Directions: Read the following questions and answer true or false accordingly.

1. Information on the Internet is considered public information and isn’t copyright protected. Copying such information and using it in your electronic correspondence is okay. F

Explanation: Just because information is available on the Internet doesn’t mean that you can claim the information as your own. As with books, magazines, and other published materials, information is copyright protected. It’s permissible to use a few sentences from a copyrighted source, provided you give credit to your source. To use large amounts of material or forms, ask the site owner for permission first.

2. You can’t be held liable for comments you make in e-mail. F

Explanation: Your electronic statements could come back to haunt you. Maybe you sent a joke that you thought was funny, but offended a client. Or perhaps you made a comment about a neighborhood that was interpreted as a violation of the Fair Housing Act. Anything you send in an e-mail is as permanent a record as hard-copy documents. E-mail can easily be forwarded or printed for sharing. And if your company owns the e-mail system that you use for work, it has the right to read e-mail stored there.

3. Using e-mail is an efficient method of communication with some client groups. T

Explanation: You can send thousands of messages quickly for little or no cost, other than your monthly e-mail service charges. However, remember that not every e-mail you send may be read. That’s why it helps to include an attention-grabbing subject line. In addition, be considerate of those clients and customers who prefer personal contact to electronic communication.

4. Answer e-mail within a week. F

Explanation: Answer as soon as possible. Some brokers believe that responding within 8 hours is critical. “After that, the contact’s interest in hearing from you diminishes quickly,” says Mary Bills of Lincoln, Neb. Responding quickly is the most important thing you can offer, at least when you’re just starting to deal with someone.

5. Treat e-mail prospects the same way you treat traditional buyers. F

Explanation: "Everything you’ve been taught about building successful relationships with the traditional buyer can actually work against you online," says Realtormag.com Internet marketing columnist Michael Russer. "Internet-empowered consumers control the relationship because they’re immune to the power of personality and subliminal cues, which do so much to shape the off-line relationship."

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