How to Set Up Speed-to-Lead SMS in Under 15 Minutes

The Problem This Solves

Every minute that passes after a lead comes in, your chances of reaching them drop by 80%. In home services — roofing, HVAC, plumbing — the business that calls back first wins the job. Not the cheapest. Not the most experienced. The fastest.

Most business owners lose jobs not because they lack leads, but because those leads go cold while the owner is under a sink, on a roof, or finishing another job.

What You Need Before You Start

• A GoHighLevel account (free 14-day trial at https://go.highlevel.com/)
• Your business phone number (or a new GHL number — takes 2 minutes to set up)
• 5 minutes of uninterrupted setup time

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Create a Missed Call Trigger In your GHL dashboard, go to Automation > Workflows > New Workflow. Select "Missed Call" as your trigger event.

Step 2: Add an Immediate SMS Action Click the "+" button to add an action. Select "Send SMS." Template: "Hey [First Name], sorry I missed your call! Can I call you back in 15 minutes? — [Your Name]"

Step 3: Set the Delay to 0 Minutes The SMS should fire immediately. Speed is the entire point.

Step 4: Add a Follow-Up if No Reply Wait 2 hours, then send: "Still interested in getting a quote? Reply YES and I will call you right now."

Step 5: Test It Call your own business number and let it ring to voicemail. Within 60 seconds you should receive the SMS.

Expected Results

• 3-4x increase in contact rate with new leads
• 30-45% reduction in cost per lead
• Significant reduction in jobs lost to competitors who called back faster

Start your free GoHighLevel trial at https://go.highlevel.com/