Effective communication is the backbone of any business. While you may have closing hours, your customer with a problem or an inquiry does not. To keep your customers and attract newer ones, you need to provide great customer service. The backbone of customer service is timely intervention and response to an inquiry.
It is unrealistic to expect to answer customer inquiries immediately after they come in. When you can’t reply, an automatic reply message should give the customer information they need at that point. If a customer inquires about a product or service and is not responded to for hours on end, they may take the next route to your competitors.
What are Automatic Reply Messages?
Automatic reply messages are messages that are set as responses to communicate with customers across different platforms. An automatic reply message is there to explain to your customer why you’re not there. An automatic reply message could tell your customer if you’re out of the office, out on vacation, on holiday, or will be back in the office in a couple of hours.
Automatic reply messages keep your customers engaged with the information they need at that particular time. In most cases, it doesn’t solve the customer’s problem, but it gives them the information on what to do next, or when you will be available to handle their inquiry.
The Importance of Automatic Reply Messages
Automatic reply messages improve your customer service by providing prompt responses to your customer inquiries. Automatic reply messages help your business to:
- Tackle the most important part of customer service – prompt response. Automatic reply messages make this a reality and create a better bond with your customers.
- Create continuous interactions across your platform whenever you’re away. If you’re away for whatever reason, your social media remains active with response to inquiries.
- Lead customers to self-help channels. If you have a self-help option optimized in your business, an automatic reply message can guide the customer there to solve the inquiry themselves.
How to Write Automatic Reply Messages
Well-written auto-reply messages can make your customers feel valued, seen, and understood. When writing automatic reply messages, there are vital components that should not be omitted in your email.
- Set a clear timeline
A general mistake businesses make with their auto-reply messages is they fail to set a specific date. The reason for automatic reply messages is to reassure your customers by making them know that you’re going to be responding to their queries soon. An automatic reply that lacks a specific timeline counter this.
Here are a few examples of automated messages without specific timelines.
“We’ll get back to you as soon as possible."
“Our customer representative will contact you soon.”
“Thank you for lodging your complaint; we’re going to resolve it ASAP.”
The automatic reply messages above do not sound assuring in any manner. If anything, it makes the customer believe their complaints are going to be swept under the rug.
Your automatic reply message should be time-specific. It should state when you’re going to get back to the customer, and it’s equally as vital that you reply when you say you will.
If you don’t know when you’ll get back to the customer, you should set a specific time frame. An example of this would be, “We’ll get back to you within 48 hours.“ Or “We’ll get back to you ASAP, latest on Monday.”
Giving customers estimated time to respond to them is standard practice for businesses that aim to improve customer satisfaction. When a customer knows when you’ll respond to them, it reduces their frustration.
It’s also advisable to set specific office hours and response times. So, before a customer messages you, they know when to expect a response to their inquiry.
- Have alternative contact options for serious inquiries
When setting up automatic reply messages, you must provide alternative contact options for serious inquiries. The automated reply message should clearly instruct your customers on the action to take when their inquiry is time-sensitive and needs to be acted upon immediately.
Here’s an example of an auto-reply message that provides alternate messaging routes.
For urgent inquiries, you can reach our sales representative Sam on 123-456-7890 or send me a personal email at Jim@woculus.com
Providing alternative contact options in your automatic reply message creates a better experience for your customers.
- Write your automatic reply message in the right tone
When writing your auto-reply message, you have to remember that your customers are already distressed or even angry. So, when writing your automated message, you should choose the right tone that’ll set your customer at ease. In doing this, It would be best if you steered far from unnecessary wordings that do little to lessen your customer’s current worries.
Your automatic reply message should provide solace for your customers.
- Personalize your message
Personalizing your automatic reply message creates a connection between you and your customer. If done right, personalizing your automatic reply messages can make your customers feel at ease. You can personalize your auto-reply message by adding a picture, a meme, etc.
Samples and Examples of Automatic Reply Messages
Automatic reply messages do a lot of good for your brand. It goes a long way to sate your customer and buy you time to reply.
Here are some automated reply messages for different platforms.
Automatic Reply Messages for Live Chat
If a visitor lands on your website to lay a complaint or make an inquiry and find nothing there, they may leave immediately. It’s essential to capture anyone that comes to your website, and an automated reply live chat is the most effective way to do this for your website.
Automatic Reply Messages for Live Chat Samples
Hello, thank you for reaching us. Our operation hours are from 9 am to 4 pm. You can fill the form below, and our support team will contact you with 24hours.
Hi, thank you for contacting Woculus. Kindly read our FAQs here to find out possible solutions to your complaint or inquiry. You can fill the form, and our customer support team will get in touch with you in 48hours.
Thank you for contacting Orange.com. Our office hours open hours are 10 am to 5 pm on weekdays. Please fill the form below with your inquiry, and we’ll get back to you with 24 working hours.
Automatic Reply Messages for WhatsApp
WhatsApp Business makes automation easy like other mediums. It’s not easy to be at your customer’s behest at all times. This is why to respond in time to inquiries, you need one form of automation or another. Here are some automatic reply messages for WhatsApp.
Automatic Reply Messages for WhatsApp Samples
“Hello! Thanks for your message! We’re currently unavailable, but we’ll get back to you within 24 hours! Thank you, the Woculus team.”
“Thank you for your message. We’re unavailable right now but will respond as soon as possible.”
“Hello! We’re out for the weekend and will not be available till 9 am on Monday. For urgent inquiries, please call 123 456 7890.”
Automatic Reply Messages for WhatsApp Samples for Holidays
“It’s Christmas! This means we’re working harder than usual and, as such, we cannot respond to you right now. No worries, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can check our store for products. “
“Merry Christmas and a great new year! Please let us know if you have any questions or inquiry and we’ll hop on Santa’s and reply to you in no time!”
Here are More Automated Reply Samples for Different Occasions
“Thank you for reaching out to Designer Inc. We’ve received your message and will reply within 24hours.”
“Thank you for reaching out to us! We will be in touch ASAP. In the meantime, you can find some answers to your inquiries on our FAQ page. Take a look here.”
“Hello! We’ve received your message, and we’re dedicated to serving you better! A member of our customer support team will reach out to you shortly to handle your inquiry! Thank you!”
Auto Reply Message Sample for Business – Instant Reply Message Sample for Business
1. Basic Auto-Reply:
Thank you for reaching out to [Your Business Name]. We are currently unavailable, but your message is important to us. We will respond as soon as possible.
2. Office Hours Auto-Reply:
Thank you for contacting [Your Business Name]. Our office is currently closed, but we are open from [Office Hours]. We will get back to you during our next business day.
3. Vacation Auto-Reply:
Greetings from [Your Business Name]! I'm currently out of the office on vacation and will not be able to respond until [Date of Return]. If you need immediate assistance, please contact [Alternative Contact Information].
4. Conference/Event Attendance Auto-Reply:
Thank you for getting in touch. I'm currently attending [Conference/Event Name] and might have limited access to emails. I'll do my best to respond promptly, but there could be a slight delay.
5. Lead Generation Auto-Reply:
Thanks for your interest in [Your Product/Service]. We've received your inquiry and will reach out to you shortly with more information. In the meantime, feel free to explore our website for more details.
6. Technical Support Auto-Reply:
Hello, and thank you for reaching out to [Your Technical Support Team]. We're currently experiencing a high volume of inquiries, but rest assured, we're working to address your issue. We appreciate your patience.
7. Sales Inquiry Auto-Reply:
Thanks for considering [Your Product/Service]. Our sales team is excited to assist you. We'll review your inquiry and respond with tailored information to meet your needs.
8. Feedback and Suggestions Auto-Reply:
Hello! Your feedback is valuable to us as we strive to improve [Your Product/Service]. We're reviewing your suggestions and will take them into consideration for our future enhancements.
9. Subscription Confirmation Auto-Reply:
Welcome to [Your Newsletter/Product]! We're thrilled to have you on board. Get ready to receive exciting updates and offers delivered directly to your inbox.
10. Appointment Scheduling Auto-Reply:
Thank you for scheduling an appointment with [Your Business Name]. Your appointment is confirmed for [Date and Time]. If you need to make any changes, please reply to this email or contact us at [Contact Information].
Customer Service Automated Responses
1. General Inquiry:
"Hello! Thank you for getting in touch with [Your Business Name]. Your message is important to us. Our team is reviewing your inquiry and will respond shortly. If you have any urgent concerns, please call our customer service hotline at [Contact Number]."
2. Order Tracking:
"Hi there! Thanks for reaching out about your order. To track your order status, please visit our website and log in to your account. You can also find tracking details in your order confirmation email. If you encounter any issues, we're here to assist you."
3. Returns and Exchanges:
"Hello! If you'd like to initiate a return or exchange, you're in the right place. Our team is ready to guide you through the process. Please provide your order number and a brief description of the item you'd like to return/exchange. We'll get back to you with instructions shortly."
4. Technical Support:
"Greetings! Having technical difficulties? We're here to help. Please provide a detailed description of the issue you're facing, along with any error messages you've encountered. Our tech experts are standing by to diagnose the problem and provide a solution."
5. Product Information Request:
"Hi! Thank you for your interest in [Product Name]. We'd be happy to provide you with more information. Could you please specify the features or details you're looking for? This will help us send you the most relevant information. We'll be in touch soon!"
Etsy Auto Reply Message Example
1. General Inquiry:
"Hello and thank you for reaching out to [Your Etsy Shop Name]! We appreciate your interest. Our team is currently reviewing your message and will get back to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, feel free to browse our shop for unique creations."
2. Custom Order Request:
"Hi there! We're thrilled that you're interested in a custom order from [Your Etsy Shop Name]. Your request is important to us. We'll carefully review your requirements and respond with a personalized quote within 24 hours. Thank you for considering us for your special project."
3. Shipping and Delivery Inquiry:
"Hello! Thanks for asking about shipping and delivery. To check estimated delivery times and shipping costs, please enter your location in the shipping section of the product listing. If you have specific questions about tracking or delivery status, we'll address those in our response."
4. Product Availability Question:
"Hi! We're delighted that you're interested in [Product Name]. Currently, the product is [Available/Out of Stock/Back in Stock Soon]. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the product listing. If you have more questions, don't hesitate to ask."
5. Returns and Refunds Inquiry:
"Hello, and thank you for contacting [Your Etsy Shop Name]. If you're looking to initiate a return or request a refund, please provide your order number and a brief description of the issue. Our team will guide you through the process and ensure a smooth experience."
6. Wholesale Inquiry:
"Greetings! We're excited to hear that you're interested in wholesale opportunities with [Your Etsy Shop Name]. For wholesale inquiries, please share your contact information and some details about your business. Our wholesale team will reach out to you with more information."
Conclusion
When writing automated messages, there are general rules that cut across all platforms. Automated replies follow the same principles across all platforms.
If you’re a business that provides time-sensitive services and cannot afford a 24/7 staff, you must provide an alternate route for customers to pass inquiries through. The samples in this email can serve as guidelines for creating your automated reply messages.