Email vs. Text: Best Follow-Up Methods for Contractors

Want to keep clients happy and boost profits? Choosing the right follow-up method is crucial for contractors. Here’s the bottom line:

• Emails are great for detailed, formal communication like contracts or project updates. They’re preferred by 55% of homeowners and have a strong ROI ($32–$42 per $1 spent). But they struggle with low open rates (20%) and response rates (6%).
• Texts are unbeatable for urgent updates, boasting a 98% open rate and a 45% response rate. Clients reply faster (most within 1 minute), but texts are short and require legal compliance.

Quick Comparison

Pro Tip: Use both! Send detailed info via email and urgent updates via text. Tools like DripJobs automate both, saving time and improving client communication.

Text Message Marketing 101 for Home Contractors

Email Follow-Ups: Key Features

Email remains a dominant tool for professional communication in construction, with 90% of Americans frequently using it . For contractors, it provides an effective way to manage client follow-ups and project updates.

Why Email Works

Email stands out for its ability to deliver formal and detailed communication. In fact, 55% of homeowners prefer email because it keeps a clear record of project details . Beyond that, email delivers a strong return on investment, generating $32–$42 for every dollar spent . It also outperforms social media engagement, achieving a 23% rate compared to social media's 0.6% .

Challenges of Email

Despite its strengths, email does come with some hurdles. People check their inboxes often - up to 20 times a day - but open and response rates are still relatively low. Research highlights concerning trends in follow-up practices:

• 48% of salespeople never follow up, and only 24 out of 1,000 companies send follow-up emails. Additionally, 56% of customers report dissatisfaction with follow-ups .

Email Quick Reference Table

To make email follow-ups more effective, automation and personalization are critical. Including project-specific details and addressing the homeowner by name can significantly improve engagement . These strategies not only help clarify project details but also strengthen client relationships over time.

Next, we’ll dive into text follow-ups and how they compare.

Text Follow-Ups: Key Features

Text messaging gives contractors a direct and highly engaging way to communicate with clients. Studies show that 98% of text messages are read within just one minute .

Text Message Strengths

Text messaging stands out for its speed and effectiveness. It boasts a 98% open rate, far surpassing email's 20-30% . The response rate for texts is 45%, compared to email's 6%, making it a clear winner for engagement . Customers also favor this method - 89% want businesses to offer messaging options, and 69% feel more confident in a brand when texts are available . Plus, 74% of customers reply to business texts within an hour, whereas only 41% do the same for email .

"SMS open and response rates as high as 98% and 45%, respectively - in contrast to corresponding figures of 20% and 6% for email." - Chris Pemberton, Gartner

Despite these advantages, text messaging comes with its own set of challenges.

Text Message Limitations

While effective, text messaging has certain drawbacks contractors need to handle carefully:

• Legal Compliance: Non-compliance with text marketing laws can lead to fines starting at $500 and reaching $1,500 for intentional violations .
• Message Restrictions: Texts are short and not ideal for detailed or complex discussions, such as project specifics or formal documentation.
• Professionalism: The casual tone of texting requires a balanced approach to maintain professionalism while using its immediacy.

"The most common mistake we see is not receiving prior consent. If there's one central rule around compliance with federal regulations, it's to receive consent from the individuals you are going to be messaging." - Brian Wilson, former chief revenue officer of SlickText

Text Quick Reference Table

Text messaging is an excellent tool for contractors, especially for quick updates and time-sensitive confirmations. However, its success depends on staying compliant with regulations, maintaining professionalism, and ensuring clear communication practices.

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Choosing Between Email and Text

Picking the right follow-up method can make a big difference in keeping clients engaged. While 83% of customers prefer email for general business communication , text messages are ideal for urgent updates. Let’s break down when each option works best for contractors.

When to Use Email

Email works well for formal and detailed communication. Use it for:

• Project proposals and detailed estimates
• Complex updates that need attachments
• Legal documents or contracts
• Weekly progress reports
• Design mockups or architectural drawings

Email marketing has an engagement rate of 23%, far higher than social media’s 0.6% . This makes email a strong tool for building long-term client relationships. But when time is of the essence, text messaging takes the lead.

When to Use Text

Text messaging is perfect for quick, time-sensitive updates. Here's a breakdown of when to use it:

Using Both Methods Together

Combining email and text messaging lets you play to the strengths of both. Email provides detail, while texts handle urgency. In fact, customers who receive both SMS and email are 2.4x more likely to make a purchase compared to those who only receive SMS .

Here’s how to make the most of both:

1. Use Email for Documentation: Send contracts, project details, and other formal communications via email.
2. Reserve Texts for Urgency: Use SMS for time-sensitive updates and quick action items.
3. Respect Preferences: With 34% of consumers making purchases when businesses use their preferred communication channels , it's important to adapt to client preferences.

Since 90% of Americans use email and over 90% of people aged 50-70+ use text messaging , using both channels ensures you reach clients effectively.

CRM Tools for Follow-Up Automation

Contractors need reliable CRM systems to streamline follow-up processes. On average, sales reps spend just 30% of their time selling, with the rest consumed by administrative tasks . Automating these tasks can significantly improve efficiency, making CRM tools essential for better follow-up strategies.

DripJobs Follow-Up System

DripJobs offers a CRM platform tailored for contractors, automating follow-ups based on deal stages. The system ensures timely communication via email and text, helping contractors stay on top of their client interactions.

How Automation Saves Time

By automating routine tasks, DripJobs ensures consistent communication and reduces manual work. Users save 10–15 hours per week , allowing them to focus more on projects and client relationships.

"DripJobs is an accumulation of not only my experience as a painting contractor, but that of over 250 other home-service professionals that I have had the fortunate pleasure to personally coach and mentor." - Tanner Mullen, CEO

Key features driving efficiency include:

• Automated responses triggered by client behavior
• Two-way communication via email and text
• Integration with tools like Google Calendar and QuickBooks

These features not only save time but also cater specifically to the unique needs of contractors.

DripJobs Main Tools

DripJobs provides a variety of tools to help contractors manage their business effectively:

• Over 40 pre-written message templates for different scenarios
• Automated pipeline management
• Proposal creation with e-signature functionality
• Integration for payment collection
• Project management features
• Tools for estimating production rates

These features work together to boost contractor sales by 30% . The platform’s email and text communication ensures no lead is overlooked, keeping contractors connected with their clients at every stage.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Contractors can achieve the best results by using both email and text follow-ups strategically. The key lies in aligning the follow-up method with the message type and client expectations.

Here’s a quick guide to matching the communication type with client needs:

Text messages are ideal for fast, time-sensitive updates, while emails work well for detailed or formal project communications. By combining these methods, contractors can ensure clear and effective communication.

Using tools like CRM platforms (e.g., DripJobs) can further streamline this process. These platforms help contractors automate follow-ups, ensuring timely responses and preventing missed opportunities. Balancing detailed emails with quick text updates creates a well-rounded communication strategy that meets client needs efficiently.

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