21 Handy Tips for Organizing your Gmail Inbox
1. Integrate multiple email accounts
Take all of your email accounts and put them together under the Gmail umbrella so you don’t have to switch back and forth.
2. Choose the ‘Send Mail as’ option
You can pick what email address you’re sending your emails out from. You never have to leave Gmail.
3. Create multiple email addresses
Gmail only recognizes the letters in an email address. You can place a period (.) anywhere on the left side of the @ sign and it will still go to the primary email address.
4. Backup your messages
Set up your filters and rules to forward important emails to another account so you can keep track of them.
5. Star your important emails
Place a star on the important emails that you receive so you can easily find them later.
6. Use labels (a lot)
You can create custom labels to easily sort your email. Make a label for mailing lists so you can have all of the threads in one place.
7. Archive your messages
You can move email out of your inbox without deleting it by moving it into the archive.
8. Use notes
If you have a note or list of instructions that you need to refer to often, write a draft email and it can be easily found.
9. Use filters
A filter is a rule placed upon incoming email. If you receive lots of email from a list, you can use a filter with a label and put that email into its proper place even before you see it.
10. Add a picture
Let people know who you are by adding a picture to your Gmail. This is a great feature to use when you are trying to be consistent with your branding.
11. Set a personal level indicator
Gmail offers a feature where you can quickly tell which emails were sent to you and which ones were sent to you and others.
12. Set up standard responses
Become more automated by creating standard automatic responses to emails instead of typing the same thing over and over.
13. Show previews
With Gmail, you don’t have to leave the application to investigate a Youtube video or Picasa picture. You can receive a preview right there.
14. Adding a plus
Instead of johndoe@gmail.com, your address can become johndoe+blogspot@gmail.com. That way, you can more readily track where your email is coming from.
15. Muting conversations
You can mute conversations if you have no interest in them by pressing ‘m.’ You will still be able to see the email in ‘all mail,’ but you do not have to see the follow ups if you don’t want to.
16. Use the search feature
The search feature allows you to find anything in your inbox quickly and easily.
17. Make sure you’re attached
Gmail searches for the word ‘attached’ within your outgoing email and makes sure that you are sending a file with it.
18. Use keywords
If you want to make your email easy to find, add some searchable keywords to it.
19. Add a custom signature
With Gmail, you can add a signature to all of your outgoing email.
20. Use the keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are essential for any Gmail power user. C is for compose, j and k for moving up and down, / to search and z for undo.
21. Color your labels
Add custom colors to the labels that you place on your email to make it stand out.
Integrate these tips into your repertoire and you will soon be a master of all things Gmail.
This post was written by James Adams, a tech writer who works for Cartridge Save where he is a product reviewer covering items such as the HP 351 ink cartridge. He also helps to maintain their popular blog about art, design and marketing.
