Are you drowning in email? Got dozens or hundreds of messages in your inbox waiting for you to sort through and respond to them? Do you feel overwhelmed just thinking about clicking the “check mail” button? Don’t panic! You can overcome that flood of email!

1) Use a Good Spam Filter

Check with your website host to find out what spam filtering options are available. I don’t recommend the challenge response type that forces anyone sending an email to you to request approval before their email can reach you - this option can often frustrate potential clients or customers and they’ll look elsewhere. Instead try an option like Spam Assassin(tm) or Mailwasher(tm). If you prefer using webmail, consider setting up GMail to use your email address with it so GMail can filter your mail.

2) Report Spam to Teach Your Filters

Once you have a spam filter setup take time to read about it so know how the filters work. Many learn by watching what you report as spam or rescue from the filter.

3) Unsubscribe Ruthlessly

I’d venture a guess that most of us are subscribed to far too many newsletters and other lists. Start using that unsubscribe link. You may find that you can follow your favorite stores, mentors, or friends better with a blog rss reader or on social networks like Twitter or Facebook.

4) Recruit Help

What types of email do you receive that you don’t need to handle personally? Talk with your virtual assistant about what you can outsource such as customer service issues or pre-sales type questions.

5) Automate & Template

Technology allows us to automate many aspects of email handling from auto-filing mail into the proper folders or labels, to sending an auto-reply to messages with certain requests or topics. Create templates for your most common replies so they’re ready to use and you don’t have to type the same information over and over again. Learn to use the time-saving options available in your email program. It may take an hour or two initially to become familiar with all the options but it will save you time.

Work at home mom extraordinaire Michelle Shaeffer publishes The Muses Brainstorm, a weekly ezine with tips to help you balance, manage, and market your home based business. If you’re ready for inspirational guidance and bright ideas sign up free at http://www.thesmallbusinessmuse.com