In the era of constant connection, it’s more important now than ever before to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Giving yourself and your employees the gift of personal time is known to have huge advantages, from increased productivity to cultivating a happier, less stressful working environment for your team. However, despite the long-term positive impacts taking this practice can have, many small business owners find it difficult to step away from work at the end of the day. This is especially true when it means leaving client requests on the figurative line and phone line.
Keeping yourself available to clients 24/7 is great for business, but strains the individual — after all, you’re only human!
That’s why VoiceNation, the best answering service for small businesses, is here to lighten the load. With our Live Virtual Receptionists available whenever you need them, you can maintain a healthy work-life balance for your staff and take some needed time off for yourself without leaving your clients unanswered.
If you’re not quite ready to take the leap into live answering, we suggest starting with the small step of setting up an out-of-office message for after-hours calls. With an out-of-office message in place, you can set some boundaries for yourself with your hours of operation while continuing to offer quality customer service to your clients.
Below are 5 out-of-office messages we recommend giving a try. Check them out!
Option 1: Out of Office Message for After Hours Calls
“Thank you for contacting [business or individual’s name]! Our operating hours are [hours & time zone]. Please leave us your name and request, and a member of our team will get back to you soon. Have a great day!”
Option 2: Out of Office Message For Vacations
“Thanks for reaching out! I am out of the office from [start of vacation] to [return date] and will be unavailable during this time. Please reach out to my team member [name] at [phone number or email address] for assistance — they will be more than happy to help you with anything you may need. Thanks again, have a wonderful day!”
Option 3: Out of Office Message For Holidays
“Thank you for calling [business or individual’s name]! Our team is out of the office today in observance of [holiday], but we will resume our regular business hours tomorrow. Please leave your name and request in this message, and we will get back to you as soon as we return. Happy [holiday name]!”
Option 4: Out of Office Message For Offsite Meetings
“Thanks for reaching out! I am at an offsite meeting today and will be out of the office from [time] to [time, timezone]. Please contact my team member [name] at [phone number or email address] for more immediate assistance, or leave me your name and request and I will get back to you once I return. Have a great day!”
Option 5: Out of Office Message For Weekends
“Thank you for contacting [business or individual’s name]! Our staff is out of the office for the weekend but will return Monday morning at [start time, timezone]. Please leave us your name and request and one of our team members will get back to you with an answer on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend!”
Option 6: Opt for an Out of Office Live Answering Service
Once you’ve given after-hours messages a try, why not expand your availability with the best answering service for small businesses?
Our award-winning Live Virtual Receptionists are professionally trained to engage with your clients in the time and manner that works for your specific business needs. From Los Angeles to Boca Raton, our nationwide service is ready to meet you where your work lives.
Try our 7-day free trial today, and discover what VoiceNation can do for you!