If I told you I knew a shortcut that could give your company instant credibility and enhance your position as a go-to expert, what do you think I’d suggest? A celebrity spokesperson? A new million-dollar integrated marketing campaign that includes public relations, advertising and investor relations initiatives? A guaranteed interview in a top newspaper?
Try more diligent proofreading. Yes, proofreading.
Let me explain. Error-free writing is low-hanging fruit. It’s the easiest thing you can do to maintain your company’s credibility and prove that you’re as detail-oriented as you say you are. Here’s an example. Let’s say you receive a communication from your doctor. It’s riddled with typos and spelling errors. Does that help or hurt your doc’s credibility? Fair or not, that communication might make me wonder what other mistakes my doctor might be making.
Thanks to Ragan.com and LinkedIn for the helpful infographic.
Clean, error-free copy—whether it’s in the form of a press release, marketing piece, social media post or website—puts the focus on your message. Here are the three things to look for before going live with any content:
- Grammar. They’re/their/there? Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar check is a good first step to making sure your grammar is top-notch, but it’s far from comprehensive. (Want to test this out? Open Word and type in the following: “I ate there food. I ate they’re food. I eight there food.” See what I mean?) Ask a colleague to edit your copy, or run your pieces through a site like Grammarly.com.
- Spelling and punctuation. Start with Word, but be sure to carefully proof your drafts. I find that proofing a paper copy—rather than on the computer screen—helps me spot typos.
- Clarity. Your copy should be easy to read. If you have to read and re-read a sentence to understand what you were trying to say, rewrite it. No one ever complains about a press release that’s too easy to read.
Another great resource I recommend is Grammar Girl’s section on www.quickanddirtytips.com. One final tip is to put another set of eyes on it. Nothing beats passing important communications past a second set of eyes before sending it out. If it’s an important message to communicate, it’s important to communicate it properly. If you feel like you need more help getting your content in great shape, shoot me an email or give me a call.
– BML
