Bad spelling and grammar looks very unprofessional and promotes a careless image, lacking in attention to detail.

Forgetting to spell check your website, for example, really could mean the difference between a customer buying from you or walking away. I’m not kidding. Even when everything is saying yes to that customer – the right price, the right product, the right company, a company that oozes a trusting, professional image and a money back guarantee, it’s just that little seed of doubt that breaks the deal and the customer walks away.

Check the spelling, grammar and the semantics of your copy to increase your credibility.

Spelling words correctly on your website is also a factor for search engine optimisation (SEO). Recent studies have shown that importance is being placed on the readability of text on websites and this could promote your website ranking. Another reason to make sure it reads correctly.

Most programs that you’ll use in your office will have some sort of spell checker tool. Use them but also read through the piece slowly whilst paying attention. Try to imagine you are reading it for the first time.

A useful tip is, if you have time after finishing a piece, leave it and do something else. Have a break from it and either let your brain have a rest or do something else. Then when you go back to the piece you are looking at it refreshed and will be more able to read it calmly and attentively – probably spotting more mistakes than you would have if you were rushing to get it finished.

Get someone else to proof read your copy or better still a bunch of people.

The people who proof read for you are reading the copy for the first time and may have suggestions or ideas that you haven’t thought of.

Proof reading is especially important if it is something that is going off to be printed. How awful it is when printed media isn’t proof read – everyone looks around for someone to blame. Make sure it’s not you!

Avoid slang (unless appropriate)

For example don’t use u for you or 2 for to. Try to find the right tone for your target audience using appropriate words.

If you are still  struggling why not find a copywriter to help you!