follow-ups. It's out of sight, and out of mind -- the way it should be. Gmail plugin Canned Responses is indispensable. The plugin lets you create template emails. For example, if you frequently get requests for product information, you can create a template email with all the info. That way, it only takes two clicks to send, rather than five minutes spent writing the email. In combination with filters, you can set automatic template responses to certain keywords, completely removing the task from your plate. Another great plugin is Boomerang . Among other things, the tool allows you to delay sending certain emails until a later date. Deferring emails makes you more productive by corralling people into your schedule. If you respond to an email immediately, you'll likely just get more email. But, if you send at a more strategic time, you may be in a better position to deal with that message more efficiently. The last tool in the automation process is an autoresponder . Your autoresponder should take the same route as your email signature by anticipating people's needs and provide solutions beforehand. Tell them whom to contact for certain requests, and let them know where to get the information they want. 3. Outsource Once you've worked up the email ladder of optimisation and automation, you will undoubtedly still be left with messages that require human interaction -- but maybe not your own. That's where virtual assistance comes into play. I use FancyHands to deal with nagging tasks