Personalized Photos That Get People to Act: "Hey Phil" Review Requests

Most review requests and follow-up texts look the same: a plain message and a link. People ignore them. So we add a personalized photo: the customer’s first name in big letters, held up by the person who actually did the work.

How it works

1. The automation builds the image. When a job closes, our system puts the customer’s first name on a photo of their tech, crew lead or sales rep.
2. It goes out with a short, friendly text. “Hey Phil! Would you mind leaving us a quick review about your experience working with us? A few words would mean a lot. Thanks!” plus the link.
3. It lands like a message from a person, not a marketing blast.
4. We follow up more than once. One text is easy to miss, so we reach out several times by text and email until the customer either leaves a review or tells us they’d rather not.
5. Then we ask for an introduction. Once a customer leaves a review, they’ve just told the world they’re happy. That’s the perfect moment to ask: “Who do you know who could use us too?” We ask for introductions, not referrals, because people find it easier to introduce a friend than to “refer” one.

A real request we sent. The customer’s last name and phone number are hidden.

Why it works

• People notice their own name. A big “Hey Phil” stops the scroll in a way a logo never does.
• A real face builds trust. It’s the person they met, so the ask feels personal and easy to say yes to.
• It feels like a thank-you, not a sales pitch. The playful pose makes people smile, and people who smile are more likely to help.

Where else we use it

The same idea works for any action you want people to take: review requests, referral asks, appointment reminders, estimate follow-ups and win-back texts to past customers. It’s part of our Review + Referral Reactivation System.

We send the same ask to every customer, never only the happy ones, and only text people who agreed to get messages from the business.