Surf or Sound Realty, a luxury vacation rental and real estate firm in North Carolina, partnered with Thrive Local to build its brand reputation through consistent and sustainable review generation.
Before the partnership, the company’s online rating hovered at 2.9 stars. Thrive Local implemented targeted review generation campaigns, using QR codes for seamless guest feedback collection.
This proactive approach transformed the client’s digital presence. Its average rating climbed to 4.2 stars with 1,405 new five-star reviews and counting.
4.2
Average Star Rating
+1,405
New 5-Star Reviews
Project Overview
Surf or Sound Realty came to Thrive Local seeking a comprehensive review management solution for its expanding property portfolio.
Thrive Local set up automated review request campaigns to reach guests immediately after checkout, making it quick and effortless for them to share their experience. This streamlined process removed barriers to participation and significantly increased the volume of reviews received.
The automated review system was also designed to gather private, property-specific feedback, which allowed the team to address concerns before they turned into negative public posts. To further boost engagement, QR codes were introduced across the properties to speed up responses and encourage higher participation rates from customers.
Additionally, Thrive Local delivered detailed custom monthly reports that broke down guest sentiment, trends and recurring themes by individual property. These reports became an essential operational tool, helping Surf or Sound Realty’s team prioritize maintenance and fine-tune amenities for each home.
The Results
Over four years of partnership, Thrive Local has helped Surf or Sound Realty achieve substantial reputation and business growth. The company’s Google rating jumped from 2.9 to 4.2 stars, showing a staggering 45% improvement in overall rating score. Thrive Local has also facilitated the collection of 1,405 new five-star reviews.
About the Client
Surf or Sound Realty is the largest locally-owned vacation rental and real estate firm on Hatteras Island, offering exceptional oceanfront and sound‑front properties with luxury amenities across every type of getaway. Since 1978, the company has delivered Southern hospitality and scenic Outer Banks escapes, continually updating its portfolio (now over 485 homes) to ensure guests enjoy unforgettable beach experiences.
