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Setting Up an Autoresponder:
Instant Response on Any SMS Number
An autoresponder fires an immediate reply to any inbound text on a number — before OTTO’s collector flow begins, or as a standalone response for numbers not attached to a collector. It’s the first message a contact receives.
Autoresponders ensure no inbound text goes unanswered — even if it’s just a confirmation that someone will follow up. Speed matters: the first response, even automated, sets the tone for the conversation.
Setting Up an Autoresponder
Autoresponder Best Practices
One to two sentences. Confirm receipt, set expectation for response time, and optionally include a CTA. Don’t cram information into the autoresponder that should be in the collector flow.
If the autoresponder is the first message a contact receives from your number, include “Reply STOP to unsubscribe” — required for marketing communications under TCPA.
If the number has a collector assigned, the autoresponder is a preface — keep it warm and brief. The collector’s opening message carries the actual qualification flow.
For markets with Spanish-speaking contacts, consider a bilingual autoresponder: “Thanks for reaching out! / ¡Gracias por comunicarte!” — signals inclusivity before the Language Funnel activates.
How OTTO handles first-touch response automatically — and why the autoresponder-to-collector flow means your team only touches warm, qualified leads.
Read the Insight →For full OTTO qualification — not just an acknowledgment — build a Lead Collector. The collector’s opening message replaces the need for a standalone autoresponder.
Read the KB Article →How to configure the email notification that fires when OTTO completes qualification — the other half of the automated response system.
Read the Playbook →