YELP AUTO RESPONDER AND THUMBTACK

Auto-Respond FAQ - Yelp, Thumbtack, and Voice Agent

What is Auto-Respond and how does it work?

Auto-Respond is an AI auto-responder and voice agent for supported lead sources. For Yelp, it prepares AI drafts in under 2 seconds for staff review.

When a supported lead event arrives, the AI reads the message, replies using your configured instructions, can qualify the request, and can optionally call or route the lead using enabled features. Typical self-service setup takes about 5 minutes, although connection and approval times can vary by source.

How fast can I deploy Auto-Respond on my Yelp or Thumbtack account?

Self-service setup typically takes about 5 minutes, and many supported accounts can be configured the same day.

No coding is required. Connection, authorization, review, and third-party platform availability can affect activation time. Review your business instructions before enabling responses to new leads.

How much does Auto-Respond cost?

Pricing is per source: Yelp $99/mo, Thumbtack $99/mo, Facebook Messenger $49/mo, Facebook Lead Ads $19/mo, Google Local Services Ads $49/mo. AI Voice Agent is $10/mo per phone number plus $1 per billable minute used.

Each active source is a separate recurring monthly charge. Core sources have no setup fee or fixed-term contract. A newly purchased Voice Agent number may also carry a $10 one-time fee; inbound and outbound voice usage is $1 per billable minute. The order summary shows any amount due immediately, including proration, before confirmation.

What is speed-to-lead and why does response time matter?

Speed-to-lead is the time between a lead inquiry and your first reply. Responding in under 5 minutes makes you 21x more likely to qualify the lead than responding in 30+ minutes (MIT, Oldroyd 2007).

On Yelp and Thumbtack specifically, the platforms reward fast responders with higher search visibility. In an audit of 2,241 U.S. companies, only 37% responded within an hour and 23% never responded at all (Harvard Business Review, 2011) - so simply being fast puts you ahead of most competitors.

Will the AI actually sound human, or will customers know it's a bot?

The AI uses your brand voice, references the customer's specific job details, asks natural follow-up questions, and adapts tone based on inquiry type.

It does not use generic auto-reply templates. Every response is generated based on the lead's actual message. Customers consistently engage in full back-and-forth conversations, share contact details, and book appointments without realizing they were talking to an AI.

What happens if the AI cannot answer a customer question?

When the AI detects an out-of-scope question (custom quote, complex scheduling, sensitive complaint), it escalates to your team via SMS, email, or your CRM with full conversation context.

You can configure escalation thresholds - for example, always hand off when a lead asks for pricing on a non-standard job, or when sentiment turns negative. The handoff includes the full transcript so your rep doesn't need to re-ask anything.

How do I cancel or pause a source?

Cancel future source renewals online from the Billing area; the confirmation shows when cancellation takes effect.

The Pause control stops service activity but is not a substitute for canceling the recurring charge in Billing. Charges already incurred, refunds, and account-data handling follow the Billing Policy, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.

Review the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Billing, Cancellation & Refund Policy.