Birdeye is an all-in-one platform that helps local businesses manage customer reviews, messages, and feedback from a single dashboard. For busy operators, this matters because a steady stream of recent, positive reviews is a primary factor in ranking higher on Google Maps and converting searchers into customers through calls, messages, and bookings. This guide provides a step-by-step plan to use Birdeye to attract more customers.
Key Facts About Birdeye
- Primary Function: Centralizes review requests, online review monitoring, and customer messaging (SMS, web chat, social media) into one platform.
- Review Sources: Aggregates reviews from over 200 websites, including Google, Facebook, and industry-specific sites.
- Key Benefit: Automates the process of getting new reviews, which boosts your "prominence" in Google's local search algorithm.
- Best For: Multi-location and single-location service businesses (e.g., healthcare, home services, auto repair) that need to save time while improving their online reputation.
- Typical Cost: Starts around $299–$399 per month per location for core features, with custom pricing for larger or more complex needs.
- Integrations: Connects with over 3,000 systems, including many common CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) and Practice Management Software (PMS).
Step-by-Step: How to Use Birdeye to Get More Customers
A strong online reputation is fundamental to how new customers find you. Every positive review strengthens your digital presence and provides the social proof that convinces a potential customer to choose you over a competitor. Tools like Birdeye provide a system to consistently request, monitor, and respond to feedback, signaling to search engines that your business is active and valued.
Understand Google's Local Ranking Factors
For a local business, your Google Business Profile (GBP) is your digital front door. Google's algorithm for the "Map Pack" focuses on three core principles:
- Proximity: How close is your business to the person searching?
- Relevance: How well does your business profile match what the person is looking for (e.g., "emergency HVAC repair near me")?
- Prominence: How well-known and trusted is your business? This is heavily influenced by your review count, star rating, and how recently you've received reviews.
Generating a steady flow of positive reviews with Birdeye directly impacts your "Prominence." More high-quality reviews signal more trust, and Google rewards trusted businesses with better visibility.
Checklist: Optimize Your Google Business Profile
- Verify your business name, address, and phone number are 100% accurate.
- Select all relevant primary and secondary business categories.
- Upload at least 10 high-quality, recent photos of your location, team, and work.
- Write a keyword-rich business description explaining what you do and the areas you serve (e.g., "serving the [City] and [Neighborhood] areas").
- Enable Google's messaging feature and respond to inquiries within a few hours.
- Use the Q&A feature to proactively answer common customer questions.
A proactive review management strategy turns your happy customers into your most powerful marketing asset. It helps you rank higher, build credibility, and ultimately, get more calls and appointments.
Templates & Scripts for Your Review Program
Having the right tool is only half the battle. You need a clear plan to get your review program running fast, with scripts and templates you can use immediately.
7-Day Launch Checklist
- Day 1: Connect Your Systems. Link Birdeye to your CRM or management software. Ensure your business information (name, address, phone) is accurate for all locations.
- Day 2: Customize Your Templates. Edit the default SMS and email review request templates to match your brand's voice. Create response templates for both positive and negative reviews.
- Day 3: Configure Automation. Set the trigger for your review requests. A common best practice is to send an SMS request 1-2 hours after a service is marked "complete."
- Day 4: Train Your Team. Hold a brief training for front-line staff. Explain how the platform works and their role in responding to messages or escalating negative feedback.
- Day 5: Run a Test. Send manual review requests to 3-5 recent, happy customers to ensure the automation works and reviews appear in your dashboard.
- Day 6: Go Live. Activate your automated campaigns for all new customers.
- Day 7: Monitor & Respond. Check your dashboard daily. Set a goal to respond to all new reviews within 24 hours.
Industry-Specific Scripts and Templates
SMS Review Request (HIPAA-Aware Vet Clinic)
"Hi [Pet Owner Name], this is [Clinic Name]. We hope [Pet Name] is doing well after their visit. Would you mind sharing your feedback with Dr. [Vet Name]? [Link]"
Email Review Request (HVAC Company)
"Subject: How was your service from [Company Name]?
Hi [Customer Name],
Thanks for trusting us with your recent HVAC service in [City]. We are committed to providing top-notch work.
Could you take 30 seconds to leave us a review on Google? Your feedback helps us improve and informs your neighbors.
[Review Link]
Thank you,
The [Company Name] Team"
Review Response Templates
Positive Review Response Template
"Hi [Customer Name], thank you so much for the 5-star review! We're thrilled you had a great experience with [Mention Specific Detail, e.g., 'our technician, Dave']. We appreciate your business and look forward to helping you again."
Negative Review Response Template
"Hi [Customer Name], thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear your experience did not meet expectations. We take this very seriously and want to make it right. Please call our practice manager, [Manager Name], at [Phone Number] so we can address this directly."
For a multi-location senior living community in [City], using Birdeye to monitor feedback across facilities is critical. By deploying Fair Housing neutral response templates, they ensure brand consistency and compliance while actively engaging with resident and family feedback.
How to Measure Your Birdeye ROI
Measuring your return on investment (ROI) is about connecting your reputation management efforts to real business growth. It's how you prove that more positive reviews and faster responses are leading to more calls, bookings, and revenue.
Set Achievable Monthly Targets
Define what success looks like with clear, quantifiable goals for your review program.
- Review Volume: Aim for 10-15+ new reviews per location.
- Star Rating: Maintain an overall rating of 4.6 stars or higher.
- Review Recency: Ensure 90% of your reviews were posted within the last 90 days.
- Response Time: Respond to all new reviews within 24 hours.
- GBP Performance: Target a 10% increase in Google Business Profile views and calls quarter-over-quarter.
Track from Google Business Profile to Your Bottom Line
The goal is to link reputation metrics to business outcomes. A powerful way to do this is by using Urchin Tracking Module (UTM) parameters on the links in your Google Business Profile (GBP). A UTM is a small piece of code added to a URL that tells analytics software where a visitor came from.
For example, tag the website link on your GBP like this: yourwebsite.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp_profile.
This tag allows Google Analytics to show you exactly how many people came to your website from your GBP listing. From there, you can track how many completed a key action, like filling out a contact form.
You can also use a unique call tracking phone number on your GBP to count every call that originates from your listing. By tracking these leads, you can calculate your lead-to-sale conversion rate.
Example: Your GBP generates 50 tracked calls in a month. 10 of those become paying customers. Your GBP lead-to-sale conversion rate is 20%. If an average customer is worth $500, you can attribute $5,000 in revenue directly to your GBP performance that month.
This creates a clear, defensible ROI calculation for your Birdeye investment.
Birdeye Reviews FAQ
Here are concise, factual answers to the most common questions about Birdeye.
How Much Does Birdeye Cost?
Birdeye uses custom pricing. For a single location with core features (Reviews and Messaging), expect to pay between $299 and $399 per month. Costs increase for multiple locations or advanced features like Surveys, Benchmarking, or Listings management.
Can Birdeye Remove Bad Google Reviews?
No. No platform, including Birdeye, can delete a negative review from Google. You can use the Birdeye dashboard to flag a review that violates Google's policies for removal, but the final decision rests with Google. The best strategy is to generate a high volume of new, positive reviews to push down the occasional negative one.
How Quickly Will I See Results?
You should see an increase in new reviews within the first 7-14 days of launching an automated campaign. Measurable improvements in local search rankings and lead volume typically take 90 days of consistent activity, as it takes time for Google's algorithm to recognize and reward your enhanced prominence.
What Are Birdeye's Top Competitors?
Birdeye's main competitors are Podium, which focuses heavily on SMS-based communication and payments, and ReviewTrackers, which is stronger in deep analytics and competitor benchmarking for enterprise brands. Birdeye's strength is its all-in-one approach for service-based businesses.
What Kind of Support Does Birdeye Offer?
Birdeye provides all customers with an online knowledge base, email support, and phone support. Customers on higher-tier or enterprise plans are typically assigned a dedicated Customer Success Manager for more strategic guidance.
What is a CRM or PMS?
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management, a system for managing customer interactions. PMS stands for Practice Management Software, a type of software used by medical, dental, and veterinary practices to manage their operations.
What is the Google Map Pack?
The "Map Pack" (or Local Pack) is the box that appears at the top of Google search results showing three local business listings on a map. Securing a spot in the Map Pack is a primary goal of local SEO because it drives significant visibility and clicks.
Ready to turn your reputation into a reliable growth engine without overwhelming your team? We combine powerful tools with expert strategy to get you results. To see how we can optimize your Google Business Profile and drive more leads, book a strategy call and ask about our flexible, month-to-month support.
