0125
Answer speed
First response inside one minute
Urgent customers often contact more than one provider. Delay turns active demand into a competitor's conversation.
Central Alabama pilot
The Local Response Index
A public benchmark framework for the part of local marketing owners can actually inspect: who answers, who recovers missed calls, who follows up, and who keeps open opportunities visible.
Scoring model
A 100-point check for response quality.
Most marketing audits stop at website polish. The Local Response Index scores the operating path after a customer tries to reach the business.
Total available
100Points across speed, recovery, clarity, reputation, and visibility.
0220
Missed-call recovery
Missed callers get a useful text-back path
A voicemail-only dead end leaves the owner with no need, urgency, or next action.
0320
Form clarity
Forms collect service, urgency, location, and contact path
A form that only asks for name and email creates a slower callback and weaker qualification.
0420
Review freshness
Recent reviews and consistent review replies
Fresh reviews help customers trust that the business is active, responsive, and still doing good work.
0515
Owner visibility
Open inquiries are visible until booked, lost, or closed
If the owner cannot see what is open, follow-up depends on memory instead of a system.
Pilot categories
Where the first checks should start.
The first index should focus on trades where response speed, missed-call recovery, reviews, and follow-up can be observed from the outside and verified with the owner.
HVAC
Peak-season calls outpace the office.
Can a no-cool caller get help after hours without waiting on voicemail?
Plumbing
Emergency leads call multiple companies fast.
Can a leak or water-heater lead reach a clear emergency path on mobile?
Dental
New-patient calls compete with front-desk work.
Can a new patient request an appointment without sending clinical details?
Restaurants
Reservation and catering calls arrive during rushes.
Can a larger catering or private-event inquiry avoid the general inbox?
Auto repair
Quote requests lack vehicle and symptom context.
Can a driver send enough detail for a useful callback?
Pilot markets
Central Alabama first, then broader.
Answered is rooted in the Pelham and Birmingham area. The first useful benchmark should stay close enough to verify, explain, and turn into real conversations with owners.
Owner use
Use the index before you buy more traffic.
If the response path is weak, more ads and SEO can simply send more customers into the same slow follow-up. The Opportunity Review checks your version of the index and shows what to fix first.
Score your current path
Find missed-call and form gaps
Map review and follow-up work
Choose the smallest useful fix