How Do You Organize Your Inbox?

With my fiscal quarter over, it's time to reorganize the ole inbox so I can get back to that inbox zero life. How do my fellow savages organize their inbox folders to achieve ultimate efficiency? Right now I have it broken down into internal, external, misc; but def feel I can get a little more granular and do this a little bit better.

☕️ Workflow and Daily Habits
21
FlintIronstag
Notorious Answer
4
Chief Marketing Officer
Oh boy! I have a folder for every account and a folder for every department and/or project I am working on. I use my inbox as my homebase. If it's in my inbox, it's not complete yet.
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
2
Sales
Same. Having tons of emails in my inbox stresses me out, because each is an undone task. Being organized by client, internal, marketing etc makes finding everything easy. 
Craggus
Opinionated
1
Key Account Manager
This is exactly the way!  At the very least there has to be an 'Actioned Mail' folder where mail gets dragged when its complete.  The search function now is good enough to always find what you need, anytime you need it.
CloudyWithAChanceOfQuota
Politicker
0
Corporate AE
I do the exact same thing! with folders for HR, one pagers/marketing materials, each PSM I work with, and training info! Its wayyyy easier to find stuff that way! 
sales7
Politicker
2
Commercial Product Enablement
by prospect for me
SlinginSoftware
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Ugh… I don’t? I could be way better. Every so often I try to start a system and create folders in outlook for each opp/client, but it never lasts. I’m organized in a very chaotic way…
SabertoothSales
Valued Contributor
1
Southeast Regional Manager
I have a very simple way of organizing my email. 

I have one folder that I put everything in, once it needs to move out of the inbox. If it's an important email or contains an attachment I know I will need in the future, I might highlight the email or sometimes I will respond to myself with some keywords I know I can use to search in the future. This way, I can use the inbox like a to-do list and I am not overwhelmed on which subfolder I should use for a particular email.
SandwichMan
Catalyst
1
BDR Team Lead
I watch my unreads pile up above 50,000 and use landmark numbers to keep track of new messages 😭
Beasthouse
Opinionated
1
Corporate trainer
bahhaahhah you should push for a world record hhaahaha

SalesSage
Valued Contributor
0
National Account Manager
Do you have rules set up so that when they come into the inbox that automatically file appropriately?  That was a big one for me.  Internal can get organized further in that way and I would think prospects might be able to as well, even if there is a simple further org on the external being Hot, Immediate, Existing and Cold or something.
WheresMyPO
Opinionated
0
Biotech Sales Rep
I had to stop doing rules because it would automatically move unread emails to folders and I would completely miss them
SalesSage
Valued Contributor
0
National Account Manager
I could see that but I just move my folders into the order I want.  Also some of mine appear in different colors which is eye catching. 
Beasthouse
Opinionated
0
Corporate trainer
horribly
CuriousFox
WR Officer
0
🦊
Create a folder of the year, then subfolders of hot accounts (21 ABC), marketing (brochures etc.),  then I have one for the team that includes report template updates. I move the important emails to the subs and delete the rest.

I'm sure there is a better way, but this works for me.
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
0
SaaS Eater
Im inbox at 0 by the end of every day and I use the google priority inbox setup. I have it structured as unread, important (emails that I can star that needs attention) and then everything else. It works for me and I dont have anything slip through the cracks. 
Upper_Class_SaaS
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Creating tags/lables 
LordBusiness
Politicker
0
Chief Revenue Officer
Its a shit show - and beyond repair.  Once every 2-3 months I hit "Mark all as read" and move on from the hell :) 
cw95
Politicker
0
Sales Development Lead
My inbox is so full of rubbish and unread emails (mostly internal) glad you posted this as I definitely need some tips. Becoming unmanageable! 
steakalldayerryday
Opinionated
0
AE
Starred / unstarred... that's basically it lol
Hudsonsmom
Opinionated
0
Area Sales Manager
I used to but now I just search for what I want
FeedTheKids
Politicker
0
Solutions Consultant
I know alot of ppl are mentioning folders and all types of crazy stuff.... I'm pretty good about keeping my inbox ~20 by simply filtering unread to the top. Then I prioritize based on the names I see. 

For follow ups I know the CRM really well and do tasks to help me keep tabs on everyone. Most times if I'm working on the CPU I'll respond from CRM instead of inbox. 
6

Up or Out stale pipeline - my one email to breakthrough

Discussion
6
5

How do you organize your email inbox?

Question
10
My email inbox is
40% A disorganized mess
60% Clean and tidy
42 people voted
26
Members only

Are you a 0 email inbox person or thousands of unread emails? 🥸

Discussion
56