Aldermere Systems / Build Notes
GOOGLE RANKING AUTOMATION
# Google Review Request Automation: DIY Installation Manual
Welcome to your **Google Review Automation Business-in-a-Box**! This step-by-step guide walks you through setting up an automatic review-gathering engine. By sending a personalized SMS text reminder shortly after service delivery, you can easily increase your review intake by 300%.
Using free accounts on **Make.com** and a low-cost account on **Twilio**, you can configure and activate this pipeline in **less than 25 minutes**.
---
## 📋 Prerequisites & Accounts Needed
Before beginning, ensure you have signed up for:
1. **Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business):** Make sure your business profile is verified so you can generate a review link shortcut.
2. **A client data source:** A booking tool (like Housecall Pro, Jobber, Squire), a payment tool (like payment processor), or a simple Google Sheet where completed jobs are logged.
3. **A free Make.com account:** Includes 1,000 free operations/month (plenty for ~300 client reviews).
4. **A free/low-cost Twilio.com account:** To send automated SMS text messages to your clients' phones.
---
## ⚡ Step 1: Generate Your Google Review Shortcut Link
Google provides a direct link that opens the review submission box automatically on the customer's phone or computer.
1. Log in to your [Google Business Profile](https://business.google.com/).
2. On your dashboard, look for the card labeled **"Ask for reviews"** or **"Get more reviews"**.
3. Copy the short URL shown (e.g., `https://g.page/r/[UniqueString]/review` or `https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=[PlaceID]`).
4. Save this URL; you will paste it into your Twilio message card later.
---
## 🔌 Step 2: Import the Scenario Blueprint into Make.com
We have packaged the entire automation scenario into a blueprint file.
1. Log in to your [Make.com](https://www.make.com/) account.
2. Click **Create a new scenario** in the top right.
3. Click the **three dots (...)** on the bottom control bar and choose **Import Blueprint**.
4. Select the **`make_blueprint.json`** file included in this folder.
5. Save the scenario. You will see a layout that looks like:
```
[Webhook Trigger] ➡️ [Router] ➡️ [Route A: Rating >= 4 ➡️ Twilio SMS]
➡️ [Route B: Rating < 4 ➡️ Internal Feedback Form]
```
---
## 📊 Step 3: Link Your Completed Jobs Trigger (Module 1)
This automation needs to know when a job is completed. We will use a Webhook connected to your customer database or a Google Sheet.
1. Double-click the first module (the purple **Webhooks** circle).
2. Click **Add** to create a new webhook. Name it `Completed Jobs Log` and click **Save**.
3. Copy the generated Webhook URL address to your clipboard.
4. **If using Google Sheets:** Configure a spreadsheet with columns for `Client Name`, `Phone`, `Email`, and `Rating/Status`. In Make, replace the Webhook module with the **Google Sheets: Watch Rows** module.
5. **If using a CRM:** Paste the copied Webhook URL into your CRM's webhook settings under the "Job Completed" or "Invoice Paid" event action.
6. Click **Run Once** in Make, perform a test job completion or add a test row to your Google Sheet, and verify the green checkmark appears on the Webhook trigger.
---
## ⏱️ Step 4: Configure the Timing Delay
You don't want to text a customer the absolute millisecond their invoice is closed—it can look mechanical.
1. Locate the **Sleep** or **Delay** tool integrated into the link connector between your webhook and the router.
2. Double-click it.
3. Set the delay duration. We recommend **7,200 seconds (2 hours)** to give the customer time to return home or settle in.
4. For high-ticket trades, set it to **86,400 seconds (24 hours)** to send it the following afternoon.
---
## 📱 Step 5: Map Customer Paths on the Router (Smart Feedback Filter)
To protect your public rating, this pipeline filters feedback.
1. The **Router** splits the path based on user score or satisfaction rating.
2. Double-click the connector line leading to the **Twilio SMS (Google Review link)**.
3. Set the filter condition: *Satisfaction Score* **is greater than or equal to** `4` (or status is positive). This ensures happy clients are directed straight to Google.
4. Double-click the connector line leading to the **Gmail module (Private Feedback form)**.
5. Set the filter condition: *Satisfaction Score* **is less than** `4`. Unhappy clients receive a link to a private Google Form to voice concerns directly to you, keeping negative feedback off public forums.
---
## ✉️ Step 6: Connect Twilio & Customize Your Invite (Module 3)
This module dispatches the actual review link to the client.
1. Go to [Twilio.com](https://www.twilio.com/) and register. Copy your **Account SID** and **Auth Token** from your dashboard.
2. Return to Make.com, double-click the **Twilio** module, and click **Add** to make a secure connection. Paste your credentials.
3. Set the **Sender Phone Number** to your Twilio trial number.
4. Set the **Receiver Phone Number** to mapped variable `{{1.clientPhone}}`.
5. Under **Message Text**, customize the pre-written template:
```text
Hi {{1.clientName}}, thank you for choosing [Business Name]!
We would love to know how we did. If you had a great experience, could you leave a quick Google review for [Employee Name]? It takes under 30 seconds: [Paste your Google Review shortcut link here]
```
---
## 🔬 Step 7: Test and Activate
1. Click the **Disk Icon** at the bottom of the screen to save the scenario.
2. Click **Run Once**.
3. Trigger a test event (e.g., submit a mock client with a `5` star rating via your Webhook or add a spreadsheet row).
4. Verify your mobile phone receives the review SMS with the link.
5. If everything passes, toggle the schedule switch at the bottom-left of Make.com to **ON**.