The New Word of Mouth: Leveraging AI to Boost Reviews, Referrals & Local SEO

October 1, 2025

For decades, word of mouth has been the gold standard for growing a local business. But in today’s digital-first world, word of mouth has evolved. The good news? Artificial Intelligence (AI) can amplify your reach, streamline your review generation, and take your referral programs to the next level.


Why AI is the New Word of Mouth


Modern consumers turn to Google and social platforms before making buying decisions. What they find—reviews, ratings, and local search results—acts as today’s version of “word of mouth.”

By leveraging AI-powered tools, businesses can:

  • Boost review volume with automated follow-ups
  • Drive referrals by making it simple for happy customers to share
  • Enhance local SEO through consistent, keyword-rich review content and reputation management


3 Ways to Use AI for Reviews, Referrals & Local SEO


  • AI-Powered Review Generation: AI tools can automatically send personalized text or email reminders, at the right time, with the right tone. They can even analyze customer sentiment to know who’s most likely to leave a glowing review. 
  • Smarter Referral Programs: AI can identify your most loyal customers and invite them to join referral programs. By tracking usage and engagement patterns, it can serve up timely incentives—like discounts or free washes—for referring friends.
  • Local SEO Enhancement: Google rewards businesses with frequent, authentic, and keyword-rich reviews. AI helps by monitoring your review profiles, suggesting responses, and ensuring your listings stay updated with consistent branding.


Benefits for Local Businesses


When used strategically, AI-driven review and referral programs can:

  • Increase visibility in Google’s Local Pack
  • Strengthen credibility with a steady stream of positive reviews
  • Lower acquisition costs by turning happy customers into advocates
  • Boost long-term loyalty through personalized experiences


How Welcomemat Helps


At Welcomemat, we combine AI technology with proven local marketing strategies to help car washes owners and oporaters. We believe the future of word of mouth is digital—and AI is the engine that makes it scalable.

Book a free marketing consultation to see how we can turn everyday customers into your most powerful marketers.

October 22, 2025
When temperatures drop, so does wash volume. But that doesn’t mean your bays have to sit empty. Fall is one of the best times to roll out creative, seasonal car wash marketing campaigns that boost community engagement, increase memberships, and keep your brand top-of-mind before winter. Why Fall Promotions Matter for Car Wash Marketing  As demand naturally dips after summer, many washes see slower traffic and lower revenue. That’s why seasonal promotions for car washes are key to maintaining consistent volume. When your competitors are pulling back, your business can stand out with fun, community-driven car wash events and targeted digital marketing campaigns that attract families and local drivers.
October 17, 2025
Atlanta, GA – Welcomemat has announced the launch of new AI-powered email and text campaign tools within its GTX platform, enhancing its FlexTextTM service. The integrated feature creates an all-in-one communication hub, helping car washes streamline content creation, campaign management, and customer engagement, all from a single dashboard. The new Email Campaign Builder offers a library of professionally designed templates and fully customizable layouts. Users can easily swap images, adjust colors, and edit copy, no technical expertise needed. Complementing the email feature, the AI Message Generator produces compelling email and text copy based on a short description or topic. This helps users craft high-quality messages in minutes, saving valuable time while improving message consistency and tone. The Text Campaign Builder adds automation and compliance to the process, automatically shortening links for performance tracking and including built-in opt-out messaging for regulation adherence. Campaigns can be created, tested, and launched seamlessly, offering complete control and flexibility. The new tools also make it easier for clients to monitor performance. Users can view metrics such as sends, bounces, and responses directly through GTX to measure effectiveness and optimize future campaigns. “This powerful tool will revolutionize how you engage with your consumers,” said Vice President Jonathan Kierman. “By combining automation, AI, and data-driven insight, we’re empowering car washes to communicate smarter and faster than ever before.” With these updates, Welcomemat continues to strengthen its position as a leader in local marketing technology, delivering efficient, scalable solutions for modern businesses. About Welcomemat Welcomemat is a digital marketing and technology company specializing in scalable growth strategies for car wash operators. From AI-driven local SEO and customer engagement tools to custom websites and data-backed ad campaigns, Welcomemat helps car wash brands expand, retain, and thrive.