Your First Step: Connecting Integrations

When you first log in to the platform, your first task is to connect your integrations. This is the foundation of everything else you'll do in the system, so it's important to get it right from the start. Don't worry, though - the process is straightforward, and we'll walk you through each step.

What Are Integrations?

Think of integrations as the bridges that connect this platform to all the places where your customers leave reviews. Once these bridges are built, you'll be able to see all your reviews in one place, respond to them quickly, and even automate requests for new reviews.

Why This Matters

The sooner you connect these integrations, the sooner you can start managing your online reputation effectively. Every minute your integrations are connected, the platform is working for you - monitoring reviews, organizing feedback, and preparing data for your dashboard.

Where to Start

Start by connecting to the review sites where you plan to gather new reviews. This means the platforms where your customers are most likely to share their experiences - whether that's Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, or other review sites relevant to your business.

Why Google Comes First

Let's begin with the most important integration: Google. For most businesses, Google is where the majority of customers will leave reviews, so this connection is crucial. The good news is that once you set it up, the platform will automatically manage your reviews and your Google Business Profile.

Starting the Connection Process

To get started, simply click on the "Connect" button next to Google in your integrations list. You'll see two different ways to connect: through login or through public access.

Choosing the Right Connection Method

We strongly recommend using the login method because it gives the platform full access to automatically manage your reviews and your Google Business Profile. The public access option is more limited and won't give you all the automation features. Think of the login method as getting a VIP pass - it unlocks everything.

Logging In with the Correct Account

When you choose the login method, click the button to log in with Google. Here's an important tip: make sure you use the Google account that actually manages your Google Business Profile. If you use a different account, the connection won't work properly.

Granting Permissions

After you log in, Google will ask you to give consent for the platform to access your business information. Go ahead and approve this - it's necessary for the integration to work. This permission allows the platform to see your reviews, respond on your behalf, and keep everything synchronized.

Selecting Your Profile

Next, you'll see a dropdown menu asking you to select the user who manages your Google Business Profile. Choose your account from this list and confirm your selection.

Choosing Your Business

Finally, you'll see another menu where you need to choose your actual Google Business Profile from all the profiles associated with your account. This is especially important if you manage multiple businesses. Take a moment to make sure you're selecting the right business location.

Connection Complete

Select the correct profile and click "Confirm." That's it! Your Google integration is now complete. The platform will start importing your existing reviews and will monitor for new ones in real-time. You'll be able to respond to reviews directly from the dashboard, and all your Google review data will be included in your analytics.

Beyond Google: Other Review Platforms

After Google, you'll want to connect to other review platforms where your customers leave feedback. The process varies slightly depending on the platform, but it's generally quite simple. Let's use Yelp as an example since it's one of the most common review sites for local businesses.

Starting with Yelp

To connect to Yelp, just click the "Connect" button next to Yelp in your integrations list. Unlike Google, Yelp doesn't require you to log in. Instead, you just need to provide the link to your Yelp business page.

Finding Your Yelp Link

This is the URL that customers use to find your business on Yelp. The easiest way to get your correct Yelp link is to open Yelp in your web browser, search for your business, and then copy the URL from the address bar once you're on your business page.

Making Sure the Link is Correct

Here's an important detail: make sure the link you enter is correct. The platform will show you an example link so you can see the exact format it expects. Your link should look similar to this example. Double-check before submitting to avoid connection issues.

Completing the Yelp Connection

Paste this link into the connection field and confirm. The platform will verify the link and start monitoring your Yelp reviews. From that point forward, any new Yelp reviews will appear in your dashboard alongside your Google reviews, making it easy to manage everything in one place.

Connecting Additional Platforms

The same basic process applies to other review sites like TripAdvisor or Facebook. Some may require a login (similar to Google), while others just need a link to your business page (like Yelp). The platform will guide you through the specific requirements for each site you want to connect.

Understanding Text Channels

Text channels are the messaging methods you'll use to send review requests to your customers. Think of them as the ways you'll reach out to ask for reviews - whether that's through email, text message, or WhatsApp. Setting these up properly is essential because they're how you'll actively gather new reviews.

Channels Ready to Use Immediately

The good news is that some channels are enabled by default and ready to use right away. Email and SMS channels are automatically set up when you create your account, so you can start sending review requests through these methods immediately without any additional configuration. This makes it super easy to get started with your first review campaign.

Adding WhatsApp to Your Channels

However, if you want to use WhatsApp to send review requests, you'll need to take an extra step. WhatsApp requires you to connect your WhatsApp Business account, and to do this, you need to log in with your Facebook profile.

Why Facebook is Required for WhatsApp

Here's why Facebook is needed: WhatsApp Business accounts are managed through Facebook's Business Manager, so the two platforms are connected. This is a standard requirement set by WhatsApp, not something specific to our platform.

Connecting Your WhatsApp Business Account

To set up WhatsApp, find the WhatsApp option in your text channels section and click to connect it. You'll be prompted to log in with Facebook. Use the Facebook account that's associated with your WhatsApp Business account.

Completing the WhatsApp Setup

After logging in and giving the necessary permissions, your WhatsApp Business account will be connected to the platform. From that point on, you can send review requests via WhatsApp messages, which many customers prefer because it's quick, personal, and they're already checking WhatsApp regularly.

Choosing the Right Channel for Your Customers

Each text channel has its own strengths. Email is great for detailed requests and works for customers who prefer formal communication. SMS has incredibly high open rates and is perfect for quick, immediate requests. WhatsApp combines the best of both worlds with high engagement and a personal touch that customers appreciate.

The Power of Social Media Integration

Social media integration allows you to share your best reviews on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. This is a powerful way to showcase positive customer feedback and build trust with potential customers who are checking out your social media presence.

Building Credibility on Social Media

When people see real reviews from real customers on your social profiles, it adds credibility and can help convince them to choose your business. It's social proof at its finest - potential customers trust what other customers say more than what you say about yourself.

Connecting Instagram to Your Account

You can connect both Facebook and Instagram to the platform. Let's walk through how to connect to Instagram, since the process is very straightforward and similar for other social platforms.

Starting the Instagram Connection

To connect to Instagram, click the "Connect" button next to Instagram in your social media integrations section. You'll be prompted to log in using your Instagram account credentials.

Using the Right Instagram Account

Make sure you use the login information for your business Instagram page, not your personal account. Enter your Instagram username and password when prompted. This ensures reviews are shared to your business profile, where they'll have the most impact.

Granting Instagram Permissions

After you log in, Instagram will ask you to give consent for the platform to post on your behalf and access your account information. This is necessary so the platform can automatically share review posts to your Instagram feed. Go ahead and approve these permissions.

Instagram Connection Complete

Once you consent, the connection process is complete, and you'll see a confirmation that your Instagram account is now linked. Now, whenever you want to share a great review on Instagram, you can do it directly from the platform without having to log into Instagram separately.

Automatic Review Sharing

The platform can create beautiful graphics from your reviews and post them to your Instagram feed automatically or on a schedule you choose. This saves you time and ensures your social media stays active with fresh, authentic content.

Adding Facebook to Your Social Strategy

The process for connecting to Facebook is very similar. You'll log in with your Facebook credentials, give the necessary permissions, and then the platform will be able to share review posts to your Facebook business page.

Managing Multiple Social Platforms Effortlessly

Having both platforms connected means you can amplify your positive reviews across all your social media channels with just a few clicks. Instead of manually creating posts for each platform, you can share reviews everywhere at once.

Taking a Moment to Verify Everything

Before you move on to using the platform's other features, it's important to make sure all your integrations are properly set up. Think of this as a final quality check to ensure everything is connected and working correctly. Taking a few minutes to verify your integrations now will save you time and frustration later.

Checking Your Review Site Connections

Go back to your integrations page and review each section. Make sure all the review sites you want to monitor are showing as connected. You should see a confirmation or connected status next to each platform.

Fixing Any Connection Issues

If any platforms show as disconnected or need attention, go through the connection process again for those specific platforms. It's better to catch and fix these issues now rather than discover them later when you're trying to use the features.

Verifying Your Text Channels

Check your text channels next. Verify that email and SMS are enabled and ready to use. If you plan to use WhatsApp, make sure you have completed the Facebook login process and see WhatsApp listed as connected. These channels are crucial for your review request campaigns, so you want to be certain they're working before you start reaching out to customers.

Confirming Social Media Integrations

Finally, review your social media connections. If you want to share reviews on Facebook or Instagram, make sure both platforms show as successfully connected. Test that you have the right accounts linked - your business accounts, not personal ones.

You're Ready to Get Started

Once everything is confirmed and connected, you're ready to start using the platform to its full potential. Your reviews will start flowing into the dashboard, you'll be able to send review requests through your chosen channels, and you can begin sharing positive feedback on social media.

The Foundation is Set

The foundation is set, and now you can focus on actively managing and improving your online reputation. All the hard work of connecting integrations is behind you, and now you can enjoy the benefits of having everything in one centralized place.

Getting Help When You Need It

If you run into any issues during the integration process, don't hesitate to reach out to support. The team is here to help make sure everything connects smoothly so you can get started with confidence.