Filter, Delete & Deal with Your Email

Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired! The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is Spark an Idea About Email

_____________________________

You’ve got it.  We’ve all go it.  It’s email, and despite what some people think, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.   So, what can you do about it?  Handle it, that’s what.

Filter to your heart’s content.

It’s not a crime to get rid of the email you don’t read.  If there is a enewsletter you don’t particularly read, then unsubscribe.  Keep the good stuff (like my enewsletter, right?) and ditch the others.  Don’t feel one way or another about it.  You’ve only got so many hours in the day, so use them wisely on things that matter.

Delete after you reply.

You don’t need every email you’ve ever responded to.  Chances are, when they respond back to you, you’ll get a copy of the old email.  Again, be selective and only keep what you need to.  Brutally filter the rest.

Get it under control before it gets completely out of hand.

If your inbox is causing you to dread looking in it, take some time out to deal with it.  Avoiding it is not the answer.  Automated auto-responders are another way to cut down on the email.  If you have a contact page, add some verbiage on it that says you may or may not be able to respond, but thank them for contacting you.

What’s your idea for dealing with email?