Automate Your Etsy Messages with New Changes

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is an Autoresponder?
3. Benefits of Using an Autoresponder
4. Setting Up the Autoresponder
   • 4.1 Temporary Auto Reply
   • 4.2 Weekly Auto Reply
5. How to Set Up a Temporary Auto Reply
6. How to Set Up a Weekly Auto Reply
7. Normal Business Hours and Messages
8. Limitations and Considerations
9. Comparing Temporary and Weekly Auto Reply
10. Conclusion

Article

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, it's important for sellers to be able to provide timely responses to their customers. However, there are times when you may be away from your shop and unable to respond immediately. This is where an autoresponder can be incredibly useful. In this article, we will explore how to use the autoresponder feature in messages on Etsy to set up automatic responses when you are away.

What is an Autoresponder?

An autoresponder is a feature that enables you to automate responses to customer messages. Whenever a customer writes to you, they will receive an automatic response, letting them know that you are temporarily away and when you will be able to answer their message. This helps alleviate concerns about delayed responses and ensures that customers are informed about your availability.

Benefits of Using an Autoresponder

Using an autoresponder can offer several benefits for both sellers and customers. Here are some of the advantages:

1. Improved customer experience: By setting up an autoresponder, customers are immediately notified of your absence and when they can expect a response. This helps manage their expectations and reduces frustration.
2. Time-saving: Rather than individually responding to each message, the autoresponder saves you time by automatically sending a response.
3. Freedom to take breaks: With the autoresponder activated, you can confidently take vacations or time off without worrying about responding to every single message.
4. Star seller rating: By utilizing the autoresponder, you still fulfill the requirement of responding to the first message promptly, maintaining your star seller status on Etsy.

Setting Up the Autoresponder

There are two ways to set up the autoresponder in the Etsy messages feature: temporary auto reply and weekly auto reply. Let's take a closer look at each method.

4.1 Temporary Auto Reply

The temporary auto reply is ideal for short periods of absence. It can be used when you are away for the weekend or taking a short break. Here is how you can set up a temporary auto reply:

1. Go to the Messages section in your shop manager on Etsy.
2. Look for the "Auto Reply" button in the top right corner and click on it.
3. A message will appear explaining the temporary auto reply feature. After the initial setup, subsequent clicks on the button will display a dropdown menu with options for temporary and weekly auto replies.
4. Choose the temporary auto reply option.
5. Craft your auto-reply message. It is recommended to provide a clear timeframe for when you will be able to answer customer inquiries.
6. Select the duration for the auto reply, ranging from a few hours to a maximum of five days.
7. Click the "Save" button (or similar) to activate your temporary auto reply.

Keep in mind that the temporary auto reply will only be active for the specified duration. After it expires, you will need to set it up again if needed.

4.2 Weekly Auto Reply

The weekly auto reply is suitable for recurring periods of absence or when you have set business hours outside of which you prefer not to answer customer messages. Follow these steps to set up a weekly auto reply:

1. In the Etsy Messages section, click on the "Auto Reply" button.
2. Choose the weekly auto reply option from the dropdown menu.
3. Set your normal business hours and specify the times during which you want the auto replies to be sent.
4. Remember to select at least four days with available hours to reply to messages, as suggested by Etsy.
5. Click "Copy to all" if you want the same business hours for every selected day. Alternatively, you can customize the hours for each specific day.
6. Review and double-check the times to ensure they accurately reflect your desired availability.
7. Save your settings.

With the weekly auto reply, buyers will receive an automatic response if they send multiple messages, but only once per day.

Normal Business Hours and Messages

By setting up the autoresponder, your customers will receive automatic responses when you are away or during your specified non-working hours. It is important to inform customers about your normal business hours and any delays in response time. Additionally, remind them to read the item descriptions and shop policies for more information.

Limitations and Considerations

While the autoresponder feature on Etsy can be highly beneficial, there are a few limitations and considerations to keep in mind:

1. Glitches and reliability: As this is a relatively new feature, there may be occasional glitches or technical issues. It is advisable to check your messages periodically, even if the autoresponder is active.
2. Personalized communication: Auto responses serve as a convenient way to inform customers about your availability. However, they should not replace personalized interactions whenever possible.
3. Weekly availability requirements: Etsy recommends selecting at least four days each week to have available hours for replying to messages. If this does not align with your schedule, the temporary auto reply feature may be a better option.
4. Regular monitoring: Even with the autoresponder activated, it is still important to check your messages regularly. This ensures that you stay up to date and promptly address any urgent or time-sensitive inquiries.

Comparing Temporary and Weekly Auto Reply

Both the temporary and weekly auto reply options have their advantages and are suitable for different scenarios. Here's a quick comparison:

• Temporary Auto Reply: Ideal for short absences, such as weekends or short breaks. Can be set for up to five days. Requires manual reactivation after expiration.
• Weekly Auto Reply: Suitable for recurring periods of absence or preferred non-working hours. Provides consistent messaging outside of normal business hours. Requires setting up your regular working days and hours.

Consider your availability and work schedule to determine which option suits your needs best.

Conclusion

The autoresponder feature on Etsy's messaging platform offers a convenient way to manage communication with customers when you are away or during non-working hours. By setting up the auto reply, you can ensure that customers receive timely notifications about your availability and response time. Whether you choose the temporary or weekly auto reply option, remember to check your messages regularly to provide personalized assistance and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.

Highlights

• The autoresponder feature in Etsy messages allows sellers to set up automatic responses when they are away.
• There are two options: temporary auto reply for short absences and weekly auto reply for recurring periods of absence.
• Using the autoresponder can improve the customer experience, save time, and still maintain the star seller status.
• It is important to inform customers about your normal business hours and remind them to read item descriptions and shop policies.
• While the autoresponder is convenient, it should not replace personalized communication and regular monitoring of messages.

FAQ

Q: Can I customize the auto-reply message? A: Yes, you can customize the auto-reply message to inform customers about your absence and when they can expect a response.

Q: What happens if I forget to deactivate the temporary auto reply after it expires? A: The temporary auto reply will no longer send automatic responses after its expiration. It is a good practice to check and update the auto reply settings periodically.

Q: Can I set different business hours for different days with the weekly auto reply? A: Yes, you can customize the business hours for each selected day individually.

Q: What if I don't want to work on certain days? Can I exclude them from the weekly auto reply? A: It is not possible to exclude specific days from the weekly auto reply. However, you can manually deactivate the auto reply for those days if needed.