Notes from: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/inbox-taming-for-busy-people/

Basic Move: Have Three Addresses

1. For conducting general business2. for signing up for various web applications,
3. For more important conversations.

The first two, I don’t check all day long. I have a few scheduled dips in those boxes to see where things are, and to respond to inquiries. On one of those boxes, I used AwayFind to give people the sense that they can reach me if it’s urgent.
On the third email, that’s my business. And so I keep a little indicator light. I don’t read them immediately all the time and interrupt my flow, but I empty that box a few times a day.

Process Once I get Mail

I’ve noticed that I have a rapid flow. Here’s how it looks:

• Information only mail - absorb and delete.
• Information I need mail - copy a note into Evernote, which has web access and searching capabilities. Delete.
• Requests for help - analyze and respond. Delete (or store if I need a record).
• Mail from the boss - respond and store.
• “Generic” mail - automate variations on a response, and customize the important bits. Delete. Note: you probably never get the generics. I reserve them for blind PR pitches, weird software companies, etc.
• Scheduling and task request mail - right into Google Calendar. Tasks into a Google Docs spreadsheet. Web-accessible.
• To-do mail that’s bigger and long - copy/paste the request into Evernote, store the email address, save the mail.

This CD has been highly recommended to reduce the inbox size:
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/inbox-taming-for-busy-people/