Emails that you receive on a regular basis and NEVER read
Vendors or services that you don't use (did you attend a conference or convention in the last year or two
Anything that you don't remember signing up or opting in for
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
Option 1:
If you use Gmail or Yahoo, check out UnRoll.Me (Chris Smith from InmanNext wrote a great article on it). This service will scan your inbox and create a list of your subscriptions. You can then unsubscribe en masse. My favorite part is the RollUp feature, which automatically moves all of my subscriptions to a Label/Folder and out of my inbox, as well as sends me a daily digest of what I've received. This way, I don't necessarily have to unsubscribe, but it keeps my inbox clean.
Option 2: Whatever email service you use (Gmail, Outlook, etc.), you can manually unsubscribe from emails as they come in. Simply find and click on the Unsubscribe link (this is usually at the bottom). Depending on the service, you may need to click a few more times to confirm.
Emails that you receive on a regular basis and NEVER read
Vendors or services that you don't use (did you attend a conference or convention in the last year or two
Anything that you don't remember signing up or opting in for
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
Option 1:
If you use Gmail or Yahoo, check out UnRoll.Me (+Chris Smith from InmanNext wrote a great article on it). This service will scan your inbox and create a list of your subscriptions. You can then unsubscribe en masse. My favorite part is the RollUp feature, which automatically moves all of my subscriptions to a Label/Folder and out of my inbox, as well as sends me a daily digest of what I've received. This way, I don't necessarily have to unsubscribe, but it keeps my inbox clean.
Option 2:
Whatever email service you use (Gmail, Outlook, etc.), you can manually unsubscribe from emails as they come in. Simply find and click on the Unsubscribe link (this is usually at the bottom). Depending on the service, you may need to click a few more times to confirm.
Get the picture? I'm going to be completely blunt here: It's no longer cute or funny to just say that you don't understand technology and are unwilling to change. There's not a snowball's chance that we're going to revert to the Yellow Pages and poofy sleeves any time soon.
If you're in, here are my top five tips for those of you looking to update your digital wardrobe.
1. Make your old email go A(OL)WOL.
Having an AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo email address is the 2012 equivalent of walking around looking like the big-haired, 80's nightmare pictured above. Transitioning to a new email address can be daunting, but it's surprisingly similar to changing your real-life address. With time and patience, it will get done.
Create your new email address. Might I suggest Gmail, or purchasing your own domain and running your email through Google Apps (free version)?
Create an email signature that draws attention to your new email address:
If you subscribe to any newsletters, update your email address in the subscription preferences
Update any accounts that are linked to your old address
If possible, forward your old email addresses to your new email address, or add additional accounts to your Gmail. Just make sure that you always respond from your new address.
If you cannot do either of these things with your old email account, continue checking your inbox. If something needs a response, you can either respond from your old email and notate that you have an updated address or forward the email to your new email address and respond from there.
Send an email to your database informing them of your new email
When you feel enough time has passed, delete your old email account.
I'm sorry, Blackberry lovers (and Symbian and "Other"), it's time to jump shark and join the Androids and iPhones of the world. Certainly, the Blackberry was a game changer when it was first released and I will admit to envy when my brother got one and I didn't, but let's look at the glaring truth: Lesser market share means less interest from app developers, which means that your phone will quickly become less capable to the point of eventually being obsolete. Take the plunge and join the cults of Android or iOS. I promise you won't regret it.
3. Upgrade your internet experience
There is a saying among tech people: Internet Explorer is great... for downloading another browser. Like Blackberry, Internet Explorer has seen a steady decline over the past few years and currently holds an 18% market share, due mostly to its notoriety as a slow and clunky browser. There are 5 main browsers for you to choose from, though my personal recommendation would be Google Chrome. Check out your options here. PS... if your MLS is what's holding you back, try using the Fusion version or an Internet Explorer extension (available for Chrome or Firefox).
4. Make your MVI (most valuable info) available anywhere
Account information, passwords, emergency info... never be at a loss for information again. Use a cloud-based system such as Google Drive or Dropbox to keep this information available to you at all times. Information at your fingers = faster = looks more competent = instant gratification = welcome to 2012.
5. Get familiar with a cool app, site or idea
Choose one thing that's "hip" and just be with the times. First-time homebuyers made up 37% of the market for 2011, and these are the things they tend to thrive on and feel connected through. A few suggestions:
Shazam - mobile app which identifies a song's name, artist and other info
Pandora or Spotify - music services which allow for personalized radio or "every song at your fingertips."
Pinterest - A social website dedicated to sharing and organizing with imagery (see this post).
Memes - in today's culture, a meme is an internet phenomena such as a viral video, catchphrase or image macro and a key way in which Millennials share humor and ideas. For example, this is "Condescending Wonka":
BONUS: Stop sharing that you're out of touch
Perception is reality... so stop spreading the notion that you are a digital dinosaur! Make friends with Google and be a sponge for knowledge.
Q: The first quarter of 2012 is officially over and it's time for some spring cleaning! What are five things I must do to get my digital cleanse rolling?
A: Ah, spring! A time for tulips, sunshine, and yes- spring cleaning. FYI, these five tips are good during any season, and if you follow them every few months you'll reap the benefits all year long!
1. Make sure your Plan B actually exists.
If you do not have a back-up solution in place, stop reading right this second and sign up with Carbonite. $59 will get you a year's worth of unlimited offsite backup for one computer, with pricing available for additional computers or to simultaneously backup to an external hard drive. Use code "LEO" (or click here) to get two free months courtesy of The Tech Guy, Leo Laporte.
Hot tip! Carbonite comes with a host of handy mobile apps and a web interface, allowing access to your documents virtually anywhere.
2. Purge your email.
In theory, this is something we should do more than every couple months, but practically speaking, it doesn't always happen. Take the time to clean out your inbox at least every quarter to help you tie up any loose ends, remove unnecessary e-clutter, and destress yourself. Don't want to receive newsletters or promotional emails any more? Use that "unsubscribe" option or check out Unroll.Me.
Hot tip! Take advantage of the tools in your email client to sweep emails to the trash bin or a folder easily. In Outlook, this could look like sorting by recipient. In Gmail, this could look like searching using the "From:" command. See a full list of advanced Gmail search functions here.
3. Categorize your social networks.
You've probably collected some new friends or follows over the last few months. If you don't already make use of Facebook Friend Lists or Twitter Lists, this is an excellent time to start. Once these lists are in place, they are easy to maintain.
Hot tip! These tools enable you to sort through the social media noise and quickly get to the people, pages, and tastemakers that matter most. Use them to connect with those closest to your, keep tabs on trends, and streamline social media in the unique way that pertains to you.
4. Password protect.
Sure, you have passwords for your banking website and social networks, but what happens if someone grabs your phone or laptop? To get instructions to set a password for your device, Google "set password [device]".
5. Detail your devices.
Even though you work and play in the cloud, your physical devices can still use a little TLC. Arm yourself with canned air, lint-free cloths, screen cleaner and a little bit of elbow grease. If you really want to get into the nitty-gritty, I've heard great things about Cyber Clean Electronics Cleaning Putty.
BOTTOM LINE: There are a million things that you could do to streamline your digital life depending on the services and tools you use. Take on this list every three months and dedicate yourself to one additional project per month, like digitizing your paper documents or organizing your photos. Need some inspiration? Check out Geek Sugar's 31 Days of Spring Cleaning Board on Pinterest.
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