let’s talk spelling.
let’s talk about spelling.
“Yes, English can be weird. It can be understood through tough thorough thought, though.”
CREDIT: DAVID BURGE (@iowahawkblog)
The English language can be er, difficult, to say the least. (And that’s coming from a proud bookworm and lover of language—ask any of my college friends who used to catch me in the library leafing through old dictionaries just for the sake of smelling the paper and reading bygone definitions.)
As much as the thought of understanding the differences between there, their, and they’re makes you want to roll your eyes, as a business owner, you might want to invest a little time into understanding some of the key differences in our beloved (and downright frustrating) English language.
Grammar aside, let’s talk about spelling for a minute.
I saw a BEAUTIFUL sale ad the other day for a horse that I certainly wouldn’t mind someone buying for me for my birthday. (Take note: it’s June 3rd.)
A big, athletic gelding with some color is being offered by a reputable ranch.
Photography is beautiful.
Design and layout are fantastic (I might even go follow the designer’s social channels).
And there they are… Three (THREE) spelling mistakes.
I was immediately less drawn to the ad.
Instantly less likely to try and find the designer and look at more of their work.
You might be thinking, “Kristen, a lot of people wouldn’t have even noticed that.”
And you’re right, not everyone will notice.
OKAY, BUT.
(*Don’t end sentences with ‘but’.)
What if a potential buyer did? A potential customer who may have become a repeat buyer, but was turned off by the lack of professionalism? What if it was a spelling mistake in your name, your horse’s name, or another important piece of information that makes it difficult for someone to learn more?
INCORRECT OR MISSING INFORMATION MAKES THINGS DIFFICULT.
And when life is difficult for potential customers, they’re going to go somewhere that makes things easier.
Seriously, spelling matters to your business.
The best part? There are tools (and people) all around you who can help. Copy and paste your captions, sale ad copy, and more into Grammarly for a free online grammar check, or ask one of your team members to read through your social posts before you hit that shiny “Share” button.
We’re human. We make mistakes. I’ll be the first to admit that, as much as I might know about language and grammar, I double-check things constantly to make sure I understand them correctly. (Spoiler alert: I still make mistakes.)
As a designer, I take a lot of pride in my customers having confidence that I’m going to produce materials that have been reviewed and proofed before being shipped off as a final product. I wholeheartedly believe in taking the extra step to review things again even after a design has been signed off on and also offering suggestions when I see something that could be improved.
If your current creative efforts don’t involve reviewing content (check your spelling!), your marketing strategy can go lame—even with pretty pictures.
(And it might be costing you.)
