From 6 Reviews in 15 Years to 32 Reviews (And Growing): How We Transformed a Tree Care Company's Online Reputation
The Problem
A well-established tree care company had been in business for 15 years but had a glaring problem: they only had 6 Google reviews.
Despite thousands of satisfied customers over the years, their online presence didn't reflect the quality of their work. In an industry where homeowners check reviews before making hiring decisions, they were essentially invisible.
The Cost of This Invisibility:
- Lower search rankings in Google's local pack
- Lost jobs to competitors with better reviews
- Missed opportunities from homeowners who never found them
- No social proof to validate their 15 years of excellent service
Our Approach
We launched a targeted review collection campaign with a simple but systematic process:
Campaign Duration: August 20 - September 3, 2025 (just 2 weeks)
The Strategy:
- Identified recent satisfied customers from their database
- Multi-touch outreach: Phone calls followed by 1-2 emails
- Made it easy: Clear instructions and direct links
- Personalized approach: Real conversations, not automated spam
- Persistent but respectful: Follow-ups without being pushy
We didn't offer incentives. We didn't manipulate anything. We simply asked happy customers to share their honest experiences.
The Results
In just 14 days, we collected 21 new Google reviews.
That's a 350% increase in just the first 2 weeks - with momentum continuing beyond the initial campaign.
(15 years)
Campaign
Collected
& Growing
By The Numbers
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Starting Reviews | 6 reviews (15 years) |
| Campaign Duration | 14 days |
| New Reviews Collected | 21 reviews |
| Total Reviews Now | 32 reviews (and growing) |
| Success Rate | ~60% response rate from outreach |
| Time Investment | 3-4 hours of staff time |
| Cost | Minimal (staff time only) |
What Made This Work
1. The Personal Touch
We didn't blast impersonal emails. We made phone calls first, had real conversations, and then followed up with emails. Customers appreciated the personal approach.
"I've been meaning to leave a review!"
"I'm happy to help, I just didn't know how"
"You guys did such great work, absolutely!"
2. Multiple Touchpoints
Our sequence: Phone call - Email 1 - Email 2 (if needed)
Some customers responded immediately after the call. Others needed email reminders. The multi-touch approach captured everyone.
3. Making It Effortless
We included:
- Direct link to their Google Business Profile
- Simple step-by-step instructions
- Offer to help with technical issues
- No pressure, just a friendly ask
4. Timing Matters
We reached out while the work was still fresh in customers' minds. Recent jobs = enthusiastic reviews.
Common Objections We Overcame
| Objection | Our Response |
|---|---|
| "I don't have a Google account" | We provided simple instructions to create one in 2 minutes |
| "I'm not comfortable putting myself on Google" | We respected their decision and thanked them for considering it |
| "I'm too busy" | We emphasized it takes just 2 minutes and offered to help anytime |
| "I don't do reviews" | We thanked them and moved on (no pressure approach) |
The key: We were persistent but never pushy. We respected boundaries while making it easy for willing customers.
The Real-World Impact
Before the Campaign
- 6 total reviews
- Limited online visibility
- Couldn't compete with competitors' review counts
- No recent social proof
- Invisible to potential customers
After Just 2 Weeks
- 32 total reviews (533% increase - and still growing)
- Stronger Google Business Profile
- Fresh, recent reviews showing current quality
- Competitive with local competitors
- Better conversion from Google searchers
The Compound Effect
Here's what most businesses don't realize: Reviews are a compounding asset.
Each New Review:
- Increases your average star rating visibility
- Provides fresh social proof
- Improves your local search rankings
- Makes the next customer more likely to convert
- Triggers Google to show your business more often
The business went from virtually no online reputation to a robust review profile in 14 days. That's a transformation that would have taken years organically.
Response Rates: The Data
Personal touch drives results
Still works, but less effective
Key Learning: Personal phone calls DOUBLED conversion rates.
The Investment
Total Time Investment: 3-4 hours over 2 weeks
- Phone calls and follow-ups: 2 hours
- Email outreach: 1 hour
- Coordination and tracking: 1 hour
Total Cost: Staff time only (no paid tools needed)
Return: 21 verified Google reviews that will drive business for years
What You Can Learn From This
1. You Have Reviews Waiting to Happen
If you've been in business for years, you have satisfied customers. They just haven't been asked properly.
2. Systematic Beats Sporadic
Two focused weeks with a system beat 15 years of hoping customers will review you on their own.
3. The Best Time Was Yesterday. The Second Best Time Is Now.
Every month you wait is another month your competitors are building review advantages.
4. Make It Easy, Make It Personal
Automated review requests get ignored. Personal asks with clear instructions get results.
5. Respect Boundaries But Be Persistent
Some people need 2-3 touchpoints. That's normal. Follow up respectfully.
The Bottom Line
From 6 reviews in 15 years to 32 reviews (and counting).
This wasn't about gaming the system or offering incentives. This was simply about:
Having a Plan
Systematic outreach beats random hope
Making It Easy
Clear instructions & direct links
Being Persistent
Multiple touchpoints respectfully
Following Up Properly
Email reminders for busy customers
The result? A tree care company that finally has an online reputation that matches their real-world reputation.
Ready to Transform Your Review Profile?
Most businesses have dozens (or hundreds) of happy customers who would gladly leave a review - they just haven't been asked the right way.
The question isn't whether you deserve more reviews.
The question is: How many customers are you losing every month because your competitors have better online reputations?