How it works

Google review reply workflow from draft to post

Connect Google Business Profile, teach the AI your voice, route risky reviews into approval, and post only the replies your rules allow.

Start free
Direct answer

How does the Google review reply workflow work?

The workflow starts when a Google review enters the queue. Local Review Reply drafts a response in the business voice, applies rating and sensitivity rules, then either holds the draft for approval or posts only after the business has allowed that review type.

A common launch setup is to auto-publish simple 5-star praise after brand voice training, keep 3-star and detailed 4-star reviews in approval, and always hold 1-star, 2-star, refund, staff-conduct, safety, legal, and medical reviews.

Automation boundary

Safe to speed up

Short positive reviews, repeatable thank-you wording, brand sign-offs, and location-specific phrasing after the business voice is trained.

Keep in approval

Low-star reviews, disputed facts, private customer details, serious complaints, and anything the owner needs to verify before replying publicly.

Owner stays in control

Approval rules decide what posts. The business can edit, regenerate, approve, reject, or leave a draft unpublished.

Workflow cluster

Where the approval workflow fits

The workflow

Set up once, save time forever

01

Connect your Google Business Profile

Authorise access with one click using your existing Google account. We use official Google OAuth — no passwords stored, ever. Select which locations you want to monitor.

  • One-click Google OAuth connection
  • Select one or multiple locations
  • Real-time review detection via Pub/Sub

Connect with Google

Secure OAuth authentication

Connected Locations

Mike's Plumbing — Main St

Connected

Mike's Plumbing — Westside

Connected

02

Brand Voice Settings

Friendly Professional Witty
"Thanks for choosing us" "We appreciate your feedback"
"Thanks so much for the great review! We're thrilled you had a positive experience with our team. Looking forward to seeing you again!"

Teach the AI your voice

Define how you want to sound. Choose from preset tones or describe your own. Add key phrases you always want included. The AI learns and adapts with every interaction.

  • Preset tones: Friendly, Professional, Witty, Empathetic
  • Custom tone descriptions
  • Per-location voice profiles
03

Review, approve, and post

New reviews appear in your dashboard instantly. AI drafts a reply within seconds. For high ratings, you can auto-post. For sensitive reviews, you approve before anything goes live.

  • One-click approve and post
  • Edit or regenerate any draft
  • Flagged review email alerts
Review Queue 3 new
SM

Sarah Miller — 5 stars

"Best plumber in the area..."

Draft ready
JD

James Donovan — 2 stars

"Took longer than promised..."

Needs approval
After signup

What happens after you connect Google?

1. Reviews arrive

New Google reviews enter the Local Review Reply queue for the connected location.

2. Drafts are created

The AI uses the rating, review text, brand voice, and location settings to draft a reply.

3. Rules route risk

Sensitive reviews are held for approval. Low-risk positive reviews can follow your auto-publish setting.

4. Approved replies post

Approved replies can be posted back to Google through the connected Business Profile workflow.

Approval examples

Which reviews can post automatically?

Start conservative. The safest launch pattern is to review early drafts manually, then enable auto-publish only for low-risk positive reviews once the wording consistently matches the business.

5-star, no issue

Approve first, then consider auto-publish

Low risk after brand voice is proven.

4-star with detail

Manual approval

Often includes a fix, wait time, price, or service note.

1-2 star review

Alert and hold

Needs fact checking and owner judgment before public reply.

Refund, safety, legal, medical, staff conduct

Always hold

Sensitive topics should not be handled by unattended automation.

Under the hood

What happens behind the scenes

Real-time detection

Google Pub/Sub pushes new reviews to our system within seconds. No polling, no delays. You're always first to know.

AI reply intelligence

OpenAI-powered drafting helps craft contextual, empathetic replies. The AI considers star rating, review text, and your brand voice simultaneously.

Safety first

Low-star reviews never post without your say. Sensitive replies are held for approval. Your reputation is never left to chance.

Get started

Ready to save hours every week?

Start free with the full workflow. No credit card required. Set up takes less than 2 minutes.