Have you ever had a need for multiple email addresses but want to avoid the hassle of managing them all separately? Or maybe you’re overwhelmed by a constant influx of emails, from work priorities and online banking updates to unfamiliar newsletters you don’t remember signing up for.

A busy inbox can be difficult to manage. So, how can you better organize and filter your messages? How can you monitor who has access to your private information and where unwanted spam originates from?

Let’s have a look at the Gmail + trick, a tool that can significantly enhance your email experience AND protect your primary Gmail address from spammers.

What is the Gmail + trick?
The Gmail + trick uses what’s called “plus addressing” to quickly create unique email addresses that can receive mail in an existing email account.

All you have to do is add a “+” symbol and any word or combination of characters after your username and before the “@” symbol. Gmail will deliver messages sent to each variation in your main inbox.

For instance, if your email is janedoe@gmail.com, you can create numerous aliases serving different functions, such as:

For personal matters: janedoe+friends@gmail.com or janedoe+family@gmail.com

For professional communications: janedoe+work@gmail.com

For finances: janedoe+banking@gmail.com

For online purchases: janedoe+shopping@gmail.com or janedoe+Amazon@gmail.com

For signing up for online newsletters: janedoe+newsletters@gmail.com

There are infinite ways to use Gmail + addressing. Keep in mind that only your username can be changed. The @gmail.com must remain as is.

The benefits of Gmail plus addressing
Here’s a breakdown of the many ways the Gmail address + trick can streamline your email management.

Organize your inbox
Struggling to locate crucial messages buried in a cluttered inbox? Adding a + to Gmail can help organize your digital life ­– and reduce the overwhelm. With this addressing technique, you can effortlessly filter, sort, and categorize incoming messages.

After you’ve created your aliases, set up filters in Gmail to automatically label and categorize emails sent to each of the addresses.

Let Gmail do all the grunt work and you’ll have a neat and clean inbox. Your personal, work, shopping, financial, and subscription emails will be neatly organized in their designated folders, leaving your primary inbox far more manageable.

When you’re ready to find a certain email, simply search for the alias in the ‘To’ field.

See who’s sharing your data
Gmail plus addressing goes beyond inbox organization – one key benefit lies in pinpointing spam sources using specific identifiers.

Ever wonder how businesses you’ve never even engaged with got your email address? The truth is that many websites sell and leak our data, sometimes because we’ve gotten accustomed to accepting privacy policies without much consideration. However, there are actions we can take.

If you’re concerned about data privacy, the Gmail + alias trick aids in tracking who is sharing your information with third parties without your explicit consent. If you sign up for a rewards program through Home Depot with janedoe+hdrewards@gmail.com and suddenly start getting spam sent to that email address, you’ll know where it originated.

If a specific alias starts getting sketchy emails, create a filter, mark it as junk, unsubscribe, and your problem will be solved. You could also remove your email from the original program or email list.

Using the Gmail + trick, you can start to chip away at the source of your unwanted email spam.

Here’s how you set up your alias email addresses:
Log into your Gmail account
Click on the GEAR icon on the upper right
Click on the Accounts and Import menu
Go to the “Send Mail As”
Select “Add another email address”
Enter the name you want the recipient to see (This can be your actual name or anything you like)
Enter the Gmail + Email address
Be sure to click the check box “Treat as an alias” and click “Next Step”

David Snell joins Rob Hakala and Beth Foster of the South Shore’s Morning News on 95.9 WATD fm every Tuesday at 8:11

You can listen to this broadcast here: https://actsmartit.com/gmail-plus-trick/