Lead Sources
A source in Auto-Respond is one connected account or profile on an external platform that sends you customer inquiries - a single Yelp location, a Thumbtack Pro account, a Facebook Page, an Instagram Business account, a Google Local Services account, and so on. Each source has its own Messaging Settings, its own Integrations, its own Analytics, and its own monthly price.
A single business in Auto-Respond can have many sources. For example, three Yelp locations plus one Thumbtack Pro account plus one Facebook Page is five separate sources, each billed on its own line.
All sources are connected through the platform’s own sign-in (OAuth). You sign in on the platform, approve access, and get redirected back. Your password is never shared with Auto-Respond - only a secure access token.
Supported platforms
Yelp
Yelp Business profiles and locations - one source per location.
Thumbtack
Thumbtack Pro account - inquiries from prospective customers.
Facebook Messenger
Two-way conversations on your Facebook Pages.
Facebook Lead Ads
Form submissions from Facebook Lead Ads campaigns.
Direct messages on your Instagram Business account.
Google Local Ads
Messages and leads from Google Local Services Ads.
Adding and managing sources
Every source is added and managed the same way:
- Go to the Sources page in Auto-Respond.
- Click Add <Platform> for the platform you want to connect.
- Sign in on the platform and approve the access request.
- Pick which profiles or locations you want to activate (when the platform has more than one).
- The new source appears on the Sources page turned off, with the status NOT ACTIVE. It does not reply to leads yet.
- Click Activate on the source. If you don’t have billing yet, this opens Start Your 7-Day Free Trial (or Start Subscription for a source that was active before); eligible first-time customers get the trial when the order summary shows it. If Activate isn’t shown, open the source’s More actions menu > Edit source, switch Status on and click Save.
Each source on the Sources page shows:
- Status badge - ACTIVE, NOT ACTIVE (the source is switched off), PAUSED (the source is on but its subscription is no longer active) or ERROR (the source is missing from its connected login).
- Platform icon and the location/profile name pulled from the platform.
- Messaging Settings - opens the source’s configuration (Conversation Setup, Follow-ups, Timing, Integrations, Contact Info).
- More actions menu - View details, Edit source and Permissions.
- Billing indicator - a warning shows up if there’s a payment issue that needs attention.
There is no Pause or Remove button on a source. To stop a source, open More actions > Edit source, switch Status off and click Save; switch it back on the same way. A source that is switched off doesn’t count toward your subscription. To remove the connected login itself, go to Settings > Source Tokens, open the login’s menu and click Remove Token; it appears once none of that login’s sources is switched on.
Pricing
Different source types have different monthly prices per source. See the Pricing page for the full table. You can add or remove sources at any time and billing adjusts automatically.
Troubleshooting shared issues
- Authorization failed during connection - Try again and make sure you’re signed into the correct platform account. If the platform still rejects the request, check that the account has permission to manage messages/leads for the profile you want to connect.
- Source shows a billing warning - Open Billing and resolve the payment method. Sources with billing issues stop receiving new inquiries until the problem is fixed.
- Messages aren’t arriving - Confirm the source’s status is ACTIVE (not NOT ACTIVE or PAUSED), that the platform account still has the access you originally granted, and that your Messaging Settings are configured.
- Duplicate source - Switch the older one off (Edit source > Status off > Save). A source that is switched off doesn’t reply to leads.
Questions about connecting a source? Email support@auto-respond.com.