Keep Your Inbox Tidy

As I opened up MS Outlook this morning and found more than 1,000 emails cluttering up my inbox, I thought it was time to do some housekeeping. Here are a few of my secrets.

1. Create folders and sub-folders
   There is nothing wrong with saving old emails. I save EVERY email (except spam) that I receive. I have every email that I have received since about the year 2001. Back in 2004, someone asked me for information on something from 2 years prior and I was able to go back to my folders and find that info. In some cases, it can prove someone is right or wrong! You can see the general hierarchy of my folders with the pictures on the right.
   
   To create a new folder right click on the main folder and select "New Folder...".
   
   
2. Create Email Filters (RULES)
   I have joined numerous email lists (since I've been in the email marketing industry) so I created filters to put the ones I don't read every day into a special folder. Then I can always go to that one for reference.
   
   To create a new rule, go to TOOLS > "Rules & Alerts..." and follow the prompts.
   
   
3. Stay on top of it.
   Every month, I create a new sub-folder under "To-Do's Done" and then archive last months. I then go through my inbox putting messages in their appropriate folder, until I have no more than 25 emails in my inbox.

Everyone has their own strategies, but this one has worked for nearly 7 years! Keep things tidy!