If you’re juggling sales calls and leads, you know how easy it is for follow-ups to slip through the cracks. You hang up, move to the next task, and before you know it, a week’s gone by and you’ve forgotten to check in. This guide is for anyone who needs a dead-simple system to make sure no call gets left behind—especially if you’re using Novocall to handle your inbound or outbound calls.
You don’t need to be a tech wizard or buy another tool. You just need a reliable way to set, track, and actually get your follow-up reminders. Here’s how to do it, step by step.
Before You Start: What You Can (and Can’t) Automate in Novocall
First, a reality check. Novocall is built to automate call scheduling, tracking, and lead routing. But when it comes to follow-up reminders, the options aren’t endless. You’re mostly looking at:
- Built-in reminders: Novocall can trigger some notifications, but they’re not as flexible as a full CRM.
- Calendar integrations: You can sync calls with Google Calendar or Outlook and use those platforms’ reminder features.
- Zapier or similar tools: If you want to get fancy, you can connect Novocall to other apps for more complex workflows.
If you’re hoping for a button that says “Remind me to follow up with this lead in 3 days,” you’ll need to combine a few features. But it’s doable, and you’ll only have to set it up once.
Step 1: Decide Where You Want Your Reminders
Let’s keep it simple. Ask yourself: Where do I actually check reminders?
- Calendar notifications: Good if you live in your calendar app.
- Email reminders: If you’re glued to your inbox.
- Task apps (like Todoist, Asana, Trello): For folks who manage everything as a to-do list.
- Text or Slack: For the “I ignore email” crowd.
If you pick the spot you already check every day, you won’t miss follow-ups. Don’t overthink it.
Step 2: Turn On Novocall Calendar Integration
Novocall lets you connect with Google Calendar or Outlook—this is your best bet for basic reminders.
How to Connect:
- Go to your Novocall dashboard.
- Click on your profile or settings menu.
- Find the “Integrations” or “Calendar Sync” section.
- Choose Google Calendar or Outlook, and connect your account.
- Pick which calendar Novocall should use for scheduling.
What this does: Every time a call is booked through Novocall, it’ll show up on your calendar. You can set your calendar app to remind you before or after calls—whatever you prefer.
Pro tip: If you want to remind yourself to follow up a few days after a call, set a custom reminder or create a new event at the time you want.
Step 3: Set Up Automated Follow-Up Tasks (The Zapier Route)
If built-in calendar reminders are too basic, and you want something like “Every time a call ends, create a follow-up task,” you’ll need Zapier or a similar automation tool.
What you’ll need:
- A Zapier account (or similar: Make.com, Integrately, etc.)
- Access to Novocall’s integrations (check your plan—Zapier integration might not be on the entry-level one)
- An account with your task manager or reminder app of choice
How to Do It:
- Set up a new Zap:
- Trigger: “Call Completed” in Novocall
- Action: “Create Task” in your chosen app (e.g., Todoist, Google Tasks, Asana, Trello)
- Map the details:
- Pull in lead name, call time, and phone number from Novocall.
- In the task, write something like “Follow up with [Lead Name] after call on [Date].”
- Set the due date for 1-3 days after the call, or whatever your usual follow-up window is.
- Test it out: Run a test call and see if a follow-up task appears in your chosen app.
- Tweak as needed: If you want reminders by email, Slack, or SMS, you can add extra actions in Zapier.
Reality check: Zapier is reliable most of the time, but it’s not bulletproof. Sometimes triggers get delayed. It’s still better than nothing, but don’t set it and forget it—check your task app now and then.
Step 4: Use Novocall’s Built-In Email Reminders (If Available)
Depending on your Novocall plan, you may be able to configure automated follow-up emails or internal notifications. Here’s how to check:
- Head to the “Notifications” or “Reminders” section in your Novocall account.
- Look for options like “Send reminder to agent after call” or “Automated follow-up email.”
- Set up templates or timing for these reminders. For example, “Remind me to follow up with the lead 2 days after call.”
What works: These reminders are simple and show up in your inbox. They usually include the lead’s info and the call details.
What doesn’t: They’re not always customizable, and you can’t always set complex rules (like reminding a specific team member). The reminders also get lost if your inbox is a mess.
Step 5: Build a Simple Manual Backup (Because Automation Isn’t Perfect)
Even the best automation breaks sometimes. So here’s a dead-simple backup:
- After every call, open your calendar or task app.
- Add a “Follow up with [Lead Name]” event or task for 2-3 days later.
- Make it a recurring habit. If you do it right after the call, you won’t forget.
You can also keep a “Follow-Up” spreadsheet as a last resort. It’s not fancy, but it’s bulletproof. Every call, log the lead, date, and reminder date. Review it each morning.
What to Ignore (and Why)
There’s a lot of shiny automation out there, but you don’t need most of it. Here’s what to skip:
- Complex CRM add-ons if all you need is reminders. Unless you’re managing hundreds of deals, keep it simple.
- Custom code unless you love debugging at midnight.
- Multiple overlapping reminders—one reliable system is better than five noisy ones.
Focus on what you’ll actually use, not what sounds impressive.
Pro Tips for Actually Following Up
- Batch your follow-ups. Block time each day to check your reminders and make your calls. It’s easier than reacting to pings all day.
- Use templates. Have a go-to email or script for follow-ups so you don’t waste mental energy.
- Review your system every month. If you’re still missing follow-ups, tweak where the reminder lands.
Wrapping Up: Simple Beats Fancy
The best reminder system is the one you’ll actually use. Start with Novocall’s built-in options and calendar sync, and only add more automation if you really need it. Don’t get lost chasing the “perfect” workflow. Set it up, see what works, and tweak as you go. You’ll never miss a follow-up again—and you’ll spend less time worrying about it.