Time Release Messaging (TRM) is a powerful tool that allows you to manage and customize marketing and follow-up emails for your customers and real estate agents. With TRM, you can schedule emails to be sent a specific amount of days after report upload to ensure timely communication and engagement. Here's a comprehensive guide to getting started with TRM and making the most out of its features:

Access TRM

1. Login to your Inspector Dashboard
2. Click on My Reports > TRM
   

Getting Started with TRM

When you first start using TRM, the first step is to Add a new template. Here is how:

1. Click Add a new template
   
2. Follow the instructions in Add Templates section of this article, starting at step 3

Managing TRM's

If you have a TRM template set up you can manage your templates, search events, and see TRM's that are scheduled.

1. Manage your Templates: To create new TRM templates or edit existing ones.
2. Search Your Events: You can search for all events by address, person, or TRM template to keep track of your communications.
   
3. Scheduled Events: This section displays a list of all future events that are scheduled to be sent out.

Adding Templates

1. Click the Manage Your Templates button to add or edit a TRM template
2. Template Options:
   1. My TRM Templates: This section displays templates you've created
   2. Start with a Blank Template: Click here to create a template from scratch
   3. Premade Templates: Choose from pre-made templates and customize them to fit your needs
3. Fill out the Template form. In the Editing Template section of this article, it covers details about the Template form. 
4. Click Add Template when finished

Editing Templates

1. Template Details:
   1. Template Label: This is a title for your TRM template, visible only to you.
   2. Send this Message: Set the timing for when you want the TRM to be sent. Choose the number of days, weeks, or months.
   3. Subject: This is the subject line of the email that your customers will see.
   4. Email Text: Use the full-featured text editor to edit the body of the email. You can use replacement fields to add dynamic content (e.g., ${RECIP_FNAME}).
   5. Replacement Fields: Scroll down to find a list of replacement fields you can use to personalize your message.
2. Click Edit Template when done

Scheduling a TRM

1. Go to the All Reports section of your Dashboard
2. Locate a report and click Manage TRM inside the report folder
   
3. Choose a TRM message to send and click Schedule. You'll see the customer who will receive the message and when it will be sent.
   
4. You will now see that the email has been scheduled and when it will be sent to your customer
   
5. If you want to prevent a TRM from being sent, click Delete Event before the scheduled date to avoid email from going out

Creating a Google Review TRM

HomeGauge provides a Rate Me premade template. It guides customers to rate you through HomeGauge. However, having your customers review your Google Business page can drive more business by providing great marketing. Here is how to create a Google Review TRM:

1. Open up a private window in your Internet browser. It's important that you go ahead in a private window because it will allow you to access the info needed while being signed out of a current account, i.e., as if you were the actual customer.
   
   • In Google Chrome: Click the menu button in the top right-hand corner (viewed as three vertical dots) and select New Incognito Window.
   • In Firefox: Click the menu button (viewed by three horizontal lines) and select New Private Window.
   • • In Microsoft Edge: Click the menu button (viewed as three horizontal dots) and select New InPrivate Window.
2. Navigate to www.google.com and search for your own company along with your city.
3. Locate the Google Knowledge Graph sidebar found on the right side of the browser. Click the map for your company.
   
4. In the information sidebar, click Share.
   
5. A modal box will appear containing a link. You will need to copy that link.
   
6. Go to your inspector dashboard. Then click My Reports > TRM
7. Click Manage your Templates 
8. Click Start with a blank template
9. Enter a Template label, we suggest Google Rating (for customer)
10. In Send this message fill out how long after the report upload, we suggest 2 days. 
11. Enter a Subject we suggest Thank you! Mind sharing your experience with my company?
12. Fill out email text. Here is a suggestion of text:
    

    Thank you ${RECIP_FNAME}! ${PERSONAL_NOTE} I am hoping that you will take just a second to tell me how I did. Please click here to review me on Google. Scroll down and click the "Write a review" button. Thank you ${RECIP_FNAME} for taking the time to help me improve my company! ${INSP_NAME} ${INSP_COMPANY} ${INSP_WORKPHONE} ${INSP_EMAIL}

13. Locate the sentence directing people to Google. Highlight an appropriate word and the click the Link button from the toolbar.
    
14. Paste the link that was copied from Google into the URL field and then click OK.
    
15. Click Add Template or Save Template.
16. The link will bring users to the Google business page. You may need to direct customers to click the reviews link to find the button allowing them to write a review.