Email. This technological beast might not seem so human, but it has become the primary means of forming human connections.
What’s in my inbox? Much of it is a roadmap of communication with my clients. Some of it forms the basis of my to-do list. There’s also calendar invites and inspirational content that I intend to read carefully some day. (What can I say; I have good intentions!) And, of course, some if it is pure junk.
While we rely heavily on email to do our jobs, many suggest that perhaps email is on its way out. While we patiently wait for a revolutionary collaboration tool to take its place, let’s look at some ways to make your inbox work for you.
###Categorize and Organize
Your inbox is equipped with labels and folders. Use them. Organize your inbox whatever way makes the most sense to you so that you can find what you need in a timely manner. Bottom line: you need a system.
###Keep Up With It
Whether you are a once-an-hour email reviewer, twice-a-day looker or a serial email checker, you’ve got to keep up with it. Try not to get to the point of 1,472 unread emails.
###Archive It
What would you do if your email inbox were to be wiped off the face of the earth? Let’s not even consider that and check with your IT department to ensure that your emails are in the cloud/archived/safe and sound.
###Respect It
Email is such a part of our everyday work lives that it’s easy to take it for granted. Don’t get caught up in the casual nature of this platform. Remember, it’s still an important communication tool. Each email you compose – especially to your valued clients – should be carefully crafted, proofread and crystal clear.
###Unabashedly Unsubscribe
Are you receiving the daily dose of this and that? Have you signed up for newsletters and Google Alerts with the thought that you would stay abreast of every single bit of news you could imagine? Well, it’s time to get serious about the content that is truly meaningful to you – and unsubscribe from the rest. After all, if you should ever need to find an article on marketing trends, many a search engine can come to your rescue.
At the end of the day, you have to choose the methods that work best for you. Best of luck managing the beast!
What would your email inbox say about you? Let us know on Twitter via @IntrinzicSays.