We usually tend to take Microsoft Outlook for granted. After all, we've been using this program to read email messages and control our schedules for years now. Nevertheless, Microsoft Outlook is a remarkably powerful program. If you want to make the most out of it, it's time to explore some of its hidden features. Here are three key tips that can help you save time and work more efficiently when connected to Microsoft Outlook.

Eliminate the Clutter

Using Outlook’s “Conversation View” can help keep your email conversations neatly in one thread rather of being spread out over days of email backlog.  The disadvantage to Conversation View is that often these emails are cluttered with repeat material from old emails.  To easily eliminate this annoyance, just right-click the conversation and choose the “Clean Up Conversation” option.  Now all of the repeated quoted material will be eliminated from the conversation.

Say it in a Picture

If a picture is worth a thousand words, imagine how much time you’ll save by including screenshots in your emails.  Including screenshots can be very helpful particularly when sending a support ticket.  Outlook makes including a screenshot extremely simple. Click the “Insert” tab and then select “Screenshot.” A sequence of images of all open windows on your desktop will be shown.  Choose the window that is ideal and Outlook will place the screenshot directly into your email – painless as that!

Take Out the Trash

Did you know that all of those old emails in your trash folder are taking up lots of valuable space? It can be easy to neglect to empty our email trash. Outlook has made that simple too! Select the “File” tab and then select “Options.” Go to the “Advanced” section and look for the “Start” and “Exit” options. By checking the box after “Empty Deleted Items” when exiting Outlook, this will permit Outlook to automatically clean out your trash folder each and every time you exit the program.