Automate Google Review Requests

Introduction to Automating Google Review Requests

As a solo founder or indie hacker, managing your online reputation is crucial. One way to improve your reputation is by encouraging customers to leave reviews on your Google My Business listing. However, manually sending review requests after every job can be time-consuming. In this post, we will walk through a step-by-step setup to automate Google review requests.

Step 1: Set Up Your Google My Business Listing

Before you can start sending review requests, you need to have a verified Google My Business listing. If you haven't already, create a listing and verify your business. This will ensure that your customers can find and review your business on Google.

Step 2: Choose an Automation Tool

There are several automation tools available that can help you automate Google review requests. Some popular options include Zapier, n8n, and Integromat. For this example, we will use Zapier. If you're on a tight budget, you can also consider using Automator or IFTTT, which offer free plans with limited features.

Step 3: Connect Your Scheduling Tool to Zapier

To automate review requests, you need to connect your scheduling tool to Zapier. This could be Calendly, Setmore, or any other tool you use to schedule jobs. Follow these steps to connect your scheduling tool to Zapier:

• Log in to your Zapier account and click on Connect Account.
• Search for your scheduling tool and select it.
• Follow the prompts to authenticate your account.

Step 4: Set Up the Trigger

The trigger for your automation will be when a job is completed. In your scheduling tool, there should be an option to trigger a Zap when an event is completed. Set up the trigger to fire when a job is marked as completed.

Step 5: Connect Google My Business to Zapier

To send review requests, you need to connect your Google My Business account to Zapier. Follow these steps:

• In Zapier, click on Connect Account and search for Google My Business.
• Select Google My Business and follow the prompts to authenticate your account.

Step 6: Set Up the Action

The action for your automation will be to send a review request to the customer. In Zapier, search for Google My Business and select the option to Create Review Link. Configure the action to generate a review link for your business.

Step 7: Add an Email Step

To send the review request to the customer, you need to add an email step. In Zapier, search for Email and select the option to Send Email. Configure the email to include the review link and a personalized message.

Step 8: Test Your Zap

Before you start sending review requests, test your Zap to ensure it's working correctly. Follow these steps:

• In Zapier, click on Test to test the trigger and action.
• Verify that the review link is generated correctly and the email is sent to the correct recipient.

Conclusion

Automating Google review requests can help you save time and improve your online reputation. By following these steps, you can set up a Zap that sends review requests to customers after every job. Remember to test your Zap regularly to ensure it's working correctly.

Tool	Free Plan	Paid Plan
Zapier	Limited features	$19.99/month
n8n	Unlimited features	Free
Integromat	Limited features	$9/month
Automator	Limited features	Free
IFTTT	Limited features	Free