Mastering Automated Reputation
RevIQ is your 24/7 Reputation Manager. This guide walks you step-by-step through setup, daily use, and how the AI protects your brand while growing your 5-star reviews.
You do not need to be “technical” to use RevIQ. If you can send a text message and read your daily reports, you can run this system.
Prefer a PDF? Download the printable playbook here.
0Quick Overview – How RevIQ Works
RevIQ turns your daily guests into a steady flow of 5-star reviews. You log who visited, and the system handles:
- Polite follow-up text messages after the visit.
- Conversations with guests over SMS using your AI Assistant.
- Pushing happy customers to Google (with a ready-to-send review draft).
- Catching unhappy customers privately so they complain to you, not online.
Your main screens
- Dashboard: High-level view of each business: visits, messages, and health indicators.
- Inbox: Live conversations with guests. This is where "Needs Attention" chats appear.
- Visits: Every visit you log (manually, from QR, or from coupons).
- Customers: Your contact list with visit history.
- Coupons & Flyers / Marketing: Offers and printable/QR flyers to drive more check-ins and returns.
- QR Signs: Ready-to-print signs that let guests check-in themselves.
- Settings & Billing: Business details, review links, phone number, AI settings, and subscription.
1Essential Setup – "Teach" the AI About Your Business
Before sending messages, complete the Settings for each business.
- Business Profile: Add your business name, short description, and what makes you special. Example: "Upscale Italian restaurant focused on date nights and anniversaries."
- AI Assistant Name: Pick a friendly name (e.g., "Aitana", "Marco from La Trattoria"). Guests will see this name in the conversation, so make it sound human.
- Review Link: Use the built-in "Google Place Finder" to create your direct review link. This is what happy guests will receive when the AI asks for a review.
- Hours & Timezone: Set your opening hours and correct timezone. RevIQ will avoid sending follow-ups late at night or too early in the morning.
- Dedicated Phone Number: In the phone number section, search for and claim a local number. All numbers in RevIQ are part of a pre-approved messaging pool, so they are ready to use as soon as you acquire them — no extra registration or waiting period required.
2Logging Visits – The Trigger for Everything
RevIQ can only follow up with people it knows about. Every SMS starts from a logged Visit. You have three main ways to log visits in the Visits tab:
1. Manual Entry
Type the guest’s name and phone number directly. Perfect for:
- Phone orders and takeout.
- Walk-ins where staff wants to track the experience.
- High-value guests (VIPs, regulars).
2. Photo OCR
Upload a photo of your paper logbook or sign-in sheet. The AI reads the handwriting and creates visits automatically so you don’t have to type each name.
Tip: Take a clear photo in good lighting for the best results.
3. QR Check-In
Go to QR Signs, download your sign, and print it. Guests scan it with their phone and enter their details themselves.
Place QR signs near the host stand, bar, or checkout counter.
3The "Gatekeeper" – How the AI Protects You
After each visit, RevIQ sends a polite follow-up text at the time you’ve configured (for example, 2–3 hours after the guest leaves). When the guest replies, the AI classifies their response into two simple paths:
- 1.Customer says something clearly positive like "It was amazing" or "Everything was great!"
- 2.The AI thanks them in your tone of voice and gently asks if they'd be willing to share that on Google.
- 3.Key Feature: The AI writes a short, friendly review draft and sends your direct review link. This only happens once per customer to avoid being pushy.
- 1.Customer says something negative like "The service was slow" or "My food was cold".
- 2.The AI stops all review requests. It will not send them your Google link.
- 3.Instead, it apologizes, asks a couple of helpful questions, and flags the conversation as "Needs Attention" in your Inbox.
- 4.You or a manager can then jump in and answer personally from the dashboard if needed.
4The Recovery Loop – Turning Problems into Second Chances
Not every visit goes perfectly. RevIQ helps you catch those moments early and turn them into loyalty instead of public complaints.
- In your Inbox, open the "Needs Attention" conversations.
- Decide how you want to recover: a sincere apology, a discount next time, a free dessert, or a gift coupon.
- Use the Coupons section to create a "Sorry we missed the mark" offer and attach it to that customer.
- The customer returns and shows the QR code or coupon on their phone when they visit.
- You scan it with the Scan Coupon tool or redeem it via your dashboard. This automatically logs a new visit tied to that recovery.
- After this "second chance" visit, the AI sends a special follow-up: "Hi [Name], thank you for giving us another chance today. I hope we did better this time?"
Over time, this loop creates a clear record of recoveries and shows you which issues are repeating so you can fix the root cause.
5Coupons, Flyers & Marketing – Driving More Visits
Coupons
Use coupons for apologies, VIP surprises, or quiet nights when you need more covers.
- Create a coupon with a clear name and simple rules.
- Assign it to a specific customer or share the QR code where you want people to claim it.
- When redeemed, the coupon ties back to the customer and logs a visit, so you can see which promotions actually brought people back.
Flyers & QR Signs
In the Marketing and QR Signs sections, you can generate printable material:
- Table tents inviting guests to "Check in to get a thank-you text".
- Posters that link to your check-in or coupon pages via QR code.
- Flyers for local events or partnerships that capture new customers directly into RevIQ.
Broadcast Campaigns (Optional)
You can send one-off campaigns to existing customers (for example: "Valentine's menu", "Slow Tuesday special"). Use these gently; the system tracks usage against your message limits.
6Message Limits, Safety & Best Practices
To keep your number healthy and your guests happy, RevIQ follows simple safety rules:
- Messages are only sent within reasonable hours based on your timezone.
- Each guest receives a limited number of follow-ups and review nudges. No spam blasts.
- Your plan includes a monthly message allowance. The Settings / Billing section shows how much you’ve used.
- If you go over your limit, non-critical messages may pause until the next cycle or until you upgrade your plan.
?FAQ – Common Questions
"Why didn't my guest receive a review link?"
- Their feedback was not clearly positive (the AI chose the Protection Path).
- Your review link is missing in Settings.
- You reached your message limit for the billing period.
"Why are no messages sending at all?"
- Check that your dedicated phone number is active in Settings.
- Confirm the visit has been marked as "Arrived" (not Pending).
- Make sure you haven’t hit your message limit or that your subscription is still active.
"Can I answer personally instead of the AI?"
Yes. Open the conversation in Inbox and type your reply. The guest will receive it as a normal text from your RevIQ number.
"What happens if a guest replies days later?"
The AI will still respond, but with more context (for example: "Thanks for following up with us again") and will avoid repeatedly asking for reviews.