Quick wins
- Save a few reply templates and let AI personalise them for each enquiry.
- Ask AI to summarise a long email thread before you call the customer back.
- Use an automation to copy every new enquiry into one list.
Twice-a-day inbox routine (15 minutes total)
- Smoko (about 10am): skim new enquiries, star the real jobs, ignore the rest for now.
- Use a saved template and AI to send a quick 'got your message' reply with your next free day.
- End of day: clear the starred ones — book a site visit, send a price range, or politely say no.
- Archive anything done. An empty inbox means nothing is hiding.
Three templates every tradie should have
- 'Thanks — when can I come and look?' (offer two time slots).
- 'Ballpark price' (a range, what affects the price, and an offer to quote properly).
- 'Not for us' (polite no, with a referral if you have one).
Stop missed calls becoming lost jobs
- Set your voicemail to say you're on site and will reply by text the same day.
- Turn on a missed-call auto-text if your phone or job app offers one.
- Write every enquiry into one list (a spreadsheet, or your job app) so you can see what's waiting.
- Full step-by-step: Stop missed calls turning into lost jobs.
Facebook Messenger enquiries
- If customers find you on Facebook, your Page inbox needs the same routine. Set an away message and saved replies in Meta Business Suite, then use AI to sort junk from real leads and draft replies you approve before sending.
- For copy-ready prompts (triage, job cards, scam check and more), see the AI prompt library.
- Instagram DMs, Facebook comments and Lead Ads too? See Stop losing jobs in Facebook and Instagram.
Privacy tip
Avoid pasting sensitive personal information into AI tools. Use first names and suburbs rather than full addresses where you can.