Behind the Bark
Your best salesman isn’t the new estimator you just hired.
Your best salesman is your last happy customer.
Most tree services accidentally fire that salesman the second the chipper shuts off. You finish the job, collect the check, say “call us if you need anything,” and roll to the next address.
Meanwhile, when a homeowner searches “tree removal near me,” what do they see?
A competitor with 150+ recent 5-star reviews
Or you… with 12 reviews from two years ago
People believe what other people say about you more than what you say about yourself. If your competitor’s review profile looks stronger than yours, you’re losing the job before the phone ever rings.
You don’t just need “good reviews.”
You need volume and consistency - a steady stream of fresh 5-stars.
The only way to get that consistently is to stop relying on hope and start relying on a system.
Limb of the Week
The Reputation Loop: 3 Simple Texts
You need something that does the asking for you, every time, without you having to remember.
We call it the Reputation Loop.
It’s just three texts and one gatekeeper.
1️⃣ Two Hours After the Job
Text goes out automatically:
“Hey {First Name}, thanks again for having us out today. If we took good care of you, would you mind leaving us a quick Google review? It helps a lot. <direct review link>”
Why two hours?
The yard looks great
They’re still relieved the tree is gone
Their phone is already in their hand
Bonus move: Some companies have the crew wear a badge with a QR code on the back that goes straight to the review page. “Before we go, mind giving us a quick review? You can just scan this.”
2️⃣ Three Days Later (No Review Yet)
Life gets busy. Dogs throw up, kids get sick, inbox explodes.
Second text:
“Hey <Name>, quick reminder - if we earned it, a review here really helps us out: <link>. Thanks again for having us out.”
You’re not annoying them. You’re giving a nudge they usually appreciate.
3️⃣ Ten Days Later (Last Call)
Final touch:
“Last quick nudge from us. If we did a 5-star job, this is the spot to say so: <link>. Either way, we appreciate you. —{Company Name}”
After this, they’re either going to do it or they’re not. No more chasing.
The Gatekeeper (Protect Your Reputation)
Don’t send every review request straight to Google with no filter.
Set up your system so that:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ or ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ → goes to Google
⭐, ⭐⭐, ⭐⭐⭐ → goes to a private feedback form that lands in your inbox, not online
That form can simply ask:
What did we miss?
How can we make this right?
You keep the venting off Google, fix the problem, and often turn a 2-star experience into a repeat client.
Sawdust
How to Set This Up (Even If You’re Not “Techy”)
You don’t need to be a software geek for this.
Options:
CRM / Job software – Most modern tools (Jobber, Arborgold, Housecall-style apps, etc.) can:
mark a job “completed”
trigger a text or email sequence
segment based on star rating or feedback
No CRM?
Use a simple text automation tool + a Google Form for the gatekeeper. You can literally start with a spreadsheet of completed jobs and a copy-paste script.
Questions to sanity-check:
Does our current software send any review requests automatically?
Can it delay messages by 2 hours, 3 days, and 10 days?
Do we have a way to catch bad experiences privately before they hit Google?
If the answer is “no” to all three, your software is a fancy address book.
Not a growth tool.
Kickback
The excuse I hear every time:
“I don’t want to bug them. It feels pushy.”
Stop. That’s weak.
You just finished dangerous, precision work on their property.
You removed a hazard or boosted their home’s value.
You earned the right to ask for a thumbs-up.
If you’re scared to ask for a review, is it because you’re “being polite”…
or because part of you suspects it wasn’t a 5-star job?
If the work is good, the ask is easy.
If the work isn’t good, fix the work.
But stop leaving your reputation and your future schedule up to chance.
Want This Built For You?
If that 3-text flow sounded great in theory but like a headache to implement, we can help.
We’ll:
Look at your current software (or lack of it)
Map out the exact 3-text sequence for your market
Set up the review funnel and gatekeeper so it runs without you
You keep doing great work. We make sure every happy customer actually shows up online.
👉 Reply to this email with “reviews” if you want us to build your review engine.
Written by Jacob Hastings
Head of Growth & Client Strategy at Growth Ring Media
