Imagine this: a potential customer visits your website, fills out your enquiry form, hits submit, and… nothing. No confirmation, no acknowledgment, just silence. Now they're left wondering: Did the form go through? Will I get a response? Should I fill it out again?
Just think how frustrated and annoyed your customer would be.
That's why you need automated responses.
Automated responses provide instant reassurance to your customers that their message has been received. It’s not just about good manners; it’s about building trust and managing expectations.
To make the most of automated responses, I recommend doing both of the following:
Add a “Thank You” Message on Your Website
When a visitor submits your form, redirect them to a dedicated “Thank You” page that says something specific like: "Thank you for your enquiry! We’ll get back to you within three working days." This instant acknowledgment reassures the user, prevents them from resubmitting the form unnecessarily and sets expectations.
Set an Automated Email Confirmation
Once the form is submitted, an email is automatically sent to the user’s email address. This email should include:
A confirmation that their enquiry has been received.
Your contact details, so they can easily contact again if needed.
A clear timeline for when they can expect a response.
For example: "Thank you for your message! We’ve received your enquiry and will get back to you within three working days."
Consistency is key. The thank-you message on your website and the automated email should contain the same information. Be specific about your response time, especially if you’re a small business that might not reply instantly.
For instance: "We’ll respond to your enquiry within three working days. Thank you for your patience!"
Automated responses are particularly important for small businesses with limited resources. They act as a buffer, giving you breathing room to manage enquiries while ensuring your customers feel acknowledged and valued.
Automated responses are essential for good customer service. They improve the user experience, build trust and set expectations.
So, take a moment today to review your enquiry forms. Do they have built-in automated responses? If not, it’s time to make the change. Your customers will thank you for it!
Looking for help with your website? I specialise in creating user-friendly, websites for small service-based businesses. Get in touch to learn more!