In the last couple of months, friends have asked me to review new Internet marketing websites they’ve built and offer advice. I look at design, search optimization and content. Probably because of my journalism experience, I tend to notice language problems first.
I’m always surprised when folks don’t realize their writing is um, murky. Their content is muddied with misspelled words, grammatical errors and awkward sentences. As a result, whatever their message, it’s not getting across to the reader. When your message is muddled, it tarnishes great search optimization, brilliant design and all the other good work that goes into marketing a product on the Internet.
Granted, I can be rightfully accused of being a language curmudgeon, but I don’t mean to be stodgy. The rules of good writing, grammar and spelling are meant to foster good, clear communication. In a way, they’re like the conventions of good Web design, graphic design or filmmaking. Follow certain standards, and it’s likely that more people will clearly and quickly understand your message. Yes, rules can be bent or broken, but only when it improves the communication of the message.
Here’s a sentence I stumbled over while reviewing a site for one of my classmates in a University of San Francisco Internet marketing course: [Read more…]