What you'll get: a four-message follow-up schedule, copy-paste texts and an email, and a simple way to make it run on its own.
Do this today in 10 minutes
1. Open a Google Sheet. Add columns: Name, Phone/Email, Product, Salesperson, Date, OK to text? (Y/N).
2. Add everyone who got a quote or left their number this week.
3. Send Text 1 (below) by hand to the ones who said yes to texts. Tomorrow, see who wrote back.
"We need to measure first." "I'll talk it over with my wife." "Let me think about it."
Most of those shoppers aren't saying no. They're saying not yet. The store that follows up politely and quickly usually gets the sale.
Speed matters. In a Harvard audit of 2,241 US firms, 23% never answered a web lead at all, the average reply took 42 hours, and firms that replied within an hour were about 7 times as likely to qualify the lead (source).
Nobody on your floor has time to chase every quote. Let a system do the chasing; your people do the selling.
How it works
Collect the names: quotes, floor walk-outs and website forms.
Send short check-ins on a schedule: a couple of hours after the visit, then day 2, day 5 and day 10.
Stop the moment they reply. Even a "not yet" means a person takes over.
Hand the warm lead to the salesperson with a note on what they looked at.
Setting it up takes an evening. After that, it mostly runs itself.
Pick your tool
What you already pay for. Check your POS, CRM or texting tool for "follow-up" or "be-back" features. Many stores have them, unused.
A dealer-focused service. Tools like Podium, Birdeye, RetailGenie and Selectlogiq offer follow-up texting for stores like yours. Ask for a demo and get the contract terms in writing.
Copy-paste follow-up texts
A quick word on consent (not legal advice): In Canada, CASL covers commercial texts and emails. You need consent, you need to identify your store, and you need an easy way to unsubscribe (CRTC FAQ). In the US, the TCPA covers texting, and the FCC says commercial texts require written consent (FCC). Ask "OK if we text you?" at the counter, note the answer, and honour every STOP right away.
Text 1 (same day, a couple of hours later)Hi [Name], it's [Rep] from [Store]. Thanks for coming in today! Any questions about the [product] you looked at? Happy to help. Reply STOP to opt out.
Text 2 (day 2, the measuring nudge)Hi [Name], [Rep] at [Store] again. Did the measurements work out for the [product]? I can send the exact dimensions if that helps. Reply STOP to opt out.
Text 3 (day 5, something useful)Hi [Name], quick one from [Rep] at [Store]: we can deliver the [product] as soon as [day], and financing is available if that helps. Want me to check stock for you? Reply STOP to opt out.
Text 4 (day 10, the easy out)Hi [Name], last check-in from [Rep] at [Store] on the [product]. If now's not the right time, no worries. We're here when you're ready. Reply STOP to opt out.
Follow-up email (for quotes sent by email)
```
Subject: Your quote for the [product]
Hi [Name],
Thanks again for visiting [Store]. Here's your quote for the [product] ([quote # / price]).
We can usually deliver within [X] days, and [one plain line about financing]. Questions? Just reply or call me at [number]. No pressure. I'm happy to hold it until [date].
[Rep], [Store], [street address]
Don't want follow-ups from us? Reply "unsubscribe" and we'll take you off the list.
```
Let AI write your versions
Want texts that fit your store and products exactly? Use prompt #9 in 15 copy-paste AI prompts for dealers.
Watch out for
Don't nag. Four friendly touches, then stop.
Replies go to a human fast. Agree as a team: replies get answered within the hour during store hours.
Check it every Friday. Who replied? Who came back in? Change the wording, not the politeness.
Helpful links
More quick wins: Start here: 10 AI quick wins for independent dealers
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