After estimate follow ups can mean the difference between getting the job and time wasted. In this age of COVID, business is not guaranteed. It has left many small business owners reflecting how they can strengthen their business in the future. We’ve previously discussed the use of systems to automate as a way to manage business and run it successfully. If you haven’t read the article yet, click here. The goal would be to combine making money from an automated system and allow the system to repeat itself and continue to make money over time.

According to BidClips, when customers use follow-ups, they experience an increase of up to 23% in overall sales. When the follow up is automated, it repeats itself without much intervention and continues to remind customers to make a decision on the estimate.

One of the most compelling reasons for following up is that they are effective at generating results. They give you a good idea on which leads are strong leads and should be worked on. They tell which are most likely lost and should just be monitored. This categorization will increase the productivity of your workforce by giving everyone a unified direction on which customers are valuable in pursuing.

So, what’s the best way to set up automated after estimate follow ups?

Determine your cadence

The best place to start, when creating a follow up system, is to consider how often you want to reach out to your potential customers. At BidClips, we have found that most people will book within 2.3 days. A follow up (via text/email) is very effective when sent one hour after the initial bid, and then again 24 hours later. Also it’s beneficial to keep them going after that initial 3 day window.

Decide your follow-up channels

The next step is to decide on your follow-up channels. Will you send texts, emails, or simply call the customer?

Communicate your plan

If you have a team, it is important that you communicate your new expectations for following-up. Nothing is worse for an employee than misunderstanding why your boss is angry with your performance.

Set reminders

Once you have you or your team’s cadence in place, set reminders! We all get caught up in other tasks sometimes. A nudge from a reminder can help us follow through with our goals.

Evaluate software to save you time

If you still have a stack of paper leads that need follow-ups, or you don’t have the staff to do it, it’s time to start considering software for your business.

Service industry specific software such as BidClips, can take the hassle out of after estimate follow ups for you. BidClips can help you organize your service requests and automatically follow-up via text and email (with a customized message that tells your story). Also, it can help you automate tasks for phone follow-ups and keep track of your team’s performance. It’s one of the easiest adjustments you can make to create a system that will make a return on its investment.

BidClips empowers home services teams to build better customer experiences. With their interactive quote builder and automated follow-ups, it's never been easier to impress your customers and grow your business.

If you are interested in saving time and growing your business, you can request a demo here. Get one month FREE by mentioning abc Window Cleaning Supply when you sign up.

This blog was written in collaboration with BidClips.