Introduction

In the world of digital marketing, speed and consistency are everything. Most businesses don’t lose leads because of poor ads — they lose them due to slow or non-existent follow-up. That’s where automation comes in. From lead nurturing to appointment reminders, smart automation turns interest into income — on autopilot.

‍

1. What Is Marketing Automation?Marketing automation is the use of technology to streamline, automate, and measure marketing tasks like lead capture, follow-up, email marketing, SMS, and nurturing sequences.

Why it matters:

• 78% of consumers buy from the first company that responds
• Most small businesses take 24+ hours to respond to a new lead
• Automated systems respond instantly and stay in touch 24/7

‍

2. The Core Automation Every Business Needs

‍✅ Lead Capture Form → CRM

✅ Instant SMS & Email Confirmation

✅ Follow-Up Sequence (3–7 days)

✅ Missed Call Text-Back

✅ Appointment Booking with Reminders

✅ Review Request Workflow

‍

‍

3. Tools That Do the Heavy Lifting

• GoHighLevel – All-in-one CRM + automation
• Zapier – Connects apps and automates tasks
• Calendly / Acuity – Online bookings + reminders
• ActiveCampaign / Mailchimp – Email marketing flows

Real Example: A local plumbing business uses GoHighLevel to auto-respond within 2 minutes of a lead inquiry. Result? 40% increase in conversions month-over-month.

‍

4. Best Practices for Lead Follow-Up

• Respond within 5 minutes — this increases your close rate by 400%.
• Use SMS — 98% open rate vs. 20% for email.
• Automate sequences: Day 1 (intro), Day 2 (value), Day 3 (offer), Day 5 (testimonial), Day 7 (final push).

‍

5. How to Build a Simple Follow-Up WorkflowTrigger: Lead fills out a website form

‍
→ Step 1: Instant SMS: “Hey [Name], thanks for enquiring! We’ll be in touch soon.”
→ Step 2: Email with booking link
→ Step 3: Reminder email next day
→ Step 4: Text message with testimonial or offer on Day 3
→ Step 5: Final email + call prompt on Day 7

‍

‍

‍6. Combine Automation With Human TouchAutomation doesn’t replace relationships — it supports them. Have your team jump in for phone calls, personal videos, and manual follow-ups once leads are warmed up.

‍

7. How This Scales Your Business

• Handle 3–10x more leads without hiring
• Never forget a follow-up
• Keep your pipeline full and moving
• Improve ROI from ads and SEO

‍

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

‍❌ Too many messages too fast
❌ Spelling or grammar errors in automation
❌ No personalisation (use their name, service requested, etc.)
❌ Not testing automations before launch

Conclusion:

‍Automation is no longer a “nice-to-have” — it’s a must if you want to compete in today’s market. Whether you’re chasing tradie leads, real estate listings, or local service calls, the faster and more consistent your follow-up, the more deals you close. Start small, keep it simple, and build out workflows that save time and drive revenue.

‍

Let’s Elevate Your Marketing Game.

‍

‍If you’re serious about growing your business, attracting more leads, and turning strategy into results — we’re here to help.

‍

📞 Book Your Free Strategy Call with Elevation Marketing today and let’s build something powerful together.