31+ Best Out Of Office Email Subject Lines [2024]

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Updated: October 19th, 2022

If you're looking to boost your email open rates and increase sales, your email subject line is the first (and most important) step in achieving those goals.

Did you know that 33% of email recipients open emails because of an engaging subject line?

That's why it's critical to craft a catchy email subject line that will get you the traffic and conversions you deserve.

We've put together a list of 31+ best out of office email subject lines [2024].

Some are proven examples from other successful campaigns, and some are creative ideas to inspire you.

Creative Email Subject Line Ideas

Auto-reply: I will respond to your enquiry W/C 02.11
Bonding with Nature
I’m Out, But My Colleague Is In
Slow to Respond:
I’m at [Conference Name], Are You?
Out of office - currently on annual leave
For emergencies, please call the following number: XXXX.
Out of office at the doctor
Out of Office But
ou are welcome to contact COLLEAGUE with any requests you may have: [email protected].
Thanks, NAME
Your message will not be automatically forwarded.
In urgent cases, you can contact my COLLEAGUE: [email protected].
Will Reply, But Expect Delay
I am currently out of the office on vacation. I will reply to your message when I return on Monday, MM/DD/YY, hh:mm.
Out of Office: [Day of Week You’re Out, Date]
I will be back in the office on Monday, MM/DD/YY, hh:mm.
Out of office auto-reply
Helpful Content While I’m OOO
For reasons of confidentiality, your message will not be forwarded.
Been abducted by aliens! Don’t send help
Cheers/Best/Regards, NAME
Auto-reply: Thank you for your patience
Out of office on vacation
Out For The Holidays…But While I Have You:
OOO - Returning from holiday 10.03
Out of office message
Please understand that your message cannot be forwarded.
OOO: I am on annual leave until 25.04
Not here but facts for you
OOO: Sipping cocktails on a beach!

GUIDE: How To Write A Great Subject Line

As we mentioned above, crafting a catchy subject line is critical to the performance of your email campaign.

While just a few words may seem like a small piece of your overall message, this is the first impression your audience will have before they decide whether to open your email.

If your subject line isn't engaging or appealing enough, there's a chance it could get buried in your reader's inbox.

Let's go over the proven tips on how to craft a subject line that boosts engagement:

What makes a great subject line?

First, let's discuss the fundamentals of creating a great subject line:

Spark interest and curiosity
A clear and urgent call to action
An offer/intriguing discount
Personalization (this can be done by sending out different versions of emails to subscribers based on their preferences)
Relevance - make sure your subject line covers the current trends and topics within your industry

5 Tips To Crafting a Great Subject Line

Now, let's dive into the specifics of how to create a great subject line for your next campaign:

1. Use a familiar sender name

Although this may seem obvious, it's a piece many marketers miss the ball on.

Your readers want to feel like your email is coming from a human and not a corporation or automated system.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is by changing the sender's name to YOUR name or someone in the company that is well known.

Here's a great example of this from Marketing Examples

Pro Tip

Avoid the "no-reply" sender name at all costs. This makes your email feel unfamiliar, unapproachable, and less personable.

2. Keep your subject short and to the point

If your subject line is too long, it will get cut off, which could impact your reader's chances of opening your email.

The rule of thumb (for both mobile and desktop) is to keep your subject line under 50 characters.

3. Add personal touches to your subject line

If you have access to information about your subscriber (ie. name, location, etc), you can use this to benefit your subject line and catch your readers attention.

It's important not to go overboard here, but adding even the simplest touch such as their name can build trust and rapport.

Here's a great example of a personalized email + offer I received from BarkBox with my dog's name in the subject line:

4. Avoid making any false promises

Your subject line makes a commitment to your reader, so it's important you don't stretch the truth just to simply get more opens and clicks.

In the grand scheme of things, making false promises will end up hurting your open rate as your readers will lose trust in you.

5. Give them a sneak peek of what's inside

Telling your subscriber what is inside helps with open and clicks.

For example, if you're providing your reader with a free guide or e-book, consider making your subject line something along the lines of:

"Your FREE marketing e-book awaits!"

Conclusion

If you want your email campaign to perform well, it all starts with your subject line.

Think about the emails you receive in your inbox and what makes you click vs what gets buried - odds are, the same habits go for your customer.

We hope you enjoyed our guide + list of 31+ best out of office email subject lines [2024].

Read other work-related subject lines:

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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