Free guide
Website enquiry auto-reply that actually helps
Visitors expect a reply within minutes, not “we’ll get back to you.” An auto-reply confirms you received the message, sets response time, and asks one useful question - while you’re on a job or in a meeting.
What to put in the first email (within 5 minutes)
- Thank them by name if the form captured it.
- Repeat what they asked for in one line (proves it wasn’t a black hole).
- Give a realistic window: e.g. “We reply to new enquiries within one working day.”
- One question that speeds up your quote: postcode, budget band, photos, preferred call time.
Avoid marketing fluff in touch one - save case studies for email 2 in your lead follow-up sequence.
How the form connects
Your site POSTs to an automation entry point when the form submits. In n8n that’s usually a production Webhook URL with JSON like email, name, and message. The workflow responds 200 immediately so the browser doesn’t spin, then sends the auto-reply via Gmail or SMTP.
Step-by-step for Typeform, WordPress, Webflow, and custom sites: webhook lead capture guide.
UK privacy in plain English
Auto-replies are legitimate interest for responding to enquiries - still link to your privacy policy, don’t add them to a newsletter without consent, and store only what you need. Full legal wording is your responsibility; we’re describing a common SMB pattern, not legal advice.
After the auto-reply
Day 2 and day 5 nudges catch people who forgot to reply to your question. That’s the lead pack in the Autopilot Kit - importable n8n workflows plus SETUP.md for credentials and testing.