Adding signatures to your e-mail

If you send a lot of mail each day, then a repetitive task like signing your name at end of each mail can be quite tedious. It's easier to create a signature and attach it automatically to every mail that's sent.

To do this in Outlook Express, go to Tools > Options > Signatures. Then go to New and add contents of signature in Edit Text field. Also select option of sending signature automatically with all outgoing messages. In case you don't want to send this with replies or forwards, enable option, ‘Don't add signatures to Replies and Forward'. For creative signatures, use option to append a file that contains signature you have created. If you happen to have multiple e-mail accounts, select account with which you want to send signature. To do this, go to Tools > Options > Signatures and click on Advanced button near Edit Signature tab. A new box will appear saying ‘Advanced Signature Settings' where you can select account with which signature should be automatically added.

Auto-respond facility

Won't be checking mail for some time? Activate a feature called ‘vacation reply' (if you are using a Web-based service). Most e-mail services such as Indiatimes provide this feature which can be activated through options menu. You can type a short message which will be sent to all who e-mail you while you are away.

In Outlook Express, you can do this from Tools > Message Rules > Mail and clicking on New Rule option. Select ‘For all Messages' options from condition for your rule field and in Action select Reply with a message. You will have to select a message that you have already created and saved.

Keep a copy of message

If you are on a trip and want to access your e-mail from another machine, keep a copy of your messages on server of your e-mail service provider. Go to Tools > Accounts and select account (if you have multiple accounts), then go to Properties > Advanced. Check ‘Leave a copy on server'. This has one more advantage: if you've formatted your machine without taking a backup of your mail, you can retrieve mail as a stored copy.

Disable MSN Messenger from auto-starting

Whenever one opens Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook XP, MSN Messenger loads automatically. To disable it, go to Tools > Options in Outlook Express and uncheck ‘Automatically log on to MSN Messenger Service'. Then go to View > Layout and uncheck option of Contacts. In Microsoft Outlook XP, go to Tools > Options > Other and uncheck ‘Enable MSN Messenger'. The over-eager Messenger won't be so eager now!

Optimizing your Inbox

A three-step process to ensure that your Inbox never looks cluttered.

Organizing: Outlook Express allows you to create folders within which mail can be organized. To create a new folder in Outlook Express, go to File > Folder > New. This will display directory tree of your Inbox. Just select location (say Inbox) where you want to create a folder and enter Folder Name. Or, you could use shortcut [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [E] and enter Folder Name. You can also drag and drop folders to change their location. Folders can be quite useful, especially if you have multiple accounts configured on same identity or to sort out e-mail messages on basis of sender, subject, etc.

Filtering: Message Rules can automatically sort your mail into appropriate folder as soon as it is downloaded. Specify folders where you want messages to be downloaded based on names in from address, names in to address, certain words in Subject line or in message body.

Go to Message > Create Rule from Message. Create a rule selecting appropriate options offered, and next time you download your mail, it will be sorted according to rules created.

You can also sort your existing messages based on message rules created. In Outlook Express, go to Tools > Message Rules and click on Mail. You will get a list of message rules you have created. Click on ‘Apply now...' select rules to apply, and click on Apply to filter your existing folder.

Grouping: Outlook Express allows you to group e-mail messages on basis of conversation carried. To enable this, go to View > Current View and click ‘Group Messages by Conversation' (In Outlook, this option is available from View > Current View > Conversation Topic).

With this feature, all e-mail messages are sorted on basis of subject line and messages that are a reply to that particular subject are grouped together. A ‘+' sign next to a message indicates responses based on that subject.

Download Mail to your PC

If you use a Web-based e-mail service, download a copy of your mail directly to your browser. This is much quicker than using bandwidth-hungry Web interface and also allows you to access your mail without having to be connected to Internet. To do this first add a new account by going to Tools > Accounts > Add and select Mail option. You will be prompted for personal details and account information.

Select POP3 server option in screen that asks you for your e-mail server information and enter appropriate POP3 server address for incoming mail.

Browsing offline

Quite often you may want to refer to a page that you have visited at some point in time. While finding link in your browser's History is not too difficult, you can view site without actually logging on to Internet by going to File > Work Offline. Then just click on a link in your History folder to view complete page from your hard disk.

Split files

Splitting files can increase download speeds tremendously. Usually, splitting file in three or five segments is sufficient. However, if you are downloading a particularly large file which is available from several servers, you could get better speeds by increasing number of segments being downloaded simultaneously. The number of segments that you want file in can be set in option box that pops up when a download begins. Just set option for number of segments that you want file to be split into.

Now at those figures you can probably do something in a month or two. However, NOTHING is how it seems at first glance. Not that those great ideas are not great ideas, nor, that they cannot work. But, be aware they are not three SIMPLE FREE steps. There is no instant overnight magic. It takes a lot of CASH or SWEATY EQUITY. Take it from one who is doing what you are about to attempt to do. I am being honest and down to earth. I am convinced that great marketing guru like Corey Rudl knows what he is talking about and I have bought most of his programs and use them effectively on my site rms4profit. As a matter of fact I am one of his affiliates. However, like I say it is no overnight magic. It takes work. Lots of it. Forget hype. The reality is, nothing in life is that easy. While most of ideas are practical and fairly simple to implement, do not expect to quit your day job and rake in profits on a shoestring capital overnight.

Much work goes into establishing yourself as a premier entrepreneur. There area a few tips which can ensure that you achieve your expected goal. Firstly, if all else fails you must LOVE what you are doing and have capital and patience to stick it out. Secondly, (and personally I think this should be first but sadly most people do not see it my way), you must find something that is in demand. Something Public or a segment of public big enough to meet your income goals or requirements need and is willing to pay for.

My first business was a convenience store. I was excited and had many convictions as to what I would sell. An old experienced businessman and a banker friend advised me against it. “Sell what people want and not what you want,” was their echoed advise. I did not listen and of course I failed. My advice to you just starting up with no idea of what kind of business to get involved in is, find a niche and fill it. NOTE I did not say find what is HOT! You can get burned. There is a difference. A niche is an area not being filled and is in demand, or, an area with a large enough market share to facilitate your income demand. What is a market share? Simply put: If there are 600,000 people needing and BUYING Gravel Flying Pads ANNUALLY and there are 10 companies supplying it, then market share is 60,000 for each company. If each pad cost. $2.00 then each company has potential to make $120k annually. When you add your company it becomes 11 companies market share is now 600,000 divided by 11. You get picture. The question then becomes is this a sustainable income?

Right now there is a demand for products delivered electronically over Internet, They are very easy to produce and even less hassle to deliver and market. No experience is needed. However, it is no instant success. But, it is a good sustainable income. As a new entrepreneur on Internet you have to create multiple income streams. Actually, a multiple income stream is a must. I encourage work at home self employed mom or dad or child for that matter to use overture word search and see how many people on a daily basis are actually looking for what you are selling and no matter what, don’t give up. I also encourage you to research carefully area you plan to venture into.

Sign up for a few newsletters read all you can read. Read articles on area you intend to venture into. After all you have worked hard for your money. Not to throw it away on some whimsical notion. Remember you can succeed. If you truly believe in your idea there are ways to test them. This article does not cover scope of that topic. Do not let limited cash become your stumbling block or your great wall. Your idea is your capital. You too can succeed. If I can do it so can YOU!