AI LEAD RESPONSE FOR EVERY INQUIRY

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

What is Auto-Respond and how does it work?

Auto-Respond is AI lead response software for supported marketplace messages and phone calls. For Yelp, it prepares AI drafts in under 2 seconds for staff review.

Depending on the features you enable, it can reply, call the lead, qualify the enquiry, book an appointment, and create or update the customer record in a connected CRM.

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

The self-service setup is designed to take under 2 minutes, and 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).

The cited lead-response research is not specific to Thumbtack and does not establish ranking or profile-placement effects. Measure response time and booked jobs in your own account to evaluate the result.

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 rely on one generic auto-reply template. Responses use the lead's actual message and your approved business facts. AI use should be disclosed wherever the channel or applicable rules require it.

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.