The Beginner’s Guide to Inbox Zero: How to Declutter Your Inbox in 6 easy steps

In this issue, we’re going to cover 6 simple steps to help you master your email inbox as a seller.

This is an area most neglect and it wreaks havoc on both productivity and sales.

Not only does it lead to:

• missed deadlines

• forgotten tasks

• wasted time…

But it can also be physically overwhelming.

The good news is - there’s an easy fix.

It’s called inbox zero.

^{*This example will be done in Gmail}

Step-by-Step Guide To Mastering Inbox Zero

Step 1: In the top right - go to the Gear Icon, then “See all settings”

Step 2: Under General - configure these settings

• Show “Send & Archive” button in reply = ON

• Keyboard shortcuts = ON*

• Scroll to the bottom and hit “Save”.

  ^{*there are a ton of keyboard shortcuts I only use 4:}

  ^{l = label}

  ^{e = archive}

  ^{r = reply}

  ^{m = mute}

Bonus Setting: Undo send: increase cancellation period to 30 seconds (less panic when trying to recall an accidentally sent message)

Step 3: Still within settings Go to the “Labels” tab

• Scroll down to “Create new label”

• Create 2 new labels - Set Aside AND Reply Later

Step 4: Still within settings Go to the “Inbox” tab

• Change “Inbox type” to “Multiple Inboxes”

• In the “Multiple inbox sections” fill it out exactly as you see in the below image.

• Next below the multiple inbox section - you’ll see the setting for “Multiple inbox position” - Select “Right of the inbox”

• Scroll down and hit “Save Changes”

Now your email inbox will look something like this:

Main inbox in the middle - and your Reply Later and Set Aside sections to the right.

I know what you’re thinking…

You probably have a ton of emails in your inbox and it’s not empty like mine.

Here’s the process to get to “Inbox Zero” and how to stay there.

Step 5: Process the last 2 weeks “Archive” everything else

Review the last two weeks of emails in your inbox - (start from the oldest email first)

Pull up the email and follow these simple steps:

If it requires a reply - type “l” - The label drop-down will appear.

Start typing “Rep..” the “Reply Later” label will appear - hit enter, then “e”

Your message will be archived, but because of the label, will be filed under your “Reply Later” to the right.

If the email doesn’t require a reply and isn’t urgent, but you want to read it later - do the same steps as above, however, this time file it under the label “Set Aside”

Once you finish the last two weeks - I want you to do something that will scare you.

Select ALL of the other emails in your inbox and hit “Archive”

Don’t worry -they’re not being deleted and you can easily search for emails if you need to.

Step 6: How to Stay at Inbox Zero

Now you can batch process and reply to all emails in your Reply Later inbox. And when you have time read through your Set Aside inbox.

Once completed, you can remove the label from the email.

This will archive it and remove it from view.

I process emails 3-4 times a day. Morning, Lunch, and towards the end of the day.

Pro-tip: check out Boomerang for Email to pause your email and deliver it on a schedule to make the above easier.

Also, when you now reply to emails - you’ll see the “Send & Archive” button.

This will automatically archive your email after sending it - keeping your inbox clean.

I promise if you follow these steps - you’ll take your productivity to another level.

Hit me up with any questions on this strategy - happy to help!