A repeatable review-generation system that respects your customers and consistently produces 5+ new reviews per month.
Reviews are the single most visible signal a potential customer sees before they call you. They're also a major local ranking factor. Yet most Des Moines businesses have an ad hoc, 'ask when I remember' approach. Here's a better system.
Step 1: Create a direct review link
Go to your Google Business Profile dashboard and grab your short review URL (looks like g.page/r/…). This is the only link you should ever send. Do not send people to 'search for us on Google' — that's a friction wall.
Step 2: Ask at the moment of maximum delight
That's typically right after service completion, not three weeks later. For chiropractors: after the second appointment when they feel relief. For contractors: at project walkthrough. For restaurants: at check drop with a smile.
Step 3: Send a text, not an email
SMS open rates are 98% versus 20% for email. A simple 'Hi [Name] — thanks for coming in today! If we earned it, would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? [link]' converts three to five times better than email.
Step 4: Automate the ask
Use your CRM, POS, or a tool like Podium, Birdeye, or NiceJob to trigger the text automatically after checkout, appointment completion, or invoice payment. Human memory is not a review strategy.
Step 5: Respond to everything
Every review — five stars or one — gets a personal response within 48 hours. Reply with the customer's name, mention the service, and thank them. For negative reviews, apologize, take it offline, and never argue publicly.