Impress when you're away from your desk with a thoughtful autoresponder.

Does your “away from your desk” auto-reply impress your customers, coworkers, and vendors?

When you’re away from the office or have limited access to email, an email auto-reply can help keep colleagues and clients in-the-know about your schedule—and set reasonable expectations for your reply. Think of it as yet another touchpoint that can anticipate your clients’ needs and leave a good impression. Wondering what to include in an auto-reply, away from desk message?

These basics will keep your email correspondents happy and informed, even when you can’t reply right away:

• Pleasantries! Tone is uber-important in an auto-responder — you want your recipients to know that although you can’t craft a personal message at the moment, you still care. Start with a friendly, non-specific greeting like “Hello!” and include a warm closing that emphasizes your eagerness to catch up when you can (“I look forward to getting in touch with you soon!”).
• Include a timeframe. Don’t leave your correspondents in limbo — let them know when you’ll be writing (or calling) back. If you know you’ll likely be swamped when you return to your in-box, factor a bit of a buffer into your reply timeframe. If you’re back Tuesday, for example, you might say you’ll be happy to get in touch Thursday. Replying a little earlier than expected is always better than keeping correspondents waiting.
• Provide a back-up plan. Is there someone who can help your correspondents while you’re out? Including that person’s contact information will put your autoreply recipients at ease, even if they don’t use it. Everyone likes to know they’re taken care of! If you don’t have a back-up buddy, consider including emergency contact information, or giving those who have it the okay to use it (“If you need anything urgently, please don’t hesitate to call my cell phone.”)

Altogether, an example auto-reply might look a little something like this: