10 Easy Ways to Eliminate Email Overload

It seems like each year we receive more and more email. Everyone wants to communicate via email because it is easy and it is trackable. But, when you get hundreds of emails every day, what do you do? It’s an overload of information and it seems like you can’t ever get caught up.

Here are 10 easy tips for you to use to get a handle on your email and have more time to work on your business.

1. Understand your email client – If you are going to manage your email effectively, you will need to know how to use your email client like a pro. Take some time and learn the ins and outs of your email client.
2. Filter priority emails – Not every email needs your attention right away. For example, when you are CC’d on an email, it is meant for you to be aware of the information, not for you to take care of it immediately. Create a rule to move any emails you are CC’d on to a subfolder and then review them a couple of times a day.
3. Don’t check your email too often – Put yourself on a schedule. Check at the top and bottom of each hour. You need to get some work done too.
4. Respond back – Responding back in a timely manner keeps you looking professional. It is a balancing act when used with item #3. The aim should be trying to respond back within two hours.
5. Utilize the search function – There have been studies that show people waste a lot of time trying to find emails. Try using the advanced search features within your email client to get to what you are looking for much faster.
6. Unsubscribe from spam – If you are like most professionals, you are probably receiving hundreds of emails each day. You can reduce this by unsubscribing from unwanted solicitations.
7. Triage your email to empty out your Inbox – The best way to get to a zero inbox is to triage your inbox and place emails into one of three folders: Follow up, Archive, or Hold.
8. Do not publish your email address on your website – This is the fastest way to get spam. There are bots that will scan websites for email, send spam to them, then sell the email to others. So, take it off of your website!
9. Touch your emails once – An alternative method to #7 is to immediately act upon your email when you first check it. If the email requires action, schedule it and move to the next email.
10. Get a good spam filter – Even if it only saves you 5 minutes a day, that is over 30 hours of time that you get back. It is well worth the minimal cost.

Do you use a method not listed above? Let us know! And if you need help with spam filters or anything else, feel free to reach out to us:

Website: http://www.bytecafe.net/about-us/contact-us/ Email: mike.clemmons@bytecafe.net Phone: 317-372-7625 (Indianapolis) or 765-588-3025 (Lafayette)