If not “dead,” it’s certainly in extremis. That’s a medical term meaning “at point of death,” but gist of phrase will work. Email is in trouble, perhaps extreme, but we do not know.

What will be future? Of course no one knows. I’m not alarmed. If you follow course of sp***ing, first it appears, then there’s a s*** filter, then someone gets around that, then …

The same circus goes on with viruses, and we can only manage our emotions as it happens, and remain responsive, not reactionary.

You need not trouble your mind with predicting … unless it’s your job. There’s a pertinent Zen proverb here: “If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.” Emotional Intelligence would recommend coping with it as it is, right in front of you and remaining flexible to changes in future.

I think we need email and it will evolve as other things on Internet have. In meantime is this your life? More emails everyday that are of no use to you? Minutes to hours spent trying to go through them all? Increasing your skills to learn what to immediately reject that your s*** filter hasn’t already? Learning to scan for names and subjects you know? Setting up folder after folder? Trying to keep ahead of it all?

In order to make life simpler for one another, and for those who are looking for your emails and want to receive them, here are some tips:

1.Use a descriptive subject line.

The person you’re emailing may be receiving hundreds of emails a day. You may also be in a relationship-building or project-relationship with person, where it would help them to know what you’re writing about ahead of time. A good subject line helps, i.e., “Notice of meeting March 22.”

2.Take your time.

Though it seems opposite of what you should do, more time you take composing your email, more helpful it will be to recipient. It will save time in long run. If you’re sloppy they’ll have questions and will have to write you back and that means … another email in your box.

3.Set date and time on your computer.

It’s confusing if this isn’t set right. Check your computer and check company’s server.

4.Stick with King’s English – a term for proper sort of writing we learn in school, whatever our native language is.

We all learned in school to write a sentence this way: “I am sending you first draft of proposal to Mr. Smith.”

In our professions we learned other phrases specific to our trade which help us communicate such as, “Pursuant to email of March 22,” or “Collaterals for brochure have been printed and are being collated. Probable delivery date – March 22.”

When you stray from this, using a format such as this, “ BTW i sent photos … got em yet? j.k. they’re in mail. look for them,” you will slow your reader down, and this is not object of business communication.

1) In beginning...

Create your website. If you don’t know how, there are many free templates offered on Internet. Search on "free website templates" to find one that appeals to you.

If you’d like to learn how to design your own website using HTML there are several tutorials out there:

Boogie Jack’s Dennis Gaskill has an excellent website with tutorials to get you started, along with many "tricks of trade". An excellent resource! www.boogiejack.com/html_tutorials.html

Also, Joe Burns has a very informative and helpful website for all new and seasoned website designers; with HTML tutorials, primers and loads of "goodies" to add to your web pages www.htmlgoodies.com

2) 1000-Calorie Content

Fill your website with keyword-rich content. Write a description of your product or service and create your keywords to match content in your description. For example, if you sell stuffed animals keywords by which you’d want to be found in search engines could be "stuffed toys, stuffed animals, plush animals, stuffed dogs, plush pets", etc.

3) Search Engine Buffet

Submit your site to search engines and directories, whether manually submitting through each or using a free multiple submission service that will submit your site automatically to search engines and directories of your choosing or theirs, depending upon submission site you use. One such site is www.submitexpress.com

4) Chain Links

Exchange links with similar and complementary websites, but not your competitors - I don’t think you’ll hear from them! Email site’s owner and ask for a reciprocal link. If they agree to add your link, return favor and add their link on your site. You can create a special page for your favorite links or if you have only a few, simply add them to your main page or any other page on your site.

5) Snappy Sig-File

Create an interesting signature file to be automatically included at end of your emails. A small, descriptive "blurb" about what you do along with your website address will do it!

6) Newsworthy

Write an ezine, or online newsletter. You can find interesting articles on any subject on Internet that you can publish in your ezine (search on "free content") or even write some of your own (see #12). Decide whether your ezine will be produced monthly, biweekly, weekly or even daily if you have enough time and info to share! Always be sure to give author proper credit! Include his byline at end of his article and email him a copy of your ezine when it’s ready.

This site has a good article on how to write an ezine: www.thewritemarket.com/ezine.shtml

7) Extra! Extra!

Offer a gift for new subscribers. It can be a report that you wrote on a subject of interest that new reader can download; or a small sample of your product, or even a coupon for 10% off your products or service.

8) What’s Behind Door #2?

Run a contest to name your ezine. Create a special page with a subscription form on your site. Explain details and prizes. List your contest on as many contest announcement sites that you can find or publish your contest on discussion groups and forums (see #10 and #11) and other newsletters.

Some contest announcement sites are:

www.theprizefinder.com/asp/addacompetition.asp www.loquax.co.uk

The prizes you offer should be related to your business. You should have a deadline, say a month or so, and be sure to indicate date on your contest page.

Example ad for contest:

** We need you! ** Get creative...Win prizes! Our newsletter needs a name; If we use yours, you win! www.whimsies-online.com/ezineform.htm

Publish winners on your website and in your next ezine - newly-named, of course!

9) All in Family

Submit your ezine to ezine lists such as www.list-a-day.com. They may even feature your ezine as their daily pick!

Other lists are:

www.cumuli.com/ezines/submit.html ezine-universe.com/search/getlisted.html

10) Group Therapy

Join Yahoo groups and other similar newsgroups/discussion lists. Subscribe to similar ezines and then exchange ads with ezine owners. List your contest with group owners. Submit your articles too!

groups.yahoo.com www.topica.com

11) The Gift of Gab