How to get client feedback on a document

A proposal goes to the client as a Word file. Two days later it comes back as Proposal_v3_final_JM.docx with tracked changes from one person, while a colleague of theirs replies to the original email with separate notes on the pricing section. Now there are two sets of feedback on two different copies, and some of the notes contradict each other.

This guide covers how people usually collect feedback on a document, where those methods lead to duplicate copies and lost notes, and how to share one document in Fabric so the client highlights text and comments directly on it.

How people usually get feedback on a document

Emailing a Word document and asking for tracked changes is still the default in many industries. Clients know the format and track changes shows every edit clearly. Problems start when more than one person on the client side reviews it, because each person often edits their own copy, and someone has to merge the versions by hand.

Google Docs comments solve the multiple-copy problem, since all reviewers work in one file. Some clients work in organizations that restrict Google accounts or block outside documents, though, so a share link can turn into a series of access requests before any feedback arrives.

A third option is sending a PDF and asking for notes by email. The client can’t change the text, which some people prefer. The feedback then arrives as “page 4, second paragraph, the sentence about timelines”, and each note has to be matched back to the source.

Whichever route you use, version names pile up. How to tell which version of a file is the latest covers that side of the problem.

Step 1: Put the document where the client can reach it

Create a space for the client and a folder for the project. When you share the space, the client sees only that space, so documents for other clients stay private.

Add the document by dragging it in, pasting it, or clicking Upload a file. Fabric handles DOCX, TXT, Markdown, HTML, and JSON. You can also write the document as a Fabric note using the notes and docs editor, which keeps the draft and the client’s comments in the same place from the start.

If your drafts live in Google Docs, a Google Drive connection syncs your files with Fabric in both directions. Connections need a paid plan.

Step 2: Share it with commenter permission

Click Share and give the client the commenter role. Fabric’s roles and permissions (viewer, commenter, editor, admin) let a client mark up the text without being able to change it, which keeps the wording under your control while you collect their views. If you’d rather the client edit directly, give them the editor role instead.

External people can use shared links without signing up, so a client’s legal or finance contact can open the document from your email and start commenting.

Feedback needs a shared link. Published links are view only, with an optional download, and don’t support comments.

Step 3: Let the client highlight and comment on the text

On text files, a commenter can highlight a passage and add an optional comment. The note stays attached to the exact words it’s about, so “the sentence about timelines” becomes a highlighted sentence with the comment beside it. The annotations page shows how highlights and comments appear.

When several people on the client side review the same document, they all comment on the one copy and can reply to each other’s comments. Conflicting views show up next to each other on the same line, and you can see them before you start editing. Fabric’s collaboration tools also include @mentions, which help when you need one person to settle a point.

A short message with the link helps the client focus. Saying “please check the scope and the payment terms; the formatting will change” usually gets more useful comments than a general request for thoughts.

Step 4: Make the changes and mark each comment completed

Work through the comments in order. Once you’ve handled one, mark it completed. The comments then work like a checklist, and the client can see what’s been dealt with. How to mark client feedback as done goes into this habit in more depth.

For changes that touch many places, such as renaming a product or switching from “we” to the company name, the AI assistant can edit the document directly. Each change shows with accept and reject, so you approve every edit before it stays. You can also ask the assistant to check the revised draft against the brief in the same folder; it answers with clickable references to the source.

Step 5: Send the final version

When the client signs off, publish the document as a link. Click Share, open the Publish tab, click Create link, give the link a name, and turn on allow downloads if the client needs a copy for their records. Downloads on published links are available on every plan. If a small correction comes in later, editing the source in Fabric updates the published version, so the link you sent stays current.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a client to comment on a Word document without emailing copies back and forth?

Upload the DOCX to Fabric and share it with the client as a commenter. All reviewers comment on one copy, so there’s nothing to merge.

Can clients comment on a document without creating an account?

Yes. External people can use shared links without signing up.

Can a client highlight a specific sentence and leave a note on it?

Yes. Commenters can highlight text in a text file and add an optional comment, and the note stays attached to that passage.

Can I stop a client editing the document while they review it?

Yes. Give them the commenter role. They can highlight and comment but can’t change the text.

What document formats can clients comment on?

Fabric handles DOCX, TXT, Markdown, HTML, and JSON documents, plus notes written in Fabric. Google Docs come in through the Google Drive connection, which needs a paid plan.

How do I show a client which feedback I’ve already addressed?

Mark each comment completed once it’s handled. The client can see which comments are completed and which are still open.

Can multiple people from the client’s team comment on the same document?

Yes. Share it with each of them as commenters. They comment on one copy and can reply to each other’s comments.

Can I password protect a document I send for feedback?

Yes, on the Pro and Team plans. There’s no password reset, so store it in a password manager. Plan details are on the pricing page.

Should I use a shared link or a published link for client feedback?

Use a shared link with commenter permission for feedback. Published links are for delivering the final version. How to give a client access to only their files explains how to keep each client’s documents separate.