ReferralBase

Internet etiquette is called Netiquette.

Sound silly? Well, more and more people are using e-mail for traditional business communication and the paperless, real estate transaction is just around the corner. Gartner Group Inc., a technology consulting firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, projects that 75% of U.S. households will be linked to the Internet by 2005, up from 50% in the year 2000.

So, an established etiquette helps ensure good manners are the rule rather than the exception in cyberspace. This will become increasingly important as Internet use continues to skyrocket and the majority of mortgage customers communicate over the Internet.

While following Netiquette, ReferralBase composes all E-Lerts in a professional style to facilitate clear business communication.

Personal versus business e-mail addresses.

Stay in touch with more people with less effort and expense than ever before by using ReferralBase, but be sensitive to one consideration when entering the e-mail addresses from everyone you know and meet. Some people do not want information concerning personal matters sent to their business e-mail address, especially if it is a general company address managed by a gatekeeper. Make sure your E-Lert recipients do not mind receiving them at work. At the same time, it may be beneficial to get their permission to use their business e-mail so that they can forward your information to their colleagues more easily.

Here are a few other general rules of Netiquette:

Be polite, DON'T SHOUT!!! Using all caps to make a point is the biggest no-no. NOT ONLY IS IT DIFFICULT TO READ, but it's considered to be like throwing an on-line hissy fit.

Compose a clear subject line. The "title" or subject you give your e-mail, especially in business, should be clear, concise and targeted to your specific audience.

Greet your recipient. Always include a friendly salutation, even when addressing a problem.

Avoid abbreviations not commonly used or understood. ASAP or FYI is acceptable. ICYMI (In case you missed it) is a stretch. BTW (By the way), the one caveat to this point is that Internet communication rules are constantly evolving with the development of a Web-empowered society. However, when conducting business, it is best to avoid all unnecessary confusion and spell every thing out if there is any doubt.

Sign your work. Always use a signature, preferably with your contact numbers. Make it easy for someone to contact you. Many e-mail programs allow you to compose an automatic signature so you can add all of your numbers with one click.

Use proper grammar. Pretend your old high school English teacher is watching. Runonsentences, mspelings and lack of paragraph formatting make your e-mails difficult to read. The recipient might think you have little concern for them, or even worse, that you're not very bright.

Rest assured, your ReferralBase "virtual assistant" will always be professional, polite and attuned to good Netiquette.