5 Best Out-Of-Office Email Responses

There are few feelings in life better than walking out of the office before a vacation. When it comes to good work-feels, it's really only behind receiving and depositing checks.

And following closely behind walking out that door, the third most satisfying work to-do involves setting your out-of-office auto-reply email message. Although many lawyers struggle to fully disconnect, or unplug, especially when it comes to email, one sure fire way to help ensure the plug stays pulled is by using a really good out-of-office message that gets a recipient's attention.

Not convinced that setting your auto-responder is fun and satisfying? Well, that just means you're doing it wrong. With some creative thinking, it can even be a marketing opportunity.

Below are the top five out of office email autoresponders that might make you want to up your email game.

1. Your Email Will Be Deleted

Setting up an auto-responder explaining that every email received will be deleted is probably a pipe dream for any of us that practice, or get potential client emails, but if you're in house, or have some perfect-world set up, you could do this:

#Holiday tip:
1. In your Out of Office message tell people you are off and ask them to resend their e-mails after your holiday if needed.
2. Delete all #emails received during your absence.

This is a perfect filter.
Enjoy your vacation! ????? #timeforabreak https://t.co/F6cU0EJn9i

-- Liora Kern (@liorakern) August 17, 2018

Best out of office reply ever:

"I am on annual leave until dd/mm/yy. I will allow each sender one email and if you send me multiple emails, I will randomly delete your emails until there is only one remaining. Choose wisely. Please note that you have already sent me one email."

-- Simon H Gray RN BSc ???????????????????????????? (@simonhgray) August 4, 2018

2. Tell Everyone Everything, and Have Some Fun With It

.@brucedaisley this is hands down the best OOO email I have got.. Have fun RVing friend! pic.twitter.com/uXSva7ODU8

-- Bala (@balasankaran) August 1, 2016

3. The Humble Brag With Photo

Actual email I just got from a colleague who is about to head OOO:"Hi all, while you poor souls slave away in the bowels of a giant pile of concrete, I'll be somewhere at the end of this path next week." My colleagues are the best. (?) #FridayFeeling #FOMO #PostedWPermission pic.twitter.com/qO8GENjAlx

-- Sara Jiang, MD (@Sara_Jiang) June 8, 2018

4. The Not All the Way Gone

Best OOO message I've seen:
'I am having an out of office experience that involves a bit of work and a bit of holiday. I will be checking emails, but not so often as to spoil the experience 🙂 ' #outofoffice

-- Sharon Varney (@DrSharonVarney) May 3, 2018

5. Be Accurate, But Avoid Detailed Descriptions of Medical Symptoms

@Sathnam in response to your piece today on OOO emails. I offer you evidence of the worst (best?) one i've ever received. Redacted to protect, well, everyone. https://t.co/kRNasIJCDn pic.twitter.com/NeMZgR5Rs5

-- Nick Varney (@nickvarney) August 24, 2018

Okay ... so this last one probably isn't a good model to follow, especially as it doesn't provide a return date. But it does provide an alternative contact, so hopefully you get the idea.

Want information on effective marketing? Let the experts at FindLaw's Lawyer Marketing give you a hand with FindLaw Integrated Legal Marketing Solutions.

Related Resources:

• Your Out-Of-Office Email Message Needs Some Work (FindLaw's Strategist)
• Two Keys to Best Practices for Client Intake (FindLaw's Strategist)
• Why You Should Define the 'Purpose' of Your Law Firm (FindLaw's Strategist)