Having enjoyed reading your
biographical, They
can't take that away from me... I
would love to post your article (for my) course for
seniors entitled Autobiography and Journaling ... and
let them read your article as a good example of what
I call the reader's writer, clearly expressed and easy
to read. (Howell)
The French language has
always appealed to me ... so I enjoyed Lavinia's
experiences en
France! (Di Sullivan, Perth, Australia)
I am an American and an
expat here since 1990. I have been a subscriber to Writing
Tip for a few years now and look forward to the Friday
editions. I archive by creating topics of the tips
relevant to me and often refer. (Mary, Lagos, Nigeria)
WRITERS!
Write
Your Own Best Seller!
This
year, don't just read a best-seller ... Write
your own using the software program that works
in the same way J K Rowling writes her Harry
Potter novels!
Who said Aussies would
bet on two flies crawling up a wall? Now I know
better! (Bill Denham, Chicago, USA)
I enjoy reading your page
every week, Jennifer, it's never boring and there's always
something to bring a smile to my face! (Kenny Dima,
Tenerife, Spain)
Great newsletter -
originally found this site after searching for
clarification on a contentious
point amongst work colleagues. Just had to look at old
issues and now look forward to Fridays (Juliet Wallace,
Manchester, ENGLAND)
Top
Ten Ways to Handle Email Overload by Michael Angier
Quick Tip
Greetings,
If you're anything like me, you'll
receive hundreds of emails every week - don't despair. Just follow Michael
Angier's top ten tips to save yourself from this overload! Karon Thackston has
an excellent tip to help you discover just what people are looking for on your
site. It's something I've been doing for some time now and can thoroughly
recommend.
All these tips will help save that
most valuable commodity - time. If you'd like to cut down on the time you
spend agonising over what to put in sales letters, autoresponder messages etc,
don't forget to take a quick peek at these wonderful templates. It really is
as easy as just adding your own name and address and the templates are so
reasonably priced, you'll almost feel guilty: http://www.write101.com/letters/sales.htm
Remember, you still have time to reserve your position at what
promises to be the best conference this year (if not this decade). It costs
nothing to look: http://www.roibot.com/gmbc.cgi?R390_campaign
TOP
TEN WAYS TO HANDLE EMAIL OVERLOAD
By Michael Angier
One of the biggest problems we face today is handling large
quantities of information. Our technology and access to
information is impressive but it's a double-edged sword. It
fills our minds and our lives with clutter.
The challenge is to sort, filter, organize, discard and
assimilate the massive amounts of data we're exposed to on a
daily basis.
On an average day I receive over 150 emails--some days as many
as 500. It's easy to get overwhelmed. So what are we to do? Here
are a few things I've found to help me manage my inbox better.
1. Don't Check Mail Every Few Minutes
This is a tough one for me, but it's much more efficient and
you'll stay more focused on your current work if you're not
constantly checking for new mail.
If you have a direct connection and your mail is delivered
automatically, you can still wait to respond every two hours or
so. By assigning a specific time to read and reply, you'll
definitely gain efficiency.
2. Flag Messages for Later Action
My wife thinks I go a bit overboard with this feature, but it's
the only way I can keep track of the messages that need
attention but can't deal with right away.
My program (MS Outlook) allows me to set the action and the time
and date of the reminder. You can still procrastinate, but at
least you know which ones and how many you're avoiding.
3. Use Folders
Most email programs allow you to create folders (and even
subfolders) to sort your mail. This usually makes finding
messages much easier.
A small down side--at least for MS Outlook--is that your flagged
messages will no longer give you reminders if you've filed the
message in a folder other than your inbox.
4. Set up Rules
Most good email programs will allow you to automatically sort
your email as it comes in. This is done based on a set of
criteria you establish such as the content, the sender's email
address, the address to which it's sent, etc.
You can do this by color-coding the email or by sending it to a
particular folder--even the deleted items folder.
5. Deal with Similar Responses All At Once
By sorting your mail using the methods described above, you can
now deal with similar messages all at once. You save time by not
having to look up the same info all over again.
6. Templates
If your email client allows you to create templates, use them.
They'll save you oodles of time for those responses that require
the same or similar information on a regular basis.
Just create your new message based upon your pre-established
template and edit as needed.
You can also set up sig files (see below) and use them as
boilerplate responses or mini-templates.
7. Cut, Copy, Paste
One of the most powerful features of today's operating systems
and office suites is the ability to cut and paste--sometimes
multiple pieces--of information to transfer from one document to
another. Save the typing time. Copy from other documents and
paste into email.
If you don't know how to use this feature, learn today. You'll
wonder how you got by without it.
8. Make Heavy Use of the Delete Key
Hardly anything can free up your inbox more than deleting email
you don't want. Hitting the delete key or delete button is the
best way to dump data.
9. Signature Files
I use different signatures for different parts of my
business--five or six of them, in fact. I also create them for
boilerplate paragraphs to insert common responses into my
messages. It's very powerful.
10. Customize Your Program
Most people use only 20-30% of a program's capability. Take this
up to even 50% and you'll marvel at your added efficiency.
Investing some time in learning more of the features of your
email program and then customizing it to work the way YOU want
it to will pay big dividends.
Copyright 2001 Michael Angier & Success Networks International.
Michael Angier is the founder and president of Success Networks.
Success Net's mission is to inform, inspire and empower people
to be their best--personally and professionally. Download their
free eBooklet, KEYS TO PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS from http://www.SuccessNet.org/keys.htm.
Free subscriptions,
memberships, books and SuccessMark Cards are available at http://www.SuccessNet.org
Here's an
object lesson for many of us:
When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly
discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this
problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that
writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface
including glass, and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300C.
The Russians used a pencil.
Chuckle ... how many times have you ignored the simple
solution?
Doesn't it drive you crazy that people visit your Web site and
then just leave? What are they looking for? What is missing
from your site that they need? Here's a free way to find out.
During my last Web site renovation, I asked my designer to add
a search box to the site. My thinking was that it would provide
my visitors with an added convenience for finding the
information they needed. However, I didn't realize at the time
that these little boxes hold a terrific marketing secret.
The search box I personally use is provided free by http://www.atomz.com. However, it is
what ELSE is provided free
that really interested me. I can visit their site and view the
search terms that my visitors are typing into the box. They also
send me a monthly report detailing the phrases and words visitors
have searched for. "So what", you might ask. This is an
excellent insight into what others are hoping to find on my site.
Let me give you an example. So far this month the most popular
search term recorded was "coaching". Evidentially, some
visitors
were interested in having me coach them on their marketing
efforts. While I do offer consulting services, I am not a
certified coach. However, based on the number of searches for
this word, I may need to consider adding this to my list of
services. If not, I would need to at least consider finding a
viable marketing coach to work out a joint venture with.
The most popular search term last month was "business card
designs". Again, I provide writing services, but not graphic
design. However, this lets me know that I should find a business
card design professional who will either work with me on a joint
venture, or that I trust enough to refer potential clients to.
Another way to use the search results to your advantage is with
selling ad space on your site. Just imagine the impact if you
presented a potential advertiser with search results showing that
visitors consistently searched your site for their product or
service. It would be an extremely convincing argument!
There will be some people who don't understand that the search
box is strictly to locate information on your site. You'll no
doubt end up with unusual and unsuitable phrases that don't have
anything to do with what you offer. Just ignore those.
But for the ones who leave you with little clues as to what they
are looking for, be thankful! This is as honest and upfront as
it gets. The research delivered to you from the site search
companies can open many avenues of new product or service ideas
for you to explore and potentially add.
Your customers will wonder how you became so in tune with their
needs and you will be amazed at the increase in your business!
Most buying decisions are emotional. Your ad copy should be
too! Karon is Owner and President of KT & Associates who offers
targeted copywriting, copy editing & ezine article services.
Subscribe to KT & Associates' Ezine "Business Essentials" at BusinessEssentials-subscribe@topica.com
or visit her site at http://www.ktamarketing.com.
