The problem
Gutter cleaning is repeat work — the same homeowners, season after season — and AK Gutter Gals had earned a loyal base. Fifteen reviews didn't tell that story. For a service where homeowners pick by trust, an underweight review profile is a quiet drag on every new lead.
What we built
A backlog campaign first: a personalized SMS ask to the customers they'd already made happy. Then the automation took over, triggering a text the morning after each completed job with a direct link to the Google review form, plus one gentle follow-up if there's no response.
Every message names the work and reads like it came from the crew, because that's who the customer remembers.
The outcome
- 28 reviews in the first four days from the backlog campaign.
- 15 reviews to 72 as the ongoing automation compounded on new jobs.
- A perfect 5.0 rating across the full review base.
"15 to 43 reviews in 4 days." — Julia, AK Gutter Gals (and still climbing since)
Why it worked
Seasonal service businesses have a hidden asset: a deep backlog of satisfied repeat customers. They just never get asked at the right moment. A personalized, well-timed SMS turns that backlog into a review surge in days, and the ongoing trigger keeps it growing through every season after.
Questions we get
How quickly did AK Gutter Gals see reviews come in?
Fast — 28 reviews in the first four days of the campaign. The count has since grown to 72 at a perfect 5.0 rating as the automation keeps running on completed jobs.
Does this work for a smaller, seasonal service business?
Yes. Gutter work is seasonal and project-based, which is an ideal fit: a clear completion moment on every job and a backlog of happy customers to reactivate in the off-season.
How do you keep a 5.0 rating while adding so many reviews?
By asking everyone, not just the customers most likely to rave. When the underlying work is strong, the broad ask raises both the count and the average instead of trading one for the other.
For how this works, see review automation. Other results: Polar Glow Detailing, Total Roof Care, The Fence Guy.