Is It Worth Texting Leads, or Should I Just Call?

You get a lead. You call them. They don’t answer. You leave a voicemail.  And then… nothing.  But what if the problem isn’t your pitch? It’s your approach.

89% of consumers prefer to text a business rather than call. And only 18% check voicemail regularly.

That means if you're only calling, you’re missing out on a huge segment of reachable leads.

Why Texting Works

It’s Instant

Texts are read within 3 minutes, on average. That’s faster than any email or voicemail.

It Feels Personal (Even When Automated)

A short, friendly message can feel more relaxed than a formal call.

It’s Convenient

Your lead might be at work, on the go, or not in the mood to talk. A text lets them respond on their terms.

Real-World Example: Thumbtack’s Text-Based Booking Success

Thumbtack, a lead generation platform for service professionals, saw a 40% higher booking rate when pros responded via text instead of phone.

They even created a texting feature in-app to:

• Respond within seconds
• Share photos or pricing
• Confirm job details

This responsiveness became a selling point.

Source: Thumbtack Business Blog, 2022

When to Call (And When Not To)

Call When:

• You’ve already texted and they’ve shown interest
• The matter is complex or urgent
• You need to build rapport (especially for high-ticket services)

Don’t Call When:

• It’s your first attempt and they don’t know you
• You’re following up too soon after a missed call
• You can say it better with a link or quick message

Check out Is Voicemail Killing My Business to learn how voicemail is often ignored.

How to Use Both (Without Being Annoying)

Ideal Contact Sequence:

1. Missed Call: Auto-text goes out instantly: “Hey [Name], sorry we missed you! Want to text or schedule a quick call?”
2. 1 Hour Later: Follow-up text with helpful link (quote request, booking page, testimonial)
3. Next Day: Optional short voicemail or personal check-in text

Check out What’s the Best Way to Follow Up Without Sounding Pushy for tone guidance and timing.

Automation tools like GoHighLevel make this seamless.

Final Takeaway

Your leads don’t hate follow-up. They just hate interruptions.

Texting respects their time—and increases your chances.

You don’t have to pick one. You just have to use both, strategically.

Next Steps

If you want to stop losing leads who don’t answer the phone, let’s fix your follow-up game. Schedule a Business Audit with The Omnia Co and we’ll help you implement a contact strategy that meets your leads where they are—without working 10x harder.