As you know, I’m a big fan of gmail – especially for organising google alerts to filter seamlessly into your future blog ideas folder. But I’ve just heard that Gmail are making some significant changes to how their gmail service will be operating that everyone who uses gmail should be aware of (otherwise you’re going to be missing some important emails) – which if you run a business, can be a nightmare.

Gmails new tabbed inbox system is being phased in. You might have already see it in your inbox if you use gmail. If not, you’ll see it soon. So gmail is splitting your inbox into five separate inboxes and created tabs across the top labelling each “Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates and Forums”.

The problem is...they’ve also decided that they (not you) get to choose which emails go into which new inbox tab, unless you tell them otherwise.

How will Gmails new tabbed inbox system affect you? 

A lot of emails you’re currently receiving will end up under the tab marked promotions, even though they’re great content and you’ve specifically asked to get them.

Just about all emails from the bloggers and other websites and people you subscribe to are being lumped into the “Promotions” inbox automatically, where you’ll likely never look. And you’ll end up missing a ton of stuff you wanted.

The good news – there’s a super easy fix.

If you use gmail, look at your account to see if the new “tabbed” inboxes have been turned on (you’ll see the new tabs across the top of your emails).

If so, here’s how to make sure you’re seeing what you’ve asked to see –

1 – Click on the Promotions inbox tab.

2 – Drag any emails from people you actually want to hear from (hopefully, that includes me) and drop them onto the tab that says Primary. Then, when it asks if you want future emails to go into your Primary inbox, just click yes.

For the next few weeks, as gmail phases these new tabbed inboxes in, be sure to check your Promotions inbox to make sure nothing else you really want is getting caught in it.

And then we’re all set! Hope that helps.

Thanks to Scott Dinsmore at Live Your Legend for sharing this info in a super timely manner.