The 3 Automations Every Business Should Start With
Simple, Smart Systems That Help You Convert Without the Chaos
Automation can feel overwhelming at first—especially if you’re running a small business and already wearing a dozen hats. But here’s the good news: you don’t need to automate everything to see big results. In fact, just three core automations can drastically reduce your workload, increase your lead conversions, and improve your customer experience. These aren’t advanced or expensive. They’re foundational. And they’re the same automations used by businesses of every size—from solopreneurs to franchises.
Why Start With These Three?
The first automations you build should solve problems you experience daily:
- Leads falling through the cracks
- Missed calls with no follow-up
- Repeating the same emails over and over
The goal here is to save time, improve consistency, and convert more leads—without adding complexity to your day.
Let’s walk through the top three automations every business should start with.
1. Email Follow-Up Sequences
Why It Matters:
Most people don’t buy the first time they hear from you. Whether it’s a service inquiry, a lead magnet opt-in, or a consultation request—your business needs a systematic way to follow up.
A simple email sequence keeps the conversation going, builds trust, and guides the lead to take action.
What It Looks Like:
Let’s say someone downloads your free guide or books a discovery call. They immediately receive:
- Email 1: Welcome and delivery of what they requested
- Email 2 (Day 2): Quick story or testimonial
- Email 3 (Day 4): FAQ + next step to book or purchase
- Email 4 (Day 7): Reminder to follow through or reply
This runs automatically, giving your lead multiple touchpoints without you lifting a finger.
Real-World Example:
ConvertKit, a popular email platform for creators, uses its own 4-email onboarding sequence to walk new users through setup, answer objections, and guide them into paying plans—all before a human ever steps in.
Check out Automate Smarter to learn more about the need to set up smart, strategic flows—not just random emails.
2. Lead Capture & Tagging
Why It Matters:
If your leads aren’t being collected in one place with clear labels, you’re making growth 10x harder than it needs to be. A solid lead capture system allows you to:
- Automatically store every contact
- Organize them by interest or source
- Trigger relevant follow-up actions
What It Looks Like:
Every form on your site, ad, or funnel should connect to your CRM. When someone submits their info:
- They’re added to your database
- A tag is applied (e.g., “Free Guide,” “Consult Request”)
- A specific workflow begins based on that tag
Real-World Example:
DigitalMarketer uses tagging to track every lead based on which funnel they came through and what products they’ve interacted with. This allows for ultra-targeted messaging—and a frictionless sales experience.
Even if your business is local or service-based, this works just as well. It ensures no lead goes untouched, and your messaging always matches their intent.
Check out Are You Automating the Wrong Things? to learn more about addressing the overwhelm of setting up lead capture without a strategy.
3. Missed Call Text-Back
Why It Matters:
80% of people won’t leave a voicemail.
And if you’re a small business that misses calls while in appointments, meetings, or out in the field—you’re losing leads without even realizing it.
A missed call text-back automation bridges that gap, instantly responding via SMS with a friendly message and next steps.
What It Looks Like:
A call comes in. You miss it. Instantly, your system sends:
“Hey! Sorry we missed your call. How can we help? Text us back or book a time here: [link]”
This automation:
- Shows professionalism
- Keeps the lead warm
- Encourages continued communication
Real-World Example:
Anytime Fitness locations use missed call text-back automations to follow up with walk-in inquiries and calls. One franchise location reported a 26% increase in bookings just by adding this single automation.
Why These 3 Work So Well Together
Here’s how they fit together:
- A visitor sees your site or ad and fills out a form → captured and tagged.
- Your email sequence kicks in, keeping them engaged.
- If they call and you miss it, they get an instant text.
This creates a net that captures every opportunity, engages automatically, and converts without needing to be online 24/7.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even simple automations can fall flat if they’re not set up correctly. Avoid these pitfalls:
- Too many steps, too soon – Start lean, then layer on.
- No personalization – Use names, context, and timing.
- Lack of clear goals – Know what you want the automation to achieve.
- Not testing mobile – Make sure emails and texts look great on phones.
Done right, these automations feel seamless—and deliver big ROI.
Final Takeaway
If automation feels overwhelming, start small.
These three automations—email sequences, lead capture + tagging, and missed call text-back—solve real problems you’re probably dealing with right now.
They don’t require a huge budget. They don’t need a tech team.
They just need to be implemented with intention.
Start here. Get these working smoothly. Then build from there.
The most powerful business systems aren’t the most complex—they’re the ones that get used every day.
What's Next?
Want help setting up your first automations? Start with our checklist inside the Automation Leads Follow-Up strategy pack—or read our guide on automating smarter (not just more).
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