Yelp Auto Responder
A Yelp auto responder creates a job-specific reply for every new Yelp inquiry the moment it arrives: Auto-Respond generates it in under 2 seconds, using your real prices instead of a canned template. The Yelp connector costs $99 a month with no lead cap or per-message fee, and setup takes under 2 minutes. Want a phone callback too? The optional voice agent can call the lead right after the text. When customers compare providers, a useful, job-specific answer while the request is fresh gives them a clear next step.
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What is a Yelp auto responder?
A Yelp auto responder reads a new Yelp inquiry and creates a reply using the requested service and your configured business information. Auto-Respond generates that job-specific response in under 2 seconds. The response can offer a calendar slot, and an optional voice callback can follow.
Does Yelp have an auto-reply?
No. Yelp does not create replies to quote requests for you. Under each quote request Yelp shows three quick-reply buttons, Send an Estimate and Availability, Need More Information, and Unable to Service, but someone still has to open the Yelp for Business inbox, pick one, and write the message (Yelp Support). A Yelp auto responder fills that gap: it creates the job-specific reply for you the moment the inquiry lands.
Slow replies have a cost on Yelp itself: if you do not reply within 7 days of a new message and have not replied to any message in 30 days, Yelp automatically turns messaging off for your business until you mark the messages as replied (Yelp Support).
How to automatically respond to Yelp leads: 3 ways
There are three realistic ways to answer Yelp leads faster. They differ in who writes the reply and how much setup they need.
- 1
Yelp's quick-reply buttons (manual)
Free and built into Yelp for Business. Fast once you are in the inbox, but every reply still waits until someone is free to open the app and tap.
- 2
A Zapier workflow you build
Yelp's developer documentation describes a Zapier integration with a Create Message action that can answer a lead with a text message. You design the Zap, write the message logic, and maintain it; the reply is only as specific as the template you write.
- 3
A dedicated AI Yelp auto responder
Auto-Respond connects to your Yelp business account and creates a job-specific response for every inquiry in under 2 seconds, built from the request plus your services, price ranges, and availability. Follow-up, booking, and an optional instant voice callback come with it, for $99 a month flat.
Can you automate Yelp responses?
Yes, for lead messages and Request a Quote inquiries, but not inside Yelp itself: in the Yelp for Business inbox every reply still starts with someone opening the request. Automated Yelp responses come from a connected tool, either a Zapier workflow you build on Yelp's Leads API or a dedicated auto responder such as Auto-Respond.
Here is what Auto-Respond automates in a Yelp lead conversation, and what each response is built from.
| Yelp message | What is automated | What the response uses |
|---|---|---|
| New Request a Quote inquiry | A job-specific response, created in under 2 seconds | The project type, location, and details from the form, plus your services, price ranges, and availability |
| Later messages in the same thread | A job-specific response to each new message | What the customer wrote; a vague message gets one targeted qualifying question |
| A customer who goes quiet | Follow-ups on Day 1, Day 3, and Day 7 | The original request; the sequence stops when the customer replies or books |
| A customer who shares a phone number | An optional instant voice callback | Your voice script, services, and calendar |
| A request outside your service list | Escalation to your team | The full conversation, so a staff member can step in |
Automated Yelp responses here means replies to lead messages. Public replies to Yelp reviews are a separate task, and Auto-Respond does not send review requests.
What to set up so automated Yelp messages sound like your business
- Your services with real price ranges. The response can only quote what you configured, so a current list is what separates a useful answer from a generic one.
- Your availability. The built-in calendar checks the availability you set and follows the scheduling instructions you write, so responses offer times you can keep.
- Service-area and travel rules. Add the areas you cover and any travel-time requirements to your scheduling instructions; when job addresses are available, the AI estimates driving time between jobs before it offers a slot.
- What counts as outside your scope. Anything you do not list goes to your team with the conversation attached, instead of getting a guessed answer.
The connection itself takes under 2 minutes; the setup steps are below.
When Yelp leads come in, and do you get the phone number?
Yelp leads arrive whenever customers plan their projects, and a large share land in the evening and on weekends, when nobody is watching the inbox. That is exactly when an auto responder earns its keep: the reply is created at 11pm the same way it is at 11am.
You get the customer's phone number when they choose to share it on Yelp. The moment they opt in, Auto-Respond pulls their real number straight from Yelp and adds it to the lead, with no Zapier step, and the optional voice agent can call them instantly to qualify the job and book a time.
How you answer matters too: Yelp rates the quality of business replies, and a reply that names the job, gives a price range, and offers availability is the kind it rewards. See what an Excellent Yelp reply looks like.
Watch: how to automatically respond to Yelp leads
Connect Yelp, add your services and prices, and Auto-Respond creates a job-specific response for every Yelp lead in under 2 seconds. Setup takes under 2 minutes.
Yelp auto responder setup: under 2 minutes
Add Yelp and turn it on. The required setup takes under 2 minutes. No code or integration project is needed.
- 1
Connect your Yelp business account
Click Add Source, pick Yelp, and authorize through approved channels.
- 2
Go live
Turn it on. The AI creates a job-specific response for every new Yelp inquiry in under 2 seconds.
- 3
Optional: load your prices
Paste your services with the ranges your business actually charges so replies use your real numbers.
- 4
Optional: add a voice callback
Switch on the voice agent ($10/mo + $1/min) and it dials the lead right after the text, qualifies, and books into your calendar.
For deeper integration walkthroughs (CRM sync, custom routing), see the Yelp connector docs.
What the AI can say: Yelp callback examples
Four example scripts showing how the voice agent can qualify common service requests and offer a next step.
Emergency plumbing
instant callback on a new Yelp leadAIHi, this is calling from River Plumbing about your Yelp request for a kitchen faucet replacement. Quick question, is the faucet currently leaking, or is this a planned upgrade? I want to make sure we send the right tech with the right parts.
CustomerIt's leaking pretty bad, water under the sink.
AIGot it, that's an emergency. We can have someone out tomorrow between 10 and noon, or today between 5 and 7 if you're home. Which works?
CustomerToday, 5 to 7 please.
AIBooked. You'll get a text confirmation right away with the tech's name and ETA. Anything else?
Example flow: identify urgency, offer calendar windows, confirm the appointment.
HVAC estimate
instant callback on a new Yelp leadAIHi, this is Alpine HVAC returning your Yelp message about AC service. Before I schedule, what's the brand and approximate age of the unit? That helps me give you an accurate price range right now.
CustomerTrane, and it is an older unit.
AIGot it. I can use the diagnostic fee and repair range in your service list. We have Friday morning or Saturday late morning open. Either work?
CustomerFriday.
AIBooked. Tech is Jared, ETA window 9am to 10am. Confirmation text incoming.
Example flow: use inquiry details and configured service information to make the reply specific.
Electrician - panel upgrade
instant callback on a new Yelp leadAIHi, this is Volta Electric calling about your Yelp request for a panel upgrade. Two quick questions: is this a 100-amp or 200-amp panel currently, and is the project permitted or still in planning?
CustomerIt's a 100-amp, I need 200. Not permitted yet.
AIGot it. The final price depends on the panel location, breaker count, and permit work. We can offer an on-site assessment Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning. Which works better?
CustomerWednesday at 2.
AIDone. Marcus will be out Wednesday at 2pm. He'll pull the exact quote on-site and walk you through the permit timeline.
Example flow: qualify the project, offer an assessment window, confirm the next step.
Cleaning - move-out deep clean
instant callback on a new Yelp leadAIHi, this is Spotless calling about your Yelp request for a move-out clean. Quick question: what's the square footage and how many bedrooms? That lets me give you a firm price right now.
CustomerIt's a family-size home with several bedrooms and bathrooms.
AIThanks. I can use the range in your service list once I know the condition. Do you need the oven and fridge interior included?
CustomerYes, both.
AII will include those add-ons in the configured range. We have Saturday morning or Sunday at noon open this weekend. Which works?
CustomerSaturday at 9.
AIBooked. Team of two, arrive at 9, out by 1pm. Confirmation text coming now.
Example flow: collect the missing details, use configured price ranges, offer availability.
For how the voice agent handles complex quotes, see AI voice agent for service businesses.
Auto responder for Yelp vs the alternatives
When a Yelp lead lands you have four realistic options. Here is how they stack up on the things that decide whether the job is yours.
| What matters | Reply by hand | Yelp's reply buttons (manual) | Generic chatbot / VA | Auto-Respond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to create a reply | Minutes to hours | Only when you tap reply | Instant but generic | under 2 seconds, job-specific |
| After-hours coverage | None | None; you reply when free | Depends on staffing | Job-specific replies created 24/7 |
| Voice callback | If you have time | No | Depends on provider | Instant optional add-on |
| Quotes a real price | You do | No | No | Yes, from your price list |
| Books the appointment | You do | No | Sometimes | Yes, checks your calendar |
| Follow-up if they go quiet | Easy to forget | No | Manual | Multi-touch; stops on reply or booking |
| Typical price | Your time | Included | Depends on provider | $99/mo flat |
Yelp's quick-reply buttons (Send an Estimate and Availability, Need More Information, Unable to Service) make a manual reply faster, but someone still has to open the inbox and tap. Auto-Respond creates the job-specific reply in under 2 seconds and adds the optional callback and booking workflow in one place.
Best Yelp auto responder tools compared
The main Yelp auto responder tools differ most in pricing model, which lead sources they cover, and how fast they say the first reply goes out. Here is what each one lists on its own website.
| Tool | Lead sources | Pricing (as listed) | Stated reply speed | Voice calls | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-Respond | Yelp, Thumbtack, Google LSA, Facebook Messenger, Facebook Lead Ads, Instagram DMs | Flat per channel: Yelp $99/mo, Thumbtack $99/mo, Google LSA $49/mo, Messenger $49/mo, Lead Ads $19/mo, Instagram DMs $49/mo. No per-lead or setup fees | Job-specific response created in under 2 seconds | Optional AI voice agent calls new leads instantly ($10/mo per number + $1/min) | 7 days |
| LeadTruffle | Yelp (via Zapier), Thumbtack, Google LSA, Angi, Meta Lead Ads, Facebook Messenger, website, phone | Custom pricing after a demo; month-to-month | Within seconds | AI answers inbound calls | Not stated on site |
| You Never Sleep | Yelp, Google LSA (Thumbtack listed as in final approval) | $99/mo per location for one platform, $149/mo for all; or per lead, from $99 for 100 leads/mo | 10 to 20 seconds | Not stated on site | 7 days |
| LeadWinner | Yelp, Thumbtack, Google LSA | $2.99 per lead, or $49/week with 20 leads included; billed weekly | About 10 s (Yelp), 20 s (Thumbtack), 15 s (Google LSA) | Auto-call that connects you to the customer | 7 days |
| Niche | Yelp, Thumbtack, Google LSA, Angi, Facebook Lead Ads, HomeAdvisor, Houzz Pro, Porch, Networx, Bark and more | $299/mo (Yelp + Thumbtack, up to 500 leads/mo) to $1,999/mo, plus a one-time setup fee; listed as launch pricing | Under 2 seconds (pricing page); 8-second median (lead sources page) | AI answers calls and places outbound calls ($0.79 to $1.29/min) | 10 to 14 days (pages differ) |
| Casey | Yelp, Thumbtack, Google LSA, Angi, Meta (incl. Messenger and Instagram DMs), website forms | Custom quote after a demo; month-to-month | Typically 5 to 30 seconds | AI can place the first call; answers Google LSA calls | Not stated on site (pilot program) |
Features and prices as listed on each company's own website, checked October 2026. Plans change, so check each provider for current details. "Not stated on site" means the company's website does not say.
Why fast Yelp lead response matters
A Yelp inquiry can arrive while you are on a job, driving, or asleep. Starting from a blank screen makes some requests wait until you are free; an auto responder creates a job-specific response in under 2 seconds instead.
An MIT speed-to-lead study found that delaying contact from 5 minutes to 30 minutes made teams 100 times less likely to make contact and 21 times less likely to qualify a lead. That study was not Yelp-specific, so it should not be treated as a promise of results. It does explain why responding while intent is fresh is a sensible operating advantage.
Speed alone is not enough. The reply still needs to address the requested service, answer what it can, and give the customer a clear next step. See the Yelp response quality guide for the quality side of the equation.
Job-specific Yelp replies built from your business
Every Yelp reply is created from the customer's request and the business details you configure.
Your services and prices
The AI writes a response built from your services, price ranges, and availability. Useful for high-ticket projects - full kitchen remodels, roof replacements - where the specifics matter.
Every inquiry, any hour
A job-specific response for every Yelp inquiry in under 2 seconds, day or night. Useful for solo operators who are on a job when leads arrive.
Keep your service list and price ranges current so every new reply uses your real numbers.
What happens after the first reply
The first reply is only the start. If the customer goes quiet, Auto-Respond can run a multi-touch sequence after the first message:
- Day 1: a short check-in can offer the next useful step without repeating the opening message.
- Day 3: a second follow-up can reference the original request and any details the customer shared.
- Day 7: a brief final check-in can close the loop.
The sequence stops as soon as the customer replies or books. For the speed-to-lead evidence and its limits, see speed-to-lead on Yelp and Thumbtack.
Yelp Request a Quote form vs follow-up messages
A Yelp lead conversation has two parts, and the automated Yelp responses adapt to each.
Request a Quote
A structured form: the customer picks a project type and fills in timeline, location, and job details. The AI parses those fields and builds a reply that addresses what was filled in. The reply can carry a configured price range, availability, and a booking link.
Follow-up messages
After the form, customers keep writing in the same thread, often freeform and vague: "Hey, do you do windows too?" The AI reads the message, identifies the likely service, and asks one targeted qualifying question to move toward a quote. It doesn't assume; it asks.
Request a Quote supplies structured project details. A freeform follow-up may need one qualifying question before the reply can become specific. Either way the first job-specific reply is created in under 2 seconds. For a full walkthrough, see Yelp Request a Quote auto reply.
Do not leave after-hours Yelp leads waiting
A customer can message at 9pm on a weeknight or early on a weekend. Auto-Respond generates a tailored Yelp reply in under 2 seconds at any hour, built from the same services, price ranges, and availability it uses during the day. More on after-hours coverage in Yelp and Thumbtack after-hours auto response.
Yelp auto responder pricing
Simple and flat. No setup fee, no contract, no lead cap.
- Unlimited Yelp inquiries
- Unlimited AI text replies
- Job-specific replies built from your services and prices
- Multi-touch follow-up that stops on reply or booking
- Calendar booking
- You pay only for minutes the AI is on a call
- Outbound lead callbacks
Compare the flat monthly price with the cost of the lead volume you already receive and the jobs you typically book. For a full calculation, see the Yelp advertising ROI guide.
Are Yelp leads worth it?
The honest answer: Yelp leads are worth it only when the jobs you book cover your lead and service costs. Response speed and message quality are two parts of that calculation, but they do not turn every lead into a good lead. An auto responder creates a useful, job-specific answer in under 2 seconds, so you can evaluate the channel on conversations you actually had, not messages that started from a blank screen.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up a Yelp auto responder?
Connect your Yelp business account in Auto-Respond and turn it on. The AI creates a job-specific response for every Yelp inquiry in under 2 seconds. Pasting your service list with price ranges is optional and makes each response use your real numbers.
How fast does the Yelp auto responder create a reply?
The AI creates the first job-specific response in under 2 seconds from the moment Yelp posts the inquiry, using the requested service plus your configured prices and availability.
Do Yelp auto responders actually work?
They are most useful when they create a specific answer quickly. A generic "thanks, we'll get back to you" message still leaves the customer waiting. A useful response names the job, can quote a configured price range, and offers a booking slot. The AI generates that kind of tailored Yelp reply in under 2 seconds.
What does the AI say on a Yelp callback?
The voice agent opens by naming the job (for example, "calling about your kitchen faucet replacement request"), asks one or two qualifying questions specific to the service, checks your calendar, and books a window. Its script uses the services, prices, and scheduling rules you configured.
Can I run text-only without the voice callback?
Yes. You can run text-only, voice-only, or both. Text is a natural fit for project work where the customer is comparing written quotes. A voice callback can help when the customer wants to talk through an urgent problem.
How is the Yelp auto responder priced?
Auto-Respond runs on a flat $99 per month for the Yelp connector with full AI text replies included. The optional voice agent is $1 per minute of actual call time plus $10 per month for the dedicated phone number. No contracts, no per-message fees, no lead caps.
Does it work with Yelp Request a Quote messages?
Yes. Auto-Respond reads the project type, location, and any details the customer included in the Request a Quote form, then generates a tailored reply that addresses the request in under 2 seconds. Every follow-up message the customer sends in that conversation gets the same job-specific treatment.
What information does each Yelp reply use?
Each response is built from the details in the customer's inquiry plus the services, price ranges, and availability you configure. Keep your service list current so replies use your real numbers.
Does a Yelp auto responder work after hours?
Yes. Auto-Respond creates a job-specific response for every Yelp inquiry around the clock, in under 2 seconds, including nights and weekends.
How many Yelp leads does an auto responder handle per month?
Auto-Respond has no lead cap. The $99/month flat rate covers unlimited Yelp inquiries and unlimited text replies. The voice agent is billed by actual call minutes used, so a busy month costs a little more on the voice side, but there is no artificial ceiling on how many leads the system can handle.
Can I use a Yelp auto responder with multiple locations?
Yes. Each location gets its own Yelp connection, its own service list with location-specific price ranges, and its own voice script tuned to that area. A roofing company running three territories, for example, would have three separate configurations under one Auto-Respond account.
What happens if the AI cannot answer a question?
The system escalates. If a customer asks something outside the configured service list or objects in a way the AI is not trained to handle, your team gets the full conversation context so a staff member can step in directly.
Related guides
Deeper reading on Yelp response strategy and the rest of the platform.
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