Using proper grammar and spelling is very important. And when it comes to your business, it is more important than ever before. People decide in the first 2-3 seconds whether or not to stay on your website, and if they encounter grammatical errors and misspelled words, chances are they are going to find another resource.
Grammar is the foundation of all communication and we all know that a good, strong foundation is the key to building anything worthwhile. Studies have indicated that Americans between 18-34 have some of the highest standards when it comes to the proper use of grammar and correct spelling. That means that it is only going to become more important in the future.
Having content with spelling errors and grammatical issues can really harm your credibility and negate any authority you may have built. It can also make you look unprofessional in the eyes of potential clients and have a negative effect on your search engine rankings. Don’t let a spelling error undo all your hard work.
Proper Grammar Affects Your Credibility and SEO Rankings
You may think that a little spelling error is no big deal at all, but when it comes to your online content, proper grammar is essential. Proper spelling and grammar are not only important; they can be the main deciding factor whether or not you convert a lead to a sale.
You spend a lot of time creating content and trying to draw in customers but if you get them to your site only to be greeted by grammatical errors, chances are they are going to question your credibility. When someone encounters a misspelled word, they assume that you don’t pay attention to the details or that you are lazy even if it was an honest mistake.
Customers will question whether your lack of quality control over your content also applies to the other aspects of your business. A recent study in the UK found that almost 60% of consumers said they would not buy from a website that had grammatical and spelling errors.
Your credibility and authority in your industry are paramount in the online world. If customers and clients don’t believe in you or question whether or not you are committed to doing a great job in all aspects of your work, they will find someone else.
Bing has openly admitted that they consider grammar and spelling when determining search rankings and credibility. Google has not come right out and admitted to it but they include proper grammar and spelling in their guide to building quality content. If you are interested in learning more about ranking on Google, check out this article by Kristi Church.
Helpful Resources
Proper spelling and grammar can be tricky, especially if it’s not your strong suit. You can get tripped up on hard to spell words, or words that sound the same but have different meanings like further and farther and effect and affect. If you are not sure on something, ask a coworker or friend to look over your work. Sometimes there’s nothing better than an extra pair of eyes to catch a mistake.
There are several free resources on the web to help make sure you get it right the first time. For help with grammatical issues, you can use either Grammarly or the Hemingway app. If you are not sure about the meaning of a word or how to spell it, you can go to Dictionary.com. Whatever resource you use, it is always a good idea to check and double check your work before you publish it. Happy writing!