Podium: Customer Messaging and Local Business Growth Platform

Podium is a powerful, all-in-one customer messaging and communication platform tailored specifically for local businesses. Designed to streamline interactions across multiple channels—including SMS, webchat, Google, Facebook, and Instagram—Podium helps businesses improve customer relationships, gather more reviews, and increase conversions. It centralizes all messages into a unified inbox, allowing teams to respond faster and more effectively while maintaining a personal touch.

Originally built to simplify review collection, Podium has evolved into a comprehensive suite for customer engagement, including features for lead capture, feedback management, payment processing, marketing automation, and team collaboration. Its mission is to help brick-and-mortar and service-based businesses compete in the digital age by enhancing their online presence and communication tools.

Key Features

• Unified Inbox
  Manage all messages from text, email, website chat, Google Business Messages, Instagram, and Facebook Messenger in a single dashboard. Ensure your team never misses a lead or customer message.

• Webchat
  Add an intelligent chat widget to your website that converts visitors into text message conversations, enabling more direct and responsive communication.

• Reviews Management
  Automatically request and manage online reviews on platforms like Google and Facebook to boost your reputation and SEO visibility. Easily track, respond to, and analyze review trends.

• Text Marketing
  Launch personalized SMS marketing campaigns to engage customers with promotions, announcements, or updates. Segment contacts based on behavior or past interactions.

• Podium Payments
  Accept payments via text with secure, mobile-friendly invoicing and checkout. Ideal for service businesses or those offering remote payments.

• Team Chat & Collaboration
  Internal communication features ensure teams stay aligned on customer messages and responsibilities, improving efficiency and response rates.

• Feedback and Surveys
  Collect real-time customer feedback to identify areas for improvement and track satisfaction scores.

• CRM & Contact Management
  Automatically build a contact list from your messaging, review, and payment interactions, enabling long-term relationship nurturing and re-engagement.

Use Case Highlights

• Retail & Automotive Dealerships
  Improve showroom visits by engaging leads early via text, offering virtual consultations, and enabling contactless payments.

• Home Services & Trades
  Text quotes, schedule appointments, collect payments, and gather reviews—all from a mobile device, improving field team communication and customer experience.

• Medical & Dental Practices
  Reduce no-shows and improve patient communication with appointment reminders, secure messaging, and automated review requests.

• Hospitality & Real Estate
  Engage clients before and after visits, boost referrals with reviews, and streamline communication for bookings or property tours.

Benefits

• Faster Customer Response Times
  Centralizing communication allows businesses to respond quickly, improving satisfaction and increasing the chances of closing deals.

• Boosted Online Reputation
  With automated review requests, companies can generate dozens or hundreds of new 5-star reviews, increasing trust and visibility.

• Higher Conversion Rates
  Text messaging outperforms email and cold calling for engagement. Podium helps convert more leads into paying customers.

• Simplified Payment Process
  Offering text-based payments increases flexibility and improves the likelihood of on-time transactions.

• Better Team Productivity
  Podium’s collaborative tools and unified inbox prevent duplicate efforts and streamline internal coordination.

• Mobile-first Experience
  Everything can be managed from a smartphone, making it ideal for on-the-go teams.

User Experience

Podium provides a clean, intuitive interface with minimal training required. Most businesses can be up and running within days. With a mobile app and desktop dashboard, team members can access and respond to messages anytime, anywhere. The platform is designed for non-technical users, offering automation, templates, and integrations to streamline operations without overwhelming complexity.

Customer support is responsive and helpful, offering onboarding and success managers for new clients. Podium also provides resources such as webinars, guides, and community groups to help users get the most from the platform.