What is missed-call text back, and how does it work?

In one sentence

Missed-call text back automatically sends a text message to anyone whose call you don't answer, within a few seconds of the call ringing out.

How it works

• You forward unanswered calls from your mobile to a text-back number. You keep your own number, and customers still call you as normal.
• When you don't pick up, the call rolls over and the system instantly texts the caller from your business line.
• You get an alert with the caller's number, and any reply they send lands in the same thread, so you know what the job is before you call back.

Why it works so well for tradies

Tradies miss calls for reasons nobody can fix: on a roof, in a ceiling, driving, or with power tools running. The customer doesn't know that. All they know is nobody picked up.

A text in five seconds changes that. It tells them a real business got the call and will get back to them. Most people are happy to wait once they know that, and they stop ringing around.

What the text should say

Keep it short and human. Say who you are, why you missed them, and ask what they need. For example:

• "Hi, it's Dave from Northside Plumbing. Sorry I missed you, I'm on a job. What do you need and what suburb are you in? I'll call you back shortly."

Asking what they need gets them replying, which means you have the details before you call and they've already started talking to you rather than a competitor.

Missed-call text back vs voicemail vs an answering service

• Voicemail: free, but most new callers won't leave one.
• Answering service: a real person takes a message, usually $150 to $400 or more a month, and you still call back later.
• Missed-call text back: instant, automatic, and usually well under $100 a month.

What it costs

LeadBack is $79 a month (AUD, inc. GST) after a 14-day free trial, with texts included for normal use and no lock-in. See the pricing page for details.