Drowning in email? Join the club. This article from Entrepreneur.com purports to provide seven tips for managing the flood. Let’s take a reality-based look:

1. Get rid of consumer email solutions. Well, sure, an email address at your own domain looks more professional than a Hotmail address, but it does nothing to lessen the volume.

2. Learn how to really use your email program. I gotta think if your unread emails are numbering in the hundreds, not the dozens, then knowing how to use Outlook is the least of your worries.

3. Keep your inbox manageable. Isn’t that what we’re aiming for? But storing those emails in different folders is just moving stuff around, not disposing of it.

4. Maximize the use of folders and 5. Automate your email with filters. These are just two more takes on suggestion three, and neither of them is getting my head any more above the rising waters.

6. Be secure. Well duh. But: Where are your suggestions for managing my flood of email, already?

7. Backup your email. Great, so I’m gonna double the volume of email I have to deal with, not slice it in half?

Sorry, Entrepreneur, I score this one an 0-for-7 whiff — I’m still looking for powerful tips for better inbox management . . . like just about everyone else I know with at least two email accounts (one personal and one business).

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 14th, 2006 at 6:00 am and is filed under Internet Stuff.