If you're like many other social media participants, you've likely made some grammatical, spelling, or typo boo-boos in your online communication. Heck, I've been known to do that from time to time. :) BUT, what if you use bad grammar consistently? Will it reflect your online brand poorly?
Naturally, this is a subjective question. If everyone uses bad grammar, then chances are they wouldn't notice others making similar faux pas. But what if people DO notice? And, what if you're using social media for business purposes? Your mistakes can trigger prospects to run for the hills!
That has happened to me many times. I'll be reviewing someone's blog, comments, or social media page and find it rife with errors. Truthfully, it doesn't give me much confidence in his/her performance - at anything! I know that may seem harsh, but it makes me apprehensive about one's competence. Perhaps unfair, but it's my reality.
So, it is very possible that there are others like me. People whose first impression of you are made through your profile presentation, choice of words, your sentence structure, and syntax. (Twitter aside, of course.) In light of this possibility, here are three recommendations for improving your online grammar:
- Even though social media can require quick comments and replies, proof your words before you hit "submit." This simple task can save you embarrassment.
- If you're unsure how to spell a particular word, open a new tab in your browser and spellcheck it.
- Some sites underline or highlight errors. Right-click these boo-boos and allow the software to repair them for you.
With just a few new habits, you just may improve your online brand reputation. On the other hand, if no one notices, I'll give you a Good Grammar Stamp of Approval. :)