How do I set up automated SMS follow-ups for my tradie business?

Most website contact form builders (Typeform, Jotform, Google Forms) can trigger a webhook or Zapier automation when a form is submitted. That automation can fire an SMS via a tool like Twilio or an email via any email provider within seconds. The simpler route for most tradies: enable your website's built-in form notifications, set up an auto-reply email in your email client, and manually follow up by phone as soon as you have a break.

What should an automated follow-up text say?

"Hi [Name], thanks for reaching out to [Business Name]. Got your enquiry — I'll give you a call later today. If it's urgent, reach me on [mobile number]. Cheers, [Your first name]." Under 30 words. Personal tone. Includes a phone number. That is the entire message. Do not include pricing, services, or links to your website at this stage.

Is automated SMS marketing legal in New Zealand?

Automated SMS to customers who have submitted an enquiry form is not marketing — it is a transactional follow-up and is not covered by the Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act 2007. Sending bulk promotional SMS to a purchased or scraped list without consent is not permitted. The distinction is consent: a person who filled in your contact form has initiated contact and is expecting a response.

What is a good conversion rate from enquiry to booked job for a tradie?

With no follow-up system, a typical tradie converts 20–30% of online enquiries to booked jobs. With a fast automated acknowledgement plus a personal callback within 2 hours, conversion rates of 40–60% are achievable. The difference is almost entirely in response time and consistency — not in the quality of the quote or the price.

Should I follow up leads more than once?

Yes, but be measured. An automated acknowledgement immediately, then a personal callback or text within 2 hours, then one final follow-up if you have not heard back in 48 hours. Three touchpoints is the right ceiling for a residential tradie. More than that tips into being annoying. The goal is to stay front of mind, not to harass someone who is choosing another option.

Logan McLaughlin·12 August 2026

Automated Texts and Emails After Enquiries: How NZ Tradies Convert More Leads Without Extra Work

An automated acknowledgement sent within 5 minutes of a new enquiry dramatically increases the chance that lead becomes a booked job. It does not replace a personal callback — it holds the lead warm until you can call. Here is how NZ tradies can set this up without a marketing background or an expensive tool.

The problem is not that tradies do not want to respond quickly. It is that they physically cannot — they are on the tools, driving between jobs, or covered in paint. By the time they check their messages, the customer has moved on.

Automation solves the timing problem. A message fires immediately when the enquiry comes in. The customer feels seen. They wait for the callback. You call when you have a break. The job stays on the table.

What Automation Actually Does (and Does Not Do)

Automation does not close jobs. You close jobs. Automation does one thing: it stops leads going cold in the gap between enquiry and your first personal contact. That gap is where most tradie businesses leak revenue.

The message does not need to be sophisticated. "Got your message, I'll call you this afternoon, here's my mobile if it's urgent" is enough. It signals that you are responsive and organised before the customer has spoken to anyone else.

Three Ways to Set This Up

Option 1: Email auto-reply (zero cost, 10 minutes)

Set up an auto-reply in your email client (Gmail, Outlook) that sends whenever you receive an email to your business address. Write it to sound like a personal message. This is imperfect — it fires on every email, not just enquiries — but it is better than nothing and takes 10 minutes.

Option 2: Website form notification + manual SMS (low cost, 20 minutes)

Enable email notifications on your contact form. When you receive the notification on your phone, send a quick personal SMS to the number they provided. Not automated, but if you are checking your phone every hour, this keeps response time under 60 minutes consistently.

Option 3: Full automation via Zapier or Make (moderate cost, 1–2 hours setup)

Connect your contact form to a Zapier workflow that fires an SMS (via Twilio) and an email within seconds of a new submission. This is the full solution — zero manual effort, sub-60-second response, consistent every time. Setup takes 1–2 hours once and then runs itself.

The Follow-Up Sequence

Immediate auto-response → personal callback within 2 hours → one follow-up SMS or call if no response after 48 hours. That is the complete sequence. Three touchpoints. After that, let it go — a customer who has not responded after three attempts has made their decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

For why response time is so critical, read Response Time Wins Jobs: Why Slow Replies Cost NZ Tradies Serious Money. For the missed calls version of this problem, read Every Missed Call Is Money Down the Drain: What NZ Tradies Actually Lose.