We know you’re itching to switch on your out-of-office and enjoy that blissful, phone-on-silent feeling. But before you lock the door and head out, there are 4 small jobs that will save you headaches, lost sales, and confused customers over the break. Let’s start at the top:
1. Update your holiday hours – everywhere
If your customers can’t find your hours, they’ll assume the worst and head elsewhere. Clear, accurate holiday hours build trust and keep the enquiries flowing.
Google Business Profile: You can set temporary hours so Google does the heavy lifting for you.
Facebook:
- Go to About
- Select Edit Page Info
- Click the Hours tab
- Update your festive hours and save
Instagram: Post your Christmas hours as a graphic, pin it to the top and include the dates you’ll be back.
TikTok, LinkedIn, the lot: Wherever your customers might look, make it obvious.
Your website: Don’t forget this. It’s the first place most people check.
2. Set your auto-replies before you vanish
A polite, on-brand auto-reply stops people wondering if you’ve ghosted them. It sets expectations, keeps your customer experience intact, and lets your personality shine.
Like:
“Thanks for your message. We’re currently on a break. Not a Ross <-> Rachel break, more of a ‘Wow, it’s been quite a year, we need to watch ALL of the Home Alone series followed by Die Hard whilst nose bagging chocolate kind of break.’ We’ll get back to you on the 5th of January.”
Short, funny, human. Perfect.
3. Revisit anything you’ve scheduled
We all love being organised… until a pre-scheduled post pops up at the worst possible moment. Give your content calendar a quick scan before you log off.
Ask yourself:
Would this still feel appropriate if something unexpected happened?
Does it still align with your current messaging?
Are there any cringe references your future self might regret?
A quick review now saves a “why did we post THAT?” moment later.
4. Write an out-of-office message worth reading
Most out-of-office replies are… well, beige. This is your chance to do better. A great OOO message can spark a smile, show off your brand personality, and remind people that there are real humans behind the inbox.
The end of the year is the perfect moment to retire the bland “Thanks for your email, we’ll reply soon” auto-reply. Your out-of-office can do more than state dates — it can show personality, set expectations clearly, and give people a tiny taste of what it’s like to work with you.
A good OOO message strikes the balance between helpful and human. It keeps things light, sets boundaries, and still delivers a great customer experience — even when you’re switched off. Look out for our OOO… coming to your inbox soon!
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End-of-year prep doesn’t have to feel frantic. A few intentional tweaks now will set you up for a smoother return in January — and a marketing presence that keeps working even while you’re on holiday.
