Facebook leads for contractors, along with Instagram leads, can generate leads for your pipeline at a fraction of the cost of search leads. The problem is, the leads are cold.
The homeowner has tapped your ad as they scrolled, entered a name and a phone number and returned to their feed. After an hour, they hardly recall having done it. If a competitor texts them first, that’s who they book.
Most Facebook lead ads automation only then pushes the lead somewhere: a spreadsheet, an email, a CRM record. Others take it a step further and begin the discussion. Here are five of the best, their strengths, their weaknesses, and the considerations for selecting the one.
Quick Comparison
Agencies and action-oriented marketers
Why Do Facebook Leads Go Cold So Quickly?
Google, Yahoo, and others are seeking you out. You broke into my Facebook leads.You started to interrupt my Facebook leads. This difference alters the entire nature of follow-up.
Let’s take a look at the common search terms used by users when creating Facebook lead ads: Facebook lead ads to Google Sheets, Facebook lead ads to email, Facebook lead ads to WhatsApp. Those types of configurations take the lead out of Facebook. They’re not able to put anybody on the phone.
The research findings are consistent in regard to response speed. A famous MIT and InsideSales study on Lead Response Management revealed that leads that were contacted within 30 minutes were much more likely to be contacted and qualified within five minutes than leads contacted within 30 minutes. If you’re a Facebook lead who isn’t likely to be familiar with your ad by lunchtime, the time window is even shorter.
Two Kinds of Facebook Leads
- Instant Form leads: the homeowner fills out your lead form with the information of their name, phone number and email.
- The homeowner taps Send message and initiates a chat with your Page, which is called a messenger lead.
Instant Form leads: the homeowner fills out your lead form with the information of their name, phone number and email.
The homeowner taps Send message and initiates a chat with your Page, which is called a messenger lead.
A good tool takes care of both, as your ads will generate both.
What to Look for in a Facebook Lead Response Tool
- Responds within seconds, through text for “form” leads and in Messenger for chats
- A genuine back and forth that saves you crucial information about the job
- Booking on the calendar and not “we’ll call you”.
- CRM is synced with the lead source attached, which means that you will know which ads were profitable.
- A lead requires someone in human takeover.
- Your other lead sources are the same: Google LSA, Yelp, Thumbtack, your website.
- Easy-to-understand pricing without bloatware by channel.
Responds within seconds, through text for “form” leads and in Messenger for chats
A genuine back and forth that saves you crucial information about the job
Booking on the calendar and not “we’ll call you”.
CRM is synced with the lead source attached, which means that you will know which ads were profitable.
A lead requires someone in human takeover.
Your other lead sources are the same: Google LSA, Yelp, Thumbtack, your website.
Easy-to-understand pricing without bloatware by channel.
The 5 Best Tools to Respond to Facebook Leads
1. LeadTruffle
LeadTruffle is an AI lead response system tailored to home service companies. It integrates with Meta, allowing you to have all your Facebook Lead Ads and Messenger conversations in one place with the rest of your leads.
LeadTruffle captures the name, phone number, email and any custom questions that are submitted with your Instant Form. The AI responds to them in seconds via text or e-mail with the questions a dispatcher might ask and strives to book an appointment. If they do not respond, it will continue to prompt them and terminate when they respond.
The same goes for the Messenger app, where the AI can respond to Page messages, just as it does in the real world: If you ask it about a tune-up at 10 p.m., it can provide a real answer, rather than waiting until morning. All conversations are synced to your CRM including the source tag from Facebook.
Standout Features
- Text and email follow-up is a key function of Facebook Instant Form managed by AI.
- AI replies in Facebook Messenger
- Automatic follow-ups that will end once the lead responds
- Create native sync with Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Workiz, HubSpot and more
- All in one inbox: Facebook, Google LSA, Yelp, Thumbtack, Angi, website and missed call leads.
- Any conversation can be taken over by your team
Text and email follow-up is a key function of Facebook Instant Form managed by AI.
AI replies in Facebook Messenger
Automatic follow-ups that will end once the lead responds
Create native sync with Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, Workiz, HubSpot and more
All in one inbox: Facebook, Google LSA, Yelp, Thumbtack, Angi, website and missed call leads.
Any conversation can be taken over by your team
Limitations: No self-serve free trial available and the pricing is not available on the website, so you will have to schedule a demo call to get a pricing quote.
Pricing: Custom quote based on volume of leads and your setup, it’s a one-time, flat monthly plan, no contracts, no per lead fees. Onboarding is included.
Best fit for: Home service businesses running Facebook ads who want to have 100% of their leads contacted, qualified and booked without having to hire another CSR. Experience for yourself at LeadTruffle.
2. Auto-Respond
With Auto-Respond, you can purchase a different autoresponder for every lead source. For Facebook, it’s one plan for Lead Ads and one plan for Messenger, plus Instagram, Google Local Services Ads, Yelp and Thumbtack.
Once a lead receives it, you can send a welcome message based on keywords, or allow your AI Assistant to write the welcome. Follow-up sequences are executed within timing windows set by you, timed for business hours, and can be called back by an optional voice agent.
Setup is quick. Most connections are made in less than two minutes, the answers you send are unlimited and you can add as many team members as you want, the company says.
Standout Features
- You can start for $1 per channel.
- Answers generated with keywords or by AI.
- Follow-up sequences: timing and business-hours controls
- AI Callback & Batch Agent (Optional)
- CRM integrations HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce, GoHighLevel, Workiz, Housecall Pro and SmartMoving.
- The Analytics dashboard includes CSV export.
You can start for $1 per channel.
Answers generated with keywords or by AI.
Follow-up sequences: timing and business-hours controls
AI Callback & Batch Agent (Optional)
CRM integrations HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce, GoHighLevel, Workiz, Housecall Pro and SmartMoving.
The Analytics dashboard includes CSV export.
Limitations: Each channel is an individual subscription, meaning Lead Ads plus Messenger plus Google LSA gets pricey. Booking is not collected through third-party calendar applications such as Cal.com or your CRM, and it doesn’t include website leads.
Pricing: Facebook Lead Ads and Messenger are $19 and $49 a month respectively. Voice – $10 per number + $1 per minute. 7-day free trial.
Ideal for: A business looking for immediate response to Facebook form leads on the cheap.
3. GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel is a one-stop marketing platform that is particularly popular with companies. It integrates a CRM, sales pipelines, funnels and websites, calendars and SMS and email marketing all in a single account.
It integrates Facebook and Instagram messages with SMS and WhatsApp conversations into a single inbox for Facebook and provides a workflow on lead arrival. The Conversation AI and AI voice capabilities allow you to create automated replies and booking flows.
The flexibility is the key. You can create almost any possible sequence you can imagine, you can add review requests afterwards, and if you’re an agency you can white label the entire sequence.
Standout Features
- CRM, pipelines, funnels, websites & calendars in one account.
- Use a shared Inbox for Facebook, Instagram, SMS and WhatsApp.
- Create custom follow-up automations using workflow builder.
- Conversation AI chat and AI voice calls.
- Automated requests for reviews to improve online reputation.
- White Label Options and a mobile app.
CRM, pipelines, funnels, websites & calendars in one account.
Use a shared Inbox for Facebook, Instagram, SMS and WhatsApp.
Create custom follow-up automations using workflow builder.
Conversation AI chat and AI voice calls.
Automated requests for reviews to improve online reputation.
White Label Options and a mobile app.
Restrictions: It’s a broad platform and it isn’t created to support home services, so each workflow should be developed and maintained. A large number of contractors end up getting an agency to operate it which is an additional actual monthly expense.
Pricing: Starter is $97/month, Unlimited is $297/month and Agency Pro is $497/month.
Ideal For: Agencies and marketers who wish to have complete control when creating custom funnels and automations for clients.
4. LeadsBridge
LeadsBridge is a lead ad syncing platform and a Meta Business Partner. It is there to seamlessly usher Facebook Lead Ads leads into your marketing pipeline when they come in.
It integrates with over 370 CRMs and email solutions and syncs leads instantly. This enables a new Facebook lead to be captured in your CRM or sent out as a welcome email from your email platform in mere moments.
This also goes the other way. Adheres to the Conversions API to return lead and conversion data to Meta, and syncs CRM audiences for retargeting to reach more people that are similar to your best customers.
Standout Features
- 370+ CRMs and email tools are connected to Real-time Facebook Lead Ads.
- Meta Business Partner for lead ads
- Conversions API and Online to offline tracking.
- Newly added feature audience sync for retargeting on higher plans.
- Human effort and assistance.
370+ CRMs and email tools are connected to Real-time Facebook Lead Ads.
Meta Business Partner for lead ads
Conversions API and Online to offline tracking.
Newly added feature audience sync for retargeting on higher plans.
Human effort and assistance.
Restrictions: It moves the lead but doesn’t communicate with it. A person or other tool is still required to reply, qualify and book.
Pricing: Generous for up to 50 leads per month on one bridge, after that, their price is very steep. Scales by lead volume with paid plans up to $999 per month on an annual basis for Business.
Ideal for marketing teams requiring clean, real-time lead data flowing in and out of their existing CRM system and back to Meta.
5. Zapier
The do-it-yourself alternative is Zapier. Its Facebook Lead Ads integration kicks in on the second a new lead enters, and could pass that info to over 9,000 other apps.
The most frequently used ones push Facebook leads to Google Sheets, to Gmail, to Slack, to HubSpot or to a WhatsApp notification. In multi-step Zaps, you can send a text-message app and an AI step to send the lead a personalized response.
You can also return the funnel events to Facebook’s Conversions API via Zapier, allowing you to indicate which leads became customers.
Standout Features
- Always gets a “New Lead” trigger if the condition was met on any Page and form.
- Connects to 9,000+ apps
- Custom replies using AI steps in multi-step Zaps.
- Drive funnel events back to the Meta’s Conversions API.
- Enormous selection of templates to choose from.
Always gets a “New Lead” trigger if the condition was met on any Page and form.
Connects to 9,000+ apps
Custom replies using AI steps in multi-step Zaps.
Drive funnel events back to the Meta’s Conversions API.
Enormous selection of templates to choose from.
Limitations: It will alert the user instead of interacting with the lead out of the box. A real conversation means that you’re doing the work of your own connecting SMS, AI, calendar tools and ensuring that all the Zaps are functioning.
Pricing: Facebook Lead Ads is a premium app, which is why you must have the Professional plan that begins at $19.99 a month.
Ideal For: Owners who are at ease creating their very own automations, or perhaps those who merely need to be notified once a lead comes in.
Setup Tip: Add SMS Consent to Your Instant Form
When you want to send any tool to your Facebook leads, you can add an SMS opt-in checkbox to your Instant Form with an additional disclaimer. If you don’t have that consent, follow up is only available via email, and email is the slowest method to a homeowner who simply scrolled past your ad.
How to Choose
- Only a first text on form leads: a low cost start with Auto-Respond’s Lead Ads plan.
- You are an Agency creating custom funnels: GoHighLevel.
- Having clean data in your CRM and back to Meta: LeadsBridge.
- You enjoy creating your own workflows: Zapier.
- You want all your Facebook leads answered, qualified and booked with your Google LSA and other leads: LeadTruffle.
Only a first text on form leads: a low cost start with Auto-Respond’s Lead Ads plan.
You are an Agency creating custom funnels: GoHighLevel.
Having clean data in your CRM and back to Meta: LeadsBridge.
You enjoy creating your own workflows: Zapier.
You want all your Facebook leads answered, qualified and booked with your Google LSA and other leads: LeadTruffle.
FAQs
What Is the Best Response Time for a Facebook Lead?
In the blink of an eye, preferably seconds. Facebook leads are of no real interest to Facebook and that can mean that their interest will wane quickly.
Can Facebook Messenger Auto Reply Handle Messages on My Business’ Behalf?
Yes. LeadTruffle, Auto-Respond and GoHighLevel can all respond automatically to the Page’s message. Find one that allows your team to take over anytime.
What Is the Best CRM for Facebook Leads in Home Services?
Typically the one you already utilize, such as Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan. A response tool that pushes Facebook leads into it with the source attached is the key.
What’s Happening to My Facebook Leads That Aren’t Answering the Phone?
Many don’t pick up unknown numbers. In general, a quick response to their request by text message will result in a response before a call will.
Is There a Need to Use Zapier to Connect Facebook Leads?
Not always. Some tools are integrated with Meta. There are others who use Zapier behind the scenes, which is okay as long as the lead receives a reply within seconds.
The Bottom Line
It’s quite simple to get Facebook leads into a spreadsheet. The difficult part is getting them on your schedule. All of these tools here address a part of that. LeadTruffle is the first place to launch if you wish to have all Facebook leads answered in seconds, followed up automatically and booked into your CRM.
