1. Google review requests
After every job, appointment or order, the customer gets a friendly message with a one-tap link to leave a review, and one reminder if they haven’t. Nobody gets forgotten and nobody is asked twice. See how to get more Google reviews for the rules to follow.
2. Appointment reminders
An automatic reminder the day before, with an easy way to confirm or rebook, and a thank-you afterwards. Fewer no-shows, and no ringing round.
3. Enquiry replies and follow-ups
Every enquiry, from your website, email or social media, lands in one place and gets an instant reply, so the customer knows you’ve got it. If nobody has answered it, you get a reminder. Many businesses lose work simply by replying a day late.
4. Instant lead alerts
A text or WhatsApp the moment a new enquiry or order comes in, with the details you need to call back while they’re still looking.
5. A weekly business summary
Every Monday, one short email with last week’s enquiries, bookings, sales and website visits, pulled from the tools you already use. No logging into five different apps.
See automations
How to spot a job worth automating
- It happens again and again, in the same way each time.
- It follows simple rules: when this happens, do that.
- It gets forgotten when you’re busy, and that costs you money or reviews.
- It means copying details from one place to another.
If a job ticks two or more of those, it’s probably worth automating.
Bigger systems, built around your business
Once the everyday jobs are running, the next step is the process that eats whole days. For Sheriff & Penny, I turned a paper-based debt recovery process into a system that runs itself. For Little Business Loans, I automated underwriting from application to recommendation. Systems like these start from £995 after a free discovery call.
What not to automate
- Anything that needs judgement every time, such as pricing a complicated job.
- Conversations that build relationships, like the first call with a big client.
- A messy process. Automating a muddle makes a faster muddle. Tidy the steps first.
When you don’t need me
Many of these can be set up yourself with tools you already pay for: most booking systems send reminders, and Google gives you a review link. If you’d rather they were set up properly and looked after, see business automation.
Written by Ben Brailsford-Chambers, the web designer behind Clever Rabbit in Oldbury. Last updated 25 October 2026. More guides