Instagram and Facebook away messages: 10 ready-to-copy examples
An away message is an automatic reply sent when someone messages you outside your hours. It reassures the person, tells them when you’ll reply, and ensures a first answer goes out within Meta’s 24-hour window. According to the Sprout Social Index, nearly three quarters of consumers expect a reply within 24 hours on social media.
Key takeaways
- About 3 in 4 consumers expect a reply within 24 hours on social media (Sprout Social Index).
- The away message goes out outside your hours, which you define.
- It should say when you’ll reply, and offer an immediate solution where possible (FAQ, link, buttons).
- It guarantees a first reply within the 24-hour window, even on a Friday night.
What a good away message contains
- An acknowledgement: “Got it!”
- A precise time frame: “We’ll reply Monday before 10am”, not “as soon as possible”.
- An immediate solution: a link to the FAQ, opening hours, online booking.
- Your brand voice: warm, sober or playful, but consistent with your posts.
10 ready-to-copy examples
- Online shop: “Thanks for your message! We reply Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm. To track an order, go here: [link].”
- Restaurant: “Good evening! We’re mid-service. The fastest way to book is here: [link]. For anything else, we’ll reply tomorrow morning.”
- Hair salon: “The salon is closed, but you can book 24/7 here: [link]. We’ll read your message when we open.”
- Tradesperson: “I’m on a job. Send me photos and your postcode, I’ll call you back tonight.”
- Coach / consultant: “Thanks! I personally reply to every message within one business day.”
- Creator: “I read every message, promise, but it can take a few days 🙏”
- SaaS / B2B: “Our team is available Monday to Friday. Meanwhile, our help centre answers most questions: [link].”
- Non-profit: “Thanks for your message. We’re volunteers: reply within 48 hours.”
- Holidays: “The team is off until September 2. Orders still ship as usual.”
- With buttons: “We’re closed. What are you looking for?” → Hours / Book / Talk to someone Monday.
Away message or welcome message?
The welcome message goes out on a person’s first conversation, at any hour. The away message goes out outside your hours, on each new message. They combine well: welcome for new contacts, away for nights and weekends.
Setting it up with Perroly
In Perroly, the away message trigger activates based on your hours, for Instagram and your Facebook Page. The reply can be plain text or a small button flow. Messages then land in the unified inbox, ready to pick up when you reopen. Why it matters: our article on the 24-hour rule.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set an away message on Instagram?
With an automation tool connected to Meta’s official API such as Perroly: you define your hours and the message sent outside them.
What should an away message say?
An acknowledgement, a precise reply time frame and, if possible, an immediate solution (booking link, FAQ, order tracking).
Does the away message go out on every message?
It goes out when someone messages you outside your hours. It’s best not to resend it on every message of the same conversation.
Does it work on Facebook too?
Yes, on Facebook Pages as well as professional Instagram accounts connected to Perroly.