Learn How to Really Use Your E-Mail Program
I recently switched from Mozilla Thunderbird to Microsoft Outlook. Although I'm a technology expert, I definitely needed training in Outlook to maximize my use of this valuable tool. Once I was through, I knew a lot more about the program and understood just how to use it to my benefit.
Whether you use Outlook, Eudora, Thunderbird, Pegasus, Netscape e-mail or some other e-mail program having a few hours of training in its use will only help. Probably the best way to get the training you need is to visit the manufacturer's website and search for tutorials for the program you're using. If you're unable to find something there, a simple Google search should turn up a tutorial for the program you're using.
Keep Your In-Box Manageable
If you use your in-box to store all your e-mail messages, you’ll find that after a short amount of time, especially if you get a lot of e-mail, your in-box will be one big mess, with everything from spam and jokes to business contracts and more. Instead of letting it all just sit there, quickly act on incoming messages so your in-box only holds a minimal amount of e-mail at any given time. I know people who have hundreds and even thousands of messages in their in-box, which is inefficient, to say the least.
Maximize the Use of Folders
Imagine what would happen if you kept all your client information in the same file folder--you'd never be able to find the information you were looking for. E-mail messages work the same way. In order to keep things organized, it's critical to set up folders to archive your messages. You might organize e-mail along projects, clients, business processes, persons or other variables that reflect how you operate on a daily basis. For instance, if you handle all your company's marketing tasks, you might setup e-mail folders for each project, and sub-folders for each mode of advertising. You might also create a folder for each type of outsourcing you do, such as printing, design, website design and so on.
I recently switched from Mozilla Thunderbird to Microsoft Outlook. Although I'm a technology expert, I definitely needed training in Outlook to maximize my use of this valuable tool. Once I was through, I knew a lot more about the program and understood just how to use it to my benefit.
Whether you use Outlook, Eudora, Thunderbird, Pegasus, Netscape e-mail or some other e-mail program having a few hours of training in its use will only help. Probably the best way to get the training you need is to visit the manufacturer's website and search for tutorials for the program you're using. If you're unable to find something there, a simple Google search should turn up a tutorial for the program you're using.
Keep Your In-Box Manageable
If you use your in-box to store all your e-mail messages, you’ll find that after a short amount of time, especially if you get a lot of e-mail, your in-box will be one big mess, with everything from spam and jokes to business contracts and more. Instead of letting it all just sit there, quickly act on incoming messages so your in-box only holds a minimal amount of e-mail at any given time. I know people who have hundreds and even thousands of messages in their in-box, which is inefficient, to say the least.
Maximize the Use of Folders
Imagine what would happen if you kept all your client information in the same file folder--you'd never be able to find the information you were looking for. E-mail messages work the same way. In order to keep things organized, it's critical to set up folders to archive your messages. You might organize e-mail along projects, clients, business processes, persons or other variables that reflect how you operate on a daily basis. For instance, if you handle all your company's marketing tasks, you might setup e-mail folders for each project, and sub-folders for each mode of advertising. You might also create a folder for each type of outsourcing you do, such as printing, design, website design and so on.
