Respond fast. Win more jobs.  

We know responding quickly increases the chance that the business will land the job. Businesses that respond to inquiries within an hour are seven times more likely to connect with decision makers, according to research by the Harvard Business Review. 

Our Instant Response feature will send a reply whenever a new conversation is started through chat. This reply will appear to the lead over Google, providing a seamless experience for the person initiating the conversation. Plus, the Instant Response message is completely customizable with the option to include a promotion, special announcement, or ask a screening question to qualify leads. Here are some examples of screening questions: 

• We currently have a 10% off promotion for everyone who books a job before the end of this week. What time can we call you for a consultation? 
• Thanks for contacting us. Can you let us know in a few sentences what project you’d like to have completed?
• Hi, thanks for reaching out. We are currently booking 3 months out. What is the timeline for your project? – Smith & Sons Plumbing 

Replying right away also improves the customer service experience. Otherwise, leads reach out to the competition in the hopes they will find a responsive business. Since responding quickly shows the customer that the business is interested in their project, it provides a better foundation to start the customer service relationship off on the right foot. 

Every message. One Messaging Hub.

In addition to struggling with responding quickly, businesses have trouble accessing the Google chat platform. The conversation threads are difficult to locate without a business downloading the Google Maps app. In addition, it is important for businesses to respond in a timely manner to every message in a session or they run the risk of having Google Business Messages turned off. 

To solve these issues, Singpost brings the messages into a central Messaging Hub, where businesses can stay on top of conversation from multiple social media channels and lead platforms at once. This provides a seamless experience for their customers, who will continue to reply and communicate through their preferred platform. Since the lead will see the reply on your Google profile, they won’t know that Signpost is powering the first reply on the backend. 

Our goal is to help businesses never miss a lead. With so many platforms used to generate business, it is common that messages fall through the cracks. In addition, we know it is difficult to reply to every lead from a time standpoint. Alongside Google business messages, view and respond to texts, Angi and Thumbtack service requests, as well as messages through Facebook. 

In addition to being a powerful messaging tool, the Messaging Hub shows recent reviews posted to the businesses GBP. They appear in the contact’s conversation thread, where  Signpost users can reply with a text message to contact that customer directly. 

Get more reviews. Start the cycle over again. 

With our secure integration between Signpost and your Google profile, the contact details will be within Signpost. After a job well done, we send review requests to ask customers to leave a review on top lead sources, like Google. As a result of the improved communication experience with Google Messages Instant Response and the Messaging Hub, this could result in more positive reviews. More positive reviews result in higher visibility on your Google Business Profile, which in turn could lead to more people reaching out to your business through the chat feature on your Google profile. 

Get started today 

With every Signpost software package, businesses get Instant Responders to send the first reply on social media channels and send a text reply to service requests on top lead platforms:

• Google Business Messages 
• Facebook Messenger 
• Angi powered by HomeAdvisor 
• Thumbtack 
• Send a text message to engage callers who didn’t connect with someone at your business 

Start converting more leads into booked jobs with Signpost. Request a demo to get started.

According to Kleiner Perkins report on internet trends, 78% of US consumers made purchases through discoveries on Facebook. Businesses are on Facebook, using it as a tool to connect with their audience. Facebook is also an affordable way for businesses to start running social media ads. As a result of its power as a brand and marketing tool, many local businesses receive inbound messages on their Facebook business pages. These leads ask questions, request service, and coordinate through Facebook Messenger. 

We know that businesses are getting messages through Facebook. However, many businesses struggle with responding to messages in a timely manner. 58% of companies don’t follow-up with their leads. Often this is due to a lack of resources and time to field every inbound inquiry. But, without a way to send a message and qualify those leads, high revenue jobs also fall through the cracks. Let’s take a closer look at how Facebook Instant Response helps businesses convert more leads into booked jobs. 

How it works 

Signpost will connect with a business’s Facebook page. When a new message is sent to the business Facebook page, an instant reply will be triggered. This reply will appear to the lead over Facebook messenger, providing a seamless experience for the person reaching out to the business. Lead information will be brought into Signpost, so businesses can continue communicating with them and to generate reviews after the job is complete. 

The Instant Response messages are completely customizable. Businesses can represent their brand and provide pertinent information to qualify leads. Some examples are to ask a screening question that gets the lead to respond. Here are some examples: 

• We currently have a 10% off promotion for everyone who books a job before the end of this week. What time can we call you for a consultation? 
• Thanks for contacting us. In a few sentences, can you let us know what kind of project you’d like to complete? 
• Hi, thanks for reaching out. We are currently booking 3 months out. What is the timeline for your project? – Smith & Sons Plumbing 

A better way to manage leads

Since the lead will see the reply on Facebook Messenger, they won’t know that Signpost is powering the first reply. From the businesses perspective, they can manage communications from the Messaging Hub, where messages from top lead sources and social media channels hit one central inbox. Alongside Facebook messages, businesses can view and respond to texts, Angi and Thumbtack service requests, as well as Google Business Messages.

Improved customer service 

According to Inside Sales, after just 5 minutes conversation rates drop by 8x. It is crucial to respond to leads right away if you want to convert their request into a booked job. Otherwise, leads move onto the competition until they reach someone who will respond to them. 

In addition to increasing your chance of landing the job, responding right away shows the lead that the business is interested in their project. It helps establish good communication from the start, laying the foundation for a positive customer service experience. Since the Messaging Hub is a seamless way to carry on the conversation with that lead, and continuing the conversation throughout the duration of the project. 

Available with Signpost’s software package, our suite of Instant Responders include: 

• Facebook Messenger 
• Angi powered by HomeAdvisor 
• Google Business Messages 
• Thumbtack 
• Send a text message to engage callers who didn’t connect with someone at your business 

Start converting more leads into booked jobs with Signpost. Request a demo to get started. 

Why Leap?

Founded in 2016, Leap helps contractors digitize every stage of the in-home sales process – including estimating, rapid response financing, contracting, and real-time data communication. Leap’s platform not only simplifies the sales process, but also helps contractors reduce errors and increase efficiency by automating day-to-day processes. Aside from the platform’s exceptional capabilities, we think they’re a great team to work with! We believe that there are many opportunities for our team to engage with and educate Leap’s customers, and believe the Leap team’s knowledge and experience will be invaluable to help Signpost’s customers as well.

How do Signpost and Leap integrate?

Signpost’s integration with Leap extends a contractor’s relationship with homeowners at the conclusion of each job. Signpost automatically follows up to request reviews from homeowners on the most important sites to drive more online word-of-mouth and referrals. Then, our marketing automation platform kicks in, enabling contractors to stay in touch with homeowners through targeted messaging – educational newsletters, promotions, seasonal campaigns, and more.

How can I learn more?

On Wednesday, November 18th, our Director of Partnerships, Tom Davis, will be joined by Tom Basch, Leap’s Manager of Strategic Partnerships, to present “Improving the Customer Experience from Start to Finish with Signpost & Leap”.

In this interactive webinar, you’ll learn:

• How to automate your workflow to increase efficiency
• Messaging and communications that you can use at every stage of the customer journey
• Ways to create a better experience for homeowners – from the first contact through the final review

Whether you’re already partnered with Signpost, Leap, or merely considering how your tech stack will shape up for 2021, we guarantee that you’ll take away valuable lessons on automation, personalization, and customer communications. All registrants will receive a recording for the webinar, so if this time does not work for your schedule, be sure to sign up!

If you’re a Signpost customer, follow these simple steps to connect your Signpost account to Leap. 

To learn more about how Signpost can turbocharge your Leap account, connect with our team. 

To learn more about Leap, reach out to get started.

By connecting Signpost with Housecall Pro, contractors are empowered to deliver an exceptional customer experience – from initial lead to follow-up. 

Signpost offers Housecall Pro users the following capabilities to enhance and improve their customer communications, including:

• Customizable web chat to drive more engagement and ensure that you never miss a lead: Install Signpost’s virtual receptionist on your website to capture more interest and contact information. Share pictures and videos, answer frequently asked questions, and schedule appointments before visitors leave your site.

• Mobile communications to enable messaging anytime, anywhere: Communicate with prospects and customers across Chat, SMS, and Facebook Messenger from the Signpost app, available on Apple and Android devices. 

• Automatic review generation to maximize the benefits of a job well done: Signpost follows up automatically after a job is paid in Housecall Pro, and directs customers to the platform/s of choice (including Google, Facebook, HomeAdvisor, and more) to generate five-star reviews. 

• Full lifecycle marketing automation to drive long-term loyalty: Signpost’s powerful automation platform assigns contacts to distinct lifecycle stages (such as prospective, active, or unhappy customers), and sends targeted messages to contacts at the appropriate time. Signpost’s newsletter feature provides fresh monthly content that enables contractors to share helpful tips and stay top-of-mind among homeowners all year long.

If you’re a Signpost customer, follow these simple steps to connect your Signpost account to Housecall Pro. 

To learn more about how Signpost can turbocharge your Housecall pro account, connect with our team. 

To learn more about the Housecall Pro app, reach out to their team to get started.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm1eqQpvzNk

You may be wondering how to make the most of your Signpost account with the mobile app now part of your business’s toolkit. While there are many ways to use it, here are the six best ways to get the most out of our mobile app:

Activate Signpost’s Chat on your website: Signpost’s Chat is a powerful extension of your website that engages visitors and helps them access important information when they need it most. Our Chat feature also enables afterhours messaging, scheduling, and handles missed calls, so that your business never misses a beat. Signpost’s new mobile app connects your website to your device, so that you can respond to incoming chats quickly and efficiently without dropping everything and returning to your computer. 

Enable Facebook messaging and connect it to the app: If you’re not using messaging for your business’s Facebook page, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to convert recommendations and interest on your page to new leads. If you haven’t activated this feature on your Facebook business page, follow these simple steps to activate page messaging. Then, once you download Signposts’s mobile app, follow these steps to connect Facebook Messenger to your account. Once these steps are complete, you now have the ability to receive and respond to all incoming messages to your business’s Facebook page from the Signpost app!

Turn on push notifications: We recognize that your ability to respond quickly to incoming messages helps to define the level of your customer service and distinguish your business from others to capitalize on new opportunities. To set yourself up for success, you must be alerted in real time when these important messages and reviews come in. Follow these steps to ensure that push notifications are enabled in the Signpost app on your Apple, Android, or other device. These alerts will notify you of important requests from your website, including incoming chats, messages, callback and appointment requests, missed calls, and voicemails, and give you the ability to respond quickly no matter where you are, so that you never miss a lead. You’ll also receive notifications every time you earn a new review! 

Let customers know that they can text you: Your Signpost account comes with a dedicated phone number that links to your mobile app, and this feature opens an important channel of communication between you and your prospects and customers. After all, consumers now want multiple options to interact with your business, including chat and text. Let your prospects and customers know that they can contact you on your dedicated text number to ask quick questions about your services or inquire on the status of their project, for example. Encourage them to text “START” to opt-in to your text marketing campaigns if you want to keep the lines of communication open and drive loyalty long-term. 

Send proactive messages to customers via the mobile app: The Signpost app helps you keep messages from your personal phone number separate from those that come in and are sent from from your business account. Don’t forget that proactive communications throughout the course of a job or service delivery can enhance and improve the experience for your customers. If you’re running late on a job or just want to give homeowners a heads-up when you’re on the way, send them a text message via the mobile app with that information. Proactive communications can provide your most important stakeholders – your customers – with assurance that they’re top of mind and that their business is important to you.

Get your team onto Signpost’s mobile app: Many businesses rely on multiple team members to manage their interactions with prospects and customers. As a result, it’s critical to stay aligned and on top of what’s going on with these important conversations. Signpost’s mobile app ensures that all of your conversations live in a single location, rather than on individual team members’ devices. The app can be downloaded and accessed by each of your team members, so that they can interact with and have transparency into these interactions. Encourage each of your team members to download and train up on the app, as appropriate.  

We hope these tips were helpful to help you get the most value out of Signpost’s mobile app, and we look forward to hearing your feedback!

 If you’re already a Signpost customer, download the app on your Apple or Android devices here:

If you’d like to learn more about how our mobile app and platform can help your business, schedule a demo with our team.

Local business owners and managers are on the move, on the job, and getting things done. We recognize the need to access and respond to important prospect and customer conversations on the go, so that’s what we had top of mind when building our mobile app. 

Signpost’s mobile app empowers you to message anytime, from anywhere. Available on Apple and Android devices, our app ensures that you stay connected so that you can: 

Centralize all of your communications in a single place: Manage all of your texts, chats, and Facebook messages from a single mobile app. Instead of toggling across multiple platforms to receive and respond to important messages, Signpost’s mobile app combines three platforms (SMS / text, Facebook messenger, and Chat from your website), making it super easy to stay organized and streamline communications with your prospects and customers. 

Respond to incoming messages and reviews in real time: By centralizing all of your conversations and connecting your Signpost Chat account, our mobile app empowers you to respond quickly – and in real time. We know that speed is the name of the game, especially when prospective customers are evaluating your business. Signpost’s mobile app ensures that you are equipped to respond from wherever you are – at the office, in your truck, or on the job.

Deliver a better customer experience: Efficient and effective communications can help set your business apart from your competitors. By enabling prospects and customers to reach you through multiple messaging channels, you’ll provide a superior experience and position your business to deliver on their expectations.

Get started on Signpost’s mobile app today! 

If you’re already a Signpost customer, download the app on your Apple or Android devices here:

Then, follow these steps to link your Facebook account and enable push notifications.

If you’re not yet partnered with us and would like to learn more about how our mobile app and platform can help your business, schedule a demo with our team.

• Provide information about your business and services
• Show pictures and videos of your work 
• Allow visitors to book or request appointments online
• Send automated text messages to missed calls and inquiries

In this edition of our Live Webinar Series, we discuss what it takes to craft the perfect campaign.

From audience to subject lines and content to additional tools, we want to make sure you are seeing the most out of the campaigns you’re creating in your Signpost account.

Learn about the continued importance of reputation management with a few tips, along with more about Signpost’s customer lifecycle stages and outreach.

Zapier enables you to connect Signpost with other important apps to keep your contacts up-to-date and automate your marketing outreach. The Zapier integration creates seamless communication across multiple platforms, so that you don’t need to worry about manual data entry or tasks.

Our connection with Zapier will allow you to integrate your Signpost account with popular software, including:

• Stripe

• Acuity

• Freshbooks

• Wave

• Shopify

• HubSpot

• Google Forms

• Google Sheets

… and many more! 

To connect your Signpost account:

1. Create a free Zapier account.

2. Access the Signpost Integration, which guides you through all of the options to connect your systems. You may choose which connection points (or “zaps”) make the most sense for your business, including appointments, transactions, or certain client interactions, such as phone calls, emails, etc. We hope that this integration helps you to maximize the benefits of using all of your business systems alongside Signpost. 

If you have any questions about connecting your accounts via Zapier, feel free to chat with our online support team from the Chat bubble directly in your Merchant Center! Otherwise, call us at 646-780-7767, or email us at support@signpost.com.