E Management

These days, e-mail is probably the most important communication tool for businesses. I'd even hazard a guess that in most industries, business professionals either thrive--or barely survive--based on their ability to interact via e-mail. And while it's easy to get overwhelmed by your in-box, there are some easy strategies you can implement to keep it all under control. These seven tips will help you better manage your e-mail use:

Get Rid of Consumer E-Mail Solutions

Using one of the free e-mail services, such as Hotmail, Yahoo or MSN, is OK for e-mails to friends and family. For serious business use, however, it's best to use a professional e-mail program hosted by an e-mail provider, your ISP or on a server in your business. Consumer e-mail services don't have the advanced features that more robust and “professional” e-mail programs have. And if you don't have your own domain name, you should--it's much more professional.