GMAIL

GMAIL has a CONFIDENTIAL MODE for emailing sensitive information.

TECH TREATS TIP:  If you have to email sensitive information, using Confidential Mode in Gmail is a great option. The recipient will not be able to forward, copy, print, or download the email that you send. The printer icon does appear in the received email but when they click on it, the recipient will get a message that the email can't be printed. You can also set an expiration date so that the email will no longer be available to the recipient after the expiration date. Also, if a sender deletes a Confidential email, the recipient will no longer have access to it. For even more protection, you can require a passcode. If you require a passcode, you (the sender) will need to provide a cell phone number for the recipient. When you click on Send, you will see a window asking you to enter the recipient's cell phone number. When the recipient receives the Confidential email, they will see a message that says a code will be sent to their cell phone. They will have to enter the code before they can open and read the email. 

Check out how easy it is to CREATE A TASK in Gmail!

TECH TREATS TIP:  There are several ways to create a task in Gmail. In the example, I show you how you can create a task in Gmail in an open email by clicking on Add to Tasks. You can also create a task when you're in your Gmail Inbox by selecting the email (not opening it - just putting a check by it) and clicking on Add to Tasks. Finally, you can create a task if you're in your Gmail Inbox and you have the Task Pane open by clicking and dragging the email over to the Task Pane. In addition to the 3 dot menu for each task (shown in the example), there is also a 3 dot menu for the Task Pane. This additional 3 dot menu can be found in the Task Pane in the upper right next corner to the words "Add a Task". This menu allows you to change the sort for the list, rename a list, delete a list, and print a list. Last of all, it allows you to delete all completed tasks.

When you USE EMOJIS ON LABELS, it looks good and makes your life easier, too!

TECH TREATS TIP:  I use my "Flagged" label all the time in my Inbox and since I added an emoji to it, I no longer have to scroll down halfway through my Label List to select it. What a game changer! A label with an emoji at the front will also be at the top of the Label List when you move an email to a label. Now, not only does my "Flagged" label stand out with the red flag but it's also at the top of my Label List so no more scrolling for me! Win-win! Try adding emojis to your most used Gmail labels!

Create MULTIPLE SIGNATURES and you won't need different email accounts, just use different signatures!

TECH TREATS TIP:  Before we were able to add multiple signatures in Gmail, every time I sent an email that needed a different signature, I would have to delete my signature and type a new signature or edit my signature. Being able to create multiple signatures and switch between them has saved me so much time! Many people create separate email accounts to handle the different roles they have when sending emails. Creating multiple signatures could mean that you don't need to create different email accounts, just use different signatures on the same account.

With SCHEDULE SEND, you don't have to remember to send that email at the right time!

TECH TREATS TIP:  I know I'm not the only person who types emails late at night or on the weekend but I certainly don't send them at that time! With Schedule Send, I can select what day and time I want to send an email and it's done automatically for me! If you know you're going to be gone for any reason, with Schedule Send you can prepare emails ahead of time and have them sent while you're gone. It's amazing! No matter how you use it (and there are so many ways to use it), Schedule Send is a fantastic feature in Gmail!

Use POP-OUT WINDOWS to make composing an email easier!

TECH TREATS TIP:  Besides clicking the Full-screen symbol with the shift key for a pop-out window, you can also click the Full-screen symbol alone. When you do this, it will open the Compose window larger and it will take up your full screen. This can be really helpful when you need more room to type or when you don't want the distraction of seeing other emails behind your Compose window. 

Creating TEMPLATES for messages you send often can save you so much time!

TECH TREATS TIP:  Templates in Gmail used to be called Canned Responses. They work the same way, they just have a new name! In addition to creating new templates, you can also edit existing templates, and delete templates. I had to do some deleting recently because I had so many templates that my list was really long. They were templates that I no longer needed but I'm sure that I'll be creating many more because I'm such a fan of templates. I use them all the time for everything from simple messages to detailed messages with links and images.

INSERT FILES FROM DRIVE is an easy way to share a file from Gmail!

TECH TREATS TIP:  I really like this way to share files because I always have my Gmail open and I'm using it all day so it's easier than having to go to my Google Drive, find the file, and share it from there. I also like to share files this way when I'm sharing with people outside my organization because the email comes from me and has my signature with my contact information. If you share from Google Drive, you can include a message but the email is sent by Google and does not have your email signature. Finally, this method is the best way to share a file again if you have previously shared it with someone. One of my co-workers asked me to share a file with him that I had already shared so I sent him an email and inserted the file from Drive. 

GMAIL LABELS act like a folder and a label to help you stay organized.

TECH TREATS TIP:  You can hide Labels so that they don't appear in your Label List but they're not deleted. This can be done by clicking the down arrow next to the Label and selecting Hide in Label List. You can also do this by clicking on Settings and Labels. This would be a great way to organize in the new year. You could remove Labels from a previous year so that they don't clog up your Label List but you would still have them for reference. 

Create a CONTACT GROUP (now called LABEL) to easily send group emails.

TECH TREATS TIP:  With this new way to add people to a Label, you can easily add a person to multiple Labels at the same time. You can also easily move them from one Label to another Label at the same time. When their Contact Card is open, put a check by all the Labels that you want them added to. If you're changing them from one Label to another, uncheck the old Label and put a check by the new Label. 

THE NEW GMAIL is here! Check out the great new features!

TECH TREATS TIP:  When you open Calendar from Gmail, you can see items on your calendar and create appointments. Also, when you open Keep from Gmail, if you have an email open and take a note, the Keep note will be linked to the email. (If you aren't using Keep right now, you should start! There's much more you can do with Keep and it all works with Google and on your phone!) Finally, when you open Tasks from Gmail, you can add Tasks and check off Tasks that you've completed. 

Enable UNDO SEND and you'll have up to 30 seconds to recall an email.

UPDATE: UNDO SEND no longer has to be enabled, you just have to choose how many seconds.

Use FILTERS to clean up your Inbox and keep it organized automatically!

Going on vacation? Use VACATION RESPONDER to notify anyone who emails you.

Change your view to PREVIEW PANE to get a handle on all those emails.

UPDATE: The PREVIEW PANE can now be enabled in Settings on the Inbox tab.