In 60 Seconds
- •The Paradox: To give a good quote, you need photos and details. To get a high conversion rate, you need short forms.
- •The Fix: 'Progressive Profiling'. Ask for Name/Phone first. Get the lead. THEN ask for photos/address in the follow-up.
- •Automated Photo Requests: As soon as a lead arrives, auto-text: 'Thanks! To give you an exact price, can you snap a photo of your existing unit and reply here?'
- •The 'Intake Form': Send a link to a Typeform/Survey AFTER the initial call to collect gate codes, pet info, and parking details.
- •Enrichment Tools: Use software (like Clearbit) to auto-find their address based on their name/email (doesn't always work for residential, but helps).
You are stuck.
You really need to see a photo of the electrical panel to know if you can install the EV charger. But if you put "Upload Photo" on your website form, nobody fills it out.
The solution is Two-Stage Collection.
Stage 1: The Frictionless Entry using
- Goal: Capture the Identity (Name + Phone).
- Form: Just 3 fields.
- Result: You have a Lead.
Stage 2: The Automated Enrichment
- Goal: Capture the Details (Photos, Address, Model #).
- Method: SMS Automation.
The "Photo Request" Workflow
- Trigger: Form Submitted.
- SMS (Immediate): "Hi [Name], thanks for the inquiry. Do you have a second to send me a photo of the area? It helps me give you a faster quote."
- Customer Action: Takes photo, replies to text.
- Result: Your CRM attaches the image to the contact record.
The "Pre-Appointment" Survey
Once the appointment is booked, you have permission to ask for everything.
- Email (24h before): "Help us be ready. Please fill out this quick site prep form."
- Gate Code?
- Dogs in yard?
- Parking instructions?
- Age of home?
- Why it works: They have "Bought In" to the appointment. They want it to go smoothly. They will do the work.
When to Force Data
Sometimes you must have data to route the lead (e.g., Zip Code).
- Rule: Only force fields that determine eligibility.
- If you don't service Zip 90210, you must ask Zip Code upfront to DQ them.
- Everything else can wait.
Verification Checklist
- SMS Attachments: Does your CRM support receiving images via SMS? (GoHighLevel/ServiceTitan do).
- Form Length: Is your initial form <5 fields?
- Link Experience: Is the "Pre-Appointment" form mobile friendly?
Common Mistakes
[!TIP] Don't Ask What You Can Find Don't ask "What city are you in?" if you asked for Zip Code. The system should know. Don't ask "Address" if they are booking a "Virtual Consult." Respect their effort.
- Asking regarding "Budget": Customers lie about budget. Don't ask. Diagnose the problem, then present options.
- Broken Uploaders: If you do ask for photos, ensure the button works on iPhone (HEIC format support).
FAQ
Q: Will they actually send photos? A: Yes, about 60% will. For the other 40%, the tech does it onsite.
Q: Is it safe to collect credit cards? A: Only via secure links (Stripe/Authorize.net). Never ask them to text a credit card number. That is a PCI violation.
Sources and References
- Typeform: Progressive Profiling Guide - Theory.
- Podium: SMS Data Collection - Best practices.
Changelog
- 2024-06-18: Initial publication.
Read Next in This Hub:
- Form Design - The Stage 1 Key.
- Lead Routing Rules - Using the data.
Related System:
- Response Protection - Data capture tools.