HOLIDAY MESSAGES & OUT OF OFFICE

Hi Janie here again with another guest blog - thanks SIO for letting me revisit you. Business advice from someone who knows; 35 years of helping and running businesses means I've seen most mistakes and learnt so much.

Out of office messages are often overused or ill thought through giving out negative messages about your business. Are you an emergency Doctor or offer instant response? not many are, so why tell your clients every time you slip out of the office?

Do you value your customers? If you do then why do so many auto holiday out of offices messages say otherwise? How many times do I see messages that say I am away having a lovely time! So this says to me firstly customer service is shut, second reinforces the message that I am not on holiday having a nice time like my supplier. So in one sentence you have possibly annoyed and depressed your customers; not the best idea.

Of course you need to have a holiday or leave the office to visit clients or suppliers but think before you turn on the out of office. Think is it necessary? is the content helpful to the reader? Am I honestly managing customer expectations? On top ask yourself does it sync with my other messages such as answer phone or web based statements? Don't just rely on the standard, personalise it, especially the subject line.

Also be honest, will you check email while away anyway?  If so what need for any message or perhaps something less dramatic such as 'due to a busy meeting schedule over the next two weeks email replies may take a little longer than normal, up to 36 hours. All you should do is think it through and put yourself in your clients shoes.

Lastly if you work from home and this is well known or obvious from your web site then be careful about advertising the fact that you are away. Criminals can read too!

Common sense is all it takes, when did you last look at your business through your clients eyes, it might be worth doing. 

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