Someone fills out your contact form. Your system automatically sends them an email that says, "Thank you for your submission. We'll get back to you soon."
They delete it without reading.
Sound familiar? You're sending one of the most ignored emails on the internet. And worse, you're wasting the hottest moment in your entire sales process.
Right after someone submits your form, they're at peak interest. They just took action. They want to hear from you. This is your golden window.
Instead, most businesses send the email equivalent of "Thanks, bye." Then they wonder why leads go cold by the time they follow up.
Here's the template 90% of businesses use:
"Thank you for contacting us. We have received your submission and will respond within 24-48 hours."
This email tells them nothing they don't already know. Of course you received it. Of course you'll respond. But what about right now, while they're still thinking about you?
People delete confirmation emails because they're useless. They don't provide value, answer questions, or move anything forward. They're just digital receipts.
Your brain thinks: "Got it. They have my info. Nothing else to do here." Delete.
Smart businesses use confirmation emails to:
Think of it as the second part of your form, not the end of it.
Instead of "Thanks for your submission," try something that actually helps:
For service inquiries: Send a brief guide related to their problem. "While we review your project details, here's what most clients ask us about [their specific issue]."
For demo requests: Give them something to prepare with. "Here's what to expect in our demo and 3 questions that will help us customize it for you."
For content downloads: Don't just attach the PDF. Explain how to use it. "Your guide is attached. Most people start with section 3 because it has the biggest immediate impact."
Here's what usually happens after that boring confirmation email:
Compare that to keeping them engaged from minute one. By the time you call, they've already consumed your content and are ready to talk specifics.
The best confirmation emails reference what they actually submitted. If someone used your contact form to ask about website design, your email should mention website design, not generic "your inquiry."
This is where having better form responses really matters. As we covered in our copy-paste problem article, when people give you detailed information, you can send much more relevant follow-ups.
Generic form submission = generic confirmation email. Detailed form submission = personalized, valuable response.
When FillyForm helps users provide detailed, specific responses to your forms, your confirmation emails can be much more targeted. Instead of "Thanks for your interest in our services," you can say "Thanks for telling us about your inventory management challenges. Here's how we've helped similar retailers..."
Better form data means better follow-up emails.
Look at your current confirmation email. Ask yourself:
If the answer is no to any of these, you're wasting hot leads.
Start by rewriting just one confirmation email. Pick your most important form and make the follow-up actually helpful. You'll see the difference immediately.
Remember, they just raised their hand and said they're interested. Don't waste that moment with a boring receipt.