Reviews & Maps / Missed-call text-back
Missed-call text-back for contractors
Short answer
Missed-call text-back sends the caller a text from your business within seconds when you can’t pick up: “Sorry we missed you, how can we help?” They reply by text, you answer when you’re off the ladder, and the job doesn’t go to the next company on the map.
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Included in Map Pack Takeover ($497/mo). Free 2-week trial. Month to month.
How it works
- A call goes unanswered, during the day, after hours or while you’re on another call.
- Within seconds the caller gets a text from your business number.
- They reply with what they need. It lands in one inbox with your Google and Facebook messages.
- You reply from your phone when you’re free, or call them back.
Example text
Hi, this is Summit Roofing. Sorry we missed your call, we’re probably on a roof. What can we help with? We’ll get right back to you.
Example only: Summit Roofing is a made-up company.
What a good missed-call text says
Short, clearly from a real business, and easy to answer. Good ones have the same parts:
- Your company name, so they know who’s texting.
- A quick sorry for missing the call.
- One question they can answer in a few words: what do they need?
- When they’ll hear back, if you know.
- How to opt out. “Reply STOP” works.
Another way to word it (also an example): “Hi, this is Summit Roofing. Sorry we missed you, the crew is out on jobs. Text us what you need and we’ll get back to you today. Reply STOP to opt out.”
Why it matters
Someone calling from the Google map usually has two or three other companies one tap away. A quick text tells them a real business saw the call and will get back to them, so they’re far less likely to keep dialing. Here’s how the Google Map Pack works.
Text-back, voicemail or an answering service?
They solve different problems, and many contractors use more than one.
- Voicemail: free, but many callers hang up without leaving a message, and your callback can end up in their voicemail.
- Missed-call text-back: the caller gets a text within seconds and can reply in their own time. The thread is waiting when you’re free.
- Answering service: a person answers live. It usually costs more, and it’s worth it when most of your calls are urgent.
If most of your calls can wait an hour, text-back usually covers it. If they can’t, like a burst pipe or no heat in January, you also want someone answering live.
Works with your current number
No new phone or app needed. We set it up on the number already on your Google Business Profile, then test it with you before it goes live. Texts follow carrier rules: business registration, opt-out on every thread, and no marketing texts to people who didn’t ask.
Also included in Takeover
- One inbox for texts, Google and Facebook messages.
- Website chat that continues by text.
- A Google review widget on your website.
- A free Google-ready website.
Which plan includes it?
Included in Map Pack Takeover ($497/mo). Every plan starts with a free 2-week trial, no setup fee, month to month. Compare plans.
Missed calls by trade
Missed calls cost the most when the customer can’t wait. See how reviews and text-back work together for roofers, HVAC companies, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, painters, garage door companies, pest control companies, pool service companies, concrete contractors and window and door companies. Text-back sits alongside our review management for contractors and the automatic review request after every job.
Questions about missed-call text-back
What is missed-call text-back?
When a call goes unanswered, the caller automatically gets a text from your business number within seconds, so the conversation keeps going instead of ending at voicemail.
Do I need a new phone number for missed-call text-back?
No. We set it up on the number you already use on Google and test it with you before it goes live.
Is missed-call text-back allowed by phone carriers?
Yes, when it’s set up properly: a registered business number, an opt-out on every thread, and no marketing texts to people who didn’t ask.
Which plan includes missed-call text-back?
Map Pack Takeover at $497/mo, together with one inbox for texts and Google and Facebook messages, website chat, a review widget and a free website.
How do you politely say you missed a call?
Keep it to one or two lines: say who you are, say sorry, and ask what they need. Then reply as soon as you’re free.
Is missed-call text-back better than voicemail?
For most contractors, yes, and you don’t have to choose. A text lets the caller explain what they need when it suits them, instead of waiting for a callback. Keep voicemail on for people who prefer it.
How do I set up automatic texts for missed calls on my iPhone?
iPhones don’t have a built-in setting that texts every missed caller for you. You can send a preset reply when you decline a call, but you have to do it each time. Automatic text-back runs through a business phone service on the number customers call.
What is A2P 10DLC, and do I need it for text-back?
A2P 10DLC is the US carrier registration for businesses that text from a regular 10-digit number. You register your business and how you text. Unregistered business texts can be blocked, so registration is part of setting up text-back.
Can customers opt out of missed-call texts?
Yes. Every text-back thread we set up includes a STOP opt-out, and anyone who replies STOP isn’t texted again.
Rather have it done for you?
Try it free for two weeks: we text your past customers and connect your job software. 25 reviews, or we keep working free until you get them. Applies at 25+ jobs a month.
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More services
Automated review requests → Past-customer review campaign → Google Business Profile optimization → Google review widget for your website → Business listing cleanup → Automated Google review replies → How to find your Google review link and QR code → How to remove a Google review →