Intake fix: the reply that goes out in the first minute

Most firms send nothing for a day. The careful ones send an auto-reply that reads like a robot. Either way, the family keeps looking.

The fix is a reply that goes out within a minute and reads like the owner typed it.

What the reply should do

• Carry your name. A reply from “the team” is a reply from nobody.
• Answer the one thing they asked. If they asked about SHSAT prep, say the word SHSAT in the first line.
• Ask one question you genuinely need. Grade and timeline is usually enough.
• Offer a time, not a promise. A link to pick a consultation beats “I’ll call you back.”

What it should not do

• List every program you offer.
• Send the family to a second form.
• Sound like it was written by software, even if it was.

The one number to measure

Write down the minutes between each inquiry and the first human-sounding reply. Track it for one week before you change anything, so you know what the fix was worth.