Spam currently makes up two-thirds of all email received. This figure is astounding, and experts are predicting that the volume of spam will continue to increase. Spam is more than just an annoyance; it can clog mail servers and seriously damage productivity.

So how can you avoid being deluged with spam every time you get your mail? Here are some tactics you can use to greatly reduce the amount of spam you receive. Combining these tactics can help you read your e-mail in peace, without being accosted by continual spam. Take the Five Steps for Setting Up a Spam Defense.

1. Remove email links from your Web site. Spam "robots" are continually scouring the Internet in search of new e-mail addresses. Removing actual links to your e-mail and replacing them with a spelled-out e-mail address such as your.name@yourcompany-name.com can greatly reduce your current amount of spam. You can also create graphics that display your e-mail address. (Spam robots can't read the text in graphic form.) If you have never used your current e-mail address other than for company email, and you're still getting spammed, this may be the culprit.