SLUniverse Forums

Parker McTeague

i've been using gmail for my in-world customer support for some time now, and have evolved a pretty decent system that helps me make sure every question is answered, and makes it quick to answer. so i thought i'd share also i'd love to hear any ideas for things i haven't thought of.

this is kind of a david allen-esque approach so it might not be for everyone, but i find this has worked really well for me. and it's super-simple, which is what makes it stick.

i'm offline during the day at work, so i don't get in world to do customer support until the evenings. so it's nice to answer things outside of sl, especially ones where i can give a quick answer and don't need to pay a visit. so i have my sl offline im's set to go to my gmail account.

so this ends up being a nice way to keep a to-do list of things to answer. as soon as something comes in it's flagged as OPEN SUPPORT with a big red label next to it. if it's something simple i reply through email, and the answer goes back to them as an instant message. also, i might have a followup question, like "did you unlink any part of the house?" or "what are you talking about?" or whatever. either way, i archive the message and it's off my plate. if i never hear from them again, i'm not left with an unresolved open support request. if i do hear from them again (a week later after i've forgotten about it i get a message "yes"), i just do a quick search on the person's name to pull up their original question and my followup question.

my goal in gmail is a cleaned out inbox, which i for the most part i have regularly. if something is left open (i.e. i need to visit their house, or test something in-world), it's a big red label staring at me, taunting me, every time i check email so i remember to do it. then when everything is resolved i just remove the label and archive it. i don't have to think about it anymore, and it's just a search away if it comes up again. doing that, combined with sales records, is very cool when i know what a person has said previously and which house(s) they own, as soon as i hear from them.

this worked well enough that i'm using it for to-do type things, like remembering to pay rent or anything else sl-related. they just get a green, more subdued label instead of the screaming red customer support one.

mail systems can get pretty complex with integrated to-do lists and calenders and reminders, but the simplicity of gmail means i actually use it, and with filters it barely requires any effort after the initial setup.

in lieu of a "ms. productivity" smiley, here's the goldfish of getting things done:

__________________

also you can read my blog!

Wildefire Walcott

That is a nice system indeed. *peeks in her gmail and shudders*

It's a little too late for me, I fear. *continues shuddering*

__________________

Ten

hah, my Gmail and my SL inventory are both a mess. I gave up the moment I signed up

__________________

Parker McTeague

step 1): select all
step 2): archive
repeat as necessary

do it, i'll make you feel good

Malachi

Although this may be familiar to old unixheads, I didn't realize that name+arbitrary.words@gmail.com comes to name but allows you to filter on arbitrary.words. This can be way helpful for auto-segregating incoming mail.

Official Gmail Blog: 2 hidden ways to get more from your Gmail address

ZATZAi

Yah I do something similar in Thunderbird. I run an IMAP server on my server (Because IMAP keeps things synced across multiple email clients) and have several categorized folders for things. Emails can come in from several sources, a form on my website, an IM from Second Life, an actual email etc. Filters are set up to organize things accordingly, if its a group notice it goes in one folder. An instant message it goes in another. If its from the form on my site, a note from Linden Lab, the jira or a matter of billing yet another place still.

Oh and most of it (Not all be design) gets sent to my mobile phone as well with the same level of organization. My Gmail is much less organized but it has some filtering on it, it's just my backup system though as it can not do the level of filtering I require.

Quite a bit of work to setup, but fortunately I was able to apply it all retroactively to all of my emails. It makes it a lot easier, to see at a glance what I have to deal with and then address it as nessicary.

__________________
- ZATZAi

Beezle Warburton

Heh, I use Gmail's pop service, but have it keep a copy of all the emails up on the site for redundancy's sake.

Considering I use Thunderbird locally to filter, the gmail inbox is a complete shambles.

__________________

Second Life®, SL®, $L™, Lindens™, Linden Dollars®, Linden Lab®, Missing Image™, [RESOLVED]™
and the color gray are trademarks or registered trademarks of Linden Research, Inc.
All rights reserved.