How to Send Draft Email in Outlook: A Step-by-Step Guide

Drafting an email in Outlook is a bit like making a sandwich for lunch—you prep it now so you can enjoy it later, or in this case, send it off when the time is just right. We all have those moments when inspiration strikes at odd hours, and we hammer out an email only to realize it’s way past the recipient’s bedtime. You don’t want to be that person who pings their inbox at midnight, do you? That’s where the save-it-for-later charm of a draft comes into play. Like squirreling away a treat for a rainy day, your email sits snug in the drafts folder until you deem it time to hit send.

But drafting isn’t just about holding off on delivery; it’s a versatile tool in our collaboration toolkit. Have you ever had to write an email but someone else needed to send it? It’s like being a ghostwriter for digital correspondence. We’re in an age where teamwork can mean crafting the message together before passing the virtual baton for the relay race’s final leg. In Outlook, attaching a draft email for someone else to send is straightforward. This clever feature keeps our login details under wraps while ensuring our colleague gets all the credit—or takes the heat—for our word wizardry.

Now, while whipping up an email and saving it as a draft is as easy as pie, there’s a certain finesse to sending that draft on its way—whether it’s from your account or if it’s being pitched as an attachment for a team member. In our digital hub, Outlook has become the go-to postman, and knowing how to navigate its ins and outs can be a real game-changer. Gone are the days of email tag; now we streamline communication with saved drafts that are ready to soar out of our outbox with just a few clicks. Drafts can be clutch players, ensuring we communicate on our terms and at the perfect moment. So, let’s dig in and make sure our emails are sent not just with good content, but with impeccable timing too.

Contents

1 Creating and Managing Drafts in Outlook
2 Email Sending Process
3 Advanced Outlook Features
- 3.1 Email Navigation Tools
- 3.2 Customizing Your Outlook Experience
4 Conclusion

Creating and Managing Drafts in Outlook

We all have those moments when we’re halfway through an email and get interrupted—thankfully, Outlook’s draft-saving feature swoops in to save the day! But managing those saved drafts? That’s an art of its own.

Save a Draft in Outlook

When you’re crafting an email and need to step away, hit ‘Save’—you know the drill. But let’s get specific. We click Save on the Quick Access Toolbar or press Ctrl + S. This tucks the email safely into the Drafts folder for later. We can’t mess this up even if we tried; Outlook autosaves our messages every few minutes!

Don’t forget: Autosaved drafts can also be a lifesaver during those “Oh no!” moments when the computer decides to take a surprise nap.

Edit and Continue Drafts

Returning to our draft—found in the Drafts folder, naturally—just a double click, and we’re back in action, editing away. We simply pick up where we left off, sprinkle in some fresh data or wit, and when it feels just right, we click Send. It’s like riding a bike, but with less chance of scraped knees.

Organizing Drafts

Enthusiastic drafters, beware: our Drafts folder can become a jumbled mess! So here’s a secret spice: Folders. We can create new ones right from the Navigation Pane and drag drafts to their new home. Just think of it as digital feng shui for our emails.

Draft Email Best Practices

Ah, the beauty of a well-crafted draft. It’s about more than saving; it’s about refining and perfecting. Consider Shared Email Templates for emails we send on the regular. Having a stellar draft saves us time and keeps our messaging consistent, like a trusty recipe we follow to baking perfection.

Deleting Unnecessary Drafts

Just like cleaning out the fridge, it’s essential to discard drafts we no longer need. Head over to the Drafts folder, take a look at what’s stale, select the draft, and hit that Delete button. It’s that simple. Trust us; no one will miss that half-baked email from three months ago.

And remember, colleagues, a tidy Drafts folder is a happy Drafts folder! Keep it organized and it will serve us well, like a trusty steed in the Wild West of the inbox. 😎📧

Email Sending Process

We’ve all been there, poised to hit ‘Send’ on an email that’s been lurking in our drafts folder. Whether it’s a solo effort or a collaborative masterpiece, I’ll walk you through how to send it flying into the digital realm without a hitch.

Using the Send Function

First things first, let’s talk about getting that draft out of the shadows and into the Sent Items. It’s as easy as pie. When you’re ready to send your message, simply pop open your draft, give it one final look to make sure all is in order, and smack that Send button. If your draft includes attachments, double-check they’re all snugly attached. Remember, the drafts folder is your starting block, but clicking ‘Send’ is the real gunshot start.

Step	Action	Location
1	Open Draft	Drafts Folder
2	Verify Message	Email Content
3	Confirm Attachments	Below Message
4	Click Send	Top-left Corner

Handling Send Issues

You’ve hit send, but wait—your email’s doing the boomerang and heading straight back into your outbox. A little troubleshooting might be needed. Maybe the internet’s throwing a tantrum, or perhaps the file’s too chunky. Check the size of your attachments and ensure your internet connection hasn’t decided to take a nap. If you’re still stuck, consider using the resend feature or turning to your IT guru. Keep in mind that perseverance is the key to conquering the cantankerous outbox.

Collaboration Via Email

Ever crafted an email so perfect your colleague just has to send it? Well, it’s time to talk teamwork. When sharing an email template with a colleague, shared email templates come into play – they’re the digital equivalent of a well-oiled relay team. You’ll need the right permission levels to play ball, so make sure folder permissions are set accordingly. By attaching your draft to a new email or sharing access to a specific folder, collaboration is a breeze. Just like sharing the last slice of pizza, it’s all about making sure every piece is divvied up fairly.

Advanced Outlook Features

Navigating through Microsoft Outlook like a pro means making the most out of its advanced features. Let’s zero in on a couple of tools that’ll make us feel like email ninjas, wielding the power of efficient communication with grace.

Email Navigation Tools

Ever feel lost in a sea of emails? No more! With Outlook’s navigation pane, we keep our virtual ship on course. This trusty sidekick allows us to switch between folders with a simple click—no compass required. Feeling like a quick peek without getting into the nitty-gritty? The preview pane has our back, giving us a sneak preview of the email’s content without opening it completely.

And if you’re wary of getting repetitive strain injury from all that clicking, let’s not forget the power of keyboard shortcuts. They’re lifesavers when we’re plowing through emails and need to refresh data or continue editing drafts. Seriously, they turn mundane tasks into a walk in the park!

Here’s a tip: Use the Quick Access Toolbar to add icons for your most-used features—your future self will thank you.

Customizing Your Outlook Experience

Did someone say “customization”? Bet your email socks we did! Microsoft Outlook allows us to tailor our experience to fit like a glove. From permissions for that top-secret project folder to smartly categorized folders for client communications, we’ve got the control panel at our fingertips.

And talk about style—Outlook’s ribbon is like the Swiss Army knife of email tools. “Why use two clicks when one will do?” should be our rallying cry. We can drag and drop to our heart’s content, making sure everything we need is within reach on our ribbon. So, no more playing hide and seek with features!

Remember, we’re not just email senders; we’re email stylists. Every conversation is an opportunity to showcase our organizational flair. Now, let’s turn those drafts into masterpieces with a flourish of productivity!

Navigation Pane	Quick Access Toolbar	Ribbon Customization
Easily switch between mail, calendar, tasks.	Add commonly used actions for easy access.	Tailor the commands and tools you use most.

Conclusion

In the journey of mastering Outlook, we’ve discovered the art of sending draft emails. It’s a handy trick—like a secret handshake for email aficionados. Whether you’re drafting communiqués for colleagues or setting foundations for future correspondence, it’s all about smooth sailing in Outlook’s digital waters.

As we wrap up, remember that sharing drafts saves time and ensures your team sings from the same hymn sheet. By attaching drafts directly or using shared email templates, we maintain the integrity of our accounts while empowering others to deliver our crafted messages. Emails remain the steadfast messengers of our digital realm, transferring our thoughts at lightning speed.

When you’re ready to spread your wings and let your drafts fly, just click, attach, and send it off to its new steward. They’ll have your well-wrought words ready to hit the digital runway and take flight. And should those drafts need a tweak, it’s just a matter of a few clicks in the ‘Drafts’ folder before they’re aloft!

Email Sending Tips:

Verify the content and recipient of the draft before sharing.

Keep your drafts folder organized to easily find and edit drafts.

Utilize Outlook’s features to streamline email preparation and delivery.

Humor aside, there’s a serious note to our musings. Email remains our steadfast digital champion. In the vast landscape of Outlook features, we are the maestros, orchestrating every draft into a potentially groundbreaking symphony of communication. So, let’s continue to compose and send emails with the confidence of an email virtuoso—after all, we’ve got the tools and the know-how.