Tips On Setting Up a New Email Account for Your “Junk” Email

Do you have all of your email coming to one email address? And, does it take you an eternity to get through all of those messages?

How would you like to make your life a little bit easier?

I’ve used multiple email addresses for years for the purpose of managing my email.

The email that I need to see every day — and you’ve got to ask yourself is any email really that important? — comes to a single email address. This is usually personal email from friends and family and business email that may require an immediate response.

That’s it. I guard the privacy of this address carefully. I rarely give it out and I NEVER use it online.

As a result, this email account does not get spam email. It’s also the only email account I look at every day — the rest can wait until I’m ready to read them.

For  my junk mail I’ve set up email addresses that are relatively anonymous; in other words, they do not include my name. I’m comfortable using them online and I like the privacy this affords me.

My recent post on Why You Should Have at Least One Disposable Email – gmail – Address has generated some requests for tips on how to redirect junk mail to a “disposable” email account.

Here they are:

1. Take it slowly… you do not have to do this in one sitting. I’d suggest you do this over a 2-3 week period. First, set up a new folder in your email program (I use mac mail — but this works in outlook too). This is a folder you create…you can call it “email I need to manage”, or something. By doing this you will not accidentally opt-out of something and forget to re-opt in later. Also, you do not have to deal with each email as it comes in. Just move it to your new folder until you’re ready to deal with it!
2. Create a gmail account. (You can also use hotmail, yahoo, or the free email accounts provided by your internet service provider.)
3. Start redirecting the “junk” mail you receive to your new email address. This is probably email you’ve subscribed to by opting-in online…it’s mail you want to continue receiving. You can generally “manage” your email subscription at the very bottom of each email. Most of these email communications give you the choice to opt-out completely, change your email address or otherwise manage your subscription. Sometimes you can choose how often you receive those emails — for example you can receive them daily or get a weekly digest. With some email you have only one choice — which is to cancel your subscription. In that case, you will need to opt-in again with your new gmail account.

Here’s my best advice; take this opportunity to get rid of all that c**p you receive. Be brutal…just get rid of it. Opt-out and leave it at that. If you find yourself going through withdrawal you can re-opt-in later. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep the email in the folder you created in step one.

That’s it! Congratulations! You’ve just taken control and you’ve removed a daily distraction that most likely interrupts your schedule.

Here’s another little tip. I’ve assigned different message alerts on my smart phone for each email account. Of course I gave the “junk” mail a rather obnoxious mail alert tone! And, my main (favorite) emails? They have a lovely pleasant chime.

And, here’s another little tip – this from a friend in one of my mastermind groups. Hire a personal assistant, or virtual assistant, to deal with all of your email. It’s a good tip!

How about you? Do you have any tips that will help with this process? Or advice on dealing with unnecessary email? Please leave a comment below.

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Related posts:

1. 30 Tips to Becoming a Great Leader
2. Why You Should Have at Least One Disposable Email – gmail – Address