Automation
Missed-Call Text-Back for Contractors
Missed-call text-back is an automatic text message sent to a caller when your business cannot answer. It tells the customer you saw the call, asks what they need and keeps the conversation going until a person can call back. For contractors who are often on a roof, under a sink or in an attic, it can keep a lead from going to the next company on the list. KNKO Global sets it up for HVAC, plumbing and roofing companies across the United States.
How it works
When a call goes unanswered, or is answered after hours, your phone system or messaging tool sends one short text to that number. The customer replies, and the reply goes to a person or a monitored inbox. A good setup also logs the lead, alerts the right person and stops the automation once a human takes over.
What to say
Keep the message short, friendly and specific to your company. A simple version is: Hi, this is [Company]. Sorry we missed your call. What do you need help with, and what is the best time to reach you? For emergencies, call [number]. Reply STOP to opt out.
Avoid promising a price, a time of arrival or availability that your team has not confirmed. Do not write the message so that it sounds like a person is typing if it is automated, and make it easy to reach a human.
Consent and messaging rules
Text messages sent by businesses are regulated. In the United States, rules about consent, opt-out handling and carrier registration for business messaging apply, and states and carriers have their own requirements. A customer who calls you has not necessarily agreed to marketing texts, so keep the automatic message about the call itself, include an opt-out and honor it immediately. Check the current rules for your situation and your messaging provider, and ask a qualified professional if you are unsure.
Setup checklist
- Decide who receives replies, and what the backup is if they do not answer.
- Write the message and have another person read it.
- Register your business number as your messaging provider requires.
- Set quiet hours, so no one gets a text in the middle of the night unless you intend it.
- Route emergencies to a phone number, not only to a text thread.
- Test it with your own phone before turning it on.
- Review the conversations each week and adjust.
What it cannot do
A text-back does not replace answering the phone. It keeps the door open until you can. It will not help if replies are ignored, if the first message is vague or if no one is responsible for the follow-up. It also cannot fix a slow site or a weak profile, which is why we set it up alongside the rest of your lead handling.
What your first 30 days look like
- Week 1, audit: we review your website, Google Business Profile, call handling, lead sources and the questions customers ask before they book.
- Week 2, plan and tracking: we agree on priorities, set up call and form tracking, and draft the follow-up messages and page changes.
- Week 3, first fixes go live: profile corrections, updates to your most important pages, and the first follow-up automation.
- Week 4, review and next steps: we go through what the numbers show, what to build next and a plan for the following quarter.
This is a typical outline, not a promise of results. Scope and timing depend on your business, and we agree them with you before any work starts.
Questions
Is it the same as an AI receptionist? No. A text-back sends a message after a missed call. An AI receptionist can answer and handle conversations.
Will it work with my current phone number? Often yes, depending on your phone provider. We check this in the audit.
Do you guarantee more booked jobs? No. We make sure missed calls get a prompt reply, and we measure what happens next.
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