The first one goes to voicemail. She hangs up. The second one goes to voicemail too. Ten seconds later, her phone buzzes with a text:

"Hi, this is [Your Business]. Sorry we missed your call. We are out on a job. What can we help you with? Reply here and we will get back to you today."

She types back: "Water heater leaking. 3 bedroom house in Keaʻau." The plumber sees it at a stoplight and replies with a time. She stops calling around.

That is a missed call text back. It is one of the simplest tools a small business can add.

Why a text works

People read texts. Many people do not answer calls. In a survey of 1,000 U.S. smartphone owners by the texting company Avochato:

• 69% said they would rather an unfamiliar company text them than call them.

• More than 3 out of 4 said they do not answer calls from numbers they do not know.

Think about what that means when you call back later. Your number is a stranger to her. She may let it ring. A text from you, sent while she is still looking at her phone, gets read.

How it works

1. A call to your business number goes unanswered.

2. A text goes out from that same number within seconds.

3. The customer replies by text.

4. You see the reply on your phone or in one simple app, and answer when your hands are free.

In most cases you keep the business number you already have. Your customers do not need to learn anything new.

Who it fits

Any business where the owner works with their hands while the phone rings:

• Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC techs

• Auto repair and detailing shops

• Salons, barbers, and massage studios

• Tour and activity operators out on the water or the trail

Make it sound like you

The text should sound like a person at your shop. Keep it to two or three short lines. Say who you are. Ask one question. Promise a reply time you can keep.