Fine-Tuning Spam Filtering in Outlook

How-to minimize the number of work emails that get caught by Outlook's spam folder?

Here are some tips to fine-tune spam filtering in Outlook … my focus is on keeping work emails out of the junk folder and … if they still end up there, how to get Outlook to highlight potential work emails amongst all that junk.



This video is a result of feedback I received from reader to the question … what are the one or two greatest obstacles to getting through your emails.

I am almost finished compiling the feedback and will release a FREE report on some solutions to overcoming email overload in the next few days. If you haven't done so already, register here to get notified when the report is released.

Types of Email Overload

Why is Email (our most important communications tool) draining so much of our time, energy and passion?

Last week I emailed the list with a question. Firstly, thank you for all your fantastic feedback. It is clear that while email is our main communications tool, it is causing a lot of PAIN as well.

The answers I received from you can be broken down into 5 main categories.

1. Too Many Emails - finding a system (and the time) to read and reply to them all
2. Organizing, Filing and Finding Emails - how to file the emails in a manner that we can find them quickly when we need to refer to them
3. Mistakes by the People we communicate with … sending us incomplete information, sending us unnecessary information, sending us emails with inaccurate subjects etc … or as one reader put it PSEUDO-SPAM
4. Problems with Outlook … Outlook crashing or slowing down etc
5. SPAM - not one I agree with but I'll talk more about this in the report.

I am about to release a report on my findings with a solution that will eliminate some of the email stress in a few days time. If you want to get a copy of the report when it is ready, go to this link.

Clearing Junk Emails before Starting Work

Organization or Procrastination? Several readers have written to me that they start their work day by deleting junk emails before they start their real work. I work the same way but I am not sure if this is the most effective way to work.

Why do I work this way? Two reasons that I can think of …
1. I end up with a cleaner Inbox when I start my work
2. I end up delaying my real work emails for a little bit longer.

Let's face it. Some of those work emails take time … and sometimes they're just plain boring … it's not what I want to do … so I'll just spend some time tidying up first and then… will you look at that … time for a cup of tea… I have had a busy morning.

The Bad News … those work emails are still there... waiting!

A week ago I asked you ... what are your one or two biggest obstacles to getting through your emails. I am almost finished compiling your feedback and will release a FREE report on some solutions to overcoming email overload in the next few days. If you haven't done so already, register here to get notified when the report is released.

Outlook Dates in English

Dates are entered in many places in Outlook … in appointments, tasks and email reminders. Did you know that you can enter dates using common English phrases such as next Monday or first Monday in December.

I have created a small video tutorial that shows you how easy it is to do this.

Outlook Calendar: How to View Consecutive and Non-Consecutive Days

Do you use your Outlook calendar to plan and manage your day? Here are a few quick tips to see several days at the same time on your calendar. These tips work on all versionS of Outlook from Outlook 2000 to Outlook 2007

Viewing any number of consecutive days
Need to see your appointments for the next 2 days (or 4 days or 6 days).

This is a SUPER EASY tip .. it doesn’t even need a picture or step-be-step instructions. Simply go to your Calendar and press ALT and the number of days you want to see. For example, press ALT+4 and Outlook will show you 4 days side by side.

Viewing any number of non-consecutive days
What if you need to see your calendar for days that are not one after another. Easy …

1. Go to your Outlook Calendar. You should see a thumbnail view of the current view either on the left or right hand side depending on your version of Outlook.
   
   
   
   
2. Click on the first date that you want to see.
   
   
3. Now press and hold the control (CTRL) key on the keyboard and then use the mouse to click on all the other dates that you are interested in. If the date that you are interested in is not visible, you can change months by clicking on the little arrows on the thumbnail calendar.

Hopefully these two tips have made it a little easier to get organized.

Do you have any favourite Outlook calendar tricks of your own? Please leave a comment.