Just-launched webapp AwayFind provides a custom form that people can use to contact you via SMS when you're not checking email. In short, it acts like a filter that shields you from email you don't need to see when you're not checking your inbox constantly—but lets the urgent messages get through. Here's how it works: You set up your contact page at AwayFind, and add a link to it in your vacation autoresponder. If someone urgently needs to reach you, they click the link, fill out the form and AwayFind pipes the message straight to your cellphone—without requiring you to publish your phone number. Here's what the AwayFind workflow looks like.First, you sign up for an AwayFind account (free plan available), and edit the text that appears on your contact form. You can set AwayFind to ask for the sender's email address and or phone number, their contact preferences, category of message, and even set a custom verification question, like "What's my last name spelled backwards?". Also in your AwayFind account settings (but not pictured), you enter your phone number and test to make sure AwayFind can send you text messages successfully. Click on the image on to the left to see the full AwayFind edit form.
Then, when you're going to take an email vacation, you add a link to your AwayFind contact page in your vacation autoresponder. While you're not checking email, your autoresponder goes out to anyone who writes you. When Mr. HolyCrapINeedYouRightNow gets the auto-response, he clicks on the contact form.
Here's what the contact form might look like. Note the area where your sender has to prove s/he is human using a CAPTCHA; you can also set up a custom verification question. Also, the form limits the sender's message length so it's fit for a text message.
Then you get the text message on your phone, without giving out your phone number.
AwayFind is made by our pal and guest writer Jared Goralnick, and offers a basic plan for free and paid plans with all the trimmings. (A 30-day free trial is available for the pay-for Pro version, here's the plan feature comparison).