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Hey there,
Welcome back. And a warm hello to anyone joining us for the first time. Glad you found us.
Quick recap of where we have been:
This week we are talking about online reviews.
Both sides of them.
Most of us have meant to leave a review for a great local restaurant, a contractor who did a fantastic job, or an Airbnb host who went above and beyond. We meant to. We just never got around to actually writing it. And if you run a small business, rent out a property, or sell anything online, you have probably stared at a negative review at some point and had absolutely no idea how to respond without making things worse.
AI is genuinely great at both. Let me show you.
Part one: writing a review that actually helps someone
Most people either skip writing reviews entirely or dash off something like "great place, highly recommend" that does not really tell the next person anything useful. A good review is specific. It mentions what was great, gives enough detail to be helpful, and sounds like a real human wrote it. AI can give you a strong first draft in seconds. You just add your personal touch before you post it.
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1. Reviewing a local business or restaurant
You had a great meal at a family-run spot in your neighbourhood. The service was excellent and you want to say so. But every time you open Google, you stare at the blank box and close the tab. Sound familiar?
Tell AI what you liked and a few specific details, and it will turn your rough notes into a review that is actually helpful to the next person who finds that business online. Small businesses in Canada live and die by their Google reviews. A good one from you genuinely makes a difference.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Help me write a [STAR RATING]-star Google review for [TYPE OF BUSINESS] in [YOUR CITY], Canada. Here is what I want to mention: [YOUR NOTES / HIGHLIGHTS]. Make it sound genuine and specific, not like a generic template. Keep it under 100 words." |
Ready to use example:
| "Help me write a five-star Google review for a family-run Vietnamese restaurant in Winnipeg. I want to mention that the pho was incredible, the owner remembered us from our last visit even though it had been months, and the place always feels warm and welcoming. Make it sound genuine and specific, not like a generic template. Keep it under 100 words." |
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2. Reviewing a product on Amazon
You bought something online, it worked out great, and you keep meaning to leave a review because you know those reviews are what convinced you to buy it in the first place. But writing one from scratch feels like more effort than it is worth.
It is not. With AI, it takes about two minutes. Tell it what you bought, what you liked, and who you think it would be a good fit for. It handles the rest.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Help me write an Amazon review for [PRODUCT NAME OR DESCRIPTION]. I have been using it for [TIMEFRAME] and here is what I want to say: [YOUR NOTES]. Keep it honest, specific, and helpful for someone who is thinking about buying it. Under 100 words." |
Ready to use example:
| "Help me write an Amazon review for a cordless snow blower I bought in November. I have been using it all winter and it has been fantastic for my driveway in Saskatoon. I want to mention how easy it is to start, that it handles packed snow better than I expected, and that I would recommend it to anyone with a single-car driveway. Keep it honest, specific, and helpful for someone thinking about buying it. Under 100 words." |
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Part two: responding to reviews (for anyone who receives them)
If you run a business, rent out a property, sell on Etsy, or offer any kind of service, people are leaving reviews about you. How you respond matters. Potential customers read your replies just as closely as the reviews themselves. A thoughtful response to a negative review can actually build more trust than a glowing one with no reply at all.
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3. Responding to a glowing five-star review
Someone loved their experience and took the time to say so. The trap is writing the same response every time. "Thanks for the great review!" gets old fast and starts to look automated. AI helps you write something that actually acknowledges what the person said, so it feels real.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write a warm, genuine reply to this five-star review for my [BUSINESS / AIRBNB / ETSY SHOP / SERVICE] in [YOUR CITY], Canada. The review says: [PASTE THE REVIEW TEXT]. Keep the reply under 75 words, sound like a real person, and do not use the phrase 'thank you for your feedback'." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write a warm, genuine reply to this five-star review for my Airbnb cottage near Wasaga Beach, Ontario. The review says: 'Absolutely perfect stay. The place was spotless, the host was so responsive, and the fire pit made for the best evenings. Already looking at dates to come back.' Keep the reply under 75 words, sound like a real person, and do not use the phrase 'thank you for your feedback'." |
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4. Responding to a fair but critical review
Three stars. The person had a mixed experience and mentioned something specific that went wrong. This is actually the easiest critical review to handle well, because there is a real issue you can acknowledge honestly. The goal is to validate their experience without being defensive and show other readers you take feedback seriously.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write a professional and empathetic response to this three-star review for my [BUSINESS / SERVICE / LISTING] in [YOUR CITY], Canada. The review says: [PASTE THE REVIEW TEXT]. Acknowledge the issue, do not be defensive, and invite them to connect directly if they want to talk it through. Keep it under 100 words." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write a professional and empathetic response to this three-star review for my plumbing company in Edmonton, Alberta. The review says: 'The work was good but the technician was 45 minutes late and did not call ahead. Would have been five stars otherwise.' Acknowledge the issue, do not be defensive, and invite them to connect directly if they want to talk it through. Keep it under 100 words." |
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5. Responding to an angry one-star review
Someone had a bad experience and they are not being subtle about it. Maybe they are right. Maybe they are not. Either way, ignoring it or firing back are both bad moves. This is where AI is most valuable, because it takes the emotion out of the equation and helps you respond like the professional you are.
Fill in the blank prompt:
| "Write a calm, professional response to this one-star review for my [BUSINESS / SERVICE / LISTING] in [YOUR CITY], Canada. The review says: [PASTE THE REVIEW TEXT]. [OPTIONAL: Here is the context on what actually happened: ADD YOUR CONTEXT.] Do not be defensive or dismissive. Acknowledge their frustration, keep it brief, and offer to resolve it offline. Keep it under 100 words." |
Ready to use example:
| "Write a calm, professional response to this one-star review for my catering company in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The review says: 'Absolutely terrible. Food arrived cold, half the order was wrong, and no one answered the phone when I called to complain. Never again.' Do not be defensive or dismissive. Acknowledge their frustration, keep it brief, and offer to resolve it offline. Keep it under 100 words." |
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One thing that applies to all of the above
Whether you are writing a review or responding to one, always read the AI draft before you post it. Make sure it sounds like you. Add a personal detail where you can. And if the first draft is not quite right, just push back. "Make it shorter" or "make it sound less formal" are completely fair instructions.
You are always in charge of the final version. AI just gets you most of the way there without the blank page problem.
Your challenge this week
Pick one thing from this issue and do it today. Write that Google review you have been meaning to leave for a local business that deserves it. Or if you are on the receiving end, go find one review sitting there with no response and reply to it. Either way, it takes less than five minutes with AI and it makes a real difference.
Coming up next week
Issue 8 is a deep dive into Claude, the AI writing tool I use every single day. If you have heard about it but never tried it, or tried it once and were not sure what to do with it, this one is going to clear that up. It is one of the most powerful tools available right now and most Canadians have never touched it.
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AI assisted, Human led.
Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer.
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As always, I read every reply personally. Is there a local business in your city that deserves a great review but probably does not have many? Hit reply and tell me about them. I love hearing about the good ones.
If you found this useful, pass it along to someone who could use a hand. The more Canadians who feel confident with this stuff, the better.
Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?
theaieh.ca 🍁
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