Setting up your out-of-office message is one of the best feelings in the world (coming to second to actually being out of office). Because when you have your out-of-office message set up to send automatically, you don’t have to worry about checking your inbox or clients getting mad at you for not responding. 

You can just enjoy your holiday without a care in the world. 

When I say an “out-of-office message,” I mean…

The message that your email provider like Gmail or Dubsado is set up to send out automatically when someone emails you, but you’re not there to check it because you’re out of office. (Hopefully for some beachy reason.) 

But. There’s absolutely absolutely an art and science when it comes to how to write an out-of-office message so that it’s entertaining and gives your clients (or potential clients) the info they need to know.

How to Write an Out-of-Office Message 

Your out-of-office message should definitely include helpful information, like:

• The reason you’re OOO (unless it’s something personal and you don’t want to share) 
• How long you’ll be gone for/when you’ll be back (specific dates are better so people know when to expect a reply)
• And who to contact for help in the meantime (and if you don’t have anyone for them to contact while you’re OOO, don’t panic, that’s totally fine)

But, just because it’s an email for your business doesn’t mean it has to be painfully professional…

5 examples of how to write an out-of-office message that is informative and entertaining:

1. If you’re traveling

You can write an out-of-office message that lets your clients know what fun you’re getting into. For example:

“Hello there, 

If you’re getting this message, it means one thing… I’ve finally done it. I’ve finally taken time to go out of office and on my dream vacay.

And right this very moment…

I might hanging with llamas on top of Machu Picchu in Peru.

Or, eating empanadas in Argentina.

Or, drinking caipirinhas in Brazil (think: mojitos)

Or, laying in bed snoozing to make up for all of that time spent, eating, drinking, and hanging with llamas. 

I’ll be back in office before you know it (specifically, Tuesday, July 9th) and I can’t wait to message you back then. 

Adios muchachos, 

Phoebe”

2. If you’re with your family for the holidays

Make fun of your suffering. (Because while the holidays are swell and all, we all know the family battles that happen during them.) For example:

“Ho, ho, help.

Seriously. Because if this email is hitting your inbox it can only mean one thing: 

The holidays are upon us. 

And that means, I’m stuck vacationing with my family. Which probably began on a wonderful note and lasted all of 3 seconds before my dad told my sister she needs to get his life together and my mom told my dad to be nice. And then a bottle of bubbly was uncapped to deal with the upset.

I’m supposed to be back in office on Wednesday, December 9th and as long as we haven’t all killed each other by then, that’s when I promise to respond.

Happy holidays (I guess),

Phoebe.”

3. If you’re out on maternity leave

Let them know you’ve just done the miraculous thing of bringing a human into the world!

“Hi [First Name],

First things first, I got your email. Second things second, I won’t be able to respond until Tuesday, July 9th when I’m back in office because I’m currently busy trying to… you know… keep a tiny little human alive. (Ah?!)

Wish me luck. 

Phoebe”

4. If you’re OOO, but checking emails 

Let people know what your up to and set the expectation that you might take a little longer than normal to respond.

“Hey you! 

Listen, I set this automatic email responder up because I told myself that I wouldn’t be such a maniac about checking my inbox while visiting my friends in Italy from the 16-30th of July (which was really just my excuse to stuff myself full of pasta and tiramisu and any delicious Italian food I can get my hands on). 

HOWEVER. I will still be checking my inbox from time to time so that means give me a little extra patience with my response time, will ya? 

Sending love from abroad as I try to eat my body weight in pasta, 

Phoebe”

5. If it’s an automatic response to an inquiry 

Keep the excitement high and let them know when you’ll be getting back to them.

“Your inquiry has been officially delivered to my inbox!

(In fact, it just took a fancy, rose-petal bath, and is now all tucked into its pjs and being read a bedtime story.)

I, on the other hand, I’m away from my inbox until the 18th of July, but don’t you worry, I’ll respond to you just the second I land. 

XO,

Phoebe”

See?! Out-of-office messages don’t always have to be so serious, you can have fun with them too! But always remember to keep it on-brand so your email matches the tone and vibe for the rest of your businesses!

Want some funny sign-offs to go with your out-of-office message?

Here are 7 extra sassy ones (for those people/clients who need an extra reminder that you’re OOO).  

• Knock knock. Who’s there. Not me.
• Please hesitate to contact me. 
• If you need me, please don’t. 
• Live, laugh, leave me alone. 
• Until X date, forget I exist.
• The bad news is, I’m out of office. The good news is, I’m out of office. 
• Right email. Wrong timing. Try again later. 

Looking for support with how to write non out-of-office messages and emails? I’ve got loads…

Check out the canned email templates for virtual assistants, social media managers, brand and website designers that can be used for any online service provider. And after you hit purchase, you’ll have dozens of templates to use (and put into Dubsado) so you never have to worry about writing emails from scratch or what on earth to say in an awkward email to a client ever again.