Most sunroom contractors think getting more reviews is simply a matter of asking. The truth is that the system behind the request matters far more than the request itself. If your approach is inconsistent, slow, or difficult to maintain during busy season, reviews stall and leads slow down. This guide shows how to choose the best review system for your business so you can grow your reviews and leads in a consistent, predictable way.
The Three Approaches
Sunroom companies generally choose from three paths when managing reviews:
- DIY Manual System
- Automated Platform
- Full-Service Management
Each option works for different business sizes and levels of discipline. Here is what each path really costs for a sunroom business.
Option 1: DIY Manual System
Best for: Revenue under $500K, owner-managed companies, and contractors who enjoy building systems.
Initial Setup Investment
Time: 8 to 12 hours over 1 to 2 weeks
Money: $0 to $50 per month
What you build:
- Review request text and email scripts
- Templates for responses
- Tracking spreadsheet
- A “request at the right moment” checklist
- Review library for proposals and website
- Calendar reminders so nothing is forgotten
Weekly Maintenance
Time: 2 to 3 hours per week
Monday: identify customers and send requests
Wednesday: check and respond to new reviews
Friday: follow up with non-responders
As needed: add reviews to website/proposals and train your team
Responsibilities
You handle everything: asking, following up, writing every response, monitoring your GBP, and tracking all activity manually.
Realistic Outcomes
With perfect discipline:
- 1 to 3 reviews monthly
- Response time 24 to 48 hours
- Quality varies
- System breaks down as workload increases
Typical pattern: Month 1: 2–3 reviews. Months 2–3: 1–2. Month 4+: 0–1.
Hidden Costs
Manual review management consumes 100 to 150 hours annually.
You lose time for estimates, field training, and operations.
Inconsistent review velocity lowers rankings and reduces homeowner trust.
When Manual Makes Sense
- Revenue under $500K
- Small team
- You enjoy building systems
- Fewer than 10 projects per month
When Manual Does Not Make Sense
- Busy schedule
- Forgetfulness
- 15+ projects monthly
- Time worth more than $50–$75/hr
Option 2: Automated Platform (SCM – Sunroom Contractor Marketing)
Best for: Revenue $500K to $3M, ready to scale, want automation beyond reviews.
Initial Setup
Time: 1 to 2 hours
Money: Included in Growth Kit or Growth Accelerator
We set up:
- Automated triggers
- Templates
- Review library sync
- Notifications
- Integrations
- Local SEO foundation
- GBP optimization
Weekly Maintenance
Time: 30 to 45 minutes
You respond using templates, review metrics, approve adjustments, and meet monthly for optimization.
What’s Automated
Review requests, follow-ups, monitoring, organization, reporting, and GBP/website integration.
What You Still Do
Approve or personalize responses.
Realistic Outcomes
- 3 to 8 reviews per month
- Response time under 24 hours
- Higher consistency and quality
- System runs even in peak season
ROI
Saves 100+ hours annually.
Improves visibility, trust, calls, and proposal close rates.
One extra project per quarter often covers the cost.
When Automation Makes Sense
- 10 to 20+ projects monthly
- Revenue $500K to $3M
- You want systems
- Time worth $75+/hr
When Automation Does Not Make Sense
- Under $500K revenue
- Fewer than 8 projects monthly
- Cannot commit to a monthly program
Option 3: Full-Service Review Management
Best for: Revenue $1M+, aggressive growth, want full integration.
Setup
Time: Almost none
Money: Part of Growth Accelerator
We handle:
- Review engine setup
- Monitoring
- Drafting responses
- Website updates
- Proposal review sections
- Social proof
- GBP strategy
- Content creation
- Paid ads
- Monthly strategy meetings
Your Time
About 20 minutes weekly to approve responses and skim metrics.
Outcomes
- 5 to 12 reviews monthly
- Response time under 12 hours
- Highest quality and consistency
- Full integration across channels
Strategic Value
Reviews fuel your website, GBP, proposals, emails, social content, and long-term local SEO signals.
When Full Service Makes Sense
- $1M+ revenue
- Time worth $150+/hr
- Need systems, not tasks
- Want long-term growth
Tools vs Systems: The Truth
The tool matters less than consistency.
Manual systems fail because of remembering.
Automation wins because it never forgets, never skips follow-ups, and works even when you are busy.
FAQ: Common Questions Sunroom Contractors Ask About Reviews
Do Google reviews help sunroom contractors get more leads?
Yes. Reviews improve Google Business Profile rankings, increase map pack visibility, build trust, and lead to more calls and higher proposal acceptance rates.
What is the best review platform for contractors?
SCM – Sunroom Contractor Marketing is ideal for single-location sunroom companies because it integrates reviews into Local SEO and GBP optimization. BirdEye suits multi-location brands, Podium is ideal for text-heavy communication, and Grade.us is budget-friendly. The best system is the one you use consistently.
Is it worth paying for a review management service?
Yes. Contractors completing 10+ projects monthly benefit from automation or full-service systems that save time, increase visibility, and generate more projects than manual methods.
Can contractors respond to reviews automatically?
You can use templates to speed responses, but fully automated public replies are discouraged. Personalized responses perform better with homeowners and Google.
How long does it take for new reviews to improve local rankings?
Most contractors see ranking improvement within 60–90 days when review velocity increases consistently.
What happens if a contractor stops using a review system?
You keep your reviews, but visibility drops as review velocity slows. Competitors with steady reviews gain ranking, and homeowners notice when your last review is several months old.