As a freelance journalist, complementary to my main occupation, I take more than a passing interest in the written content of brochures and websites. 90% of websites are degraded, they lose their impact because of poor English copy.
I cannot for the life of me understand why a business owner spends a lot of money on an impressive website in which the written copy would make an eleven-year old child blush.
Credibility and confidence in a service will plummet if the copy is of a poor English standard. If it is littered with ‘schoolboy howler’ spelling mistakes; if sentences are too long, if copy rambles or is boringly repetitive.
The web designer’s job is to create professional websites. He or she is not necessarily able or obliged to bring your poor English text up to journalist standards. In addition your product or service needs to be worded in a way to make it more appealing. This is called marketing. Nearly all successful products and services owe their popularity to superior marketing techniques. If you need a free assessment get in touch! Michael.
Hi Violet!
Your website ticks a lot of boxes; most in fact. It is easy on the eye, informative, easy navigation; straight to the point. A good experience. The only ‘caution’ I would add is don’t confuse sentences with paragraphs.
Times have changed. The ideal sentence, these days, shouldn’t be more than 25 words long. Some of yours are paragraph long. Stops us breathing while we are reading :o)
Michael.
Hi Nizzo,
One of the ironies of life is that people who ask for advice don’t need it; those who do, don’t. I can’t fault your website or your enterprise: Good luck with it.
I have friends who own a properties abroad business. I glanced through their website’s editorial and whinced: The spelling; grammatical mistakes, the syntax; all excruciatingly bad.
Because they have done me a few favours I offered to tidy it up free of charge. “Oh, don’t even mention it,” the husband replied: “A***** did it and thinks it is perfect. She would go ballistic if anyone criticised her English!” Oh well.
I have just received the following from a personal secretary working at one of the UK’s premier hospital trusts:
“There is currently a blog on the intranet at work, for staff to leave comments about the going paperless/noteless. One bright spark had written about the need for accuracy when dictating on the letters, because there would be no notes to refer to. he/she had actually stated : ” care needs to be taken when wrighting on paper notes as mistakes can happen ”
Spot the mistake! I would have been mortified if I had left a message like that which consultants/managers were going to read!
Chris
As so often the case, those who don’t need assistance ask for it. Those who do, don’t. I suppose there is a logic to it. I like your approach, and your written editorial is spot on
As so often the case, those who don’t need assistance ask for it. Those who do, don’t. I suppose there is a logic to it. I like your approach, and your written editorial is spot on
Thanks! I’ll take that as a complement. So you like it then?
Yes, its obvious i know what im doing, but the site has taken me the last 9 years to get where it is now.
If youre a journalist, any ideas on how i can get writing for a paper in spain? (not worried about earning loads of cash, just pocket money really)> Any ideas?
You boobed! Complement (the hat complemented her dress and her friend complimented her on her choice). A pedant am I not? :o)
The media never pays - unless you’re a household name journalist working for a national newspaper, and a member of the NUJ.
I write on property legal issues, with the help of a legal practice. They get a mention and if they get business from it I get a modest fee.
It is the same for others; mostly medical related. They provide a column giving readers advice; they get their contact details with it, which generates sales. A bit like free advertising. You could write on property improvement issues. Good luck!
You boobed! Complement (the hat complemented her dress and her friend complimented her on her choice). A pedant am I not? :o)
The media never pays - unless you’re a household name journalist working for a national newspaper, and a member of the NUJ.
I write on property legal issues, with the help of a legal practice. They get a mention and if they get business from it I get a modest fee.
It is the same for others; mostly medical related. They provide a column giving readers advice; they get their contact details with it, which generates sales. A bit like free advertising. You could write on property improvement issues. Good luck!
Cheers Hombre, and sorry about the grammatical error!!!! (My Dyslexia kicking in again and no, I’m serious)
