Using labels as effective Blog to-do list

If you are savvy on gmail and would like to track your blogging ideas in a to-do list in gmail or even mark some of your mails so that you remember that you are going to blog on it, there is a easy way to do this. I personally use Gmail labels to track all my future posts and blogging ideas so that I dont loose them. Gmail's labels are even better than folders as you can "put" any message in any number of folders. An email for a blog can belong to the "most urgent" messages as well as to a particular project at work, for example. It can carry the "blog follow-up" and "family blog" labels at the same time, and you will find it under both labels.

Here is a quick guide on using labels effectively for your blogging experience.

Organize and Categorize Messages with Labels in Gmail

To create a label in Gmail:
1. Select Settings from the top Gmail navigation bar.
2. Go to Labels.
3. Type the desired name for the label under Create a new label:.
4. Click Create.

To open a label:
1. Expand the Labels box in the left column of Gmail (below the standard list of mailboxes).
2. Click the desired label.

To apply a label to a message (so the message shows up under the label):
1. Check the message in the message list or open it.
2. Click the More Actions drop-down menu.
3. Select the desired label under Apply Label.

You can also create new labels as you need them.

To remove a label from a message:
1. Check the message in the message list or open it.
2. Click the More Actions drop-down menu.
3. Select the desired label under Remove Label.

Use Multiple Labels for Single Emails
Remember, you can assign any combination of labels to any message.

Change a Gmail Label's Color. To assign a text and background color combination to a Gmail label:
1. Make sure the Labels box is open in Gmail left column.
2. You can expand it by clicking Labels or the rightward-pointing arrow next to it.
3. Click the color box next to the desired label.
4. Pick a text and background color combination.