Websites, Realtors, Their, They're and There

I loved the website.

It was everything I could have hoped for ... it described the online service that I was looking for ... perfect! All cards lining up.

Then I read the closing sentence: "Let us here from you".

I could not believe my eyes! I left the website at the speed of a politician driving to a fundraiser. Maybe it's just me, but I could not see doing business with a site that could not spell.

Call me crazy. Call me picky.

It's like sitting down to eat at a diner that has the ketchup bottles filled with toothpaste. ‘Something just ain't right!'

Studies show that typos, misspellings and bad grammar in websites can turn off potential customers at the speed of ... well ... you know ... at the speed of a politician driving to a fundraiser! The stakes are especially high when you consider the need for a Realtor to differentiate himself / herself from a very crowded field of competitors (who know how to spell).

Imagine this: you have a potential lead named Sheila drooling over your website ... you are the first contact Sheila is thinking about phoning ... then she comes across the sentence ‘Their are many properties that may fill your unique requirements.'

Statistically speaking, Sheila is probably not going to use you. She will continue down her list to the next agent, who happens, again, to have a website that is free from errors. OUCH!

Or what about this?

John is cruising the net looking for an agent to help him find a move-up home for his growing family. He clicks on your site ... hmmm ... impressive, he thinks to himself. References look good. Everything is great. Let's check out this link to the school districts.

BAM! http 404 page not found!

A broken link.

This has to be my browser, John concludes and hits the link again.

BAM! http 404 page not found!

Quicker than you can say ‘lost a client', John is on your competitor's site, who happens to have all the grammar correct as well as all links working. Again, studies show that this error-free website will be a stronger pull to potential clients than those that are issue-ridden.

Errors like this stick out in a potential client's cognition much as a sliver of onion in chocolate ice cream sticks out.  Yuck!

What to do?

1) Any time you change your website copy, double and triple check it for errors.

2) A great way to check your copy is to read it backwards.  That pops out errors you might not otherwise catch.

3) Of course, a good way is to get another set of eyes to over-read your work.  Preferably someone with training in English at the college level.

4) Always periodically check through your site for links that may not work, then immediately correct them.

I have on staff an English-Literature major who provides this service to others from time to time for an affordable price.  This came about because of a need that some friends had for 'another set of eyes' to verify their changes on their sites.  If you are interested, drop me a line at TBlankenship@BrentwoodConsult.Com .

Let me here from you! 

Gotcha!

See how the sentence before Gotcha! throws cold water on my whole pitch??!!

 LOL!  Here's to squeaky-clean grammar in your website!