As more people get "on line", you will find E-mail replacing faxes as the quick communication of choice. You can send instant messages anywhere in the world and receive almost instant response. In addition, you can transfer documents and download files, which immediately surpasses faxing information that would then have to be recopied. Best of all it is cheaper than you think.
Learn the shortcuts. Learn how to access your on-line service to retrieve and send mail in the quickest way. America On Line has "flash sessions", CompuServe has a "send/receive all mail" feature. These procedures will log on line to complete the task, then automatically disconnect when done. You can read and compose mail off line, saving both money and time.
Check for mail during off-hours. The circuits for the Internet are becoming more crowded and logging on during the busy day is harder. Make a habit of checking mail at low peak times (night, early morning). Not only will it be quicker, it will also save money during cheaper rates.
Learn Cyber speak. Learn the acronyms commonly used in E-mail correspondence. These little, often humorous, "symbols" will save time and liven your E-mail. See the E-mail glossary below for samples to get you started.
Favorite places. Most on-line services give you access to forums and the Internet. Since the sheer number of options is overwhelming, be sure to learn how to isolate your "favorite places". It will enable you to visit your most common destinations with easy, minimal steps.
Storage! Learn how to organize your E-mail by storing incoming and outgoing mail. Most services will provide a way for you to create a "file cabinet" and label different categories, just as you would with paper.
Edit and paste. When composing E-mail, you can use the edit and paste commands in windows just like you would in any word processing document. This is helpful when you want to repeat what the sender wrote before you answer, or when sending a similar E-mail to several people.
Hey Mister Postman. If you handle large volumes of E-mail daily, consider one of the mail sorting programs available on the market.
Just say no. Sad but true, mailing lists have invaded the world of E-mail too. If you find yourself on a mailing list that you have no interest being on, simply reply with an E-mail to the sender and write "unsubscribe" into the comment box. That should do it.
E-mail Glossary Emotions "How to draw a picture on-line"
:D laugh
:-) smile
;-) wink
:*( crying
:( sad
<G> grin
<BG> big grin. and <VBG>
:-/ confused
{} hug
* kiss
Acronyms
<GA> "go ahead", used in live chats to indicate your turn
