For pete's sake, PROOFREAD your websites and emails!

[randomo]

OK, maybe I'm overly sensitive to this problem, since I worked as a proofreader for many years. Still, it's amazing how companies that have the resources to have their communications checked still commit errors that leave them looking like amateurs.

Here are a couple of the latest examples I've encountered.

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The Candy.com folks (who paid, as we all know, $3 million plus residuals for the domain) have just launched their website. It went live with a medium-sized front-page text heading that read "Shipping Statment". (I pointed this out on Rick's blog, and it's now been fixed, but I don't know whether I can take credit; somebody else may have told them about it.)

(Addendum: I've looked at a couple more pages of Candy.com's site, and it's rife with errors. This will not make potential customers feel confident about dealing with them. Perhaps I'll contact them and offer my services.)

Lesson 1: If you're running a big-money web operation, get some skilled people to check your site before it goes live!

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I just received from a BuyDomains VP an email misleadingly titled "Touching base on your domain name". In fact, it wasn't about any of my domain names; it was urging me to buy some of theirs. A couple of excerpts:

"No reasonable offer will be rejected - so if you have had your eye on the right name for your business, now be the perfect time to obtain your name at the price you are hoping for." (Now be? What is this, Ebonics?)

"We have only run a special like this once before and it was several ago, so you may want to call now to take advantage of this opportunity." (Ah yes, several ago ... I recall those golden days.)

Lesson 2: We all correspond informally with some people, but if you're sending out professional correspondence, get somebody else to look it over with a fresh pair of eyes!

 

[tristanperry]

I quite agree, sometimes people really need to proof-read stuff. I always say that more than a few spelling/grammar mistakes in a website will demolish any trust most visitors will have in your website.

Moniker's CP has a few spelling mistakes (I noticed one today when pushing a domain; I forget what it was though), as does cPanel/WHM (WHM is littered with typos). That's just the tip of the iceberg too; many big websites have at least a couple of typos around the place.

Quite surprising stuff.

 

[Theo]

Thanks for the laugh

 

[draggar]

I got the same email from BuyDomains.

 

[Biggie]

very good point randomo!

some need to proofread their sales and advertising threads as well


staff wouldn't close as many threads if members proofread their titles before hitting the submit button


just last week i think Rockefeller pointed out a members poor spelling in an Advertising thread, saying "how do you expect members to do biz with you and you can't even spell correctly"

these things do have an impact on how you are viewed, especially first impressions

 

[bmugford]

Yeah same email from BuyDomains.com here. Aside from the grammar, after reading the email I am still not sure what their special promotion is.

No reasonable offer will be rejected? Yeah right.

Brad

 

[scottmotex]

For pete's sake.... Are you talking about me??? Scott Petersen !!! Just joking, I do have to tell everyone I meet "I'm harmless, I did NOT kill Lacy..."

 

[stewie]

thanks good stuff :yo:

 

[jasdon11]

Title: "For pete's sake...." Shouldn't that be a capital 'P'

 

[myst woman]

reading yahoo news is really a game where you spot the english grammar or spelling error.

Isn't that what yahoo means?

where do i collect my prize?

 

[JuniperPark]

Ahh yes, BuyDomains... the people who insisted that RnR.com was not worth more than $400....

 

[tristanperry]

Ahh yes, BuyDomains... the people who insisted that RnR.com was not worth more than $400....

If they truly think that then I'll happily take every LLL.com they have off them for $500 each :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Poker]

For pete's sake, PROOFREAD your websites and emails!

yeah for pete's sake...holy jeez...golly gosh darn, don't be so lousy you guys

 

[Bob]

Wet air ewe toking ah boot? Eight ache off fence two thee Zach ewes hay shins. Eh lotto pee pool Ken commune ache ate tee fact I've lee we thought eh hies cool Ed ewe quay shin. Eye hap pan two bee won. Yew kin by sum won el says dough mains shod ewe knot lake mice Pell ling.

Sirius Leigh, Ike an knots tend pee pool hoot kin knots Pell two, sew Ike an rel eight.

Re Guards,

-Bah hub

Pea yes – Ewe kins pale chick might reap life rum eh ward presses heir. Know air errs.

 

[tekz999]

I also got an email from VP of BD. Crazy. I want to sell domains to THEM, not BUY! Bad VP.

 

[Gerry]

For pete's sake, PROOFREAD your websites and emails!

The 'p' in Pete should be capitalized.

 

[BidNo]

No doubt, randomo. Things have been going to hell in a hand basket ever since the grammar lady died. We need strong action. The whole country is tittering on the edge of illiteracy. I was going to register GrammarHelp.org but it's more important to support your critical mission -- the domain is yours to reg.

 

[randomo]

Title: "For pete's sake...." Shouldn't that be a capital 'P'

For pete's sake, PROOFREAD your websites and emails!

The 'p' in Pete should be capitalized.

Don't you guys know intentional irony when you see it??

 

[Gerry]

Don't you guys know intentional irony when you see it??

Don't mind me. Just trying to do my good deed for the day.

 

[jasdon11]

Don't you guys know intentional irony when you see it??

Yep! And I know a mistake when I see it too :smilewinkgrin: