By the ADSGY team
More enquiries do not automatically mean more sales. If customers ask about a product or service and then disappear, check the information and response process before spending more on advertising. This checklist helps Guyana shops, contractors and service businesses find the missing step.
1. Record where every enquiry comes from
Use a simple tracker with the date, source, product or service, general customer location, person responsible and next action. Record only the information you need and limit staff access appropriately. A website enquiry, marketplace message and phone call should not disappear into separate inboxes.
2. Answer the question the customer actually asked
If someone asks for a price, explain the price or the details required to calculate it. If they ask about delivery to Linden, answer whether you serve the area and how the charge is confirmed. A generic “contact us for details” response can create another obstacle.
3. Make the full offer clear
- What is included and excluded?
- Which currency does the price use?
- Are delivery, installation, hosting or maintenance extra?
- When is the product or service available?
- What must happen before an order or booking is confirmed?
4. Give one clear next step
For a shop, ask the customer to confirm the product variation and pickup or delivery area. For a contractor, ask for the job type, location and a convenient assessment time. For a salon, ask which service and preferred appointment time they need. Avoid asking for a long application before a basic conversation.
5. Follow up with permission and useful information
Suggested message: “Hello [name], following up on your enquiry about [item or service]. Is there anything you need clarified about the price, availability or next step? Let us know if you would like to proceed.”
Use follow-up only where the customer expects it and respect requests to stop. Do not repeatedly message people who have declined. Keep automated messages short and give customers a route to a person.
6. Learn why enquiries stop
Record a reason when the customer volunteers one: price, delivery, timing, unavailable stock or choosing another provider. Do not assume every lost enquiry means your price is wrong. Customers may need a better explanation of value or a more suitable option.
A worked example: a renovation enquiry
This is an illustrative workflow. A homeowner asks a Georgetown contractor for a bathroom renovation price. Instead of sending a guess, the team explains what affects the quote and collects the general location, scope and preferred assessment time. The enquiry is assigned to a staff member. After the assessment, the written quote states materials, labour, exclusions and the expected schedule. A reminder helps staff follow up rather than leaving the customer waiting.
7. Measure actual business outcomes
Review enquiries received, useful conversations, quotes issued, accepted quotes and completed sales. A WhatsApp click shows an attempt to contact you; it does not prove a sale. Track response time and missed enquiries as well. Compare the results before and after changing the process.
Weekly review template
- Count new enquiries by source.
- Check that each has an owner and next action.
- Review unanswered questions and delayed replies.
- Update prices, stock and delivery information that caused confusion.
- Record confirmed orders and accepted quotes separately from clicks.
When automation helps
Start with one task: acknowledge a form submission, notify the responsible person or remind staff about an unanswered enquiry. Keep a manual fallback. Automation supports a clear process; it cannot decide stock, final prices or appointment availability unless connected to dependable information.
Frequently asked questions
Can a website help us organise enquiries?
Yes. A focused enquiry form can collect the service, general location and preferred next step, then route the request to the right person.
Should we automate every reply?
Start with acknowledgements and staff reminders. Keep prices, stock and bookings under review, and make it easy for customers to speak to a person.
How do we start with ADSGY?
Gather your current enquiry channels and the questions customers ask most often, then contact ADSGY to discuss a practical website and follow-up process.
Make your enquiries easier to manage
ADSGY builds websites and practical follow-up workflows for businesses in Guyana. Explore website and workflow options or request a quote. Tell us where enquiries arrive and which step currently takes too long.