I have a deep paranoia about out of office messages ever since a previous (bad) job. Every year I worked on a huge project that took nine months, and three separate weeks (or more) of that involved correcting, editing, and reviewing a dense 300 page document.
While you’re writing and activating your out-of-office message, sidestep these pitfalls:
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I’m on a couple of mandatory company-wide email lists. None of these ever have pertinent information, but they’re required.
Depending on the type of holiday, you can create specific templates for various holidays such as Christmas Thanksgiving, New Year etc.:
7.) Benvenuti all’ufficio legale John Doe. Ci scusiamo, ma al momento non possiamo rispondere personalmente alla vostra chiamata, perché state chiamando durante le nostre vacanze annuali. Non esitate a inviarci una e-mail a: [email protected] – Vi contatteremo al più presto possibile al nostro ritorno. Per casi urgenti, vi preghiamo di contattare i nostri responsabili d’ufficio. Potete trovarli sul nostro sito web: www.lawoffice-johndoe.de. Grazie per la vostra chiamata – Arrivederci.
I pretty consistently just do “Greetings, I will be out of office from (date) to (date) with (limited/no) access to email. If you need assistance, please contact (boss) at (email address) – otherwise, I will follow up with you upon my return. Thanks!”
Pet peeve: a fe people I know use the OOO reply to say something like ‘Have a great day!’ It is on all the time, and for no helpful reason.
Being gone doesn’t mean you can’t still be doing good for the company. With a lead generation email, you can inspire action in the receiver. Consider using the end of your message to call for action. You can ask your customers to check out your products, read your blog, or maybe become a part of your affiliate program.
“For the Symantec office, I send holiday wishes for the employees’ holiday out of office. I wish all the employees have lots of fun and adventure during the recreational holiday period. Have a happy holiday.”
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Need inspiration? Here are five out-of-office message examples from the career development site guaranteed to spread holiday cheer professionally:
Does your company publish blogs or offer downloadable ebooks, reports, or case studies? If so, add a P.S. to the end of your vacation message linking your readers to some content they can learn from or engage with.
Hi, Thank you for your email! I am on vacation until [MM/DD]. Vacations are not for checking email, so I won’t be doing that. During my absence, please contact [name] at [email] or [phone] because she’s checking email. Not me. Really, I’m not checking email.
I’ll be back in the office on [end date] or after I’ve perfected my banana bread (whichever comes first)—and will respond to your message then.
I’ll be 1 percent connected while on vacation so I’m not 100 percent panicked on return. Thank you for emailing me.
To be honest, if it wasn’t for the bloody flashing red light I’d never bother with it. Can’t stand the flashing light.
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