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Archiving in GMail.
Gmail's archive feature is probably the least understood button found on Gmail's navigation. What exactly does archive mean?
Archive does not mean "backup" or some other form of off-site storage. It also doesn't mean that it files things away in hard to reach areas.
What Archive does do: It moves email out of your inbox. That's it.
Archived email is still immediately available using Gmail's search function or by clicking the All Mail button. The beauty of Archive is that it hides emails that you have processed. Once you have read an email and dealt with it, or read and responded to an email, clicking the archive button will save the email (or conversation) OUTSIDE of your inbox, so there is no clutter in your inbox. When a recipient responds to your archived mail - GMail puts the new message, along with the rest of the conversation, straight back into your inbox - so you will never lose a response!
Once you're done with emails, stop looking at them.
Turn your inbox into a place for pending issues ONLY.
A good workflow to follow and maintain: Read, Reply, Archive. In this way you process your mail and clear your inbox! For a quick video introduction to GMail - click here.
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