If you're like me, your Gmail account has tens of thousands of emails in it. You filter many, but there are times when you just need to find that specific email and just aren't sure where to start looking. But fear not! Google has some great search features, you just need the shorthand to use them. Here are some I find handy:

Folks like to be asked for their opinions. Giving them the opportunity to make their suggestions can help build stronger relationships with your members, and also gives you a good sense how to better tailor your programs to appeal to people. Plus, if you actually take it seriously and act on the input - and tell them that you acted on the input - your supporters will appreciate that you're listening.

Your email could be absolutely amazing, but if it has one obvious typo or error, that's all anyone will remember about your message. It's easy to let something simple and obvious slip through if you don't have a system to catch things. Here's a quick checklist you should use at minimum for anything you send:

For our first action, we needed to quickly turn casual supporters into committed activists with the confidence to risk arrest in a sit-in at the White House. Early response online was strong, so we focused our online organizing on cementing relationships and deepening commitment to the action.

Asking your supporters to take action is a great way to get them involved with your organization's goals and objectives. But, once someone has taken the time to sign your petition or write a letter to their Representative, the ball is in your court. Make sure you have a follow-up action planned so that you can show your supporters they accomplished something. In the end, this will make them more likely to SUPPORT your next campaign and invite their friends to ALSO TAKE ACTION.

One great way to keep your membership engaged is telling them all the ways they helped change the world last year. Check out a great example from the PCCC below. They've also sent a 2012 priorities survey which is a great way to get input on the work ahead and engage your community.

Sometimes even your most ardent supporters need a reminder to take action on an email you sent them. That's why you should strap on your boots and send a follow up email called a kicker.

Ever felt like your emails are just going into people's mental spam folders? Folks get lots of emails every day, but only some of them will make it through the clutter of meeting invites, inter-office updates, and all the political mailing lists they're following. Communicating through email can be fast, easy, and help you get stuff done, but only if folks are actually reading your emails. Here's some ways I make sure folks see emails around the office:

When you have a great email, don't just hit send and walk away. Email is great, but it won't reach everyone. So, after you send a campaign email, make sure to promote it through your other channels and allies with a few easy actions:

While you may have many needs, it's important to meet one need at a time. Here are some tips on how to get the best results from every email:

As an organizer, I often need to communicate with large groups via email. Sadly, the options aren't great: spend hours emailing individuals, or go with the inelegant BCC blob.

Too often, the subject line is an afterthought once the email has been penned. Yes, it’s important to have a catchy first line, quick summary, compelling action, and clear link in your email – but none of that will matter if you don’t convince people to open your email.