---
description: Set up automated welcome and away messages to respond to Contacts immediately using Workflow Templates.
title: Automated Welcome and Away Messages
image: https://assets1-proxy.respond.io/api/v1/image/assets%2F11f7a662b80a4675973850b067c01fa5%2F3f43c48b21b24f4e8b02b100c0c8fab0
---

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3. Automated Welcome and Away Messages

# Automated Welcome and Away Messages

![Avatar](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/4GvzCieeTBRY4TRJUbIr4y/b92428e6b049d23f546269180534f7ea/Ryan_Tan_Avatar.svg)

Joshua Lim

· 04 Apr 2025

2 min read

> **Business Goal:** Automatically welcome Contacts and let them know when they can expect a response.

When someone messages your business, you’ll want to respond to them as soon as possible. Automated welcome and away messages allow an immediate response and can be used to manage Contacts’ expectations.

## Benefits of Welcome and Away Messages

Use welcome and away messages to:

* Provide a standard greeting and introduction to your business.
* Respond to Contacts immediately.
* Let Contacts know when they can expect a reply.

## Methods for Sending Welcome and Away Messages

1\. [Send a basic automated reply when a Contact opens a conversation](https://respond.io/help/quick-start/automated-welcome-and-away-messages#send%5Fa%5Fbasic%5Fautomated%5Freply%5Fwhen%5Fa%5Fcontact%5Fopens%5Fa%5Fconversation).

2\. [Send welcome and away messages based on business hours](https://respond.io/help/quick-start/automated-welcome-and-away-messages#send%5Fwelcome%5Fand%5Faway%5Fmessages%5Fbased%5Fon%5Fbusiness%5Fhours).

### Send a basic automated reply when a Contact opens a conversation

> **Use this method** when you want to immediately send a greeting or an away message when a Contact messages you.

**Method Objectives**

* Set up the Workflow templates to send a welcome or away message.

**Workflow Setup**

There are Workflow templates set up by our team that you can use immediately. These templates can be edited to fit your business needs.

> Learn more about [Workflow Templates here](https://respond.io/help/workflows/workflows-overview#creating%5Fa%5Fnew%5Fworkflow%5Ffrom%5Fa%5Fselected%5Ftemplate).

#### Set up the Workflow templates to send a welcome or away message

On the respond.io platform menu, click **Workflows** \> **\+ Add Workflow** and choose your templates.

To send a welcome message, click **Welcome Message** \> **Use Template**

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/5zmzGyrJisLIXVLdtlXa5D/ef274ae2c7c0f40e1ff9b0f380e2a8a7/welcome-1.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

To send an away message, click Away Message > Use Template

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/7leO0yZguF2wnE0AsgITlr/d9d8de9accffb197058d03f2171b6f36/away-1.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

The Workflow template is set up with a Trigger and the Send a Message step. This sends an automated reply to Contacts when a conversation is opened.

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/3GhsbqhE3WJ5ZZYNBUqjhF/6288aa35bf7d32255725e44c86d5b085/trigger.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

> Learn more about [Triggers](https://respond.io/help/workflows/workflow-triggers) and [Send a Message Step](https://respond.io/help/workflows/workflow-steps#step%5Fsend%5Fa%5Fmessage).

Edit the welcome and away messages to send an automated reply

#### Send a Message step configuration for Welcome Message

Click the **Welcome Message** step to edit the Message Content. The Message Type should remain as Text. Finally, click **Save** and **Publish** to activate the Workflow.

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/4QawMHhqEkcvnlj1iIAsA1/c18ac346a2ac89204638bf2adb777e23/welcome-2.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

#### Send a Message step configuration for Away Message

Click the **Away Message** step to edit the Message Content. The Message Type should remain as Text. Finally, click **Save** and **Publish** to activate the Workflow.A basic Away Message lets Contacts know that no one is currently available. Turn this Workflow on when agents are all away and turn it off when they’re back online.

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/5wZUXaYuSTWtPBGbcfe7js/afaca1ddbf8cabf321e1f426479bd65c/away-2.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

### Send welcome and away messages based on business hours

> **Use this method** when you want to send a welcome message during business hours and an away message outside of these hours.

**Method Objectives**

* Set up the Workflow templates to send a welcome or away message based on business hours
* Configure business hours to send an automated reply
* Configure Welcome and Away message steps if needed

**Workflow Setup**

There are Workflow templates set up by our team that you can use immediately. You can edit the templates to fit your business needs.

> Learn more about [Workflow Templates here](https://respond.io/help/workflows/workflows-overview#creating%5Fa%5Fnew%5Fworkflow%5Ffrom%5Fa%5Fselected%5Ftemplate).

#### Set up the Workflow templates to send a welcome or away message based on business hours

On the respond.io platform menu, click **Workflows** \> **\+ Add Workflow.** Then, Click **Away Message with Business Hours** \> **Use Template**.

To send an away message based on business hours, click **Away Message with Business Hours** \> **Use Template**

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/1rQEKrY1ViVsQMR3Hbq7fk/aa8fa68de7e4c9d7bf857562f204df61/awaywbh.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

The Workflow template is set up with a Trigger, Date & Time step and the Send a Message step. This sends an automated reply to Contacts when a conversation is opened based on business hours.

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/69N6ZyDp6favU3i3qQYRFo/58717aa40b27e55b216071bc800d6d05/triggerdatetime.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

#### Configure business hours to send an automated reply

Use the **Date & Time Step** to set your business hours.

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/2E56aYFqyNSTWEkofi97GL/9aea8b3e311370170a30ba5c6007817e/bh.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

> Learn more about [Date & Time Step](https://respond.io/help/workflows/workflow-steps#step%5Fdate%5Ftime).

#### Configure Welcome and Away message steps if needed

Use the **Send a Message Step** to send an automatic welcome or away message.

Click the **Welcome Message** or **Away Message** step to edit the Message Content. The Message Type should remain as Text. Finally, click **Save** and **Publish** to activate the Workflow.

![](https://assets2-proxy.respond.io/ph8r57dk1q9w/4zRJEXRHXLvBRQGRrTLlb5/6a6315340876ffdcacff38a23d707ef2/bh-2.png?fm=avif&w=1000) 

> Learn how to [configure Welcome and Away messages](https://respond.io/help/quick-start/automated-welcome-and-away-messages#set%5Fup%5Fthe%5Fworkflow%5Ftemplates%5Fto%5Fsend%5Fa%5Fwelcome%5For%5Faway%5Fmessage).

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## 

Related articles 👩‍💻

* [Glossary of TermsTo help users better understand the platform, here are the definitions of commonly used terms. ](/help/quick-start/glossary-of-terms)
* [Responding to MessagesHere are some quick tips on how to respond to Contacts in a more efficient and productive manner. ](/help/quick-start/responding-to-messages)
* [Getting Contacts to Message YouEncourage Contacts to message your business via QR codes and chat links. ](/help/quick-start/getting-contacts-to-message-you)
* [Inviting Your TeammatesInvite teammates as Users to the platform to collaborate with them. ](/help/quick-start/inviting-users)
* [Connecting ChannelsLearn how to connect a messaging Channel to start chatting with your Contacts through the platform. ](/help/quick-start/connecting-channels)

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2025-12-05T03:58:48.983Z

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