Need more free time to focus on your #ZoneOfGenius? Implementing effective email organization strategies is the quickest way to create the space you crave. By sorting your inbox before you even invest in support, you reclaim control and ensure that only the most essential, value-add items reach your attention
Getting your inbox sorted will create the space you crave to focus on what you love.
Gmail Labels vs. Outlook Categories: Organizing Your Time
Adding labels is a super quick way to start structuring your inbox. In Outlook, you can use “Categories”.While different from Gmail labels, they are a powerful way to highlight what needs your focus. An organized inbox allows you to track, find, and archive emails effectively, moving you closer to your own version of Inbox Zero.
An organised inbox is what many busy entrepreneurs dream of, one with only the essential must-do, business optimising, value add, items and fun, yes the fun rewarding enjoyable light you-up requests for your time.
Labels help you track, find, sort, archive forward – with a label you can soon be the owner of your version of Inbox Zero, one that best suits your way of working.
- End the frustration of being out of the loop, not seeing updates, subscriptions, and key industry information.
- Stop time wasted waiting on unattended Zoom calls or travel to empty meeting rooms can all be avoided with a little planning and implementation of labels
- Avoid Icebergs on the horizon with an uncluttered inbox
By tracking, and flagging your emails with labels you will be able easily to identify your active clients’ emails, key projects, stakeholders or valued customers
- maximise revenue upsells with timely responses
- optimise the conversion of enquires and opportunities
- Read, review and keep current – no more FOMO
- Finance, investor, bills and receipts easily accessible and help to track the money
Steps to get started
#1 Think about what you want to see, what you are missing or how you plan to work before you begin.
Action items are great for shared mailboxes and if you have a EA supporting you. Buckets are best for themes.
Actions labels – Urgent, To-Do, Filing, Billing, Enquiries, Calendar
Buckets labels – Expenses, People, Finance, Client, Subscriptions, Travel, Networking
#2 Use tools in the GMail and MS office to snooze, schedule and add to Tasks to reduce the need for the number of labels and the need for action labels.
#3 Use colours, and grouping – there are options to get a wider colour range
#4 Allocate time to maintain systems and to action your labels
A few label colour ideas to get your started:
- Money – shades of green or enquiries, finance, investors, expenses
- Fun – in sunshine yellow
- Clients – in blue
- Urgent, Take Action – Red
- Internal emails – use purple for team members’ names
TOP TIP use the same colours in your calendar entries, tags and folder
TIME SAVER add Filters to set automation when creating the label
Act on opportunities and gain space to focus on what you love
Interested in knowing more grab my FREE 4 Steps to less overwhelm, and InboxZero if that is for you…. start today
Would love bite-size learning delivered to your inbox subscribe for tips, videos and updates of how to work #SmarterNotHarder
Read the original Article on LinkedIn posted 23 February 2023
