand voice, target audience, and any other background that will help Sun Locke deliver better work for you.
Step 8: Declared Function and Activities
Select your job function (for example, Marketing Lead, Finance/Billing, Communications/PR) and check off the activities you perform. The portal uses this information to recommend a role and permissions level. Learn more in Choosing Your Declared Function and Activities.
Step 9: Review
Check that all your information is correct. Once you click Complete Setup, you'll be taken to the dashboard if your organization doesn't require admin approval, or you'll see the Pending Approval screen if it does.
After you finish the wizard, one of two things happens:
- Immediate Access: You'll be taken directly to your Dashboard and can start using the portal right away.
- Pending Approval: If your organization requires admin approval for new users, you'll see a Pending Approval screen. Read What Is Pending Approval Status? to understand what's happening and what to do.
Completed your onboarding but made a mistake? Go to Settings in the sidebar, then click the Profile tab. From there, you can update your name, title, contact information, and declared function. If you need to change your role or permission level, contact your organization's admin.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
The Sun Locke Client Portal is your command center for managing all aspects of your client relationships with Sun Locke. From the moment you log in with your credentials, you'll have access to projects, deliverables, timelines, approvals, and more, depending on your role and permissions.
- Go to the Sun Locke Client Portal login page.
- Enter your email address and password.
- Click the Sign In button.
- If your organization has Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) enabled, you'll be prompted to verify your identity with a second method.
If you've just been invited, check your email for a setup link. Click it to create your password and complete onboarding before your first login.
The sidebar on the left side of your portal contains all the key areas you'll use. Here's what each does:
- Dashboard: Your home base showing active projects, upcoming deadlines, announcements, and approval queues.
- Projects: View and manage all active and past projects organized by status.
- Tasks: See individual work items assigned to you or your team.
- Deliverables: Track all work products, timelines, and approval status.
- Timeline: Visualize project schedules and key milestones.
- Handbook: Access your organization's reference guides and templates.
- Resources: Find asset libraries, toolkits, and shared files.
- Toolkit: Quick-access guides and utilities for your role.
- Marketing Intelligence: Analytics, insights, and campaign performance data.
- Billing: View invoices and payment status (if you have billing permissions).
- Support: Submit support tickets and track issue resolution.
- Settings: Update your profile, notification preferences, and dashboard layout.
- Help Center: Browse articles and find answers to common questions.
- Notifications: View alerts about approvals, deadlines, and activity updates.
- Approvals: Review and approve work (if you have approval permissions).
- Users: Manage team members and permissions (admin only).
- Security: Monitor login activity and manage authentication settings (admin only).
If you're looking for answers, there are a few places to check first:
- Click Help Center in the sidebar to search articles by topic.
- Check the Handbook section for organization-specific guidance.
- Look for inline help icons (marked with a question mark) on portal pages that explain individual features.
- Click Support to submit a ticket or view the status of existing requests.
If you're brand new to the portal, start with Setting Up Your Account During Onboarding to complete your profile and get access. If you're an admin, read Getting Started as an Account Admin to learn how to invite team members and manage permissions. For everyone else, take a look at your Dashboard to see what projects and work are ready for you.
If you need additional help, reach out to your Account Manager or submit a support ticket from the Support page.
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