The Write Gal

I have a rule when shopping online: If I encounter one mistake on your Web site I will not order from you. It doesn’t matter if you have the best product in the world or the lowest cost of something I am trying to buy, I will go somewhere else. Maybe it’s the writer or Journalism major in me, or maybe it’s just my being too much of a perfectionist. But the bottom line is that bad writing is just plain sloppy. Why would you want to lose customers after you have already been through all of the expense of establishing your online business?

If you are not in a position to hire a professional writer (like me!) to edit your site, try these tips to ensure your writing is in tip top shape:

•  Print your text- It is easier to catch errors on the written page rather than the screen.  Copy all of your text (Control + C) and manually paste it (Control + V) into a standard wordprocessing program like Microsoft Word.  That way you will be able to more easily detect errors and take advantage of the software’s spell check program.  Many html editors I have worked with do not have a spell check capacity so this will enable you to use a spell check program.  Just remember that spell check is not fullproof so it is still a good idea to consult an online dictionary such as Merriam-Webster.
• Read your text backwards – If you read your text backwards your eye will focus on the individual words rather than the sentence structure.  This will help you catch spelling errors you might have missed the first time.
• Put some distance in between your writing and editing – If you allow some time in between your writing and editing it will enable you to look at your writing with a fresh eye.
• Let someone else read it for you – Two sets of eyes are better than one!  Have a friend or family member review your Web site text for possible errors.

Remember, don’t let all of your hard work go to waste and take a chance that you could lose customers due to bad writing.  Time spent editing your writing will be time well spent.

Happy Writing!