Last updated: 22 Jul, 2019
Published on: 1 Jan, 2016
Tips for managing enquiries over the holidays
Is a well-managed inbox on your Christmas wish list? Read on!
Christmas and the New Year can be a busy time for adoption enquiries, with many people eager to settle in a new pet over the holidays while they have time off work.
So to manage incoming enquiries over the holiday period, why not enlist the assistance of an auto-responder?
An auto-responder sends an email to everyone who enquires about a pet automatically. It’s a great way to set expectations about your adoption process and response times, as well as holiday closure times.
Keep the content friendly and welcoming, and include some key information such as links to your adoption application forms, or your PetRescue Rescue Directory listing.
Need some inspiration? Here’s an example:
Thanks for your enquiry - it’s great that you are looking to add a wonderful rescue pet to your family!
Please note emails will be unattended from 24th December 2015 to 4th January 2016. The New Year is a great time to add a rescue pet to your family, and we will attend to your enquiry upon our return.
We know this is an exciting time, but please bear in mind we are a volunteer-based organisation and may not be able to respond to your enquiry immediately.
In the meantime, you may wish to check out our Frequently Asked Questions here.
Without an auto-responder, prospective adopters may be unsure about whether or not their email was received. Or, they may think that they are not considered worthy of adopting a pet, get disheartened, and look elsewhere for a furry family member.
Not just a tool for the holidays, an auto-responder can be used all year round to help manage expectations about the adoption process, enquiry and application processing times.
Here’s some step-by-step instructions for setting up an auto-responder in Gmail and Outlook. Be sure to get in touch with us at members@petrescue.org.au if you need any assistance!