Leaving your email behind

There’s nothing worse than worrying about the emails you have in your Inbox when you’re away on vacation. Here’s a solution.

Prep your clients and colleagues BEFORE you check-out for your hard-earned trip.

Here’s how to do it.

A week before your scheduled trip, add a simple line to your email signature. Something like this is what I use…

NOTE: I will be out of the office with limited email and v-mail access Sept. 12th – Sept. 19th. Please contact me ASAP with any time-critical items.

–

Jeff Teschke | Forge3, Ltd.

610.555.1212 office | 610.555.3434 mobile | www.forge3.com

Forge ahead.

Then, during the time that you’re away, add an “out of office” message to your email account letting folks know that you’re wrapped up and won’t be able to respond as quickly as normal.

Here’s one from a recent trip I took to Aruba.

Hello, and thanks for your email.

I will be traveling internationally until Saturday, September 19 with limited access to email and voice mail.

If your request is urgent, I will reply to your email as quickly as possible. Alternatively, feel free to call my hotel directly at 1-800-845-4226.

Otherwise, I’ll be in touch upon my return.

–

Jeff Teschke | Forge3, Ltd.

610.555.1212 office | 610.555.3434 mobile | www.forge3.com

Forge ahead.

This approach works really well, and allows you to sit back, relax and enjoy the trip.

And, feel free to send a postcard my way!

Forge3, Ltd.
P.O. Box 108
Center Valley, PA 18034

About the author

Jeff Teschke is an entrepreneur - always looking for "a better way." His experience ranges from helping small start-ups create their first website, to developing the world's first mobile scavenger hunt game campaign for Microsoft and Sprite. When not helping others forge ahead, he enjoys creating new solutions, flying airplanes and jammin' on the piano.

Comments

7 Responses to “Leaving your email behind”

• Marc Berardinelli says:

  November 13, 2009 at 11:32 pm

  Ahh, nice work my friend. I like the new site and with reference to the e-mail signatures alerting customers when away I have done that , but referenced our holiday closures days about 2 weeks prior alerting them we will not be open on these specific days.

  Marc

  Reply
  • Jeff Teschke says:

    November 14, 2009 at 6:04 am

    Hey, Marc.

    Thanks for the first comment on the new site! :)

    Great idea about using the email signature for holidays. I’ll have to try that.

    Reply
• Marc Berardinelli says:

  November 14, 2009 at 4:14 pm

  No problem…..this is all how we move forward together!

  I look forward to more stuff coming from u guys.

  Reply
• Kevin Guyton says:

  November 18, 2009 at 9:26 pm

  Really great idea and nice video “how to”. Never thought of this. I’m going to use this approach next time I attempt to drop off the grid for awhile.

  Reply
  • Jeff Teschke says:

    November 18, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    Thanks, Kevin.

    Let me know how it works for you. For me, it worked surprisingly well.

    Such a simple thing – everyone should do it.

    Reply
• Amy Lloyd says:

  January 11, 2010 at 11:44 am

  I just updated my outlook signature to alert people of my absence next week. Great suggestion. Thanks Jeff!

  Reply
  • Jeff Teschke says:

    January 11, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Hope you’re going somewhere fun. :)

    Reply